Brief

Learning math online

NIIT signs a MoU with Key Curriculum Press, USA to provide software for Math Labs that will be included in the NCERT and CBSE curricula

Imagine kids learning the Pythagorean theorem at school on the computer. Thanks to the initiative of NIIT and its association with US-based Key Curriculum Press, Indian schoolkids might soon be learning the art of math online.

Math Lab, the entire package of learning mathematics will be provided by NIIT based on a MoU that it will sign with NCERT and other individual schools across the country. Currently, CBSE and a thousand other schools have already added Math Lab to their curriculum in India.

Under the agenda for providing interactive education to children, L. Balasubramanian, President-School Learning Solutions, NIIT said, “We are pleased to partner with Key Curriculum Press for this breakthrough initiative that aims at making the vital subject of mathematics simpler, easier and fun to learn.”

The JV looks at providing the solution called “The Geometer’s Sketchpad” along with various other physical math models to Indian schools. “We have already approached nearly 3,500 schools and with the help of NCERT adding this to its curriculum the solution shall be implemented by March 2008,” said Balasubramanian. Currently NIIT has a database of 25,000 schools that will be approached by the company for including interactive “Mathematical Laboratories” to the curriculum.

Explaining the working of the model, Steven Ramussen, CEO, Key Press Curriculum Press Inc., informed that The Geometer Sketchpad is compatible with Macintosh and Windows. “We did build a version of the Sketchpad that was compatible with Linux, but there was not much demand for that solution,” said Ramussen. Geometer Sketchpad 4 is the current version and R&D has begun on version 5 that shall be launched globally by 2010-11. The Geometer Sketchpad is already being used in China and Europe apart from the US.

Speaking on the reason why Key Curriculum Press Inc., chose NIIT to be its Indian partner for Math Lab solutions, Ramussen said, “Our primary intention for having a Joint Venture with NIIT was to utilize their expertise in the Research and Development side for e-learning solutions and also their reach in the Indian sub-continent to market the product.”

Under the proposal that has been presented to NCERT, CBSE and other schools, NIIT shall provide the initial investment of nearly Rs 4 to 8 lakhs that shall be required depending on the infrastructure in each school in return for a fee of Rs 50 to Rs 100 per month per student by the school.

Speaking about the future for solutions provided in mathematics by the Key Curriculum Press Inc., Ramussen said that The Geometer’s Sketchpad should be available in downloadable and home versions in coming years.

So the next time you visit a school near you to have a peek at whether your children are solving math equations at their desk do not be surprised if the classrooms are locked. They might just be in one of the Math Labs solving the same problems, but this time, on a PC.