Background of project:

After a successful pilot project of teacher development and innovative learning through tablets in

Nanakmatta sanch(block of 30 villages) in Uttarakhand since October 2016, Ekal Sansthan has initiated

“Ekal E- Shiksha” initiative in total six sanchs across Bharat with the generous support and

contribution from US based supporters- Sarva Mangal Family Trust. A MOU was signed between the

Trust and Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India to initiate the same.

‘Ekal E-Shiksha’ not only marks a new milestone in the journey towards ‘Digital Ekal’ but also augments

the very dynamics of teaching and learning of Ekal Vidyalayas. Ekal has already been active in computer

skill development through IT labs in Ekal Gramothan Resource Centers (GRCs) and through mobile

computer van- Ekal On Wheels(EOW) but the use of tablets in Ekal Vidyalayas by Ekal Achaaryaas to

teach audio- visual content to children is a revolutionary and an innovative step in the way we impart

primary education in villages. By effective use of technology, we aspire to take both the Ekal Achaarya

and Ekal Vidyalaya children residing in remote and rural areas of Bharat into the Digital age to be at par

with the their city counterparts without leaving their homes in villages.

Objectives of project:

Capacity building of Ekal Achaaryaas

Making learning more interesting and innovative through use of audio –visual content on tablets

Demystifying technology and utilizing it as an effective medium to bridge the gap between urban and

rural

Areas covered under the

project:

4 States, 6 sanchs(1 sanch =block of

30 villages) and 180 villages/Ekal

Vidyalayaas(1 Ekal Vidyalaya per

village)

Ukai, Gomukh and Naranpur sanchs in

Tapi district of Gujarat

Gargaon sanch in Palghar district of

Maharashtra

Karanjo sanch in West Singhbum

district of Jharkhand

Nanakmatta sanch in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand

Two sanchs – Karanjo and Gargaon were selected close to Ekal GRCs for all technical support to the

project.(Kindly refer to Annexure -1 for details of villages in each sanch under the project)

Activities under roll out:

Sourcing of 710 tablets

Lenovo Tablets were purchased in Delhi as per specifications provided. Total 4 tablets per village- 1 for

Ekal Acharyaa and 3 for three gats(groups)in a Vidyalaya shall be provided with pre-loaded

educational videos and content for the respective users. In total 120 tablets shall be given to all 30

villages of a sanch (block). 1 tablet each to be provided to every sanch coordinator, appointed for the

purpose. Master tablets to be kept at Delhi office for testing and upload of content.

Appointment of 6 project coordinators at Sanch (block) level

The basic requirements of the candidate in terms of educational qualification and computer knowledge

were communicated to all senior Ekal contact persons at different locations to select and appoint a

person native to the place, best suited for the project. (Kindly refer to Annexure -2 for details of project

coordinators)

Design and manufacture of tablet bags in Ekal GRC

Trainees of Ekal Gramothan Resource Centre (GRC)- Gajraula specially

designed and manufactured tablet bags to be used by each Ekal

Acharyaa to store 4 tablets in each village .

In all 180 bags (1 bag per village for 30

villages in 6 sanchs) were manufactured

and delivered to Delhi office where they

were printed with Ekal logos.

Content upload on all tablets

Audio visual content, including animated videos and open content sourced from Pratham were uploaded on all 4 categories of tablets viz- Acharyaa, Gat-1, Gat-2 and Gat-3.The tablet of each coordinator was uploaded with the consolidated content.

Patriotic songs, morning prayers, Ekal curriculum books e-content, Master trainer training Ekal videos, motivational speech of mentor- Ma. Shyam Ji and sensitization videos were uploaded on Acharyaa tablets.

Gat in Ekal is defined by “baudhik Shamtaa”(capability) of a child on joining Ekal Vidyalaya based on

“praathmik mulyaankan” (primary evaluation) done by Ekal Acharyaa(teacher). Gat 1 comprises of

group of children who are absolutely raw and first time taking any kind of education,they can't read or

write. Gat 2 children know and recognize “maatra”,“akshar”-(alphabets),can read and write little bit.

Gat 3 children are better in reading and writing. Content uploaded on Gat tablets was based on and

targeted according to the Gat wise end user student of Ekal Vidyalaya.

Poems, short stories, knowledge on English alphabets, counting, general knowledge, maths, hindi

alphabets,short movies etc. were uploaded on all Gat tablets. Pratham open source videos especially

focused on Science and English were uploaded on Gat- 3 tablets.(Kindly refer to Annexure -3 for content

details in tablets)

Training of all sanch project coordinators in Delhi Ekal Office

Six project coordinators appointed in 6 sanchs underwent a two day residential training at Ekal Sansthan

Office in Okhla, New Delhi from 21st-22nd Dec 2017. The training was imparted by Dr. Susheela Madan-

Vice President, supported by Dr. Baljeet Kaur, Joint Secretary- Ekal Sansthan . Each sanch coordinator

was provided with a master tablet uploaded with full content besides 120 tablets (4 per village)to be

distributed to all acharyaas in 30 villages of their sanch.

Tablet training in process Tablet distribution to coordinators

Training on the first day (21st December 2017) started with an ice breaking session with introduction of

coordinators, filling of their bio data in a prescribed format and submission of important educational

certificates and documents for records. It was followed by a presentation on understanding Ekal model,

its structure, philosophy and interventions, a motivational video message from Ekal’s mentor Ma.Shyam

Ji to inculcate a sense of the noble mission. Every coordinator was given a folder of important

documents that included:

1. Tablet project objectives and importance (Kindly refer to Annexure 4)

2. Tablet content details with time duration and sequence of showing videos

3. Dos and don’ts of tablet usage(Kindly refer to Annexure 5)

4. Guidelines for teaching Ekal Children with tablets (Kindly refer to Annexure 6)

5. Acharyaa weekly tablet usage reporting format (Kindly refer to Annexure 7)

6. Detailed excel sheet for each sanch with tablet serial numbers village wise with provision to take

signatures of all Achaaryaas and Ekal Samiti persons on the day of launch and distribution.

(Kindly refer to Annexure 8)

Coordinators were explained all documents in their folder in detail. Same folders(excluding the 6th

document quoted above) were handed over to each of them for the Acharyaas of their sanch .

Trainees were shown videos uploaded on tablets and briefed about the broad content in tablets for

Acharyaas and Gat 1,2 and 3 . Coordinators with Ekal Sansthan Team

The second day (22nd December 2017) training module

started with viewing of some of Pratham videos in Gat 3

tablets to insist on the importance of learning English and

science experiment videos .It further covered varied topics

ranging from usage of tablets, transfer of files , do’s and

don’ts of tablet usage, how to hold inaugural event to

launch the project , distribute tablets in villages in sanch

with a dedicated tablet training session of all Acharyaas. All

coordinators were well equipped with knowledge and

guidelines to train all 30 Acharayaas of their respective

sanchs and also ensure the monitoring of the project

through regular reporting .At the end of training the

coordinators interacted with some Executive Committee members of Ekal Sansthan. Trainees were

asked to make sure to first view and understand the tablet content themselves then train the Ekal

Acharyaas. Likewise, all Acharyaas to see the videos themselves and then make Ekal children view the

same in Vidyalayas. Acharyaas are also to be instructed to stop the videos in between, play again for

children and ask them about their learning from the video.A weekly reporting format to be filled by

Acharyaas was shared with Coordinators to further explain the Acharyaas.

All coordinators were also asked to give their weekly reports on the activities done in a week in a

prescribed format.(Kindly refer to Annexure -9 for Coordinator reporting format)

Launch of project/distribution of tablets and Achaaryaa training in 6 sanchs

Detailed guidelines for conducting launch of project -distribution of tablets-Achaaryaa training program

were briefed to all project coordinators and mailed to key Ekal samiti persons and field volunteers in

respective locations. (Kindly refer to Annexure -10).

All launch events were characterized by sensitization towards digital learning, sharing of objectives and

importance of tablet project, distribution of tablets to all Sanch Acharyaas and their training session by

each sanch coordinator. Ekal volunteers and samiti persons at sanch(block), anchal(district) and

bhag(division) levels gathered for the launch event at each place. Eminent person/s from local

community were invited as Chief Guests for the program.

30th December 2017 launch in Ukai & Gomukh sanchs in Gujarat and Nanakmatta- Uttrakhand

Launch of project in Ukai Sanch, Gujarat on 30th

Dec 2017

Ekal E- Shiksha project got launched in Ukai sanch in Tapi district of Gujarat on 30th December 2017. The

event at Ukai was graced by key dignitaries including-Shri Deepak Vaasa(Municipality Chairman), Shri

Rajesh Patel(Principal- Government commerce college), Shri Vasant Gamit(President-Gujarat Bhag

Samiti), Shri Dhansukh Chaudhary(Anchal Samiti President),Shri Jeeva Vasava( Sanch samiti President)

and other key Ekal whole time volunteers.

Launch of project in Gomukh Sanch, Gujarat on 30th

Dec 2017

Following the launch event at Ukai Sanch ,Ekal E- Shiksha project got launched in Gomukh sanch on

same day- 30th December 2017. Gomukh launch event was graced by Shri Pilaji Gamit(Sanch samiti

President) , Shri Ramesh Bhai Valvi(Gujarat Bhag Abhiyan President), Shri Arvind Bhai Gamit( Anchal

Abhiyan President), Shri Amarsingh Vasava(Sanch primary education President) besides the key

members present in Ukai launch.

Additional tablets distribution and fresh training under project in Nanakmatta, Uttarakhand on 30th Dec,2017

The success of tablet pilot project already launched in Nanakmatta sanch in Uttarakhand in 2016 led to

the spread of Ekal E- Shiksha in 5 additional sanchs all over Bharat. 1 tablet per village was already

efficiently used by all 30 acharyaas of Nanakmataa sanch in villages to educate Ekal Vidyalaya children

with audio visual content.Now 3 additional tablets (total 4 per village)were distributed in a special event

organized on 30th December 2017. Training session was conducted by sanch coordinator on fresh

educational videos classified in different tablets.To encourage the initiative further, all key Ekal samiti

members and volunteers from Sanch, anchal and bhag levels participated along with key Ekal

volunteers. To name a few- Shri Dinesh Bhardwaaj, Shri Parbindar Singh, Shri Umesh Aggarwal, Smt.

Pratibha Aggarwal, Smt. Suman Digri, Shri Dinesh Pandey, Smt. Rameshwari Rana graced the occasion.

31st December 2017 project launch in Naranpur sanch in Gujarat

The project got launched in the sanch on 31st December 2017 in presence of Ekal volunteers and samiti

persons from block, district and division levels. Acharyaas were distributed tablets and were trained by

the sanch coordinator. Like in every sanch, each Acharya was given a tablet bag , especially designed and

manufactured for the project by women trainees of Ekal GRC Gajraula to store all 4 tablets given to each

Acharyaa.

7th January 2018 launch of Ekal E- Shiksha project in Karanjo sanch in Jharkhand

Ekal E- Shiksha project got launched in Karanjo sanch

at GRC Karanjo on 7th January 2018. The chief guests

who graced the occasion included Shri Rajeev Kumar

from BIT Mesra, Shri Ram Vijay Sharma from NIT

Jamshedpur, Shri Lalan Kumar Sharma– Ekal

Gramothan Yojna Pramukh along with key Ekal

volunteers and Samiti persons.

15th January 2018 launch of Ekal E- Shiksha project in Gargaon sanch in Maharashtra

The launch event was held at Eklavya Swavalamban

Trust - Gramotthan Resource Centre, Gargaon, Wada,

on 15th January 2018. Eminent persons namely- Shri

Jagannath Patil (Upa Sabhapati Panchayat Samithi

Wada), Smt. Meghna Mangesh Patil (Sadhasya

Panchayat Samithi Wada), Shri Dilip Vinayak Patil

(NPCIL Officer) were invited as guests . Tablets were distributed to all Ekal Achaaryaas,followed by tablet

training by the project coordinator.

IMPORTANT ANNEXURES

Annexure 1- Details of villages in each sanch under the project

Gujarat

Maharashtra

Jharkhand

Uttarakhand

Annexure 2- Sanch Coordinator details

Annexure 3 - Tablet content details for all 4 tablets per village

Annexure 4 – Contents of folders : Tablet project objectives and Importance

Annexure 5 – Contents of folders : Tablet Usage Dos and Don’ts

Annexure 6 – Contents of folders : Guidelines for Teaching with Tablets

Annexure 7 – Contents of folders : Acharyaa weekly report format

Annexure 8 – Specimen of Tablet Distribution sheet of a sanch

Annexure 9 – Coordinator weekly report format

Annexure 10 – Guidelines for launch of project and Acharyaa training in sanch