With a seemingly constant stream of new technologies transforming education, schools have regularly upgraded their computer labs to keep up with the changing times. However, with more schools switching from traditional curriculums to blended learning classes, computer labs are being phased out in favour of technological advances.

As technology increasingly impacts how we live our lives in an ever-evolving world order, the need for students to enter the workforce with robust technology skills has become a critical component of our curricula. Computers and technology permeate all aspects of daily life, so it only makes sense that students should have access to them in school. 

One of the best ways for students to gain these skills is by creating computer labs. ICT Labs not only focus on technical education, but also helps develop soft skills like teamwork, leadership skills, and presentation skills. ICT Labs aim to produce better learners by providing them with a healthy mix of academic and technological learning.

These ICT laboratories have been modified and modernized to meet current industry standards. For instance, the Ranchi district administration will soon unveil digitized laboratories in government schools as part of a pilot project to increase students’ digital education. Each tab has educational apps that provide general information and the course materials specific to each teacher’s class. The idea is to give students access to digital learning materials at the click of a button.

Here are 3 ways that ICT Labs can be great enablers of education.

👉 Desktop Computers Have More to Offer

Full-sized workstations offer greater power and more display space than smaller mobile devices. They provide a more comprehensive array of software options and offer greater support for the heavy-duty graphics cards used in virtual reality and 3D visualizations. These computers tend to be more expensive than laptops, and are best suited to students needing more screen real estate and processing power. Virtual reality headsets are increasingly used for experiential learning in schools and colleges in India. For instance, some students of Smt. Godavari Devi Saraf Senior Secondary School in Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh is using VR headsets to learn how the human heart works, which is more than what a textbook chapter can teach.

👉 ICT Labs ensure Equal Access

With digital technologies playing an increasingly vital role in learning, educators have struggled to ensure that all students have equal access to resources and opportunities. In addition to disparities in technology access among children, there are also differences in parents’ levels of technology fluency. School computer labs ensure that all children get to use computers until they get a dedicated laptop or a tablet. Most schools have recognized the value of having dedicated lab time, where students can learn basic computing skills and use the internet and software applications.

👉 Computers Supplement Classroom Learning

Computer labs provide an opportunity to explore a world of knowledge beyond the required classroom curriculum. They can help develop soft skills and introduce concepts that aren’t learned in class, mainly because classroom teachers have a wide-ranging curriculum to explore in a limited period of time. School computer labs are the perfect complement and enhancement tool for classroom learning.

Computer skills include how to use word-processing programs, utilize spreadsheets, navigate the Internet, send and receive email messages, create multimedia presentations, and many more skills. Rather than relying on self-instruction, computer labs in schools can provide an ideal location for students to learn and practice their skills in a safe, controlled environment.

At Square Panda India, we understand the importance of equipping educators with technological and digital skills for today’s classroom. Our educator empowerment programs include basic training about ICT Labs and cyber safety, where we include topics about introducing fun, relevant digital tools to the school. We want to empower educators by giving them the knowledge and skills needed for the current 21^st-century classrooms. To know more, visit https://www.squarepanda.in/

Holi is the festival of colors celebrated by Hindus worldwide to honor and welcome spring. People usually spend this day with their family, and visit friends and relatives as they look to color one other. But with growing environmental concerns, water conservation and pollution, we see many people celebrating the festival in a humbler fashion. However, there are still ways you can get kids excited about Holi and make it a fun time for all.

👉 Design Color Bouquets

Let your kids express their creative abilities in making eco-friendly flower craft as part of the festival of Holi. You can use a wide range of colors, all of which are widely available in chemical-free variants. Children can create flowers from a small paper plate, plastic cups, and paper tubes to resemble a real flower. This can be a great activity with children because of its engaging nature, allowing them to learn new skills and develop their minds in the process. 

👉 Holi Puppet Show

These days, children can be found staring at the television for hours. This is especially true during the holidays, when your child may have more time on their hands. While children may enjoy watching TV shows and movies, teaching your child about Holi by celebrating it in your own home can help instill pride in their cultural and religious heritage. Whether springing out of a pre-planned puppet show or spontaneously within a play session, these alternatives can help your child learn in an interactive environment.

👉 Make Organic Colors

Most people purchase synthetic, non-toxic powders, but there are many ways to make your own organic colors at home using natural ingredients and common kitchen spices. Natural ingredients like ground turmeric, henna powder, beetroot, sandalwood paste, and flowers like the red hibiscus can be used to make wonderful colors.

👉 Color Hunt

Another easy way to teach kids about Holi is to arrange a color hunt. Bring home three different colored balloons — red, yellow, and blue — and ask your kids to find matching objects in the house for each color. If you have more than one kid, you can organize a race. The one who finds more matching items first wins the race! This will add a fun element and help them recognize colors faster.

👉 Organize an art competition

Painting competitions can help children discover their hidden talents and boosts their confidence. Art competitions can inspire joy and excitement among kids, with the best paintings possibly made into greeting cards that you can send to family and friends. This would help remind them that we all have an artist within us who needs an opportunity to be discovered.

👉 Dance-offs

The festival of Holi is incomplete without some peppy Bollywood songs being played in the background. Get your kids to dance along with you on some upbeat numbers, and have a blast!

The Bottom Line

While throwing colors and having fun is certainly a significant part of the Holi experience, other aspects are to consider for added excitement. An unexplored yet captivating choice of activities would be to add some learning. By making activities educational and rewarding, learning will suddenly become quite enjoyable, with your kids being eager to participate in your next Holi celebration—passionately engaged while they are at it!

At Square Panda, it is our constant endeavor to deliver joyful learning experiences that engage children and empower teachers to better impart their wisdom. To know more about our comprehensive learning solutions and programs, visit our website: ecce.squarepanda.in

The pandemic has altered almost every area of our daily lives. Teachers and students, in particular, have had to adapt to online education, which has proved difficult for many learners. Educators agree that online courses are no substitute for in-person learning experiences. In 2018, the New York Times reported that online classes do not allow for the same level of individual attention as in-person classes, and children studying online perform worse than those directly studying with teachers.

Despite this, some students have managed to thrive by embracing this remote style of learning. Learning styles can be deeply individual, and students who respond well to online learning usually have a strong sense of independence and self-motivation. Those students often choose this learning style because they can work at their own time and pace.

Let’s look at why some kids are succeeding in online learning.

👉 Self-Paced Learning

There is a lot of flexibility in online learning. The choice to learn at your own pace instead of being forced to go through the material in a certain way can help you stay focused and attentive. Therefore, students who do well in self-paced, flexible learning situations thrived while learning online. It allowed students to remain focused and attentive to course materials. Students could take any past classes they may have missed or repeat them as many times as needed. Anytime students wanted to repeat a lesson, they could replay it at their own pace, allowing them to fully comprehend the material and gain an understanding that would not be found in a classroom setting.

👉 More Time, Less Distraction

It is not an overstatement to say that today’s students had a grueling schedule in a pre-pandemic world. They attended school and were also expected to manage different extracurricular activities, such as sports and arts, alongside their classes. In addition to this, most students had to receive additional support from private tuitions and preferred going to these sessions in the evening or on weekends. As a result of the pandemic lockdown, many students had to curtail social activities, focusing on their online courses and studies, which proved to be beneficial for many.

👉 Mental Well-Being

Mental health is an integral part of overall wellbeing, and it varies from person to person. Regardless of the child’s age, some students may suffer from anxiety about going to school or the thought of being in a physical classroom where they feel uncomfortable. For these students, online schooling provided the opportunity to learn without all the pressures and expectations of being in an actual classroom. Even if they weren’t able to keep up with their classes at first, they were still able to complete their assignments at a later time without worrying about falling behind.

👉 Family Support

While it is widely known that school-based interactions and relationships with peers helps develop a child’s academic and emotional well-being, many children thrived while learning remotely. Parents play a significant role in how well their children flourish at school. Since online learning was new for children, many parents were actively involved with their children’s education. Most children were able to cope well with the demands of online learning because parents assisted them with the technology being used. This helped in boosting their child’s self-esteem and confidence.

The Bottom Line

There are several reasons why some kids thrive during remote learning, but it’s important to remember that every child is different. It’s never a good idea to compare your child with others or expect them to perform just as well as their peers in every subject area. While the thought of virtual schooling may have been far from parents’ minds when it first emerged, they can now view it as a viable alternative to attending classes physically in school, for now and the foreseeable future.

Our comprehensive interventions span across the lifetime of a child’s education journey, and impact multiple factors that influence a child’s educational achievement – such as learning, teacher support, parent support, educational infrastructure, access to technology, health & exposure to other skills. 

To know how our array of products and programs improve learning outcomes from pre-primary through secondary grades, visit ecce.squarepanda.in/