Colleges are allowing smart phones or laptops in class for taking notes
MUMBAI: With the start of the exam season, students across colleges are busy preparing for papers with the help of apps.
Owing to a string of free apps available online that can be downloaded on most smart phones, students are ditching the copious note taking and revision methods and are adopting new age l ear ning methods.
For instance, Evernote, the multi-platform note sharing app, has become immensely popular among students as it allows them to synchronise all their notes across devices.
“In class, I take down notes on the app and later edit it. By doing this, I don’t have go through multiple notebooks to study during exams as all my notes are in one place. If someone misses a lecture, I can just forward my notes to them via the app too,” said Shivani Tyagi, a mass media student.
The trend in India reflects a worldwide movement towards these learning apps.
A 2013 survey by UK based Educational App Store (EAS), a company specialising in integration of mobile learning in schools and colleges, found that 87% of the respondents used their tablets or mobile devices for studying while 50% said that they would download apps recommended by peers and education institutions.
While such numbers might be a long way for Indian students, colleges are warming up to the idea of allowing phones or laptops in class for taking notes.
Some teachers added a cautionary note.
“Students can now type faster than they write. However, technology should remain a supplement, not a replacement i n classrooms,” said Jyoti Thakur, vice principal, Jai Hind College.
Hridesh Jain, a CA student makes use of a variety of education apps such as ‘The constitution of India’ or the law dictionary that lists out all laws and acts at the tip of your finger. Dictionary apps too are a must have in student phones these days
While most of these popular apps are created in the US, indigenous apps are not far behind.
Mangesh Karandikar, professor at Mumbai university’s mass communication department developed a series of android apps called ‘Edusanchar,’ which has notes explaining complex communication theory in simple, easy to read formats.
Launched last year, the free android app has crossed 5000 downloads already.
Source: Hindustan Times (Mumbai) dated 02/03/2015
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