The second day of the SCERT Uttarakhand faculty’s ICT exposure visit to IIT Bombay was marked by an inspiring and interactive session on cutting-edge technology for education. The day's focus was a demonstration of TARA (Tool for Automatic Reading Assessment), an innovative AI-based tool designed to assess students’ oral reading fluency. The day also included insightful discussions on machine learning, technology integration, and collaborative opportunities.
TARA Demo: Revolutionizing Oral Reading Fluency Assessment
The highlight of the day was the TARA demo conducted by Mr. Nagesh Nayak, Dr. Sneha Raman, and Prof. Preeti Rao at the ET Lab, IIT Bombay. This innovative tool is part of a concerted effort to improve student literacy and is aligned with the guidelines of NIPUN Bharat to measure oral reading fluency effectively.
Mr. Nagesh Nayak provided an in-depth explanation of the technical features and implementation of TARA, detailing how the tool leverages Artificial Intelligence to assess reading fluency in real time. He demonstrated how TARA’s algorithms evaluate pronunciation, speed, and accuracy, providing actionable feedback for educators to enhance student outcomes.
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Prof. Preeti Rao and Dr. Sneha Raman gave an initial overview of the extensive research and development efforts behind the creation of TARA. They emphasized the app's significance in addressing literacy challenges and its potential to empower educators with data-driven insights into student performance.
SCERT Uttarakhand's Support and Insights
Dr. K. N. Bijalwan, Assistant Director of SCERT Uttarakhand, lauded the efforts behind the development of TARA and recognized its alignment with national literacy initiatives. He highlighted its potential to measure fluency among students in alignment with the NIPUN Bharat guidelines.
Mr. R. P. Badoni IT faculty from SCERT Uttarakhand, praised the tool for its relevance and practicality. They suggested adapting its features to meet the pedagogical needs of state board schools, ensuring it serves a broader spectrum of learners in diverse educational contexts. Akhilesh Dobhal and Rakesh Rawat from SCERT supported the TARA UI and its implementation in Uttarakhand as for Pioleting in NIPUN Bharat Mission program as a measuring tool of fluency of early reading of school kids, Dr K N Bijalwan and team feedback underscored the importance of tailoring innovative solutions to specific state curricula and classroom requirements.
Proposal for Collaboration and Technical Insights
Prof. Dr. Ramkumar Rajendran, a key figure in coordinating the visit, suggested strengthening the collaboration between SCERT Uttarakhand and IIT Bombay to further enhance the tool’s applicability and reach. He proposed continued interactions between the developers of TARA and SCERT Uttarakhand to explore possibilities for customized implementations and pilot programs in state schools.
In his second session of the day, Prof. Ramkumar provided a review on Machine Learning (ML) concepts and the use of matrices in evaluating AI-driven educational tools. He emphasized the importance of aligning technical advancements with pedagogical needs, ensuring impactful integration of technology in education.
As yesterday also included a guided visit to the IIT Innovation and Design Department, where the SCERT team had the opportunity to witness cutting-edge innovations in educational technology and interact with faculty members at sites. This interaction provided further insights into the ongoing research and development at IDS and its potential applications in education.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Day 2 was a productive and enlightening experience for the SCERT Uttarakhand team. The TARA demo not only showcased AI's potential in addressing literacy challenges but also fostered meaningful discussions on its adaptation for state education systems. The collaborative spirit between SCERT Uttarakhand and IIT Bombay promises to drive future innovations in educational technology.
The day concluded with a lunch break, which provided an opportunity for informal interactions and reflections on the learnings. Inspired by the exposure, the SCERT team looks forward to exploring ways to implement these tools and ideas in Uttarakhand’s schools to enhance teaching and learning outcomes.
