How a Math Teacher Turned a Small School in Uttarakhand Into a Model One
A math teacher enables technology based learning to make a small school in Uttarakhand a model one.
Forest fires cause widespread damage, but is there a way to contain them? This question was put to high school students of Government Inter College (GIC), Dudhli, in Uttarakhand, by their teacher Jagdamba Prasad Dobhal. The students found that fire lines are used to contain forest fires. A patch of land through the forest is cleared of bushes, ensuring that the fire cannot spread beyond. The students visited the forest near their village, and with the help of the Forest Department, they made a fire line that was 10 m wide and 8 km long. This is indeed a rare achievement for any school and all the more so for a small school in a village 20 km from Dehradun, with fewer than 300 students and limited resources. But math teacher Jagdamba Prasad does not let limited resources come in the way of enabling better learning. For him, technology is the answer. Ever since he completed his training under the Intel Teach Program in 2002, he has tried to make learning easier and more comprehensive using information and communication technology (ICT).
Jagdamba Prasad saw a computer for the first time in his life when he attended the Intel Teach course, but it immediately opened his mind to the huge learning potential it could bring to a classroom. He was at that time teaching at GIC, Nainbagh, Tehri Garhwal. One day, when he was out on his scooter, he saw a landslide happen. Landslides are usually associated with the monsoons, but this was not the rainy season. It got him thinking. He decided to use a project-based approach to help the community figure out how landslides are caused. He got his students to collect data and photographs of landslides in the region over the past few years. Students spoke to people who had been impacted by landslides, and found that most occurred because of human activity like road construction and deforestation. This project won a prize at Aarohan 2004, a competition organised by the Uttarakhand Government with Intel’s support.
Against All Odds
Soon after, Jagdamba Prasad was transferred to GIC, Dudhli. He sought permission to start using technology for teaching, but, given the school’s limited resources, he was told he would have to get the funds himself. After much effort, he managed to get four black and white TV sets and a DVD player. He started using educational CDs for the students so they could learn from resources other than their books. Over time, he got a computer and dial-up connectivity at the school, and this exposed students to more interesting information.
He encouraged students to participate in various science fairs. The results have been astounding: the school, which never participated in science fairs before, now ranks among the top when such fairs are held. The reputation of the school started to grow. Work in Progress Jagdamba Prasad has been using ICT in classrooms for a decade now. What does he consider his major achievements? He says there are three. To start with, enrolment at the school has gone up, contrary to the pattern in other government schools. From 240 students in 2006, the school now has 294 students. “In fact, students who were slated to join high profile public schools choose to join our school,” says Jagdamba Prasad.
Then there is the jump in pass percentage in the board exams, from below 30% to 80-90% — a matter of great pride to the school. Third, there is widespread participation in co-curricular activities by the school’s students.
Despite the severe resource constraint he faced, this exemplary teacher has brought about tremendous change in the school. Today, the school is equipped with high-end computers, a projector, and broadband connectivity, and has been recognised as a Smart School by the Department of Science and Technology. Jagdamba Prasad himself has won many accolades, including the state-level Best Teacher Award in 2009, and the President’s Award in 2010. He is now creating a math lab for students of Classes 9 and 10, working along with his students using a project-based approach. He aims to make this lab a role
model for the state. And if he needs help, he just speaks to the team at Intel, who are always willing to help him out.
