[Fsf-friends] IT Vision
Ajith Kumar
ajith@nsc.ernet.in
Wed, 11 Sep 2002 14:01:01 +0530
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Hello,
I am forwarding a copy of the letter send to the
The Executive Director
IT @ SCHOOL Project
SCERT Buildings
Poojapura
Thiruvananthapuram-12
itschool@asianetindia.com
for comments.
regards
ajith
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<P ALIGN=CENTER STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>Comments
on IT@School Vision Document</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> I
have gone through the document and it's goals are certainly laudable.
But I have doubts about the implemetation part of. I have been
working in the field of IT for science reaserchf for the past 15
years and I have been interacting with the school/college teachers
for the past 3-4 years regarding the usage of computers. This
interaction has given me some idea about the ground realities and I
would like to make suggetions on the basis of that.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>Improving
Existing Scenario</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> At
the moment very few of our schools have computer facility. Some of
the un-aided schools use it as a tool for attracting students and a
for charging something extra in the name if IT. The student does not
even learn the basic concepts of computer properly. On the other
hand we have a good percentage of people who are computer literates.(
In the sense they are able to draft a letter, print it, send an email
and browse internet) <I>We need to analyse how they have learned it</I>.
</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> There
are hundreds of so called computer institutes all over Kerala. Most
of them may not have good infrastructure or highly qualified teachers
but almost all of them have around ten PCs and employ PGDCA holders
for teaching.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">We can
classify them broadly in to three categories;</P>
<UL>
<LI><P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Those
who offered entry level courses and charged moderate fees. Their fee
was decided by the competition in the market. People who go there do
not atach much importance to the certificates they issue.</P>
</UL>
<UL>
<LI><P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">The
second category is the franchisees of bigger agencies. Charged high
fees and promised a lot and now busted along with the dotcom bubble.</P>
<LI><P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">The
third category try to survive on the basis of some government
recognition. Most of the time it is just a ploy to attract the
students just completed Plustwo or SSLC. Most of them does not have
good infrastructure or faculty.</P>
</UL>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> In my
opinion, it is possible to channelize the existing infrastructure and
expertize of the first category for an IT enabled Kerala. As far as
elementary IT literacy is concerned, the government need not and
should not setup training centers or recognize any. It should do the
following.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> Government
should conduct Qualifying exams only. It should form the syllabus for
two or three courses and publish it on the web. Establish guidance/
Exam Centre in each district. Anybody can register by paying a
registration fee should be able to appear for an exam, along with
practicals, after a stipulated time period. No training or support
from the Centre. It only should provide the syllabus and exam
facility. If it does not get degraded like our RTOs issuing driving
licenses, we will have an IT enabled generation.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>Once
such a facility exists, all the unrecognized computer institutes will
be forced to follow that syllabus.</B> I am also enclosing a sample
syllabas for an entry level course that is not biased to any
particular operating system or program.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>IT
@ Schools</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> The
vision document mentions "<SPAN STYLE="font-style: normal">Using
IT as a tool for teaching and learning" other subjects. This is
done at places having </SPAN>good computer to student ratio. In
developed countries, where it is tried, every class room is equipped
with computers. In any case computer to student ration is a deciding
factor.</P>
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>How to improve
the Computer to Student ratio</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> It
means installing large number of computers in each school. It may
sound impossible but it possible if you carefully study it. We need
to address the issues of;</P>
<UL>
<LI><P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">The
cost of acquiring a PC</P>
</UL>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">
This include hardware and software costs.</P>
<UL>
<LI><P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Maintenance
Costs</P>
</UL>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">
Reduced maintenance cost will automatically increase the number of
PCs over the years.
</P>
<UL>
<LI><P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Hardware
and Software Obsolescence</P>
</UL>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">
The compuer Industry moves at a fast pace and there is an impression
that the machines are outdated fast. Partialy this is happening due
to a nexus between hardware and software manufactures. The new
softwares are written in inefficient manner and it demands newer
hardware. This can be overcome if you define your objectives. Dot not
look for the fancy useless features offered by new products.
</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> Sticking
to the standards is another important measure. For example, if a word
processor writes the files in an undisclosed proprietary format, the
vendor can force you to do an upgrade by making the documents created
by the new version incompatible with the old. You need to avoid such
products.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> <B>(A
proposal to implement the computer lab at an school is atached along
with this)</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> Another
limited way of using IT for teaching is through demonstration
programs. For examples, there are programs demonstrating the
principles of scince. To show such things to a whole class, we need
LCD projectors that are expensive at the moment.
</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Educational
Software also falls into different categories.
</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> There
are packages claims to follow some school syllabus and heavily rely
on animations etc. They just repeat what is in the text books in a
different manner. There is nothing new in it. There are also packages
that really improves the level of understanding, maily of the
teachers. These are the products of various research laboratories and
are available free of cost. For example there are programs to
calculate and display the shape of molecules, programs to do
mathematical manipulations etc.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>About
the Syllabus</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> The
computer syllbus should only talk about the skills to be developed.
It should not be linked to any particular operating system or
program. In fact all the existing computers works on the same
principles, both in hardware and software. The differences are just
on the surface. (I have used and programmed under five different
operating systems and observed it) If the syllabus only insist on the
objective, the implementation can be done in the most cost effective
manner. For example, I am writng this document on a disk-less
GNU/Linux terminal costing less than Rs. 15000/- using the Star
Office program, which is free. It could be done on a costly platform
also. But the requirement is just wordprocessing. The same is true
with programming and other activities. If you just specify the
requirement, the implementation can be done in many ways and the best
is going to survive.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> I
hope these suggetions are of some use. I would be willing to clarify
them if required.
</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><BR>
</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Yours
Sincerely</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><BR>
</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Ajith
Kumar B.P.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Scientist
SE</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Nuclear
Science Centre</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">New
Delhi 110 067</P>
<P ALIGN=CENTER STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%; page-break-before: always">
<B>Syllabus (changes to that put on the web)</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Functional
introduction to IT. <B>Hardware and Software</B> parts of a computer.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Hardware:
CPU , main memory(RAM/ROM) and secondary memory(disks),</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"> Input
(keyboard, mouse, camera etc.) /Output devices( monitor, priter,
speaker etc).</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Camera-Web
Camera-UPS-Hardware and Software.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Hardware
operates on 5V and 12V DC (Power Supply to provide it from 230 VAC)</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Software
componets</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>Operating
system</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Essential
part. Interacts with the user - starts other programs -manages
storage. Starting the OS - the booting process -</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Single
user and multiuser systems</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Types
of interfaces - command line - GUI -</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">OS
Examples : DOS, MSWindows, Linux</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>Application
programs.</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%">Word
processors, browsers, graphics editors, educational programs etc.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>Interacting
with a computer</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: medium; line-height: 150%">
Systems having GUI - Desktop - Icons and menus - How to start a
program ( select it from the menu or using icons on the
desktop-concept window (programs operate inside rectangular areas
called windows) - window operations, minimize, maximize, move, resize
etc. - the Home Directry (linux) / My computer (MSWindows) (where the
files are kept) - creating Files and directories - copying, deleting
and moving files using the GUI- saving and retrieving data.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>Word
Processing</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: medium; line-height: 150%">
Loading/ saving files. Selecting character fonts - changing
character atributes like size, color, special effects etc. Formatting
paragraphs - line spacing - justification , left, right, center and
both side. Embedding pictures in documents. Drafting a letter .
Printing.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: medium; line-height: 150%">
Searching for patterns - cutting and pasting -( The above can be done
using any wordprocessor supporting the features mentioned)</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>Web
Designing</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: medium; line-height: 150%">
Basic HTML tags - chaging color , size etc. - inserting links to
another HTML file ( this will make clear how WWW works) - make a
simple web page - view it using a browser - can be hosted on an
intranet.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>Computer
Programming</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: medium; line-height: 150%">
A simple programming language - BASIC/LOGO (LOGO is designed for
chidren) - algorithms to perform simple tasks like addition -
generate a multiplication table - drawing geometrical shapes on
screen - draw more complicated patterns .</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%"><B>Computers
in Education</B></P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: medium; line-height: 150%">
Simple educational tools - calculator - graph plotting programs -
periodic table - various programs to demonstrate science subjects.</P>
<P ALIGN=JUSTIFY STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: medium; line-height: 150%">
<BR>
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