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‘e-teach’ – A commendable initiative to teach English in vernacular schools

In order for India to truly hold its own on the global stage, there is a need to improve the quality of education imparted to children from under-privileged backgrounds, and also to improve their ability to communicate in English. India’s problem is not just unemployment – but also un-employability of a vast majority of the people of our country who are unable to communicate proficiently in English.80% of students attend state run schools where English is not the primary medium of education. A larger supply of confident, English speaking workforce would improve income levels and buying power for faster economic growth of our country. To reduce this shortcoming, Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) along with Bombay Community Public Trust (BCPT), NGO Muktangan and Learning Space Foundation have collaborated to provide high-quality standardized interactive English teaching aids based on the government prescribed curriculum to help children in state-run and private vernacular medium schools overcome the English barrier and become employable, with a program called ‘e-teach’.  

DVDs were created by TIS for teaching students from Std. 1- 4.The DVDs are closely aligned with the government prescribed curriculum and presents the concept from textbook in an interesting manner. Although, there is a significant effort involved in the development and distribution, these DVDs are being distributed free of cost in municipal and village schools. These DVDs provide teachers a powerful teaching-aid and enable children’s to learn easily and in a fun way. Each of the 4 members of the collaboration has a specific role to play in this initiative:

• Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) is responsible for creating the instructional approach, graphics, integrating and testing the DVDs.
• Muktangan is responsible for guiding the teaching methodology used in DVDs and providing a platform for user-testing,
• Bombay Community Public Trust (BCPT) is responsible for fund raising, administration & accounting and project coordination. 
• Learning Space Foundation is responsible disseminating the e-teach methodology in the rural areas in Maharashtra.

This project won the eMaharashtra 2012 Awards for the best multimedia content for K12.

For detailed information on this initiative, please refer: http://www.afternoondc.in/epaper/EpaperPost.aspx?id=107161

80% of organizations perceive gaming simulations to be too expensive

• 67% attendees have never experienced simulation-based learning during their (university) education
• 50% concede that their training team had no experience in simulations

 As part of our “Ask the Experts” series of Webinars, Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) – the only truly global provider of bespoke digital learning solutions – recently held a session on ‘Business Gaming Solutions’. The Webinar mainly focused on the differences in learning styles in the UK & Germany. It brought forth several pre-conceived notions in terms of the awareness metrics, user engagement and pricing structure of business gaming simulations. However, the use of business gaming in corporate establishments across the globe is gaining momentum, as it allows one to learn by making decisions & mistakes… in a completely risk-free environment.

Even today, there exists a deep rooted culture of creating strategy games in Germany. Also, the use of business games is well-recognized in this part of the world because the structure of education encourages practical application methods. Besides, more than 50% of all Institutes of Higher Education are Universities of Applied Sciences (FH) which are oriented towards teaching application-based professionals skills.

Close on the heels of this discussion, a poll was conducted to gauge ‘the attendees’ experience with simulation-based learning during their (university) education’. And, the poll results declared that almost 2/3^rd of the audience had not experienced a business game. In fact, in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, there is an institutional mechanism to support these simulations. On the other hand, SAGSET founded in the UK in 1970 is almost defunct today; while SAGSAGA and ISAGA are thriving in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Also, according to statistics, learning retention can be as high as 75% in cases where business games are included as part of the curriculum, as compared to 5% in a lecture, 20% through audio visual and 50% through a discussion group. Further, business games also offer a holistic, comprehensive and risk-free decision making environment for a corporate house.

TIS polled attendees to understand the obstacles when it comes to introducing business simulations in corporate houses. Almost 80% revealed that they perceived the tool to be too expensive, while 50% conceded that their training team had no experience in simulations.

The Webinar also brought forth the fact that business games can be used in multiple application areas such as e.g. Onboarding, Assessment, Employer Branding, Sales Effectiveness, Leadership and Change Management Initiatives as well as Strategy Development. This is because they are flexible, scalable and can be custom-fit to be used on-site as well as off-site (e.g. on tablets and smartphones). These business simulations are so rich in content that the participants can take up decision-making roles of their units to compete as teams against other units in a simulated environment. While proceeding through different modules, teams need to plan, strategize and decide, taking into account several variables that influence the operating environment.

Click here to access the archived video of “Business Gaming Solutions” Webinar. 

- Dominik Maier, Principal Consultant, TIS, Germany, who presented the Webinar