EducompTM Intel-Classmate PC Pilots
EducompTM Intel Partnership in One on One Computing
for school students with smartclass O3 and Intel’s Classmate PCs
The initiative began over two years back. Technology adoption in Indian schools
has witnessed a clear pattern with schools moving on from merely acquiring PC Labs
to moving technology for teaching purposes right inside the classrooms. It is envisaged
that a large segment of Indian schools, predominately Tier I and II, are now ready
to explore one on one computing environment inside the classrooms and would be open
to adopt solutions that enable them to effectively improve students learning experiences.
To this extent, Intel and EducompTM have been deeply engaged in developing
a pedagogically sound solution for one on one computing in classrooms. Intel has
developed the Classmate PC that meets with the precise learning needs in schools.
Three initial pilots were conducted as a proof of concepts before EducompTM
moved on with "O3" a program specially designed for one on one computing.
The program for the new academic year has been launched in five schools in India.
The Program
Under this program, all students have been provided with a laptop, a Classmate PC
(CMPC) from Intel. CMPC is a light notebook shaped new pedagogical device designed
for students. It is an affordable and rugged learning device that addresses the
pedagogical needs of a student with instruction usage model intended for students,
but still leveraging the notebook ecosystem. All these CMPCs are web enabled.
The notebook is light and can be easily carried by the child in the school bag.
The O3 program allows for highly effective class, group and individualized learning.
The solution also empowers parents to keep a close watch on their children’s
progress in the school.
Some of the key benefits of this innovative methodology are dramatic increase in
individual attention that the teacher is able to give each child, the individual
screen allows greater proximity to what is being taught, concepts are introduced
in a thrilling and exciting manner, assessments that are done provide instant results
which further help a teacher to assess what percentage of the class has understood
or not understood a concept taught and the concept is then taught again with greater
clarity and emphasis. Students can be divided into groups even as they are seated
in their respective place and encouraged to work on any unit, the quieter ambience
lends to greater learning. Parental control buttons and Teacher locking device makes
it safe for the students to use it even at home, ensuring they do not browse any
site they should not.
Pilots in India
Intel’s Classmate PC is targeted at seven to fourteen year old students. The first
pilot study was conducted at Delhi Public School, Ghaziabad Vasundhara, for Grade-6
students, where lessons in English, Math, Science and Social Studies were imparted.
The second lot of pilots are based on these outcomes. The CMPC Pilots for Grade-4
students were conducted in Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Learning Leadership Academy
at Bangalore, as the school wanted to implement it at a very early stage. And in
the third pilot study, it is being used for Grade-7 students for imparting Math
and Science at Navodaya Vidyalaya, Faridabad.
Objectives of the Pilot
The key objectives of the pilot are to understand from parents, students, and teachers-
the impact of this device in providing augmented education for students. The students
and teachers use the systems for learning, assessments and problem solving. Teachers
deliver targeted lesson plans that combine project work, collaboration, and student
activities that enhance group and personalized learning for students.
Benefits for the Teachers
EducompTM provides a basket of tools for a structured approach to every
35 minutes of classroom session. This basket of tools includes topic specific multimedia
content, detailed lesson plans, assessments, resources like pictures, charts, maps
etc. required for each session. Each lesson plan clearly defines the scope of the
session and what the teacher will teach in that session. It clearly lays down students
level and the prerequisites. For example, to learn ‘Tenses’, the students should
know about verbs. The lesson plan is mapped to the content and details- when and
where to use various tools and teaching strategies. Assessment focuses on the behavioral
outcomes expected from the students.
On the other hand, the teacher can actively take remedial actions, as the student
outcome is known at the right time and thus providing the teacher an effective guide
on areas of the topic that need to be repeated. All this is done at the click of
a button which gives the results instantaneously in the form of a progressive charts
and enables the teacher to know how the class progresses. The teacher can also see
question-based scores, and student-based scores in the smart assessment system.
Educomp’s Smart Assessment System also gives the teachers the advantage of not going
through the long test copies, as everything is automated and teacher will know the
results instantly. The monitor control system in CMPC is in real time for the teachers.
They can virtually help students, broadcast the entire lesson, to whole of the classroom,
and transfer study material to student’s PC to study at their own pace.
Advantages for Students
The student benefits as the Classmate PC gives the students a one-to-one learning
opportunity. They can learn at their own pace and take the assessments. Smart Assessment
System from EducompTM helps teachers to get instant results at the press
of the button without having to manually check each answer sheets. The teacher knows
whether the student has understood or not, as and when they actually teach in the
classroom. Based on this feedback, students benefit from prompt remedial teaching.
Targeted teaching strategies stimulate the students to think and to participate
in interesting activities to consolidate learning.
Outcomes
The initial pilot results with the actual use of the Classmate PC and solutions
built for use by teachers and students has been very encouraging . EducompTM
now plans to launch the solution for schools in India. EducompTM has
been ideating to plan out the most suitable and effective strategy to facilitate
rapid adoption of this initiative by schools across India.