Learning Boost- School Gaari Photo Essay

Despite leaps in IT advancement, most government schools’ students and teachers do not have access to extensive repository knowledge that is accessible through internet connectivity. Information communication technology can improve teachers’ skills and directly impact learning outcomes of students. SNG’s Challenge Fund sponsored pilot project ‘Learning Boost’ has brought quality education at the doorstep of more than 76,000 students of government primary schools by connecting them to online learning content and tools. In an IT enabled environment this project focuses on improving delivery of primary education by training teachers on early grade numeracy & literacy and grade 5 mathematics, by an expert master teacher trainer using a virtual classroom environment from a remote location. The pilot project is being implemented in 212 government primary schools in two districts, Vehari and Mandi Bahauddin of the province of Punjab.

The School ‘Gaari’ is part of Learning Boost - a purpose-built satellite equipped mobile van containing computer servers, Android tablets, a power-generator, UPS and routers to bring technology capability directly to a hub school daily, where teachers and children from neighboring communities partake in multiple learning activities.

Teachers get training on better teaching techniques with preloaded Android tablets. This curriculum aligned training program covers teaching pedagogy and content for grades K-5 literacy and mathematics. Here a teacher is being evaluated on her training, which will further be reinforced through feedback based on classroom observation.

Teachers use the same tablets provided as teaching aids to assist children with progressive learning skills. Students and teachers are assessed on each visit of the van (once every two weeks) and the results are discussed between each teacher and the master teacher trainer who also acts as a mentor.

Rashid, from Grade 5 takes part in distance virtual learning, where remote information communication technology is used to teach students. Teachers sit with the students and observe the methods adopted by the remote trainer teacher, to improve their own styles.

Raza shows his ‘remote teacher’ sitting in Islamabad, his class work during an online learning session that uses a specially developed virtual learning and VoIP software.

Weekly Reading & Math Camps are held at schools to seed the culture of reading and numbers. This one is held in Government High School, Chround in Mandi Bahauddin

Fatima gets enhanced exposure to innovative, engaging and exciting learning techniques that reinforce learning inside and outside the classroom. These comprise a variety of printed resources, mobile digital libraries, tablet based e-books, multimedia content, interactive education games and automated tutors.

Parent-teacher sessions are conducted by Community Learning Workers. These awareness sessions attended mostly by mothers, work as a forum to discuss children’s progress and have encouraged parents with non-school going children to enroll their own in school. Recently 27 children out of school children have been enrolled in Mandi Bahauddin.