Bringing Life Back to Classrooms through Smart Teaching Mrs. Pushpinder Kaur M.Sc. (Chem), M.

Lib & Inf Sc. Librarian G.H.G.Harparkash College of Education for Women Sidhwan Khurd, Ludhiana. Abstract In the fast changing scenario of global world there is a need to create a techno learned society. The dimensions of education have also been changing with this changing scenario. The age old teaching methods like the use of chalk and talk method do not meet up the intellectual, psychological and emotional needs of the learners. As the technology is becoming more sophisticated so has its implementation in daily classroom situations. It has become essential for the teachers to acquaint themselves with the necessary skills required to cope up with the present scenario. Smart teachers with the help of smart classrooms can definitely create smart learners. Introduction Many-many years ago children were required to write on their individual chalkboards because classrooms did not have boards. Later on came blackboards mounted to the walls of a class room. Few years into future, class rooms switched to white boards with erasable markers and now interactive whiteboards (huge board mounted to the walls of a class room) have replaced the earlier board with certain exceptions in few schools. Hence changing the old classrooms to the smart classrooms. Basically, a smart classroom is a classroom that has an instructor station or knowledge center equipped with computer and audio visual equipment allowing the instructor to teach using a wide variety of media. In other words smart class is powered by a vast repository of instructor led digital preservation materials such as animation/ video clips/ etc. which are mapped to curriculum guidelines adopted by the school. The content modules are made available to the teachers right inside the class rooms as and when they need them as per their own pre specified time tables. A powerful application engine enables teachers to search/ select/ view/ prepare lesson plans and use the content module in the class. History Smart class was launched by Educomp on a limited pilot basis as early as in 2004. In the initial stages a soft launch across a few select geographies confirmed that the promised value proposition and the model of delivery offered by smart class had phenomenon acceptance amongst private schools of all categories. Some of the most reputed schools in India such DPS, RK Puram, Bal Bharti School in Delhi and Padma Seshadri Group of

schools in Chennai were amongst the first to adopt the programme under Saru Siksha Abhiyaan (SSA) The UT education department introduced smart classrooms for classes I to VIII where in children will be taught three multimedia content related to their syllabus. The project is an initiative of ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. Changing Dimensions As competition intensifies organization, need smart ways to compete either through their products, services or through innovative practices. There can be various drivers for the adoption of smart classrooms. These are: Intensifying competition Accelerating change Continuing information explosion Communication and information technologies. Information for all Information and knowledge based differentiation Knowledge management And in response to the above drivers we should catalyse change, re-invent our roles develop strategic partnership, concentrate on what goals are to be achieved and exploit new means and fundamental skills to achieve those goals. These skills can be achieved with self belief-vision, creativity and opportunism, confidence and willingness to take risks, focussed team playing and partnership. Equipments required for changing a traditional classroom into a smart classroom Smart class room is always changing and evolving with time because new products and services are being developed to improve the way in which knowledge is imparted to students. Interactive work table Required to interact with each other and the programme that appears with a touch screen table top. Smart slate It is required to write things on the screen and is a portable tool. DVD Players Instructional DVDs can be used to display the required material. Smart white boards These boards allow computer images to project onto a screen that can be interacted with or by students and teachers. Avoiding Cyber Crime For the safety of the students online and to avoid cyber crime number of systems can be adopted in the smart classrooms. These systems are: Network filteration system:This system allows school administrator to filter out specific content which are supposed to be unacceptable in the society e.g. porn sites and violent video games and other such related programmes. Stealth Monitoring Programme:These programmes can be downloaded onto the network and can provide detailed history of the sites visited, time spent on a particular site and along with what their students are actually using internet for? Advantages of a smart Classroom:-

Better understanding / recalling of the concepts taught in the class through visual and digital presentations. Students can have more hands on approach to learning. Students actually interact and experience in real time situations. Able to focus on a topic for a longer period and hence better information retainment. To explore the subject by wide learning. Interactive work table. Higher percentage of students are engaged in learning. Video chat and conferencing, use of internet, smart phones and hence different learning styles. Setting up of websites and online portals by teachers for their students. Teachers can work better with live demonstrations in class. Smart assessment of students can be made. Set own pace of teaching according to individuals performance. Less record keeping activities and more time saving techniques. Use of music players, stop watch, chimes instead of loud teacher yells. Emergence of e-books and e-readers which is finally inexpensive in long run, portable and easily accessible. Emergence of tech savvy devices super smart and creative applications helpful in teaching. Emergence of digital classrooms. Challenges and limitations Education is a process of human enlightenment and empowerment for achieving better and higher quality of life long learning. Technology is changing the world and also rapidly changing the classrooms. Keeping up with the advances in technology is an important factor in changing students and the way they study. But the main challenge and limitation in such programmes is that these programmes should be cost effective and affordable for all. Grants should be given either by private organizations or government for proper implementation of new technologies and teachers should be given regular training to cope up with the changing classroom techniques. Conclusion Universal education of all children in literacy is a recent development. And to achieve literacy, absorbed knowledge has to be tossed in right direction. Switching from regular classrooms to smart classrooms can enhance teaching. Many schools are taking steps to transform their old class rooms into virtual learning environment. At the same time students also have the ability to convert their ideas and thoughts to useful strategies and concepts using the various aspects of technologies. Need is to put them in a familiar and technical environment where they can thrive for and grow. Modern technology is certainly changing classrooms for the better. One can expect to see more advancements in the classrooms in the coming years. Technological improvements should arise from public commitment rather than fortuitous private philanthropy. Bibliography Kishan, Ramnath N Global Trends in Teacher Education: APH Publishing Corporation, New Delhi.

http://www.ncte-in.org/- Information and Communication Technology Literacy (Curriculum for Teacher Education) http://www.ncert.nic.in/sites/publications/schoolcurriculum/it_curri_content Information Technology in Schools Curriculum Guide and Syllabus; NCERT, 2001. M.D. Roblyer & Edward, Jack (2000) (ii Edition) integrating Education Technology into teaching, New Delhi, Merill Prentice Hall. Bitner, N. & Bitner J. (2000). Integrating Technology into the classroom: Eigat keys to succts. Journal of Technology and Teacher education 10 (1), 95-100.]