While most of the private schools have moved to online mode of education, utilizing applications like MS Teams and Zoom to continue with teaching, e-classrooms are still not available to students of Government schools. To ensure education remains unrestricted during this time, WhatsApp classrooms have been initiated by SRF Foundation. WhatsApp as a platform is easy to use as it allows one to send pictures, messages, videos, documents to many recipients at the same time. With the help of teachers and parents, WhatsApp groups were formed for different class levels. Weekly worksheets as per the prescribed syllabus were provided to students on various subjects such as Mathematics, English and Science.

‘WhatsApp Classrooms’ are launched in all 21 intervention locations of SRF Foundation and it has brought students closer to schools. Students are enthusiastic and are submitting their assignments daily via this platform. WhatsApp classroom has not only brought students closer to teachers in this current situation but is also encouraging them to self-study and become self-reliant.

Even in the 21st century, online classes were considered unimaginable for the Government school teachers and students, but the pandemic has turned it into a reality. SRF Foundation has been making use of the Zoom platform during the pandemic, to connect not only with the teachers and students but with parents too. Through ‘Zoom’ application, teachers can connect with students and clarify the doubts on topics/assignments, etc. Teachers are using mediums like PowerPoint presentation and videos to teach Mathematics, Science and English to the students.

In our endeavor to bring schools closer to students, SRF Foundation has launched Digital Summer Camp across in its 21 intervention locations. The main purpose of the initiative is to promote an environment of creativity and learning. This one-month long digital summer camp involves DIY art and craft activities, storytelling, book reading, low cost experiments, subject wise worksheets, online quizzes and recognition of the students. Several WhatsApp groups have been formed to provide the students with resource material which also gives them a chance to interact with the teachers. Digital summer camp is an innovative idea to keep students engaged in various activities and promote the usage of digital platforms like WhatsApp and Zoom. Under the summer camp, SRF Foundation is also organizing various competitions and selected winners are given prizes. The response of the students has been overwhelming.

The pandemic not only created a confused state of mind among students and parents but also among educators. This created the need to purposefully engage children through digital platforms for studying. The aim was to create something that students would look forward to, and since students love to play games on phones, SRF Foundation organized ‘Online Quiz’ for them. Today, online quiz has become a regular part of digital education.

To encourage storytelling and poetry sessions, proactive Headmasters & Teachers of SRF Foundation’s intervention schools recorded audio of various poems and stories from the textbooks of classes V to VIII and shared the same through WhatsApp and Zoom.

The advancement of science & technology, communications and computational tools has changed the way knowledge and information is shared today. In Kamrup (M), Assam, a group of teachers within each village are teaching children through smart TVs and tablets while maintaining social distancing and all the necessary guidelines issued by the Government. In the process, new content like multimedia presentations on subject specifics are also being developed for Social Science, Science and English Grammar.

In association with Atal Innovation Mission, IBM India and NITI Aayog, SRF Foundation launched ‘ATL Digital Summer Camp’ in June 2020. 110 students from across 26 government schools participated in this program. With this program, we found a way to make education a fun experience for every student. The teachers and students are trained about the latest technologies of 3D printing, IoT, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, scratch programming, animation, microelectronics, 21st-century skills of collaboration, critical thinking and design thinking. Weekly guest sessions are scheduled to help students learn about the latest technologies.

Along with Brillio we have launched the Master Maker and Miss Maker Competition – 2020. It is a weekly competition that focuses on making low cost science models and science experiments, low cost mask making, poster making, origami and curriculum-based art and craft, reuse, reduce, recycle projects, puppet making and storytelling. Students submit videos on a theme each week and winners are announced.

Under the Capgemini adopted schools in Chennai, Bengaluru and Greater Noida, SRF Foundation ensures that students spare two hours each day on skill enhancement. Students are taught video editing on phone and laptop, operating applications such as Kine Master, Power Director, image manipulation, simulation of Arduino with all the electronic components, scratch programming, 3D designing and application invention. These classes are held on Skype every week and weekly competitions are organized to engage students.

Under our Capgemini Digital Literacy Mission, we are conducting digital literacy classes in Chennai, Bengaluru, Greater Noida and Gurugram. We are utilizing applications like ‘Zoom’ and ‘Google Meet’ for the purpose. Videos are shared on WhatsApp to help students learn in their local language. Topics covered in these sessions include MS Excel and Word, online transaction and net banking, creating e-mail Ids, etc.

In partnership with IndiGo, SRF Foundation is conducting the computer literacy course for people in the age group of 14-60 years, helping them embrace technology in their day-to-day life. Instructors from SRF Foundation are conducting the 18-hour course through online digital platforms like Zoom and WhatsApp. More than 350 people have benefitted from these sessions in the past 2 months across five IndiGo intervention locations of Indore, Dehradun, Vadodara, Dibrugarh and Greater Noida.

SRF Foundation has been providing digital infrastructure to the teachers through mobile digital labs (HP-WOW, HP-CSL & IndiGo GetSmart) to conduct virtual classes. These classes are being accessed by students on their smartphone and recorded videos are circulated on the school WhatsApp groups to reach more students. Such classes are being conducted in 11 locations across 7 states and are benefitting students of 95 Govt. schools.