CHENNAI: City schools are adapting to smart classes with iPads and tablets being used as a means of teaching. While some teachers are in favour of digital tools for imparting knowledge as three dimension (3D) makes it easier for students to understand various concepts, a section of academicians still prefer the traditional way of teaching using the chalk and blackboard.
While institutions like DAV Public School, Bala Vidya Mandir, Velammal Matriculation School, B S Mootha, Padma Sheshadri Bala Bhavan and other schools have smart classes which include laptop, overhead projector, smart board with digital content and slide shows, Chettinad Vidyashram has gone a step head by giving iPads to students of senior classes during exams. A school official said, “We give the school iPads to students only during exams. They are not allowed to take it home.”
G Nagalingan, a CBSE maths teacher, said that both blackboard and smart boards should be used in class. For Mathematics, Physics and the rest of the science subjects, explaining certain concepts require smart boards, which cannot be explained on a blackboard.
“For example, when it comes to the shape of a cylinder, drawing it on the black board becomes difficult. But students are able to grasp it well when it is shown on a smart board,” he said. But he said some of the concepts should be explained on the black board and some others on the smart board. “We cannot fight against technology. It is not mandatory for higher classes to have smart boards but for primary classes, it is very essential,” he said.
True but let’s train the teachers to use the smart boards first, points out Malathi Ryan, principal, Velammal Matric HSS. “As long as there is power, smart board works. I prefer the traditional method for both higher and lower classes. Only for the kindergarten, I prefer smart boards. When it comes to parents they often find it difficult when smart boards are used for teaching,” she said. “Also the usage of iPads and laptops by students of 8-19 years would be dangerous as it is difficult to contain their curiosity.”
Vinod Kumar, a parent whose daughter studies in a CBSE school, said they had complained to the school that smart boards were not helping the students. “After the complaint, the school has stopped using them,” he said.
Another parent Gowri Shankar is against using gadgets for teaching. “Projectors are a method of de-skilling where the teachers may not even know the subject. You have to know all the steps and be interactive with the students,” he said.
Econometrics associate professor R Srinivasan from University of Madras said students won’t learn anything from gadgets alone. “A student needs to learn language by reading and writing. When that is reduced, a student doesn’t learn anything. When we look at different gadgets, it is impressive as these devices are new and appealing to the parents,” he explained. “But I’d advise anyone to lessen the use of gadgets, as a teacher has no replacement; he or she creates an intellectual environment. Gadgets cannot replace that.”