NIIT brings ‘Math Lab’ for Indian Schools on Children’s Day
Signs MoU with Key Curriculum Press Inc. for the new
program
Chennai, November 14, 2007: NIIT, Asia’s No. 1 trainer and
leading Global Talent Development Corporation has announced a strategic alliance
with US based Key Curriculum Press Inc., a leading provider of software research
and development for Mathematics Education, to introduce ‘Mathematics
Laboratories’ in Indian schools. An MoU to this effect was signed between Mr. L.
Balasubramanian, President-School Learning Solutions, NIIT and Mr. Steven
Rasmussen, CEO, Key Curriculum Press here today.
‘Math Lab’—a novel concept, launched on the occasion of
Children’s Day—will enable school students to learn and explore
mathematical concepts and verify mathematical facts and theorems using
technology tools such as ‘The Geometer’s Sketchpad’, together
with hands-on activities using a wide variety of mathematical models. This is a
dynamic construction and exploration tool that spans the mathematical curriculum
and is being made available to Indian schools, jointly by NIIT and Key
Curriculum Press.
The school curriculum governing body, the National Council of Education
Research and Training (NCERT), through the National Curriculum Framework has
indicated that Mathematics subject will be treated as a prime focus area in
schools, till 2010, with an emphasis on making the subject more visually
appealing and an enjoyable learning experience for students. In line with this
mission, CBSE, the apex body for secondary education in schools has issued
directives to all schools following the CBSE curriculum, to install a Math Lab
for promoting the subject. Additionally, CBSE has directed that 20% of the marks
will be allocated to each student from the Lab Assessments, towards the final
marks.
Announcing the new initiative, Mr. L. Balasubramanian, President-School
Learning Solutions, NIIT said, “NIIT is committed to making education
more impactful and interactive, by leveraging IT and ensuring world’s best tools
and resources are made available to millions of school students. We are pleased
to partner with Key Curriculum Press for this breakthrough initiative that aims
at making the vital subject of Mathematics simpler, easier and a fun way to
learn.”
NIIT, which offers computer and computer aided education to 1.5 million
students across over 5,000 schools, will bring its expertise and reach in
schools while Key Curriculum Press will offer its globally popular proprietary
software ‘The Geometer’s Sketchpad’ as part of the active tool in ‘Math Lab’,
through this joint initiative. The partnership aims at offering this
revolutionary learning solution for the subject of Mathematics, to students in
India.
According to Mr. Steven Rasmussen, CEO, Key Curriculum Press Inc.,
“We are pleased to work with NIIT to make our technology and materials
available to schools across India. In the 21st century, it is no longer
sufficient for students whether in India or any other country to be proficient
in traditional mathematics. Students need to combine their mathematical
knowledge with the creativity and technology skills to become powerful problem
solvers that the future will pose. Our collaboration is designed to help Indian
students to achieve that higher goal.”
NIIT’s ‘Math Lab’ will offer Multiple Teaching and Learning Aids comprising
of Technology Applications, Videos, Manipulatives, Measuring Instruments, Tables
and Charts, to schools. Based on the three pillars of ‘Imagination,
Investigation and Interaction’, NIIT’s Math Lab provides an opportunity to
students to understand, internalize, discover and verify the basic mathematical
and geometrical concepts through concrete objects and situations, thus building
interest and confidence in students learning the subject. The laboratory also
allows and encourages the students to think, discuss amongst themselves as well
as with the teacher, and assimilate concepts.
In addition to providing greater scope for individual participation in the
process of learning and becoming autonomous learners, the Math Lab also enables
the teacher to demonstrate, explain and reinforce abstract mathematical ideas by
using concrete objects, models, charts, graphs, pictures, posters, etc.
NIIT through its School Learning Solutions division is reaching 1.5 million
kids annually in government and private schools, mostly in rural areas,
equipping them with crucial IT skills to prepare them for tomorrow’s knowledge
society. NIIT is working actively to make computers an intrinsic part of the
lives of children and also those of the socially and economically challenged
sections of the society, who may never have had a chance to integrate with the
emerging 21st century environment, to give a better prospect to their
future.
About Key Curriculum Press Inc.
Founded in 1971 by mathematics educators, Key Curriculum Press is the
leading mathematics publisher of inquiry-based textbooks, dynamic mathematics
software and supplementary materials for middle-school and high-school students.
Key materials incorporate effective use of technology with careful concept
development and an inquiry-based approach. Key’s award-winning educational
software line includes ‘The Geometer’s Sketchpad®’, the leading mathematics
software in grades 6 to 12, and two data analysis programs, Fathom Dynamic Data™
software for students in grade 8 to college and TinkerPlots™ Dynamic Data
Exploration software for students in grades 4 to 8.
In 1996, Key affiliated with ‘Springer’, one of the world’s largest and
most prestigious scientific publishers and, later, founded Key College
Publishing, a higher education division that publishes innovative texts and
courseware in undergraduate mathematics, statistics and mathematics and
statistics education.
Key Curriculum Press is a sister concern of Springer India, which is a part
of Springer Science and Business Media, headquartered in New Delhi. Headed by
Sanjiv Goswami as its Managing Director, the company is engaged in the
publication of scientific books and journals including electronic versions and
represents Key Curriculum Press in the Indian Sub Continent.
About NIIT
NIIT, Asia’s No. 1 trainer and leading Global Talent Development
Corporation, offers learning and knowledge solutions to 5 million students
across 32 countries. Leading IT magazine Dataquest has conferred upon NIIT, the
Top IT Training Company Award 2006. Rated among India’s Superbrands (2003-05),
NIIT’s Individual Learning Business offerings include: Industry-endorsed
programs for students seeking careers in IT: GNIIT, Integrated ANIIT for
Engineers (IAE) and Advanced Technology Programs for IT professionals.
For working professionals, NIIT Imperia, Centre for Advanced
Learning, offers Executive Management Education Programmes in
association with Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) at Ahmedabad, Indore and
Kolkata.
NIIT Institute of Finance Banking & Insurance (IFBI),
formed with equity participation from ICICI Bank, offers programs to develop
talent for the banking industry.
NIIT School Learning Solutions (SLS) offers turn key IT and ICT integration
program for schools. NIIT SLS has provided computer-based learning to over 5000
government and private schools.
NIIT’s Corporate Learning Solutions, offers integrated learning solutions
(including strategic consulting, learning design, content development, delivery,
technology, assessment and learning management) to Fortune 500 companies,
Universities, Technology companies, Training corporations and Publishing
houses.
Element K delivers learning solutions for customers and
partners through a tailored combination of catalog learning products,
technology, and services. The offerings include: vLab®:
hands-on labs, instructor-led courseware, comprehensive e-reference libraries,
technical journals, and KnowledgeHub™: hosted learning
management platform.
NIIT together with Element K is now the first and the best choice
for comprehensive learning solutions, worldwide.
For media queries, please contact:
Prateek Chatterjee, NIIT Limited, Ph: +91 9910201085, +91 124 4293041;
Shivanjali Singh, NIIT Limited, +91 9811991107; +91 124 4293044;