Remote Learning Initiatives in West Bengal

Online Classroom

The Department of School Education, Government of West Bengal launched Online classroom education for all classes through School Education Department

• The Online classroom is based on activity based learning teaching.
• Activities have been designed for class Pre-Primary to 12th covering all subjects.
• The Model Activity Task is designed initially on the basis of the syllabus of the First Summative Evaluation. Subsequently
   the syllabus of second summative evaluation was also covered.
• All topics are developed and finalized by subject teacher experts under the supervision of the Expert Committee and the Boards.
• Activity Tasks have been given in two phases: Activity Task I and Activity Task II
• Activity Tasks are available in Bengali, English, Hindi, Urdu and Santahali
• The activity tasks are to be submitted to the respective subject teachers after schools reopen.
• Teachers were advised to assist students in carrying out activity tasks using telephone, email or through WhatsApp.
• TV programs / Video Programs for Class V-VIII & IX- XII have been uploaded on the portal for almost all subjects concerned.

The key features with regards to BanglarShiksha Online include:

• A Guideline Tab that directs students to progress through the activity tasks
• A Q&A tab that lists down the most frequently asked questions with subsequent answers
• A Suggestions Box that allows students, teachers and parents to provide feedback and recommendations on the enhancement of this initiative. The School Education Department regularly monitors the suggestions and incorporates the relevant ones. Through the suggestion box, the Department received an array of feedback on providing video tutorials in Hindi and Santhali, apart from Bengali (which has been the main medium of instruction), which was later incorporated into the E-learning material
• An exclusive and dedicated toll-free helpline number has been enabled for students to call and clarify doubts, if any

E-Learning material available:

• A huge number of learning videos covering topics of first and second summative evaluation of all subjects for all classes
   have been uploaded.
• Available in Languages:
  • Bengali
  • English
  • Hindi
  • Santhali
  • Urdu

Social Media

West Bengal’s School Education department launched a YouTube Channel where subject topic and language wise various e-Learning videos are available.

E-learning Portal

E-Textbooks for all the classes can be accessed at: http://www.wbsed.gov.in/etextbook.php

• Teachers Manual
• Formative Evaluation for Class I-V
• English Support Material
• Material for Pre-Primary School

TV Channel

West Bengal’s School Education department tied up with TV Channel ABP Ananda and Zee 24 Ghanta to hold live lectures for the students of Class X to XIIon ABP Ananda and Class V to VIII on Zee 24 Ghanta to compensate the classes missed. The lectures telecast daily from 10 am to 11 am and 3 p.m to 4 p.m. on ABP Ananda and 10 am to 11 am on Zee 24 Ghanta — with half an hourbeing devoted to students  of any two classes. 

The programme is aimed at students following the State board syllabus and, therefore, covers all schools run or aided by the State government.

Development of content

The selection of subjects and topics for each grade level was done by an Expert Committee, which is the team within the School Education Department that develops the content for all classes with regards to Government Schools, Government sponsored schools and Government aided schools. The topics, subjects and its subsequent content was finalized by the Expert Committee for this initiative, and in accordance a weekly program schedule ahead of the week was prepared mapping the appropriate teachers against each subject for each class.

All subjects and content, including non-compulsory subjects for senior classes were covered through this initiative. For junior classes, an array of topics was covered across different subjects.

WhatsApp Groups based Learning

Schools formed WhatsApp groups to circulate worksheets so that they do not lag behind in preparing for their board exams of class 10th & 12th.

Source : Remote Learning Initiatives Across India