Tamilnadu: Stop printing school textbooks, shift to e-books for interactive learning, say experts

Tamil Nadu should stop printing textbooks and should instead publish e-books, said former professor of NCERT S N Prasad at a discussion on new school curriculum with teachers and experts from various

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu should stop printing textbooks and should instead publish e-books, said former professor of NCERT S N Prasad at a discussion on new school curriculum with teachers and experts from various backgrounds at Anna University on Friday.

At least 800 teachers are going through a two-day session in various subjects ranging from English to Maths, with special attention given to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Another point of focus is the question on who will be chosen to write textbooks for the new curriculum.
Prasad, who addressed one of the sessions, said printing of school textbooks should be stopped from now on and e-books published.

“In Tamil Nadu, it will take about 10 to 15 years to make textbooks e-books. But if the ICT is incorporated into education, then learners will take more control over the subject; there will be media literacy. The ICT can be used for analysis, gathering and synthesis of data,” he said.
On ICT in education, a teacher raised a question about how rural students who cannot afford normal textbooks will be able to learn if the entire education system is digitised. “If e-book is brought in, what will students go back to and study, as they cannot afford e-books?” the teacher said.

Another expert K Sibi, addressing the session, said, “Technologically, we are moving at a very fast pace. But when it comes to teaching or learning through technology, we are not catching up. When the government is providing laptop, it should increase the teacher’s capability for ICT,” he said, adding that Kerala has the IT project in schools. Also, they use a software named ‘school wiki’, which enables students to store the elementary data, historical references and data on infrastructure.

C Thirumugham, a teacher from St Joseph School, Cuddalore, said the State Board has 10 competencies in writing, learning and watching conducive to creative occupation. “But because of exam patterns, they skip most of the competencies. Each student has different competencies and while teaching, that should be emphasised,” he said, adding that in a class, teacher will come and ask to turn the pages. But it should be a two- way interaction. The students should be asked to read the chapter, which would be taught a day before and the teacher should also be well prepared. “We hope the new curriculum will bring in these changes,” he said.
A Karthikeyan, another teacher from Government High School, Krishnagiri, said in his school he and very few teachers can operate the computers.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com