PSBB Millennium School, Chennai

About the PSBB Millennium Group of Schools

The PSBB Millennium Group of Schools at Chennai, a recognized landmark in its pursuit of excellence in education, holistic development and human excellence, is deeply dedicated to the mission of building "Global Citizens with Indian Values", with an emphasis on value education, and respect for our rich cultural heritage.

The PSBB Millennium Group of Schools has been set up by the Learning Leadership Foundation (a public charitable trust) in active collaboration with the PSBB Group of Schools, Chennai, under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Mrs. Y G Parthasarathy, the Dean and Director for the entire group of the PSBB Schools. The PSBB Millennium Schools come directly under her purview and follow the tried and tested methodology of the teaching – learning process that has been the mainstay of academic excellence in over 50 years.

The Learning Leadership Foundation comprises a group of enterprising people, who have considerable experience in education, and are recognized for 'professional development initiatives' for teachers. The School is backed by the combined strength of over a decade of 'thought leadership' in best pedagogic practices of the Learning Leadership Foundation and more than five decades of academic excellence of PSBB group of schools.

We pride in the PSBB Millennium Group of Schools being a state-of-the-art institution, with modern, technology-based methodologies incorporated in the everyday use of the teaching- learning process.

Five academic years later, we continue to provide more students the opportunity to benefit from upholding the rich legacy of the Padma Seshadri group of schools and its unique teaching methodologies, providing them with opportunities to recognize their future potential.

Our expansions to Gerugambakkam and DLF Garden City in Navalur on the OMR (located behind Satyabhama Deemed University) now benefit a larger number of children, satisfying the needs of parents who seek quality education and all round development in their children. With each Campus providing the best of facilities meeting every requirement of the children, it is a heaven on earth of the PSBBMillenniumites! One year from now, the new campus will boast of being the state-of-the-art Institutions.

Co-curricular activities are given as much importance as the academics. With a team of committed staff who have a passion for what they do, and a motley crowd of students eager to learn, the imparting and assimilation of knowledge at The PSBB Millennium School is a treat to watch and experience.

The school curriculum, combined with personal support extended by the teachers who choose to be role models rather than mere facilitators, inspires students to realize their full potential. In addition to the school curriculum, we offer academic enrichment programs that will stir your child's creativity, foster a better understanding of the world, and make his/her overall educational experience more enjoyable. They are designed to complement the core courses.

The School through the daily transactions and practices provides a distinctive educational environment that enables young persons to grow not only in intellectual capacities, but also in other dimensions of their being. While developing the students' intellectual faculties, there is a conscious effort towards creating a wider awareness of the world and giving space for the development of the aesthetic, moral and emotional dimensions.

We know that students passing out from The PSBB Millennium Group of Schools would grow into self-aware, sensitive and responsible human beings, who remain life-long learners. The golden triangle that is formed by the Student, the Teacher and the Parent forms an integral part of The PSBB Millennium.

CMPC O3 Program Launch

The Program was formally launched on the 21st of February 2008. Earlier, Mr. Shantanu Prakash, CEO Educomp Solutions, had a press conference where he declared the launch of the 3 Program in the School. CMPCs were distributed by Mrs Sonia Handa, Head of Strategic Alliances Educomp Solutions along with Mr. Ashok Manchegowda from Intel Bangalore. Mrs Rukmani Mothilal, Academic Advisor The PSBB Millennium Group of Schools was also present on this occasion.

The class targeted for the pilot program in the academic year 2007-08 was Std. II to Std. VI. 700 children were given CMPCs after getting the consent from the parents. 19 teachers were given their laptops for their use and implementation of the CMPC O3 Program. The children were also given the accompanying charger and instructions given on how to charge the instrument before bringing it to school on a daily basis.

The first one month was allotted to ‘get to know your laptop better’ module. The children were given a free reign on getting to learn the know how of handling the computer through trial and error methods. They were allowed to experiment using the laptop, working on the various functionalities of the help buttons and the keyboard and also the effective use of the touch pad mouse. They were also asked to list out what all they could do with their computer and how they could use if to study and learn. These children came into the 3^rd and 7^th respectively at the start of the academic year 2008-09.

Teachers in the meantime were put through the grind of getting to know their own laptops and how to use it as an effective teaching tool as part of the teaching learning process. Workshops and demo classes were conducted for the teachers from resource people from Educomp Solutions R & D Department who came from Delhi and others as well from Intel. This enabled them to get over the inhibitions of handling technology and gave them the ease to work on modules they required for teaching. Regular peer group activities encouraged them to be creative in the making of their worksheets and presentations.

Teachers' first interaction with O3

Class Teachers handling Std 2 and 3 and subject teachers handling English, Science, Math and Social Studies in Classes 4 to 7 were called for an introduction and presentation of the O3 module. Mr. Ashok Manchegowda who gave the introduction, said that it would prove to be a revolutionary method being incorporated in the School. The assembled teachers listened with interest to the new teaching methodology that was to be part of the teaching - learning process thereafter. Teachers comfortable with the use of technology showed keenness to know more. Those who were not tech savvy had their own inhibitions and doubts.

Children Receiving their Laptops

700 delighted and extremely excited children braved the heat to wait for their turn to receive what would be ‘their own’ laptop! The shouts of joy echoed in the quadrangle when the first laptop was handed over to the youngest child in the group. The seniors in Std 7 could hardly wait their turn. By and by the rest of the laptops were distributed in the classrooms. The excitement was particularly high because the children had already seen the O3 Room, had seen the unloading of the small CMPC and were also aware that they were being charged and loaded with the software required for their use. Daily enquiries and a walk along the O3 room had become a feature for many during the morning break time. So, when the day finally dawned and the children were asked to assemble, cheers rent the air!

The pre-charged laptops and the adaptor for charging were handed over to every individual child across Classes 2 to 7. Care had been taken to ensure that the Roll number of the child was written on the top flap insert paper to identify the CMPC.

In turn, the serial numbers had already been noted against the name and roll number of the student it was being handed over to.

Training and Handholding

Along with the CMPC, the children were given a handout on how to care for their laptops. They were given a free reign to get to know their laptops better and investigate and learn for themselves how to operate the system. Then they received step-by-step instructions on how to go about it in the classroom. They were later encouraged to work on their laptops submitting assignments given in English, or EVS or Math in the lower classes. Higher classes were given worksheets to be completed and topics to be presented as presentations.

Children being children, took to technology like a duck to water. Within a few weeks they were in complete sync with their laptops and its uses. Infact, they had even mastered the use of pen drives and copying or transferring of files and had also changed the password on the laptops making it difficult for the admin in charge to access the laptop!

The First Steps:

1. Teacher Training: Even prior to the actual handing over of the laptops to the children the Staff members handling classes 2 and 3 and subject teachers handling classes 4 to 7 were put through an orientation and training program for the use of the CMPC. They were taught how to use the teacher laptops in the best pedagogical manner. All key features of the teacher laptop were highlighted and discussed in detail. They were taken through the following features:
   
   • Broadcast
   • File Transfer
   • Quick Assessment
   • Attendance
   • Student Monitoring
   • Group Work














2. Students and CMPC: The students started using the CMPC as a regular feature. As and when the Teachers gave them instructions the children executed their assignments. The laptops were put into full use particularly during the Summer Holidays. Students especially those in Std 3 used their laptops to make their presentations and sent the same back as emails to their class teachers. The seniors put theirs’ to good use during class presentations, quiz to be conducted as part of their teamwork, and during the Annual Educational Project.



3. Parent’s attitude: Undoubtedly the introduction of the CMPC was a USP for the School during the academic year. Parents who were returning from their stint abroad could not believe that children in India could be equipped with a laptop each! Obviously India had a lot more to offer along with culture and tradition. Some parents raised doubts about the effect it could have on the eyes of the children. But they were assured that the children would not be looking into the screen all eight hours of their study in the School. Some raised an objection to the weight of the CMPC. It added to the weight of the existing school bag. However, during the academic year 2008-09 steps were taken to ensure that the notebooks were reduced to help the children balance the weight. Grades III to V were encouraged to keep the textbooks in the Classroom cupboard and further reduce the load in the bag. This was accepted and welcomed by the parents. Most of the others were very happy as the children came back with all information and lessons taught directly transferred as files by the teachers. It also helped the absentees to cope with lessons being covered during their absence.

The Challenges

Challenges that had to be addressed

• Called for detailed planning on part of the teachers. This meant that the teachers had to be word perfect and completely prepared with the lesson plan and activity
• Lessons had to be selected to suit the need and use of the CMPC
• Teacher laptops that were given to the teachers were used ones. The battery life of the laptop given did not last long enough for the conduction of the lesson. Having it connected to the power point restricted the movement of the teachers. They needed to be able to use it effectively.
• The routers in each class had to be set to perfection. Once in place it worked perfectly. However, we found that students from other rooms were still able to log in to the subject teacher in another room and were able to send messages to her! Educomp tech support had to spend days to overcome the problem.
• One major concern was trying to prevent the children from loading games on the CMPC with the help of a pen drive.
• Carrying their laptops in their schoolbag protected by their books still resulted in some of the displays being damaged. In some cases the keys from the keyboard came loose.
• Sometimes the chargers failed to charge and we found that the same charger could not be procured from the local market. This meant getting the children to bring it to the school to have it charged in the Charger Station.

Challenges that the program has addressed

• Apart from saving time on writing questions/points on the board that the children had to copy, the teachers also ensured that the file transfer sent carried correct spelling and structure.
• Announcements made in the School or special instructions for the parents of the particular class or level could be sent as a circular through the CMPC.
• Announcements made on School website were also transferred onto the CMPC to allow access to information that may have been missed out on in the event of Internet connection being down.
• More importantly, the use of CMPC’s ensured that the children finished the given assignments on time.
• The classrooms were a lot quieter with lessons being conducted and work being carried out in groups in their respective places.

Solutions that Worked Well For the School

• A letter was sent out to the parents intimating them about the new concept being introduced and how we wanted their support at home front as well, in helping the children to charge their laptops and enquire about what they were learning and doing.
• Assurance from the School about the availability of a Teacher Lock and a Parent Lock further appeased the parents who were worried about unwarranted and unauthorized sites the children may browse while using the Internet.
• Children brought the laptops to the school duly charged everyday.
• The individual attention was available for each child. This increased dramatically through the one-on-one module.
• The individual screen gave proximity to what was being taught.
• Concepts were introduced in a thrilling and exciting manner. Assessments provided instant results.
• This helped the teachers assess what percentage of the class had understood or not understood a concept taught.

• The concept was then taught again with greater clarity and emphasis so as to ensure that everyone had grasped the concept.
• Recapitulation of the concept was done again.
• In the higher classes the children were encouraged to bring their assignments in soft copy form so that they could be shared with others in the class or collated to arrive at a clear picture.
• Assignments were almost always submitted on time.
• Children were taught to give credit to the source they picked up any image or information from on the Internet.
• Class assignments and quiz were conducted with ease.
• Work was completed earlier than normal.
• Teachers found it extremely useful and they could work on their laptops and transfer material easily and at any time they wanted.
• Was effectively used during substitution periods, as the work was already available for transfer to the students. This meant not losing out on working days and completion of work keeping par with the other sections.
• The holiday homework was assigned for classes with CMPC’s related to the use of the computer and work to be done on it. Children sent in their holiday homework through email to the respective teachers.
• Many students prepared presentations on the topics given to them by searching the Internet and various websites to download pertinent material for their homework. This we believe was getting them ready for the world of tomorrow they would step into.
• Children were encouraged to prepare worksheets and set objective type question papers. This was done deliberately because it helped the child to know the lesson better when he had to prepare a worksheet or a question paper on the given topic or lesson.
• Further their ability to come up to the front of the class and make their own presentations inculcated in them self confidence to face the class and a crowd.

Ideas Implemented Effectively

• Very useful tool to be used as a communication center for parents who make it a point to check out on the uploads. This would be particularly so with an interactive school website. This is something The PSBB Millennium also has to its credit.
• Effective as used for immediate assessment and evaluation. This helps reduce the consumption of paper to a very large extent.

Anecdotes of Experiences:

• The first day of the laptops being distributed was a sight to be witnessed! Children couldn’t believe they had a laptop of their own with their names written on it!
• Children sat at every nook and corner using their laptops, looking very professional!
• Children traveling by bus took out their laptops to make notes, complete assignments, or just to look important!
• The children of The PSBB Millennium School having and working on laptops were the talk of the town at every gathering. It was the centerpiece of attraction at every home. Parents were even more proud than the children of the prowess of their children.
• A child on holiday in the USA made it a point to take his laptop with him to the USA, made his presentations and sent them back to his class teacher through email.
• During the project the laptops were used extensively in many classrooms to conduct quiz and showcase their presentations.
• The Teacher laptops were used for the conduction of the Student election.
• Children found ways to communicate with the subject teacher in another section by logging in simultaneously to 2 teachers! We didn’t think this was possible but it did happen!
• Was effectively used during substitution periods, as the work was already available for transfer to the students. This meant not losing out on working days and completion of work keeping par with the other sections.
• The holiday homework was assigned for classes with CMPC’s related to the use of the computer and work to be done on it. Children sent in their holiday homework through email to the respective teachers.
• The senior students of class 8 felt left out as they were the senior most and they felt they hadn’t been given the opportunity.
• An improvement in spellings was seen with the use of the laptop as the word document highlighted the wrong spellings in red and allowed the child to correct it.
• Elder students knew there was a structural error in the sentence the minute it was underlined in green. Using the given option they were able to correct their sentences.
• This holds good for the teachers as well.
• The Language Teachers handling Tamil and Hindi felt very left out that they were not included. Not to be outdone, they borrowed laptops and had the required font loaded. This they then used to make their presentations and study material for the classes.

Observations

• It is a very powerful tool that can be used to its full potential.
• Proper planning is a must for handling CMPC in the classroom.
• Classes can continue integrating smartclass program also into the system even during power failure. This will not be possible with the regular smartclass session.
• Teachers became creative and took pride in working on their presentations. The teachers did more research. This lead to professional development in knowledge content.

• The spirit of camaraderie among the Subject teachers was on a high as they shared content with each other leading to better performance.
• This particularly helped those teachers who were yet uncomfortable with technology and not used to handling a laptop.

Feedback

PRINCIPAL SPEAK – When technology comes knocking at your door you need to throw both the doors open wide! And that is exactly what we did in our Institution. The pilot had its highs and lows, but the highs outdid the lows.

PARENTS SPEAK – Congratulations!!! on successfully completing the pilot program of One-on-One Computing (O3). The O3 program according to me was very successful and did wonders to students both academically and individually. Kids have become very comfortable and have found innovative ways to use computers effectively. They were also exposed to the LAN & WAN usage of computers. In today's world of IT, this definitely was a great exposure. I was amazed at how kids could prepare Power Point Presentations on every topic and subject they came across in no time. The kids did find it difficult to carry their laptops in their heavy bags to school everyday, as it made their bags heavier. The O3 program no doubt was a great achievement for the school and we are proud to be a part of this program. I also hope that this program to become an indispensable part of the school's curriculum in the future. -- Lakshmy Narendra, Mother of Varun Narendra, PSBB Millennium, Chennai

My son is a student in your school going to standard 7 this year.He has learnt a lot through this O3 method.Within a few days he learned how to make Powerpoint presentations and throughout the year he was given projects to be done in powerpoint and he enjoyed doing it and learned a lot through this.Eventhough they can be taught how to use the computers at computer lab once a week by giving them projects and assignments to be done in computers they learn how to apply what they have learnt in computerscience classes.I feel this is a good method of learning.Hope this continues in the years to come. Thanks. ---- Anuradha Ranganathan.

Many parents found that their children had shown tremendous improvement in the spellings. It had also added to the self –confidence of the children. Children also eagerly completed their assignments without being asked to sit to do their home work.

TEACHERS SPEAK – On the 27^th of May 09 when I had to return my laptop to the concerned authorities, I was upset realizing that there wouldn’t be any CMPC in our classrooms in the next academic year ie 2009-10. My experience of using the CMPC in the class was a great one. CMPC had forged a link between the traditional teaching methods and technology aided teaching and learning. The use of the CMPC in the classrooms made the children capture cadences of language with ease and interest as they were more than keen in completing their assignments on time. The poetry composition, letter writing and paragraph writing was done in a trice as it catered to all type of learners.

It increased the student engagement thus making the teaching atmosphere more conducive for effective teaching and learning. The interaction amongst the students had improved due to the group work facilitated through the CMPC. The children could share their ideas, views and draw collective inferences without moving out of their place. Teacher had the option to monitor the individual as well as the group work and individually instruct the learners. The effective and balanced use of CMPC can become the bedrock on which the entire edifice of teaching learning would rest. – Mrs. Praveen Roy - English Teacher

CHILDREN SPEAK –The CMPC is a very interactive way of learning. It is fun and very useful. The teacher can watch us anytime. We make presentations instead of writing in the notebooks. It is very quick. I never wanted to stay at home because of the CMPC. – Shreya – Std 3

The CMPC was very useful to me as a learning tool as it provided an audio-visual method of learning through modern technology. It was indeed a very interesting and knowledgeable tool in the hands of students. The CMPC had made learning an extremely fun filled process. It not only refined my presentation skills but also honed my computer skills. I enjoyed every moment of using the CMPC and the erudition I gained from the amazing learning experience is truly inexpressible. Sneha – Std 7

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