the goan I network
PANAJI
In a move to go “smart” in all respects, the Central Government has now sanctioned Rs 3 crore to convert classrooms in three government colleges in Goa to “smart” classrooms.
The Government colleges in Sanquelim, Khandola and Quepem will be equipped with all the tools necessary to make their classrooms state-of-the-art, so that students and teachers can advance from traditional methods of teaching and learning.
Director of Higher Education Prasad Lolayekar said this was the first time that the state would witness this type of a move to digitalise classrooms completely.
“For the first time ever in Goa, certain colleges will be given funds to make their classrooms “smart” classrooms,” he said.
Besides these three colleges that will get funds from the Central Government, a fourth college, Government College of Commerce in Borda, Margao, will be disbursed Rs 75 lakh from the State Government for infrastructure upgrades on similar lines.
What does a “smart classroom” mean?
Firstly, blackboards will be replaced with light-emitting diode (LED) boards. Also, each of the classrooms will have a state-of-the-art podium with inbuilt software and subject-wise packages. It will also be fitted with a document camera.
Each classroom will also be equipped with a high-end sound system.
These changes will be made in different phases. Parallel to these smart changes for infrastructure, teachers will be given training in the art of using this technology which is being implemented to facilitate the teaching-learning process.
However, once these smart classrooms are ready, teachers will have to completely do away with traditional methods of teaching. The age old chalk and board method for example, will be eliminated as an option.
All four colleges that will benefit from this move by the government is expected to encourage students to bring their laptops, or tablets to class, and to record lectures which they can replay at their convenience in their homes to help them learn better.
Teachers will also have the facility to edit lectures once recorded.
Furthermore, to encourage virtual learning, audio-visual recordings of lectures delivered in top universities across the world will be translated and played for the students in these colleges with “smart” classrooms.
Classrooms may be going smart but whether the bar of education in Goa heads north or not will be defined by whether or not these changes get a thumbs-up from people that matter -- faculty and students.
Blackboards to be replaced with light-emitting diode boards
Each classroom to have state-of-the-art podium with inbuilt software and subject-wise packages and equipped with a high-end sound system
Teachers to be given training in art of using this tech which is being implemented to facilitate teaching-learning process
Chalk and board method to be eliminated
Students to be encouraged to bring laptops, tablets to class to record lectures
Teachers to have facility to edit lectures once recorded
Audio-visual recordings of lectures delivered in top universities across the world to be translated and played for the students
New Master’s courses in govt colleges
PANAJI: Government colleges in Goa are set to start new Masters Programmes this year due to a shortage of seats for some Master’s courses in the University and other colleges in the State. Government College, Sanquelim, has been given permission by the Department of Higher Education to start an MSc in Mathematics, an MA in Economics, and an MA in Hindi. Government College Pernem has been given permission to start MA in Konkani and MSc in Mathematics, and Government College Khandola has been given permission to start an MA in Geography, the Director of Higher Education in the state, Prasad Lolayekar informed on Thursday.
“In the past year, it has come to our notice that many students did not get admission into these courses in the private colleges that are offering them,” he said. It was thus decided to start these courses in the government-run colleges so that interested students could take admission for the same.
