An excited group of audience watch a movie in rapt attention taking them through a journey of Mohenjodaro and Harappan civilisations.
Even minor details of the ancient culture are depicted in this 3D video, including their housing, people and lifestyle.
The movie ends with beaming faces of the audience proving they loved it. It is not a scene out of a multiplex but from a school in the city.
For many, long classes of History would evoke yawns and uninterested sighs. But not anymore. Thanks to ‘smart classes’, children will have very less to grumble about. The smart classes use audio and visual media to explain subjects to students.
Lakshmi Krishnan, principal, Niraj Public School supports the novel method of teaching. “Not all students might find oral methods of teaching very interesting. When the same is explained in form of movies, they learn it better and faster. I have observed after these classes that they are in a better position to answer questions.”
She said their school has been using it for science and languages.
It helps that many schools are equipped with LCD projectors and large screens. Digital content of most subjects are also available in the market. Y Radhika, principal, Vowels Convent accepts the concept is more appealing than plain classroom teaching.
“We do play visual films and I personally found the grammar part was more useful for children,” adds Radhika.
Keeping with the trend, even publishing houses are releasing e-books and other visual media. Pearson Education India, has started giving out digital content for each of their printed book material.
Anish Srikrishna, chief marketing officer, says, “E-books are now being used in CBSE, ICSE, state schools and even in the Sarva Siksha Abhyan. It is being widely used as learning becomes more enjoyable this way. It is useful for slow learners.”
He added the company had collaborated with BBC, Disney and the Archaeological Society of India to produce digital content for school subjects.