E-Teaching Initiative for E-Teaching-Aid for Vernacular Schools in Maharashtra, India

He who teaches children learns more than they do. German Proverb

An initiative by: Tata Interactive Systems * BCPT * Muktangan

Project Background
Tata Interactive Systems, Bombay Community Public Trust and Muktangan have collaborated to provide high quality, interactive English teaching aids aligned to the Maharashtra State curriculum to help children in state-run and private vernacular medium schools overcome the English barrier and become employable. DVDs are being created for teaching students from Std. 1 - 4. There are 4 DVDs for each grade level. These DVDs all run on the basic TV sets available in the municipal schools, and require little or no computer knowledge to operate. Teachers are being trained to use them optimally in schools These DVDs are already running in 75 municipal schools, village schools and balwadis in Maharashtra. NGOs such as Learning Space Foundation have helped in dissemination of these DVDs.

Project Objectives
To build good communication and writing skills in English for children of underprivileged backgrounds with a view to increase employability in future. To overcome non-availability of qualified English Teachers in vernacular-medium schools, by prompting the existing Teachers to improve their skills, and simultaneously imparting standardized diction / knowledge to the students. To disseminate these DVDs free as widely as possible, to benefit the economically deprived students who cannot afford special coaching classes.

Design Approach
Follows a graded, participatory approach to teaching English Based on the Maharashtra State text books Basic structures of language are taught by using interesting contexts, scenarios, stories , games and songs Since the focus is on communication skills, emphasis is given to conversation elements, phonics, sight words, consonant sounds, vowel sounds A set of characters are used in the CDs which are multi-religious, and the same age group as the target audience. An Indian accent is used throughout to ensure that children understand the audio clearly The overall metaphor used is of a journey. In class 1 DVDs the metaphor is a journey in a toy train to Songdurgh, Talkpur, Soundgarh and Rhymegiri. In the class2 DVDs a similar journey is done in a hot air balloon.

Excerpts from Class 1

Toy train animation

Choosing a station to visit

Choosing talkpur

Nikhil, Jenny, Ahmed and Ruchi build conversation skills with Gadi kaka

The children learn songs at the zoo

The monkey hops on the rhyming words

Words and their related pictures are practiced

Excerpts from Class 2

Opening Animation
Children along with their teacher travel in a hot air balloon and land in an area with directions to different stations.

The children along with their teacher travel in an air balloon..

The children along with their teacher travel in an air balloon..

And land in an area with directions to different stations. Clicking a station takes the children to that location where children learn various topics..

Sample topics

Now, view some sample topics from different locations

In the market
Gadi kakas assistant is on leave today. You need to assist him. There is a lady customer who asks for fruits and vegetables of different descriptions. Accordingly, matching fruits introduce themselves and go into her bag. Children learn about fruits and vegetables in a story-based manner.

Customer asks for a juicy red fruit.

I want a juicy red fruit.

An apple from the cart says, I am a juicy red fruit. I am an apple. and goes into the ladys bag.
I am a juicy red fruit. I am an apple.

Customer then asks for the king of fruit

I want the king of fruit.

A mango says, I am the king of fruit. I am a mango. and goes into the ladys bag.

I am the king of fruit. I am a mango.

Similarly, a banana, pineapple, orange and vegetables like carrot, potato, brinjal, beans, peas, cauliflower, etc go into the bag according to the ladys descriptions. Children learn about fruits in a story-based manner.

I am golden yellow in colour. I am a banana.

Directions
Ruchi is lost and needs directions to go home. In guiding Ruchi home, children learn about directions - up, down, left and right.

Ruchi goes up the bridge.

Ruchi goes down the bridge.

Ruchi goes left.

Ruchi goes right.

And Ruchi is home!!!!

Story time

Children hear stories from a speaking tree

The speaking tree tells a story of a whistle that is lost and found.

Story of a whistle that is lost and found..

And the story goes on

Genie and Chotu

Children learn vocabulary through the story of Chotu rabbit and genie. Chotu is expecting Guests and is very worried because his house is so dirty. He is cleaning a lamp, when suddenly a Genie appears and does all his chores for him.

Genie appears and Chotu is shocked..

Chotu has a question for Genie..

Genie, what will my guests eat?

Genie does his magic...

And food is ready..similarly genie does many other tasks and the children learn about these actions in a story-based format.

Opposites with Mintu

Mintu monkey teaches children opposite words.

Big X small

Tall X short and so on..

Meet new people

Children spin a wheel to meet different people and learn what they do.

Teacher introduces the children to the game..

A child spins the wheel.

And meets a farmer who says, I am farmer. I use a plough. I grow crops.

Let's draw a picture

Teacher draws sleeping lines, slanting lines, standing lines, crooked lines, dots, circles, semi circles and the shapes turn out to be an elephant. The kids are surprised and happy. They learn about these shapes in a fun manner.

Teacher tells the children that shes going to be drawing a picture..

Teacher draws eight standing lines

Teacher draws crooked lines..and many other shapes.

And its an elephant!!!

Testimonials
The DVD provided a visual input to our students who are primarily visual learners. The students were also primary learners. The students were found identifying with the love and the voice of the children in the DVD. The DVD is a supportive aid which will help the students to attempt the workbook with comfort and familiarity. Ms Fionika, Grade IV Teacher, Sadhana School (Sophia College) I found a definite improvement in the childrens ability to remember concepts by the 3rd and 4th viewing of the CD the children could sing along to everything and respond to everything in the CD perfectly. Ms Kalpana, Shishu Vihar School In a recent meeting of the board they had discussed the problem of the lack of adequate English education in the younger classes. This CD has come at a very good time as the school is keen to implement any measures that will help enable the children to get a firmer grounding in the language. Trustee, Seva Sadan Primary School

Thank You