Computer-aided Learning Centers need Upgradation

Computer-aided Learning Centers need Upgradation

Chennai: Education Department officials are now acting upon the complaints received from school authorities to upgrade the computer Aided Learning (CAL) Centres, promoted in coordination with the Azim Premji Foundation.

Official sources in the department told *Express* on Wednesday that most centers were not being used effectively due to additional material, upgradation and the non-availability of a regular trainer.

“The CAL centers are meant for students from the government and Corporations schools in the 10 zones. As most centers have only four computers, which can be used by a small group of students at a time, additional computer terminals are required,” an official said.

Stating that along with additional computers, the software upgradation also has to be carried out, she said, “The Corporation has upgraded a few centers, but by all large, the software need not to be upgraded. The Sarva Shikha Abhiyan programme has created a team to look into the problem at each centre and we are planning to bring in the latest educational software soon,” she added.

The CAL Centres currently have around 62 bilingual CDs that were prepared for training teachers and students. But officials say that more CDs covering diverse subjects should be introduced.

“We have got suggestions from school authorities to bring in subject specific CDs that would make complex theory easier for school students. We are working on creating CDs for Maths and Science especially,” she said.

Adding that video CDs and documentary films can also be shown to students at the CAL centers, officials said the centers also needed a full-time regular trainer.

This, along with time slots for each school, can increase the effectiveness of the usage of these centers, official said.

Computer-aided Learning Centers need Upgradation

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