AmritaCREATE conducted workshop on OLabs at rural schools in Andhra Pradesh on 23 and 24 June, 2016. More than hundred teachers from rural schools were training during these two days.
The training programme started at Zilla Parishad High School, Narakodur on 23 June, 2016. The first day session was attended by Physics teachers. In the demo session, Rathnam Chenthamarakshan, Project Manager, AmritaCREATE gave a brief introduction to OLabs and explained some of the experiments such as ‘Bell Jar Experiment’ and ‘Force required to move a wooden block’ to the participants. This was followed by a hands-on session where participants had the opportunity to test and explore the system themselves.
On 24 June, 2016, OLabs training programme was conducted at Zilla Parishad High School, Medikonduru. On the second day, the session was organized for Biology teachers. After the training session, OLabs CDs were provided to the participants.
Since most of the teachers participated in the training programme were coming from rural schools, they showed a keen interest on exploring the contents of OLabs during the hands-on session. Some of the teachers expressed their concern of not having a proper science lab and lab equipment during the interactive session. At the end of the session, the participants agreed on the fact that Online Labs offer a platform that helps to supplement the conventional practical laboratories.
“OLabs helps to play in significant role in rural and tribal schools where there is lack of physical labs and proper lab equipments”- V Shyam Sundararaj, Principal, Zilla Parishad High School, Narakoduru