Pedagogy

This section highlights the pedagogical benefits in SIAB which are learner centered and briefly outlines why SIAB is a first world solution to a third world problem in this context. 

Typically classrooms or schools in rural India or SSA have large classrooms sizes, up to 60 students per class in not uncommon. Teachers spend an inordinate amount of time with their backs to the class writing on blackboards crammed with information written in chalk. This archaic and uninspiring scenario limits the teaching and learning experience for all concerned. It inhibits the open, collaborative, inquiry based approach that is required and used in modern classroom settings in the developed world.

SIAB immediately transforms this scenario as the iPad 2 can project pre-installed learning content rich in multimedia onto a white wall. The learning content can be developed locally using the iPad 2 or delivered via pre-installed dedicated educational applications (Apps) on almost any subject matter. Traditional classroom props such as the Blackboard, Abacus, Globe and Skeleton are replaced by educational Apps that can be loaded onto the iPad 2. For example, ‘ShowMe’ the Whiteboard App can replace the traditional blackboard;  ‘Maths Games Bingo’ can replace the Abacus; ‘World Maps 2011’ can replace the Globe and ‘Pocket Body’ replaces the Skeleton. The simple user friendly touch screen interface on the iPad 2 enables instant switching between subjects and content matter.

Curriculum Links

The iPad 2 which is at the heart of SIAB can be customised with thousands of different applications (Apps) to suit any curriculum and can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store. The following examples are included to give the reader a flavour of how curricula can be constructed.

Thousands of Educational Applications available in SIAB

There are over 470,000 ‘Apps’ available for download from the Apple App Store. 

Example 1: Maths Games Bingo + Racing

Learn Maths in a fun way – game based learning to gain mastery of elementary math. Age group 3 to 8 this App game combines routine mathematics presented in a whole new fun way that helps you master all aspects of counting; addition; subtraction; multiplication and division.

Example 2: World Map 2011    

View up to date World maps. For example Sudan became the world’s 159^th country on the 9^th of July 2011. It includes two large World maps, a political World map and World time zones.

Example 3: Biology – Pocket Body

Pocket Body is a fully searchable interactive atlas of the human anatomy which allows the busy medical and nursing student or allied health care professional to visualise the human musculoskeletal system through the use of high definition illustration of the human body. Additional features allow the user to make learning notes as they progress through the learning content, and the application incorporates three different types of built-in anatomy quizzes, which act as a self-assessment capability to assist in learning and exam preparation.

 

Example 4: English Literature – Shakespeare

Shakespeare is a free app with the complete works of William Shakespeare (41 plays, 154 sonnets and 6 poems, including doubtful works) and a searchable concordance to find the exact word or phrase you’re looking for (with “relaxed” searching to find words close to your search term).

Example 5: Popplet

Popplet is a platform for your ideas. Popplet’s user friendly interface allows you to move at the speed of your thoughts. With Popplet you can capture your ideas, sort them visually, and collaborate with others in groups to solve problems in real-time.