Date:08/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090860540500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

‘Smart class’ launched

Staff Reporter

— Photo: S. THANTHONI

School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu (centre), inaugurating the ‘smart class’ in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Technological advancements, if used effectively, can enhance the teaching and learning process in the classroom significantly, School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu said here on Saturday.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the ‘smart class’ at Kaligi Ranganathan Jayhind Matric Higher Secondary School. “At a time when the State government is integrating modern, technological aids to the curriculum, this concept of a ‘smart class’ interested me,” he said. Audio visual aids played a major role in helping children understand even scientific concepts easily, he said. The School Education Department had introduced the Activity Based Learning (ABL) methodology about a year ago and good progress was observed in children’s comprehension and understanding. The department was also keen on strengthening language laboratories.

“It is notable that this school is taking such an effort in your interest. Several hundred children like you are studying in our villages. The department does not want a student studying in a coastal village in Ramanathapuram to lose out. That is why we are focussing on computer education now,” the Minister said.

The State government, besides ensuring that the high and higher secondary schools had computers, was also working on enhancing computer laboratories, he said. The ‘smart class’ initiative of the school, in association with education company Educomp, provides all the classes from kindergarten to Standard XII a 42-inch plasma television, a cordless keyboard and a cordless mouse each .