A lot was achieved in the Asha Kanini project during 2023-24. In addition to continuing to work on our Asha Kanini product, several contributions were made to improve our IT related processes. See the detailed report.
RTC REPORT (APRIL – JUNE 2024)
During the Feb to July 2024 term, there were 7 active RTCs.
Thoothukudi District:
Kanakamma Chathiram (Thiruvalangadu Block)
Seethanjeri (Poondi Block)
Thomur (Poondi Block)
Kannigaiper (Ellapuram Block),
Periyapalayam (Ellapuram Block)
Thoothukudi District:
Kalugumalai
Kayathar
We had started the process of adding two more RTCs at Nallatinpudhur (Thoothukudi) and Kilpennathur (Thiruvannamalai). As opportunities come (both in terms of funding and teacher talent) we will start new RTCs in other locations. These RTCs are described in the next section.
RTC COURSES
Basic Digital Literacy, Basics of Programming, Web Development, Physical Programming and Animation using JavaScript are being offered at the various RTCs. But the courses offered by each RTC will change to give the opportunity for all students to take these advanced courses. The contents of the Basic Digital Literacy and Basics of Programming will be enhanced a little bit. Here is a description of all our courses.
| Basic Digital Literac | This is the first course and teacher the children how to use the computer and the Internet. We teach them the basics of the Windows Operating system, teach them how to use usual office software (text document, spreadsheet and presentation). We also teach them how to search on the Internet, exchange emails etc. Their project work is a presentation. |
| Basic Programming | Here we teach them programming using Scratch. They learn standard aspects of programming as a sequence of steps. They learn conditionals, loops, subroutines, variables etc. They also learn specific aspects of Scratch like controlling the looks, motions, sounds etc. of sprites. Their project is an involved program in Scratch. |
| Web Development – 1 | This is based on Code.org module in CS Discoveries. This will teach them how to create a page using HTML and CSS. Their project work will be to create a detailed web page with several sub-pages etc. |
| Javascript Animations | This is also based on Code.org module in CS Discoveries. They will learn to use Javascript within their Applap programming environment. They will gradually transition from block based to text based programming. Their project will be to develop an animated game in the environment. |
| Physical Programming | This is also based on Code.org module in CS Discoveries. They learn to read the sensors in the AdaFruit Circuit Playground Express card. They also trigger sounds and led lights in the board. They use the Applab programming environment. Their project is a detailed program using all the features of the board. |
| Media Editing | This is an advanced course created by Asha. There are many tools for editing photos, audio files, and videos, and for creating videos, collages, documents etc. These are found to be useful in a wide variety of careers. We hope to introduce students to these kinds of tools through free and online tools. Their project work will be a well edited video or a collection of things around a theme put together using Canva or Presi. |
We are planning to introduce more courses over the next couple of terms. These include, | |
| Web Development – 2 | This takes off from where Web Development -1 course stopped. It teaches them how to develop a client-server webapp. It teaches them JavaScript, node, expressjs and a little bit of MySQL to implement the backend. Their project will be a full-stack web application. |
| Intro to Robotics | In this course the students will learn how sensors and actuators can be used together to make a Robot perform something. We may use the Circuit Playground Express cards that we are currently using to teach physical programming to move the students to the next stage of building their own Robots. We are currently evaluating the options available in terms of hardware to use for the course.’ |
| Artificial Intelligence | Code.org offers a mini-module on Artificial Intelligence which teaches the students how deep learning works. We plan to add to it practical knowledge of how to use Chat GPT, Dall-e, Bard and other popular AI tools. We further plan to teach the students how companies are using the AI tools and integrating it with other things that they are doing using prompt engineering. |
ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
RTCs currently conduct a rigorous one-hour exam on the computer to test the students. Their project work is also used as a component of their evaluation. In addition to these we also conduct sample base line and end line assessments based on the standardised assessments available at digitalliteracyassessment.org or something similar. The details of these can be found here.
KANAKAMMACHATIRAM
During April, teachers Yamini L B and Eswari R visited GHSS Kanagammachathiram and GHSS Arcot Kuppam, where they taught Digital Literacy and Basic Programming. The RTC was closed from the end of April to May 19 due to exams and the start of the students’ vacation. In May, the teachers spent time reviewing previous material and resumed lessons later in the month. June is dedicated to project submissions, and students have been actively collaborating with the teachers to complete and submit their projects. The teachers continue to teach Digital Literacy and Basic Programming at the schools.
Teachers: Yamini L B, Eswari R, Sasikala Paired Schools: GHSS Kanagammachathiram and GHSS Arcot Kuppam RTC Strength: 80 School Strength: 650 + 700 Courses Offered: Digital Literacy, Basic programming, Web Development, Physical computing, Animation, Media Editing |
GHSS Kanagammachathiram received 14 new donated desktops through Cognizant. Asha pitched in with the electrical work for the same. The students are now able to use the new computers and have been busy with project submission.
Kanagammachathiram RTC offers five courses- Digital Literacy, Basic programming, Web Development, Physical computing and newly launched course named Media Editing. This course is being offered at Kanagammachathiram and Thomur RTCs only. The students tried the courseand were thrilled to learn something new. They have been trying their hands at the editing skills since then.
Currently, teachers Yamini L B and Eswari R are running the RTC. As Eswari left on maternity leave in June a new RTC teacher named Sasikala has been working since May 20. Once Eswari joins back, Sasikala will start work at a new RTC at Thiruttani.
In the RTC Impressions KKC RTC students Ranjith S and Marudhu Pandiyan R won the 3rd place in Scratch programming and Chelvan A and Banu Prasad A won 1st prize in advance programming Animation.
SEETHANJERI
The teachers took classes until April 20th, after which the RTC closed down for vacation and reopened on 20 May. The students have been involved in doing Project work all of June.
Teachers: K.Radha & M.Anusuya Paired Schools: GHSS Seethanjeri & GHSS Pondhavakkam RTC Strength: 80 School Strength: 422 and Courses Offered: Digital Literacy, Basic programming, Web Development, Physical computing, Animation |
The teachers at Seethanjeri handle 5 batches. M Anusuya handles digital literacy and Radha handles programming, physical computing, animation, and web development.
Some students from Goonipalayam come from poor backgrounds and are not able to afford transport cost to the RTC. Such students are provided bus fare by Asha. Asha also provides snacks to the children at RTCs in the evening since they come directly from their schools.
A few students who are now learning advances courses are in Class 10. Considering the pressure for boards, these students are often discouraged by their school teachers and parents to spend time at the RTCs. The distance and travel time acts as a deterrent to these students. However, the children enjoy their time learning at the RTCs and strive to complete their project work along with their teachers.
During the RTC Impression held in Feb 2024, N. Monisha from Seethanjeri RTC won the 2nd Prize for their project Ludo and Tic Tac Toe. S.Ranjith Kumar, V.Sathvika, N.Sarmi won the 3rd Prize in Presentation for their project Rescue my Friend.
KANNIGAIPAIR RTC
This is a single teacher RTC and B. Nadhiya has been running it. In May, the RTC was closed due to vacation. The students had gone out of town to their native places or on vacation. Since June, the students have begun coming to the RTC regularly. Students have been learning Digital Literacy, Programming, Web development, Physical computing and Animation courses at the RTC.
Teachers: B. Nadhiya Paired Schools: GHSS Kannigaipair RTC Strength: 53 School Strength: 495 Courses Offered: Digital Literacy, Basic programming, Web Development, Physical computing, Animation |
Nathiya teaches Digital Literacy at GHSS Kannigaipair. Since project work had begun in June, the RTC was run even during Sundays. The students have completed the projects with great enthusiasm. Asha has been providing bus fare to students coming from farther places. This has helped encourage greater participation by the students. They will bring lunch and spend time learning at the RTC for the whole day.
During RTC Impressions, students Sukran, Bhuvanesh, Santhosh Kumar won the 3rd place in Digital literacy for their project Vivasayam and Priskilla won 1st place in Physical computing.
Currently the students are working on all the five courses.Some students come from Kannigaipair school, some from Padiyanallur school in Redhills , and a few from Neyveli, and Thirukandalam.
KAYATHAR
Kayathar RTC is a two teacher RTC run by S.Noorul Rifaya and S.Benazeer Begam. The RTC had faced issues with retaining students until the end of the course. The children who are not very serious about their learning tend to drop out mid-course. The RTC teachers have been making efforts to bring in students who are really interested in the courses being offered. Like other RTCs, the students have resumed courses after the summer vacation and have been working on project submission in June.
Teachers: S.Noorul Rifaya, S.Benazeer Begam Paired Schools: VPKB HSSchool RTC Strength: 81 School Strength: 752 Courses Offered: Digital Literacy, Basic programming, Web Development, Animation |
Students from the nearby villages like Paneerkulam, Ayyanaroothu, Paneekarkulam, Suriyaminikkan, Thirumangalankuruchi, Vellalankottai, Nagalapuram, Karisalkulam and Kayathar are using this RTC.
A student named Sutha had discontinued her studies 2 years ago, but now she has developed interest in our program and has joined the RTC.
The HMs from Karisalkulam and Thirumangalankurichi are taking lots of efforts to send students to our RTC even when the school is working on a Saturday.
F.Rabiath Faariza , K.Mohammad Sheik Arsaq and M.A.C.D.Ahamed Abdullah Ebrahim from Kayathar RTC won the consolation prize in Presentation competition during RTC Impressions last year.
KALUGUMALAI
The Kalagumalai RTC is run by Gayathri and Buvana Kirubadevi. The children from nearby villages such as Kaalampatti, Thulukarpatti, Karadikulam, Kattalankulam, Saravanapuram and other private school students are also utilizing our RTC. These schools are from remote areas.
Teachers: Gayathri, Buvana Kirubadevi Paired Schools: GHSS Kalugumalai RTC Strength: 100 School Strength: 905 Courses Offered: Digital Literacy, Basic programming, Physical Computing, Animation |
GHSS Kalugumalai that is paired with this RTC also comprises of students from various villages, as it is the only Govt Higher Secondary School in this Surrounding.
Some students who were taught by our Computer Teachers have directly moved to Basic Programming Course. One of the students, Mathan Kumar from GHSS Kalugumalai has won 1st Prize in Basic Programming for his project Crazy Games in the RTC Impression.
Three girls from Kammavar Girls Hr.Sec School named Pavithra, Boomika and Suthiksha had won 1st Prize in Digital Literacy (Presentation) in RTC Impression.
The RTC also supports the students by providing their transport expenses for a group of 20 students who do not have any local transport facilities. The parents have also been very supportive of our efforts.
THOMUR
This term, the Thomur RTC is offering courses in Digital Literacy, Scratch, Web Development, and Media Editing. Media Editing is a new addition to the curriculum. The RTC was closed for 20 days during the summer vacation, during which time the teachers received training in Web Development at the Sangamam office in Thiruvallur and worked on content for the new Media course.
Teachers: Vijitha Paired Schools: GHS Thomur RTC Strength: 69 School Strength: 232 Courses Offered: Scratch, Web development, Media |
The RTC reopened on May 20, 2024, and the students have since returned. Since June, the RTC has been busy with project work in Scratch, Web Development, and Media. Additionally, the teacher has been visiting GHS Thomur to teach Digital Literacy.
During the RTC Impressions held in February, RTC Thomur had two winners. Sivapriyan received gold medal for web development course and V. Kavya won silver medal for Digital Literacy course.
PERIYAPALAYAM
Asha Chennai’s 7th RTC (Rural Technology Centre) was started in late February and inaugurated at Periyapalyam on 2 March, 2024. The center was inaugurated by our coordinator, Mr. Rajaraman in the presence of the RTC teachers, coordinators in Thiruvallur and children. The RTC has been functional since Friday, 1 March, and children have attended in good numbers.
Teachers: Poonkodi Bhaskar Paired Schools: GHSS Attivakkam RTC Strength: 60 School Strength: 173 Courses Offered: Digital Literacy, Basic Programming |
The RTC will be managed by our teacher Ms. Poonkodi who had been teaching at the Kannigaiper RTC. After the vacation, students started coming to the RTC from 20 May, 2024. They usually spend their entire day from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm learning at the RTC.
So far, the RTC has been running as a single teacher RTC. We expect to add another teacher shortly. Students in the RTC has been joined to the Feb to July term of the rest of the RTCs.
NALANTINPUTUR
Asha’s 8th RTC Centre and the third in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu was inaugurated on 14 June, 2024, Friday at Nalattinpudhur near Kovilpatti. Asha teacher at this RTC visits the associated higher secondary school, GHSS Nalattinpudhur for 3 hours and teaches the children basics of computer science and encourages all interested students to come to the center in the evening to learn more advanced topics in computer science like web development and Robotics for free.
Teachers: Malarmathi Paired Schools: GHSS Nalattinputhur RTC Strength: 100 School Strength: 910 Courses Offered: Digital literacy, Basic Programming |
The inauguration function was attended by Asha Volunteers, Mr. Rajaraman and Mr. Bhaskar. They visited GHS Nalantiputhur school along with Asha Coordinator, Mr. Murugan and Asha teachers to talk about Asha’s work and RTC courses on offer. We look forward to the successful working of this RTC under the leadership of our teacher Ms. Malarmathi.
The students will participate in the regular RTC courses, projects and competition from the July 2024 term onwards.