My Journey through Computer Aided Learning (CAL) Research Study

1. My Journey through ComputerAided Learning (CAL) Research Study

2. The Prelude • In this presentation, I am going to talk about • my key learnings, reflections through the CAL study. • changes through three different angles, say in me, in the minds of the teachers and in the programmeand how one’s change has an impact in other.

3. First milestone of my journey • Change in me right from my dress code to the language that I use, are same as the teachers use, so I thought that the teachers wouldn’t see me as a person from different province. • As we were new to each other, the school and the teachers thought that I came to their school, just to observe/ monitor and thought that I am from SSA. • Conducted CAL orintation programme for the teachers of 20 experimental school. This was the platform we got to know each other, who will support regularly for which school/teachers.

4. Using Technology as a starting point… • I used to be there in school from the assembly till evening bell, which teacher began to have trust in me, as I will be there for supporting them and not like a person who just came to monitor them. • During on-site support, the teachers shared their experiences in implementing the activities in classroom and their impact. Thus understood that I am a person who could also support in pedagogy. • The teachers are motivated and began to contribute for the Teachers’ portal.

5. Integrating technology in pedagogy • First I wondered how technology can be integrated into the pedagogy. Unless I see the value in it, its not fair to ask the teachers to see value in it. It took much time for me in preparing tech cards, to be frank, I learnt it by doing. • Arranging separate computer room and then supporting teachers in using technology for pedagogy made them to understand that technology could also be used for pedagogy and moreover, the teachers themselves could be the resource maker(which made them feel proud). • The space for teachers even in timetable to make use of the lab and equip themselves to prepare resources during that time, was set up.

6. Supporting network meeting • Identified that there is a difference between centralised interaction(TDI) and school level interaction(on-site support). I began to share the positive effects of the strategies followed by a teacher of one school to another. • The teachers themselves were interested in knowing about the strategies used by other school teachers. Hence in teacher network meeting, which was held at cluster level, the teachers would meet together, which was facilitated by the teachers, who volunteer themselves and shared their ideas. Apart from that they themselves wrote poem, someone translated it in Tamil, some other downloaded from the net, grouped themselves based on their area of interest, shared their ideas/views. • Culture of discussion has to be fostered if a network of practice is to be sustained. Even in ADEPTs(ADvanced Educational Programme for Teacher Supporters), this was one of the key areas suggested by MHRD for teacher development.

7. Key Learnings Through CAL, I have learnt the following, to make a change: • Ought to have enough patience. eg: It took about one and half years to set a separate computer lab in two out of my four schools. • Alternate strategies to be followed to solve a problem. eg: when the teachers said that they don’t have pen drive/CD to make a copy and transfer the data, bluetooth dongle is used to transfer the data from one system to mobile/another system. Some teachers used bluetooth technology in their mobile to make their children to sing state anthem. • Process is more important than the product. As I worked from understanding the needs of the teachers, I was able to build rapport with them and hence they believed me as a resource person. • Above all, Passion to work.