USING THE INTERNET AS A TEACHING RESOURCE Darwan Singh Bhandari Teacher
Grade:
7–11
Subject:
Chemistry
Location:
Satpuli, Uttarakhand
School type: Government
© Darwan Singh Bhandari
Introduction Darwan works in Barkholu in Satpuli, Uttarakhand in the north of India where he teaches chemistry and social education using materials that he downloads from the internet. Darwan says: ‘I am using technology in two ways: 1. to teach my subject effectively in the classroom 2. for development of the personality of students through co-curricular activities. I create and download teaching-learning materials for my subject and use them in the classroom. I also show moral stories, science facts, documentaries of freedom fighters and important days of national importance to the students through the digital projector.’
Why technology is being used Darwan explains, ‘I believe that education is a very potent tool to bring about intellectual, social and economic transformation of our future citizens. Technology has a big role in imparting education effectively regardless of physical, economic and linguistic boundaries. Technology can enhance the quality of education and reduce its cost significantly. I want students to take a keen interest in their studies and develop as good human beings.’
The teaching process Darwan downloads different kinds of materials from the internet, including PDF files, ready-made PowerPoints, YouTube videos, images, along with software like Crocodile Chemistry, which he uses to simulate experiments which would not be possible in the lab because of the lack of resources.
Challenges Doing all of this has not been easy and the scarcity of IT resources was a big challenge at the start. The school initially had limited access to computer systems, but over time, working with funds from the
Teaching and technology: case studies from India
Parent Teachers Association (PTA) and with support from the American India Foundation, they built up the infrastructure. However, Darwan supplements the in-school systems by using his own personal laptop and digicam. Secondly, the students are from rural backgrounds, have little exposure to IT and are not very comfortable with the English language. Darwan started additional computer and spoken English classes in collaboration with other teachers. The students are slowly becoming comfortable with the IT tools. They can now create Word documents and PowerPoints, and can search for terminology in encyclopaedias and browse the internet.
Darwan says ‘My students have started taking a keen interest in the classroom activities since I started using technology in the classroom. Learning outcomes have improved significantly. For the last three years my students have been successfully participating at the state level science fair with their models which are inspired by the use of technology and the internet.’
To find out more • http://crocodile-chemistry.software.informer. com/6.0/
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