Fostering Education Via Technology

Information and communication technology (ICT) has come of age and has permeated in all areas of our lives and is a significant factor in increasing productivity in different fields. Intel, a major player in the ICT field, has been transforming lives and communities by bringing technological innovation to areas like environment and education. Intel is working towards accelerating access to uncompromised technology for everyone around the globe.

Technology integration is the key at the Intel Education Initiatives Programmes. Students everywhere deserve to have the tools needed to become the next generation of innovators. Each year Intel invests huge amounts to help teachers teach, students learn and universities around the world innovate – particularly in the areas of math, science and technology. The Intel Education Initiative is a large-scale, sustained commitment to accelerate education improvement for the knowledge economy – as a trusted partner to governments and educators worldwide. The initiative began in 2000 with an aim to make the world of students a better place through research and critical thinking and an educational curriculum that would recreate and innovate itself to produce a generation of leaders. With an annual investment of approx. $100 million in over 50 countries, Intel’s education programmes focus on improving teaching and learning through the effective use of technology, advancing math, science, and engineering education and research and advocating for and celebrating 21st century educational excellence.

The Intel Education Initiative is a large–scale, sustained commitment to accelerate education improvement for the knowledge economy – as a trusted partner to governments and educators worldwide. In India, the Educational Initiatives fall broadly under 4 categories – The Intel Teach and Learn Programme, Higher Education Program & IRIS (Initiative for Innovation & Research in Science) for promotion of science and math creativity and innovation. These programmes have benefited many people and brought them face to face with Information and Communication Technology in this digital age.

The Intel Teach Program is a professional development program that helps classroom teachers to effectively integrate technology in order to enhance student learning. It is the most successful professional development program of its kind. More than 4 million teachers in over 40 countries have been trained till date with the result of 89 per cent of them using technology.

In 2008, online education was launched successfully in government schools in collaboration with Kerala government and in private schools across India. The Program has impacted more than one million teachers across 33 states, 35,000 government schools, 3,531 colleges and preservice institutions and 18,500 private schools across India.

The Intel Teach Program has been successful in educating and dealing with community based issues through a project based analytical approach. It helps teachers understand how, when and where to bring technology tools and resources into their classrooms. Under the Intel Teach Program, teachers today are facilitators, imparting in their students a desire to create and research.

Launched in 2004, the Intel Learn Program extends learning opportunities beyond the classroom, using an engaging, project- centered approach. The program helps young people in developing communities around the world to develop skills and make connections that enrich their lives and prepare them to succeed in the knowledge economy. The Intel Learn Program impacts learners who do not have access to formal education and makes an effort to reach out to the children and adolescents in communities with limited or no access to technology. The Program is being implemented at 1,179 centres.

It is a community-based programme for emerging markets designed to help learners (8-16 years) develop 21st century skills (technological literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration). The curriculum uses an engaging projectbased approach and is delivered through community technology centres. Launched in 2004, this programme has reached more than 88,000 learners across 24 states and four Union Territories in collaboration with Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti. In Kerala and Chandigarh, in addition to NVS, the Program runs in collaboration with Kerala State IT Mission, MSSRF, IVF (India Vision Foundation) and SSA. In Kerala, students inspired by the Intel Learn Program motivated the entire community to pledge against using plastics. In a resounding success, the Program reached to over 5,000 children, parents and community members across 29 blocks. This was achieved through block festivals and deeper implementation of the Program.

Through its Higher Education Program, Intel has tried to bridge the gap between technology and education. A sustained commitment in collaboration with educators and government leaders worldwide to help today’s students prepare for the demands of tomorrow, the Intel Higher Education Program focuses on advancing innovation in key areas of technology and developing a pipeline of diverse world-class technical talent for Intel and the broader industry.

The Program emphasises on research, curriculum, student opportunities as well as entrepreneurship. Intel’s Higher Education Program support extends to more than 150 universities in 34 countries. In India, it covers more than 300 engineering colleges focusing on developing industry expertise in cutting edge technology areas like Multicore, VLSI and supports research engagements and innovation and entrepreneurship development programmes across the academia. The Higher Education Program provides many opportunities to students through fellowships, scholarships, internships and contests.

With its sustained focus on improving the quality of technical education by empowering engineering faculty and students under the Higher Education initiative, Intel propagated several research opportunities during the year 2008.

The Intel Scholar Program through a partnership with UNCF, an educational assistance organisation, has been developed to inspire research for engineering students in key technology areas relevant to Intel India. It has established a scholarship programme to help ensure educational access and ease the financial burden of attending college for talented students in need. The objective is to promote scientific attitude and expose students to industry relevant technology areas.

Reflecting the philosophy of the Intel team, the Intel Education Initiatives are teaching students to be able to apply their knowledge to real life settings and be able to build new learning connections. While providing encouragement to the youth, these initiatives have injected new strength in the educational curriculum of schools across India and also given students access to international resources and technology.

The year 2008 has forged more relationships between Intel and state governments, touched more teachers and bought more students nearer to their dreams and aspirations as they won recognition in global arenas. As Craig Barrett, CEO Intel, puts in, “We have a shared vision that will allow us to seek new growth opportunities together.”