Teacher creates free WiFi zone on govt school premises
The step has enriched classroom sessions with audiovisual learning and marked improvement in attendance
LUCKNOW: To help students benefit from the treasure trove of audio-video learning material available on youtube and other portals, the head teacher of a primary school at Sidhauti, in Gonda district, has used his own resources to convert the institute premises into a free Wi-Fi zone.
Brij Shyam Singh, 35, posted at the school since January 2015, quickly realised that he needed to make the teaching-learning exercise more innovative. He decided to tap into the audio-visual content available on the internet.
“These days, operators are providing Wi-Fi services at very affordable prices. I brought a router and shared the password with our teachers. There are five teachers here, and all of them have smartphones. I asked them to use the internet facility and make their classroom sessions more interesting,” said Singh.
The teachers have downloaded various music-based lessons on their phones, which they play during class. “Music helps students understand concepts better. It also makes the teacher’s task much simpler. And the result is that classroom teaching has become far more interesting for students,” said the head teacher.
The free Wi-Fi zone has created a buzz in the village too, as students have been talking about it. “The attendance of the students has also improved. They don’t want to miss any classes now,” said Singh.
With enrolment at government schools on a decline, this innovative practice of integrating technology with classroom teaching is expected to serve as an example for other schools as well. “Such steps by teachers are a welcome sign. We hope that other teachers will replicate this move at their institutes,” said an official working at the basic education department.
Singh agrees. “If the school head teachers and their colleagues make small contributions from their salaries, together, they can bring about a welcoming change in the education system. It may also inspire others to step out and join hands with government schools, to create a better learning space for children,” he said.
The internet facility has other advantages too. Senior officials of the education department often ask teachers to send across official documents such as attendance sheets of students. Now all that can be shared with just a few clicks. “Earlier, we had to go to cyber cafe to access the internet. But now, we directly send across the required information,” said Singh.
These days, operators are providing WiFi services at very affordable prices. I brought a router and shared the password with our teachers BRIJ SHYAM SINGH, teacher