About SHIKSHA Initiative
Shiv Nadar Foundation introduced SHIKSHA Initiative in 2012 to eradicate illiteracy from India by creating a model which is easily replicable, scalable and measurable. SHIKSHA Initiative works with the mission to create lifelong learners, by enhancing the learning process and utilizing a technology-enabled learning program. It attempts to overcome the existing educational challenges by introducing interactive content and periodic assessments, making the process of learning more interesting, fun and effective. Furthermore, it enhances the classroom environment and equips the teachers with an innovative high-engagement teaching mechanism to boost learning effectiveness and retention among children.
SHIKSHA firmly believes that technology has the potential of transforming education and improve learning among students as well as building the capacities of teacher. The programme is targeted at learners of grade 1 and 2 in government and private schools and is aimed at integrating the use of digital technologies in learning. The content is developed by education practitioners and includes interactive animations, cartoons, videos, audios and exercises aimed at helping students learn better. It supports subject knowledge and also ensure that technology-use enhances teaching and learning. Moreover, it has been widely recognized that fostering digital literacy in the classroom help children to diversify this experience and knowledge to make learning more relevant and purposeful. SHIKSHA Initiative doesn’t replace classroom training completely rather it complement conventional training in order to impact as many learners as possible. Thus, key to ensuring successful outcomes is to blend more traditional classroom approaches with e-learning approaches.
Furthermore, SHIKSHA Initiative has strategically extended into adult literacy approach entitled as SHIKSHA+ that uses an ICT based methodology to instill the fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic skills to illiterate adults who have not attended a formal school.
