Changes

===Background===

===Background===

The objective of the Telangana state education department (DSE) is to integrate technology into teaching and learning in sustained and meaningful ways. The department is upgrading the school labs in 3,000 schools by building a digital lab and through equipping the classrooms with digital resources. [http://ITforChange.net IT for Change (ITfC)] has been working with the Telangana education department to build ‘communities of practice’ amongst mathematics, science and social science teachers in the state.

The aim of the Telangana state education department (DSE) is to integrate technology into teaching and learning in sustained and meaningful ways. The department is building digital labs in schools and equipping classrooms with digital resources. [http://ITforChange.net IT for Change (ITfC)] has been working with the Telangana education department to build ‘communities of practice’ amongst mathematics, science and social science teachers in the state, to build teacher capacities for ICT integration in education.

DSE has decided to develop ICT student text books and teacher hand books which will be used by the school teachers for transacting the ICT curriculum in classes 6 to 10. The text book that is currently available has very limited focus on a few proprietary software applications, not directly connected to school subjects. DSE has decided to adopt the NCERT [http://ictschools.gov.in/sites/default/files/pdf/ict_curricula_final2.pdf ICT curriculum], as the basis for the text book, which leverages the possibilities of ICTs for connecting and learning and  creating and learning.  

DSE has decided to develop ICT student text books and teacher hand books which will be used by the school teachers for transacting the ICT curriculum in classes 6 to 10. The text book that is currently available has very limited focus on a few proprietary software applications, not directly connected to school subjects. DSE has decided to adopt the NCERT [http://ictschools.gov.in/sites/default/files/pdf/ict_curricula_final2.pdf ICT curriculum], as the basis for the text book, which leverages the possibilities of ICTs for connecting and learning and  creating and learning.  

===Scope of the ICT textbook and handbook===

===Scope of the ICT textbook and handbook===

It is proposed to develop the ICT syllabus with the following components:

The ICT syllabus is developed with the following components:

#A textbook for students, that introduces ICT skills and applications in a project based way, integrated with the different school subjects.  The core competencies and skills to be covered in the text book will be determined based on the National ICT curriculum and the Telangana state subject text books and academic standards. The text book will take a project based approach to the attainment of these learning competencies.

#A [[ICT student textbook|textbook for students,]] that introduces ICT skills and applications in a project based way, integrated with the different school subjects.  The core competencies and skills to be covered in the text book will be determined based on the [http://ictschools.gov.in/sites/default/files/pdf/ict_curricula_final2.pdf National ICT curriculum] and the Telangana state subject text books and academic standards.  

#A handbook for teachers and teacher educators to help them implement the syllabus as well as support their own knowledge and learning of the ICT applications based on the NCERT ICT curriculum. This accompanying handbook will facilitate the transaction of the ICT syllabus and also provide meaningful linkages to curricular and co-­curricular areas.  

#A [[ICT teacher handbook|handbook for teachers and teacher educators]] to help them implement the syllabus as well as support their own knowledge and learning of the ICT applications based on the NCERT ICT curriculum. The handbook will facilitate the transaction of the ICT syllabus and also provide meaningful linkages to curricular and co-­curricular areas.  

#The text book will need to be planned keeping in mind the existing timetable and syllabus requirements and will also make recommendations on guidelines for school level implementation.

#The actual transaction of the text book will factor in the existing timetable and syllabus requirements, this is discussed in the guidelines for school level implementation.

==Key principles of development of the textbook and handbook==

===Key principles of development of the textbook and handbook===

#The ICT text book development will be done in a collaborative manner, with the resource group set up by DSE.  

#The ICT text book and hand book development has been done in a collaborative manner, with the resource group set up by DSE.  

#This will be developed and shared on a portal called the Telangana State Repository of Open Educational Resources (TSROER) which can form the basis for further OER  development by teachers and teacher educators in the state.  This portal will be using the Media­ wiki platform, which is used by the Wikipedia digital encyclopedia.  

#The books have been developed and shared on a portal called the Telangana Open Educational Resources (TOER) portal, which is maintained by ITfC. This will be made available on the Telangana Open Educational Resources (TSROER) portal, which is the state OER portal. The TSROER can support the further OER  development by teachers and teacher educators in the state.  This portal will be using the Media­ wiki platform, which is used by the Wikipedia digital encyclopedia.  

#Teachers and teacher educators will get familiar with the OER principles while using and developing curricular resources – re­use, revise, remix, retain and re­distribute.  

#Teachers and teacher educators will get familiar with the OER principles while using and developing curricular resources – re­use, revise, remix, retain and re­distribute.  

#Through participating in processes of resource creation, capacities of SCERT, teachers and teacher educators will be developed in adopt OER.   

#Through participating in processes of resource creation, capacities of SCERT, teachers and teacher educators will be developed in adopt OER.