One to One Computing With CMPCs at Millennium School NOIDA

The School and It’s Background

The Millennium School, NOIDA, is an initiative of Educomp Solutions Limited, an organization recognized for pioneering the digital revolution in education in India and abroad. The Millennium School is committed to nurture the inherent potential and talent of each child, to create lifelong learners for tomorrow.

At the Millennium School we believe in building leadership skills by developing each child’s personality and discovering his or her potential.

Children are taught to adapt creatively to meet the demands of the future. They are encouraged to be flexible in their thinking and use technology to explore and inquire, so that they become keen learners for life.

Launch of O3 Program

Educomp O3 – One on One computing- is a modern teaching and learning process that promises to change the way classroom teaching takes place. It empowers the teacher to use technology strategically so as to make learning for the students interesting, effective and fun.

O3 was formally launched at the Millennium School NOIDA on August 1, 2008. Parents, Educomp executives and Teachers participated in the launch held at the school. The group was addressed by school Principal Mrs. Rita Kaul, who stressed upon the importance of the new teaching technology.

Mrs Kaul said that the O3 technology would lead to a paradigm shift in teaching. She said that not only the students but also the teachers as well as the parents would find it effective and convenient.

Teachers’ and Students First Interaction with O3

The new technology at The Millennium School NOIDA was adopted for Grades III to VI. All the students in these classes shifted to this modern method of learning. The subject teachers of English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies were trained to use it. The program ushered in a new era of teaching and learning that sparked considerable interest amongst the students, teachers, and also the parents.

The school students were excited on receiving CMPC laptops, which had been specially designed for teaching and learning. The size of the laptop was appropriate for the tiny fingers of the young students. The moment the laptops were handed over to them, it became evident that they were fired up to learn.

As the technology was new, care was taken to share the first steps of the students and their teachers. Handholding took place with the students and teachers were guided through the program steps.

First Steps

Teachers Training

The training of the teachers was carried out by Educomp at their corporate office in Gurgaon, Haryana. A three day training program was held under the guidance of Mrs. Sonia Handa. The teachers were taught the methodology by Mr. Manoj Pandey.

Mrs Sonia Handa explained to the teachers the importance of O3 technology. She said that the new technology would not only help the students, it would enable the teachers to make the learning process much more effective and simple.

Training the teachers was a challenging task but it was effectively done by Educomp. Initially, when the program started, the training program looked to be an uphill task but by the end of the third day, all the teachers were suitably empowered to effectively implement it in the school. In essence, the training program was a resounding success.

Besides imparting training, Educomp has consistently followed up the effort by keeping in touch with the educators from time to time. They are always at hand to help the teachers in case they face any difficulty.

Student's at CMPC

One on One Computing – has changed the way the students look at computers. In the true sense, this technology has become like a friend to them. They are quite possessive of their computers and take due care in handling them. They have already begun to use the computer to enhance their learning.

Parent's Attitude

At The Millennium School, NOIDA, we strongly believe that Parents are the first teachers. We consider them equal partners in the child’s growth. We put in joint efforts in teaching the child the moral values. For instance parents can dissuade children from misusing the internet connectivity. The parents have also taken interest in ensuring that the CMPCs are properly used.

The Pilot

The Millennium School, NOIDA is one of the mother schools where the program is being effectively implemented.

Challenges that the program has addressed:

The challenges that the program has addressed and helped the teachers in improving class room teaching.

• One of the major challenges was short attention span of some students but the O3 technology increased the attention period of the students due to the use of visuals and more interaction.
• Dyslexic children found it convenient as a learning process, particularly since they face difficulty in writing. Now, these students were using the computer to finish their work on time and without any major difficulty.
• For the slow learners, the CMPC was particularly a boon as they could maintain pace with the class. These students can now take their work back home and re-learn whatever has been taught in the class. This has helped them and brought down the stress level for their parents.
• Hyperactive students have benefited from the solution as their attention is now focused on numerous options available using the CMPC. The classroom discipline has improved due to this factor.

The solutions that are working well for the school

O3 has been a great success for our school as it has enabled holistic development of the child. The few solutions which helped the students as well as the teachers are:

• Since we are an all inclusive school that nurtures each child, this technology helps the school students to show their true potential.
• The students are not using computers merely as a subject; they are utilizing it as a medium for learning all other subjects.
• Special students with special needs can interact better with the rest of the class. The slow learners are able to keep pace with the class.
• Class management has improved following the implementation of O3 technology.
• It is a boon for their teachers as they are able to manage their lectures well within the allocated time. This has helped in time management.

Anecdotes of experiences

(Anecdotes and experiences from teachers in the classrooms)

Like many other students of his age Kanishk Bhatia (Grade-VI) had a very laid back attitude towards doing sums in class (specially word problems) and completing home assignments on time. His poor handwriting was another reason why he didn’t want to show his work to the teacher. It used to be a headache for the teacher to understand his writing. When I noticed that he hates writing on his notebook but loves to work on his CMPC, I started giving assignments and class assessments on computers. Now, his participation level is increasing & he is also completing his assignments on time. He is getting appreciation from his teachers and family and this has instilled confidence in him which is being reflected in his written work as well.

When I was teaching the Different Habitats of Plants and Animals to Grade IV in EVS, I decided to show them the pictures related to the topic. All of them were very excited about receiving pictures through screen broadcast. I was ready with my folder as I had already tested the broadcasting before. Once I sent the folder to the children I asked them to check it. The students were confused and surprised at the same time. I couldn’t understand their reaction for a moment. I checked the file I sent and then I realized that instead of sending them the pictures of the plants and animals I sent them my personal pictures. That was a really very funny incident. I still remember their reaction!!!

While teaching water cycle in Grade III, I transferred the picture of water cycle through file distribution. I explained and interacted about the same. The children later labeled the diagram. After a few days in their computer class when the teacher asked them to draw a picture related to the topic they have learnt, they drew the picture of water cycle and explained the same to her. I was thrilled when the computer teacher Prantika told me, as I felt that CMPC had created the magic in understanding the concept.

When we first started using the CMPC the students were really excited. I was really surprised to see how well the students adapted to the CMPC. In fact some of them are really good with the CMPC.

One day a student decided not to pay attention to the presentation that I had sent them and started to play Pinball. He seemed too engrossed with his CMPC so I decided to check his screen. I checked his screen with the help of the monitor control button and realized that he was playing a game. I froze his screen with the help of the remote control button. He was so confused and yet he was afraid to ask me because he knew that I would find out that he was playing instead of working. After some time he asked me what he could do if his screen hypothetically froze. I told him that only I could unfreeze it. He then sheepishly came with his CMPC to me.

I don’t think any of the students will ever try playing games in my class. As for me, I will never forget the look on his face when I froze his CMPC.

Grade fifth is a class wherein there are students who have fast learning pace and few who are average. Earlier teaching in this class use to be a challenge because these kids with high learning pace would finish their work fast and then disturb the class but now with CMPC’s with them after their work is complete they sit and explore more on the topic and later share with the class.

Because of increased engagement in class they stay late even during breaks and are more motivated in classroom also. The best thing about CMPC is that all the students are learning at their own pace

Observations

• The non availability of internet connections on their CMPC in classroom is another handicap which according to me should be addressed as it can help students search any information for their project while in class. This would also be of great help to those students who don’t have internet connection at their home.
• Children now a days are more technologically savvy It has been observed very brilliant and hyperactive children who are but least interested in writing work and keen in oral work , CMPC has proved to be an incentive for these children to spend more time in writing.
• Students take very naturally to technology and are also very adaptable. But we need to monitor the amount of time they spend before the computer.

Feedback

Principal speak

Rita Kaul
Principal
The Millennium School, NOIDA

Classmate PC has enabled a quantum leap in providing quality education to the students in our school. The PCs are lightweight and user-friendly which makes it an ideal learning medium for the students.

Not just students, but also the teachers find the classmate PCs a highly efficient tool for making learning in the classroom easy, effective and fun. A developing nation like ours needs such technological innovations which considerably upgrade the education system.

Parents speak

Mr Naresh gupta
"In today’s competitive world it is very important for kids to have immediate technological access. CMPC has not only helped my child to be technologically ahead but also to manage her data personally and efficiently."

Mr Asim Khan
"Technology is the next pillar and I am very happy that in Millennium School our children are equipped with their own laptop at such an early age. This will surely enable them to be leaders in future."

Teachers speak

Rajshree Bhatt
"CMPC gives student access to technology benefits. It increases teacher and student use of technology, increases access to "smart" interactive, multimedia content. Providing a personal computer to each student motivates the student and increases both the quality and quantity of their work (as their work becomes more organized). It saves time (as we can upload the homework assignment on each student's PC) "

Seema Gupta
The use of CMPC has proved a great help to integrate technology in our class-rooms. I observed that children now-a-days are more technologically savvy. We are sending worksheets and assessments on their computers and they are submitting regularly, which is another help from CMPC in maintaining their sheets. As a science facilitator, I used to show them pictures of plants, animals, organ systems etc. through charts and diagrams, but now I am showing through their CMPC which they can save in their folders and see anytime.

Renuka Dhar
Teaching a concept and assessing whether the child has understood it within the 35 minutes in a class was not possible earlier. But by using the CMPC and then using the Quiz and Test helped me in knowing which child has understood and who needs my help.

Vanessa Priya Beech
The use of CMPC has actually made the teaching learning process effective, both verbal and non verbal communication which is a very important tool for a facilitator can be used very effectively with the help of CMPC’s.

Back