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Workshop on IT for Rural Science Education
As part of the research activity in the area of IT in Education, a 2-day workshop was held at IIIT, Hyderabad on 11th and 12th January 2002.
The title of the workshop was .Development and Implementation IT-based methodologies for Rural Science Education.
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The workshop had about 30 participants representing the following:
- NGOs involved in rural science education (Eklavya, Bhopal, Vigyan Shiksha Kendra, Banda, etc)
- School science teachers (Ranga Reddy district of AP, Pondicherry).
- Information technologists (IIT-Madras, CDIT- Trivandrum).
- Administrators (DPEP, A.P.).
- Agencies involved in research into formal and non-formal science education (Homi Bhabha
- Centre for Science Education, Mumbai) and
- Observers (UNICEF, Asim Premji foundation etc).
The workshop focussed on the following areas:
- Instruction methodology
- Content creation
- Software development
- Economic aspects
- Social aspects
- Delivery methodology
The key questions examined by the speakers were : What is the problem with the rural science education at present ? Can IT be used as a vehicle to promote scientific temper and to increase the general awareness of children ? If so, what kind of .content. would enthuse and excite children; How best can IT be used to improve the current scenario in rural science education?
The views of the speakers were discussed and debated in long discussion sessions. It was also used to arrive at a work plan to develop IT-based solutions to science education. A report of the workshop proceedings can be obtained by writing to jsivaswamy@iiit.net or naidu@iiit.net.
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