How Smart Classrooms Are Changing the Face of the Indian Education System

1. How Smart Classrooms Are Changing the Face of the Indian Education System McKinsey asserts, “The potential of technology in the classroom is great: allowing personalised, mastery-based learning; saving teacher time, and equipping children with the digital skills they will need for 21st-century careers”. Before diving into the importance and benefits of smart classrooms, let’s first look at the difference between smart and traditional classrooms. Traditional Classrooms – In traditional classes, students and teachers are physically present. Teachers have to prepare notes to deliver lectures the next day using blackboard and textbooks. In face-to-face classes, students have to carry notebooks to make notes. Students also prepare notes by using textbooks and sometimes different books from the library. Furthermore, all the evaluations and assessments are done manually. Smart Classrooms –smart classrooms are well-equipped with new-age tools and digital technologies. It is an advanced method of rendering learning. The digital classroom provides quality education by elaborating and formatting concepts through digital tools and techniques. Also, it enhances the daily academic performance of the learners. The Importance of Smart Classrooms Engagement: A smart classroom helps engage learners in the learning process. Efficiency: It allows for more efficient learning and teaching. Creativity: It helps to foster creativity in students. Collaboration: It allows for collaboration between teachers and students. Technology: It uses tools and digital technology to improve education. Smart Classrooms - Transforming the Face of Education in India Online education using various technological elements like graphs, videos, images, flow charts, and many more are considered more effective and helps kids grasp concepts easily. These classes also decrease distractions, so kids can focus and gain more information. In smart classrooms, education takes place with the latest integrated learning tools or the digital class application. Following are some of the tools used by the teachers in smart classrooms to deliver lectures to students: Interactive Whiteboard – The whiteboard with markers and blackboard with chalk is replaced with an interactive whiteboard. It has many features like a touch-sensitive display, saving documents automatically, etc. Interactive Display Panels (IDPs) – IDP panels represent two-dimensional and three-dimensional videos, animations, pictures, etc., making digital learning more effective than face-to-face learning. Speakers – Speakers ensure that the educator and his teachings are clear to hear to the whole class. Student Response System – Using a student response system saves time and paper costs. This is the platform where student responses are recorded. Educational Software– The educational software supports the academic curriculum. It is known as a smart class app. With the help of this app, teachers can easily supervise the academics and attendance of the students. OMR (Optical Mark Reader) Scanner – Today, tests and exams are being conducted in Optical Mark Reader sheets. It is the process of capturing data that individuals mark from document forms such as surveys and tests.

2. Digital Podium – The digital podiums are equipped with digital tools like speakers, recorders, microphones and many more tools for uninterrupted education. Wireless Microphone – Microphone speakers, are used for speaking in front of a large audience with a wireless mic. With wireless microphones, kids get rid of wires' coils, improving mobility in the class. Graphic Tablets – eReaders and graphics tablets are pretty popular among students. It helps make diagrams, promotes reading and note-taking, and students can refresh their lessons anytime. Also, it reduces the cost of buying notebooks and textbooks for every subject. Thus, smart classrooms benefit school owners, students, parents, and teachers in various ways. In addition to smart classrooms, several tools have come into the picture to make tasks easier for schools, like student information management system, learning management systems, admission management systems, etc. School owners can make teaching and learning more efficient and effective by adopting these new-age tools.