CURRICULUM, TEXT BOOKS & EVALUATION

Formation of Curriculum
Kerala is miles ahead of other states in the planning and transaction of curriculum. Kerala curriculum approaches of 2007 and 2013 have become models at the national level. Interventions in school curriculum are inevitable as it is a continuous process.It is not possible to achieve this with sudden curriculum revision or with propagandist attitudes or measures. What needed is actually research oriented methods. A unified effort of teachers, experts at the state and national level and representatives of teacher unions is the need of the hour. Moreover, curriculum interventions could be made more meaningful by organizing mechanisms that intervene at different levels.

Stages of Formation of Curriculum

• Expert Curriculum Committee at the State Level

All the activities have to be co-ordinated by this committee. Educational expert at the national level, SCERT faculties, representatives of teacher unions are the members of this committee.

• District Level Subject Committee

Taskforces of working committees are formed at district level to conduct studies and researches on various subjects. This committee conducts studies directly in the field and also co-ordinates various activities at the district level. Faculty members of SCERT and DIET, District Educational Officer, other activists in educational field (including NGO workers) are members of this committee.

• Researchers in the Field

This task group attempts learning of problems of different subjects in different classes and tries to find out remedial measures for them. This group undertakes an extensive study of analyzing the existing textbooks, preparing transaction tools based on them and then conducting tryouts in actual classroom and analyzing the results of t hem. As it is a very serious attempt, extremely smart and brilliant teachers are included in this group. The group has got the necessary planning and support at the district level for this purposeThe finding received from the field are consolidated at the district level and then placed before the state committee. The changes which are approved by the state committee should be made in the textbooks. Correspondingly, changes made in the teacher texts and ICT tools will be available online. In a span of two to three years, most of the issues faced by the existing curriculum will be solved. Based on above activities transactional text for each classes from standard one to standard twelve, based on the third term portions were prepared by an expert team and which were transacted in the month of February. The highlight ofthe transactional text was that it was enriched by digital content

Bifurcation and Trifurcation of Textbooks

According to directions given by the Commission of Child Right, SCERT was directed to reduce the physical volume of the school bag. In order to reduce the weight of school bag of children, SCERT made the bifurcation and trifurcation of Textbooks based on the total page number of the textbook. Utmost care was taken to cut the textbook without making damage to the chapter. The workshops were completed in two phases. First phase started from 29.09.2016 to 01.10.2016 and second phase from 15.10.2016 to 18.10.2016. During the period of division of textbooks, the books were scrutinized and the conceptual and typographical errors were rectified. The sub- committee held on 17.11.2016 approved these textbooks and it was then sent for printing.

Modification of Textbooks-Malayalam, Science a n d Social science

It is found that more corrections were found in some textbooks like Science, Social Science and Malayalam of classes IX and X. These textbooks were again scrutinized and corrected with the expertise of subjects concerned. The corrected versions of the books were sent for printing.

Translation of Teacher Text into Tamil and Kannada

During the academic year 2015-16 SCERT prepared the text books and teacher texts for classes IX and X. English version of the textbooks (science, social science and Mathematics) and the teacher texts were prepared in the same year. This year SCERT prepared the translated version in Tamil and Kannada medium.
The development of text books and teacher texts involved a lot of deliberations and academic discussions. With the collective effort of the teachers of subjects and languages concerned, the textbooks and teacher texts were prepare d. Then an expert team scrutinized all the translated books. Then it will be submitted before the expert committee and curriculum subcommittee for finalization. Finally the books will be approved by the curriculum steering committee

Approval of ‘Navaprabha’

A curriculum subcommittee for the approval of ‘Navaprabha’- a remedial teaching package for class IX students prepared by RMSA- was held on 188 th August 2016. The curriculum subcommittee members, subject experts and SCERT faculties scrutinized the class IX package of Mathematics, Science and Malayalam. Corrected copies of the package were handed over to RMSA.

Approval of ‘Navaprabha’

A curriculum subcommittee for the approval of ‘Navaprabha’- a remedial teaching package for class IX students prepared by RMSA- was held on 188 th August 2016. The curriculum subcommittee members, subject experts and SCERT faculties scrutinized the class IX package of Mathematics, Science and Malayalam. Corrected copies of the package were handed over to RMSA.

Preparation of Handbook for Haritha Keralam Mission

As part of the launching of Harithakeralam Mission, Government decided to distribute a handbook to students which should include areas related to farming, cleanliness and water conservation. As per the directions of PRD, Government Secretariat, this handbook preparation was undertaken by SCERT. Workshops were held at SCERT from 23r th November 2016 to 25t th November 2016. The supporting materials were prepared by Kerala Suchitwa Mission, Farm Information Bureau and Jalabhavan. The prepared handbook was handed over to Harithakeralam Mission for launching.

Preparation of Handbook for Haritha Keralam Mission

As part of the launching of Harithakeralam Mission, Government decided to distribute a handbook to students which should include areas related to farming, cleanliness and water conservation. As per the directions of PRD, Government Secretariat, this handbook preparation was undertaken by SCERT. Workshops were held at SCERT from 23r th November 2016 to 25t th November 2016. The supporting materials were prepared by Kerala Suchitwa Mission, Farm Information Bureau and Jalabhavan. The prepared handbook was handed over to Harithakeralam Mission for launching.

Nurturing Mathematical Talents in Schools- NuMATS

SCERT has initiated a programme for students named Nurturing Mathematical Talents in Schools (NuMATS). It aims at nurturing the mathematical talents of school children and help them participate in high level tests like Mathematics Olympiad, Mathematics exhibition, etc. This is the first initiative in Kerala, may be in India, which nurture the mathematical talents of students from the blossoming stage. This programme tries to bring out talents of students, aged ten and upwards. The capacity and reasoning ability of the students will be nurtured in such a way that by the time they turn fifteen, they will be in a position to take up the challenge of competitive examinations.

Each year, 74 students from standard VI will be selected at the state-level. All the DDEs, DIET Principals and DSMA secretaries were invited to SCERT and one-day orientation was given on August 1, 2012. All the AEOs, DIET faculty members and SDSMA secretaries were given one day zonal wise orientation during September- October 2012.
A 3-tier selection process was adopted for NuMATS. School level Each Government/ Aided school will be requested to nominate 5 mathematically talented students (2 General, 1 SC, 1 ST and 1 differently abled) from those studying in Standard VI. The registration of students up to sub district level will end on September 30 every year.
Sub district level: An aptitude test will be conducted with mathematics quiz, preparation of notes on a selected topic, an activity for drawing, measuring or constructing and test on problem solving for the student participants at sub district centres, during November. The selection committee consisting of the Assistant Educational Officer, DIET faculty in charge of the sub district and SDSMA secretary will select 9 students (6 General (3 urban, 3 rural), 1 SC, 1 ST and 1 DA) based on the total score obtained in the aptitude test. A monitoring committee under the leadership of Director, SCERT will review the progress of the programme.

State level: An aptitude test will be conducted for the selected students during January – February at selected district centre. Question booklets would be prepared by SCERT and distributed to the district centre. The state level examination is to be conducted by the DDE and Chief Superintendent with the support of DIET Principal and DSMA Secretary.

Congratulates to the Winners of National Mathematical Olympiad

NUMATS Project conducted a series of tests for students of sixth standard level from government schools who excel in Mathematics in an academic year and identified 74 students state wide.

Interactive DVD for Sanskrit

A programme to develop animated interactive DVD to make the learning of sanskrit more interesting started in SCERT with the support of C-DIT. ln the review meeting held in ACSTI at Manvila on 25th and 26tth March, 2016, the language experts and technical experts in the C­ OIT examined the improvement of the project so far.
This project is meant to prepare an attractive interactive programme which is suitable for the hi-tech learning method implemented as part of ‘Campaign for Strengthening General Education.’ This interactive DVD is helpful for the students and teachers from Class I to Class XII and to those who wish to learn Sanskrit newly. The completion of this project is going on fast to give a novel shape to the learning of Sanskrit and to suit hi-tech educational method. When the work is completed, it is expected to hand over 5000 DVDs and 5000 handbooks to 160 AEO offices.

School Curriculum Steering Committee Meeting

School Curriculum Steering Committee commenced on. They decided to ensure that the State School Curriculum and textbooks are related to life and include modern technology. 48t School Curriculum Steering Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of the Minister of Education Sri Raveendranath gave approval for the academic activity project to improve school education.

Modification of Manual and Guidelines for LSS and USS Examination

During the current year, an expert committee opined the need for modifying the manual of scholarship examination. So it is decided to modify the manual and prepare a guideline for the conduction of LSS, USS examination. The manual and guideline prepared by SCERT by organizing workshops with the participation of practicing teachers, DIET faculty members and experts. The next exam will be conducted by Pareeksha Bhavan based on the revised manual and guideline.

Preparation of Evaluation Tools for Classes VIII, IX and X

When the curriculum adopts a learning approach that ensures learning outcomes, it should also adopt a suitable assessment approach. Keeping this in mind, ‘Outcome Focused Assessment Approach’ is adopted in term- end evaluation. Active participation of the learner can be ensured if the learning activity is based on the learning outcomes.

Preparation of Guidelines and Sample Question Papers for SSLC examination

The question papers for public examination of class X are being prepared by a group of expert teachers under the supervision of officials of Pareeksha Bhavan. Since these experts might not know the new approach which is being follow in high school classes, SCERT developed a guideline and two sample question papers for all the subjects. The prepared question papers were handed over to the Pareeksha Bhavan for further action. They were also uploaded in the SCERT website so that they may become accessible to anyone who is interested in curriculum and evaluation process.

Question Pool for Class X15 Question Pool for Class X

The need for the collection of questions and model question papers based on the new syllabus of standard X came up from the field. Following that SCERT prepared the question pool accessible for students. A question pool was prepared for each subject in class X. The book contains variety of questions based on each unit.

Evaluation at Higher Secondary Level Question Pool for Class XII

It was also decided to prepare Question pool for Higher Secondary classes too. The need for the collection of questions and model question papers for standard XII also came up from the field. Following that SCERT published a book which contains a pool of questions in each subjects of Class XII of HSS level. Each book contains variety of questions and two sample question papers.