NCERT books to have QR codes

Move to digitalise culture will take a step forward in the upcoming academic year with the decision to introduce Quick Response (QR) codes in textbooks published by the NCERT. The quick response code will mostly be web links that can be read by smart phone cameras that will redirect the students to films, short videos and other additional information related to the syllabus in books.

The material available will help to establish well the syllabus available in the book and help them learn it better as it will be an interactive mode of education.

The move has been lauded by teachers who stated that any additional information outside the book will broaden the knowledge of children.

Deepthi Divakar, a teacher said that it is not advisable to have students mug up their syllabus and at the same time, complete digitisation of education is also not recommended.

“This method will ensure a fine balance between the two. Students can choose to study more and read more as they wish at the time they feel it is convenient,” she said.

Textbooks for subjects like mathematics and science that have practical equations will also redirect students to interactive questions that will ensure the students practice more.

“We tried creating Direct to Home channels to ensure that students make use of the facilities such as external tutorial videos, interactive Q and A sessions etc. But we did not get a good response. With QR codes behind text books, we can also have teachers to encourage students to check out the information. The information will be divided on a chapter-wise basis. Earlier, we used to give CDs along with textbooks for higher grades, important chapters that had diagrams and others. Now it will be more interactive and we will also start the same from lower grade onwards so that students read beyond their books,” a CBSE official said.