In the previous post, I wrote that I’ll have to find a balance between the good and the bad… Let’s start with the good!
Since 2004, Suchana has been focusing on education for the most excluded people: the adivasi. They have been running a full-time children’s Education Resource Centre as well as a drop-in centre where children can come to play and learn. Since a couple of years, they have taken one step forward and – successfully – implemented ITE, Integrated approach to Technology in Education with the support of The Tata Trust.
“There is one kind of charity common enough among us… It is that patchwork philanthropy which clothes the ragged, feeds the poor, and heals the sick. I am far from decrying the noble spirit which seeks to help a poor or suffering fellow being. [However] what advances a nation or a community is not so much to prop up its weakest and most helpless members, but to lift up the best and the most gifted, so as to make them of the greatest service to the country.” Jamsetji Tata, 1839-1904, Founder of the Tata group.
On January 29th, they held the very first ITE mela inviting teachers and students from every school around as well as institutions of Kolkata.
7 Government Schools participated and Suchana welcomed a total of 329 happy visitors.
What does Integrated Technology in Education really stands for?
As defined by the Tata Trusts’ ITE program, “ITE is a pedagogic framework for integrating technology in teaching and learning and provides children an opportunity to authenticate their learning at school using technology, while imparting crucial technological skills.”
“Rather than creating an additional layer in the classroom, technology is embedded in the teachers’ lesson plans and pedagogy. The teacher designs learning activities and students use technology to construct their own learning.”
“Technology is used as a tool, rather than as an end itself.”
But Suchana’s project was more ambitious than offer ITE in their resource center. They gave the students – 230 children from classes VI to IX – the opportunity to bring their technology skills into the villages through the “community projects”.
Accompanied by a teacher, groups of students went to meet their neighbours and elders and questioned them on different topics: environment, education, work, lifestyle, festivals & other traditions. During the ITE mela, all the videos they’ve realised – wrote, shoot, edited – were shown through the day.
Cell phones, laptops, internet, etc. … Technology is everywhere, even where education does not go.
To give the new generation the ability of making a good use of it is esential and Suchana is doing a wonderful job at it.
Want to help? Want to know more?
Suchana can help introduce the ITE concept into your school or organisation.
suchana.india@gmail.com
http://tatatrustsite.org/category/suchana_childrens_projects/