TIRUCHY: In a first-of-its-kind attempt utilising a completely handy, virtual methodology, the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) of Tamil Nadu has launched an Android application to teach various concepts of Mathematics and Science to students of class X and XII in government schools.
As part of digitising teaching methods, the SCERT has launched a new smart phone application that would convert 2D images in Science and Mathematics text books into 3D graphics. The recently-launched app that is supported in all smart phones with Android 4.0 and higher platforms employs a state-of-art technology of utilising the real-time environment to develop graphics. When the app is switched on, the camera in the mobile automatically switches on and images in the text books can be captured. Once the app recognises the image, it automatically transforms into 3D graphics. For instance, if the diagram of heart in zoology book is captured, the 3D format of heart would be rendered in the app, which would have the interior parts of the heart and shows all the functions.
In each district, the respective District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) has been organising workshops for teachers from all government schools to operate the app. Speaking to Express, district programme coordinator of these workshops, M Anbuselvan, Lecturer, DIET -
Tiruchy, said, “This app involves the same technology applied in applications like Pokemon GO and Snapchat. It coordinates with real-time environment to create graphics.”
Further, the app will generate a video of from the 3D graphics. “This video can be shown through large LCD displays,” he added.
Asked how a mobile display can help efficient teaching, he said, “The app needs an android device, be it a mobile or a tablet. Teachers would generate the 3D graphics in their screen and can show it every student who can’t visualise the concepts. All the device needs is a camera and a data connection with reasonable speed.”
As a pilot project, the app had developed 141 images from Science and Maths textbooks of Class X and XII. “For now, it is implied for Science and Mathematics subject. Further, the app will be extended to Social Science, English and Tamil.”
“Since teachers might feel it difficult to handle this technology, we have been organising workshops for them. The app can be downloaded from Google Playstore by anyone.”
A three-day training session was been organised by DIET - Tiruchy for all government school teachers handling Class X and XII. At least one teacher from each government school will attend the sessions.
“The app is very user-friendly and effective. It is now in the hands of teachers to utilise it in a constructive way,” G Subashini, Class X science teacher of Government Higher Secondary School, Somarasampettai, said.