CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

Content development is an essential part of our efforts at the betterment of Science Education in the country. Content is essential because it forms the basis of effective teaching for the Teacher and conceptual understanding for the student. Science content development is guided by the following:

  • Learning about science based on one's experience of science

  • Confluence of Local practices and Local Wisdom

  • Local language

The content so developed is incorporated with the following features,

  • Multimedia components, viz., Images, Animations, Videos, Audio, etc
  • Visual interpretation of “hard” concepts
  • Multilingual Support

We have developed an exemplar on these principles, called The Sun , whose snap shots are shown below.

Content Development Activity is in 2 areas namely for science education in primary schools and literacy development in bridge schools.

Literacy and Numeracy Development :
This activity is part of the Bridges to the Future Initiative (BFI). BFI is aimed at leveraging the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve literacy and life skills in poor and disadvantaged communities. The BFI is a collaborative partnership between key governmental and non-governmental organizations in Andhra Pradesh , India .

Partners:

•  Government of Andhra Pradesh (GOAP) Ministry of Education

•  University of Pennsylvania Institute for Advanced Studies in India .

•  IIIT-Hyderabad

•  Azim Premji Foundation.

International Literacy Institute (ILI) of University of Pennsylvania ( http://www.literacyonline.org/ili.html ) and IIIT Hyderabad are working together to create a comprehensive multi-media curriculum, with a focus on out-of-school youth, aged 10-22 years of age.
Two major strands of software have been produced to date:

(1) innovative and interactive multimedia material in Telugu that supports the rapid learning of basic reading, writing and math skills;

(2) cross-sectoral content in health/sanitation that weaves literacy support into the health arena. Further work on the health strand is expected to focus on HIV/AIDS information, financial literacy, and other high-impact social information.

We are developing a series of 12 CDs as part of the above effort.