India to pilot technology-based education scheme
India's Union Ministry of Science and Technology will test-run teaching through gaming and technology in selected schools with a view to rolling out the method nationwide. The trial will see Finnish education firms collaborate with Indian government initiatives Atal Innovation Mission and the National Institution for Transforming India. 
October 09, 2017 12:00 am | Updated 04:35 am IST - Bengaluru

Is there a better way to teach today’s youngsters, who have grown up with smart devices, than through the use of the same technology?

Edugaming and edutechnology have changed classrooms across the world and the Union Ministry of Science and Technology is keen to implement similar methods in classrooms across India. The Ministry will soon start a pilot in schools in the country with the collaboration of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and NITI Aayog and Finnish education companies.

A four-day conclave is being organised from Monday at the Centre for Cellular And Molecular Platforms, NCBS-TFIR Campus, Bengaluru, to work out the framework of the pilot programme.

Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, K. VijayRaghavan, said: “Should they be on board, we plan to put edugaming and teaching methods in the same schools where there are tinkering labs. And depending on their success, we will take them to other schools in the country.”

Dennis C. Joy, Resident Editor, Science Media Centre at IISc., Bengaluru, said: “Edutech and edugaming is the use of technology to teach children. It could be through games to teach mathematical concepts, or virtual laboratories to teach biology and chemistry.”

Shirin Kulkarni, Research Director and co-founder at CCE Finland, one of the companies participating in the programme, said that what set apart the education system in Finland was the freedom given to teachers to design the course structure based on the student’s requirement. “In Finnish education, formal education begins only at the age of six when the child is put to pre-school. It is only at the age of seven that they start learning alphabets and mathematics,” said Ms. Kulkarni. However, informal learning starts in daycares where children go to from a young age.

Technology is given great importance in Finnish schools, particularly for older students. “From class seven onwards, they have more technology in their learning. The teacher designs experiments based on the student’s aptitude and level of understanding,” explains Ms. Kulkarni.

According to Mr. Joy, a pilot trial will be done in a few schools in the country, which will be finalised during the conclave, and if successful, the programme would be scaled up.

Edutech and edugaming is the use of technology to teach children. It could be through games to teach mathematical concepts, or virtual laboratories to teach biology and chemistryDennis C. JoyResident Editor, Science Media Centre at IISc., Bengaluru