HAVERI: A month after it was launched by the Haveri block education office, the YouTube channel ‘Varada Jnana Vahini’ has been subscribed to by more than 1,500 SSLC students. The response to videos featuring lessons imparted by teachers of local government schools and PowerPoint presentations made by subject matter experts has been encouraging. While some teachers are taking the lessons, 10 teachers are handling the technical aspects of the channel, including shooting and editing the videos, apart from managing content on the channel.
Haveri block education officer MH Patil said that the channel had been launched with the help of deputy director of public instruction (DDPI) of Haveri. “The initiative is aimed primarily helping students of Kannada medium schools, who do not have access to virtual classrooms. As many as 80 teachers from government, government-aided and private schools in Haveri taluk are involved in the initiative,” Patil said.
Education block resource coordinator CS Bhagavanthgoudar said that the videos were being shot and recorded at the Channabasappa Magavi High School, where the teachers had simulated the setup of a recording studio. “We ensured that the expenses involved in starting the YouTube channel stayed at a minimum. We are trying to get the students to grasp the concepts, particularly those pertaining to mathematics. Students are enjoying watching the videos, that are never more than 45 minutes long,” Bhagavanthgoudar said.
Pramod Kumar, one of the teachers who was instrumental in starting the YouTube channel, said that videos containing 20 lessons had been uploaded thus far. “We want to upload 60 lessons before the end of the academic year. Many of the art teachers have contributed drawings for our channel while television reality start Rubina has rendered a song for our channel,” he added.
GS Hattimattur, a teacher who imparted a mathematics lesson on the channel, described being a part of ‘Varada Jnana Vahini’ as a new experience. “We are trying to bring in changes in the way we present the lessonto make the method more effective,” Hattimattur said.