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Savvy in cyber world
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Winning the School Website Contest, conducted by SOL (Schools on Line) is a feather in the cap for the T.V. Nagar School in Ambattur, especially as almost all the 500 pupils come from underprivileged backgrounds.
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Shrimathi, Indian Coordinator of SOL, handing over the award to staff and students of the TV Nagar School.
AN IMPORTANT component of school education these days is computer literacy. But schools that offer hands-on training in computers are few and far between. In this scenario, winning the prestigious School Website Contest, conducted by SOL (Schools on Line), is indeed a feather in the cap for the T.V. Nagar School, located in Ambattur.
The Chennai school vied with seven other schools in Tamil Nadu to bag the award. What makes the achievement more remarkable is the fact that almost all the 500 pupils on the rolls are children of daily wage earners, who had never even seen a computer in their lives till the Schools on Line tie-up came about.
The award-winning site was conceptualised by two teachers, Kalpana and Charumathi, who underwent a master training programme in computers, four students, Anbarasan, A. K. Malarvizhi, C. Nithya and V. Sivaperumal, a facilitator, Surya Prakash, a website advisor, Rajesh, and the school correspondent, S. Panchapakesan.
The website, which can be accessed at www.planetvidya/sol (connecting link TV. Nagar School), gives a visitor comprehensive information about the school and includes, besides the home section, details of facilities, scholarships, awards, committees and donors, and even boasts of a students' corner.
The T.V. Nagar School, which has been receiving support from the Rotary Club of Ambattur for the last 20 years, received a further shot in the arm when Schools on Line set up an Internet Learning Centre on the school premises.
Schools on Line is a public benefit organisation, founded by Teheran-born U.S.-based entrepreneur, Kamran Elahian, whose vision is to provide every child, in every school, in every country round the world, access to the Internet. It actualises this vision by providing appropriate technology and Internet access, developing locally-driven and sustainable Internet learning centres, and fostering on line cross-cultural projects.
Since 1996, over 6,000 schools in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world have received equipment and support. The T.V. Nagar School is one of the schools selected by Schools on Line South Asia to participate in the `Education through Web' programme.
Under the scheme, a fully equipped computer lab has been set up in the school with a network of ten computers, a printer, a scanner and appropriate software. The SOL, South Asia Regional Chapter, initially provided technical support. A technical co-ordinator was appointed by the school to train the teachers and students.
Two teachers underwent a four-week master training course and they, in turn, train the other teachers. After completing the training, the students are allowed to browse through mail and search engine sites.
During a recent visit of the Sankaracharya of Kanchi, Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, to bless the computer lab, the children gave excellent presentations on a variety of subjects. Says master trainer Kalpana, "Earlier the students were diffident because they were from a Tamil medium school. Computer literacy has given them a new-found confidence." For Charumathy, the "first-time exposure to a computer" has been a fascinating experience.
Panchapakesan says, "In our school, all the new teachers are given computer training a month before they join. Even before the teacher commences a lesson, the students surf the Net and gather all the information on the topic that is to be taken up." V. Sivapermual, A. K.Malarvizhi and C. Nithya feel the computer classes are useful. Nithya says the computer came in handy when it came to understanding a particularly difficult chapter in chemistry.
At the prize distribution, Thilaka, a Class VIII student, explained how beneficial the free coaching classes had been to her. While, till a year ago, she had not even touched a computer, she was now able to perform several operations and even browse the Net with ease.
The experience of the T.V. Nagar School proves through computers, complex concepts can be simplified, making learning enjoyable for underprivileged students.
SUDHA UMASHANKER
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