BANGALORE: Manjunath. B.N feels that the 30 minutes of his computer practical class is not sufficient as each student gets not more than five minutes hands-on. However, he is glad that the computer which he had not seen or touched till he joined the Government Pre University College at Peenya, is a "wonder machine" and "user-friendly".

It is not just Manjunath, who has come to "master" technology, but teachers who have been so used to the chalk and talk method, have come to grips with computers. Thanks, to the training offered by Intel to the teachers and the students of Government schools under the Intel Innovation in Education Initiative, both the teacher and the students have found new meaning to learning itself.

In association with the Department of State Education Research and Training (DSERT), Intel has been working in "demystifying" the computer to the underprivileged and the needy.

The India Education Manager of Intel, Ashutosh Chadha, told The Hindu that the education programme is aimed at professional and capacity development of teachers, besides creating an environment to use technical tools with ease. The programme is for both elementary and secondary schools. For higher secondary schools, Intel is working at upgrading the level of curriculum offered in various areas, more so in semiconductor devices.

It also has technology dissemination programmes for rural and slum children.

At the collegiate level, Intel provides support to engineering colleges to work on industry-academic collaborative projects. Besides research grants, several technical lectures on technical advancements are conducted. "Over $100 million is contributed every year towards education across 45 countries," he said.

Intel works not with computer science teachers but others who wish to learn computers and who do not have the required infrastructure. The master trainers, who have been trained under the programme, then spread the concept of technology-aided teaching and help the implementation of technology supported project based learning (TSPBL).

It is believed that after the introduction of computers in Government schools, the enrolment has gone up. Such programmes and resources are localised, meeting the needs. Intel is working on developing technology standards based on the State curriculum, adds Jagannath Rao, Director, DSERT.

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