KOCHI: As many as 227 Class VIII students at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kadavanthra, have been provided with tablet computers for free. The tablets have been provided as part of a pilot project implemented by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), which aims to track the efficiency and research skills of Class VIII students. The device will be used to teach students science and mathematics and will allow teachers to keep track of the students’ academic progress. For the next five years, every student enrolling in Class VIII will get the tablet which they can keep for lifetime.
“Only one school from all each of the 25 regions has been selected for the initiative. Our school is the only KV selected in Kerala,” said KV-Kadavanthra principal R Surendran. The syllabus for Class VIII has been loaded in the tablet as e-books and the teacher will be able to monitor students’ activities. Presently, only science and mathematics teachers will use the tablets to teach.
“Students can access the lessons online and submit their project works for online evaluation. It will become easier for teachers to evaluate their projects. Above all, the principal can also monitor students’ academic progress. The tablets have the games blocked and can be used only for studies. When students enter Class IX, we will get the e-books for Class IX in their tablets. This will continue till Class XII,” he said.
KV-Kadavanthra has also been selected for the establishment of the Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs), a project aimed at cultivating the spirit of innovation among talented students. It looks to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds.“ATL will help in developing scientific temper in students. It will be a work space where students can get their ideas materialised and learn innovation skills. Students can utilise the lab to understand concepts of science, technology, engineering and maths. Teachers will identify students interested in science,” said Surendran.The Atal Innovation Mission will provide a grant-in-aid that includes a one-time establishment cost of Rs10 lakh and operational expenses of `10 lakh, he said.