n
n
n
Computer Based Functional Literacy (CBFL) solution - an
innovative teaching method conceptualised, designed
and developed TCS, based on the theory of Cognition
and Laws of Perception.
Acclaimed as pioneering the third generation approach
to Corporate Social Responsibility.
Successfully deployed in India and abroad, as part of the
Corporate Sustainability initiative of TCS.
Customer
Woolworths
Limited
Industry
Retail &
Consumer Goods
There are an estimated 260 million adults
in India who are illiterate. According to the
2001 census report, 34.62% of the Indian
population cannot read or write. Based on
the current rate of literacy growth in India
(1.3% per year), it is estimated that it would
require about 1 million teachers and about
30 years or more, to achieve a literacy rate
of 90%.
Key Innovative Features of CBFL
n
Adopts a Systems Approach and Concurrent
Engineering Methodology
n
Makes innovative use of theories of Cognition and
Pedagogy, and multimedia to impart learning
n
Focuses on words rather than alphabets
n
Harmonizes visual and audio patterns to enable
reading, and helps retention of cognized patterns in
subconscious memory.
in about 45 learning hours, spread over 10 to 12
weeks.
CBFL and Conventional Learning Models: A
Comparative Analysis
The innovative combination of the theories of
Cognition, Language and Communication with IT
enables CBFL to achieve far quicker results in the
area of adult learning. While the NLM model, with
its conventional methods takes 9-18 months to
achieve results, TCS’ CBFL takes only 45 instruction
hours over 10 to 12 weeks to enable the learners to
recognize patterns and read.
Table 1 below provides a detailed analysis of the
conventional and CBFL methods:
Parameter
Conventional Method
CBFL Method
Delivery Mechanism
Ins tructor-Led
Computer-Based
Course Duration
200 hrs in 9-18 months
45 hrs in 3-4 months
Teaching Skills Required
High (Professional Teachers
Required)
Low (Preraks : para teachers with basic training)
Computer Requirement
None
Medium (Intel 80486 -make PCs)
Dropout Rate
High
Low (10-12%)
Scope for Repetition
No
Yes
Pace of Learning
Cannot be adjusted
Can be adjusted, as required
Simultaneous Use of Spoken Word
and Visual Medium
Not Possible
Possible (Using Multimedia enabled PCs)
Standardization in Te aching
Not Possible
Possible
Flexibility of Learning
Low
High
Effectiveness of Learning Content
Low
High (through Multimedia courses that capture
attention and motivate)
Estimated Time Required to achieve
90 % literacy level in the country
15-20 Years
5-7 years
The comparative cost to make a person literate
Thus TCS has saved more than Rs. 8 crore on social
cost to the nation by applying the CBFL method, to
achieve the literacy figure of 1, 20,000 people.
Benefits
n
Does not require trained teachers or large-scale
school facilities. People educated using the CBFL
method can themselves become tutors for the next
group.
n
Quick results - It takes just one-thirds of the time
taken by writing-oriented methods.
n
Flexibility to adjust to the learning pace of
individuals. The time frame for learning is flexible.
The learners can use the programme at their own
convenient time, after completing their daily work.
n
Lower dropout rate when compared to other
methods
Table 2: Comparative Analysis of Costs between the Conventional and CBFL Methods
n
Can be operated on basic Intel 80486 personal
computers, which many IT organisations would be
willing to provide
n
Can effectively supplement and enhance other
existing adult literacy programmes
n
Teaching of pronunciation of words/letters is
more accurate due to the use of multimedia. This is
particularly useful for languages like Tamil, where
the same letter can be pronounced differently
(based on the context).
Parameter Conventional Method CBFL Method TCS Cost effectiveness Comments
Cost of making 1,20,000 persons literate Rs. 9,14, 40,000 Rs. 1,13,70000 Calc ulations: Combined ALPs (Telugu and Urdu) @ Rs. 100 per literate
(for 1,11,000 persons) 1,11,000*100= 1,11,00000
ALP Urdu @ Rs. 30 per literate at Siasat:
9000 * 30 = 2, 70, 000
Total:
Rs. 1,13,70000
Rs. 8,00,70,000 In case of CBFL Urdu at Siasat 40 centres, the cost incurred at Rs. 30
per literates only (for 9000 students)
as per 112.5 beneficiaries’
Some info on the impact on society is given here.
Table 3: Impact on Society
Parameter Desc ription Qualitative Measure Quantitative Measure
Social Awareness ALP has provided soc ial awareness regarding the importance of education for adults and their ch ildren.
Through reading, they have ob tained an awareness of social issues too.
The largest beneficiaries of the program are women. They are participating whole-heartedly in the literacy classes as learners and volunteers.
They have acquired a heightened sense of self-awareness and desire to gain knowled ge on a host of women’s issues.
·Awareness, Self belief and Empowerment
·Ability to read Newspapers,
Application forms, Posters on the road; Announcement bulletin/Notice boards at the Bus and Railway stations ;General awareness of themselves and their surroundings; Can correspond with p eople
·Formation of Women Self Help Groups
·Wide c overage of 1,20,000 persons
Health c are Adult literacy has helped spread knowledge about health care and nutrition.
·Ability to read medical advertisements like family planning, HIV awareness, published by governments has increased.
----
Education There are around 9,000 students who have learnt Urdu through ALP software at 40 centers in the last 2 years through the Siasat NGO. Siasat conducts Urdu D ani, Zabandani and Insha examinations twice a year. These basic courses are d esigned for the learning of Urdu by non-Urdu people.
Since September 2006, 30,407 candidates appeared for Urdu Dani examination and 27,835 have passed.
Thus TCS-ALP-Urdu helps the Urdu
Dani people to go in for the
advanced courses like Zabandani and Insha.
ALP provides dropouts from mainstream formal ed ucation with a second chance of becoming educated.
·At the NGO Mahita, drop outs who are learning Urdu through CBFL, are obtaining formal ed ucation as well.
·There have been 112.5 beneficiaries per computer per year.
·At least 30% of the Siasat Urdu Dan i centres use the ALP package.
·The completion of the course is validated by the exams held twice a year by Siasat.
Critical Objectives Achieved
§
Reduction in dropout rate and the time required
for learning
To keep the dropout rate low, it was important to
ensure that the learning time was reduced to 30-45
hours. This was critical as a working adult can afford
to spare only that many hours for learning. While the
conventional learning methods take about 9-18
months to achieve results, TCS’ CBFL takes only 45
instruction hours, over 10 to 12 weeks, to enable
learners to recognize patterns and read.
n
Laying the foundation for higher skills
Reading paves the way to learning writing,
arithmetic and other skills. Hence, CBFL focuses first
on developing the learners’ reading ability through
a combination of visual and sound patterns.
n
Standard quality of education for all learners
The education material and primers developed by
the National Literacy Mission (NLM) are used by all
Preraks (the CBFL trainers) at all the CBFL centres.
Multimedia is used to ensure accuracy and
standardisation of pronunciation.
n
Reaching out to the masses
The use of TCS’ freely-available software to
train learners ensures not only higher number
of people trained, but also reusability. Till date,
over 1,20,000 people have been trained with
the help of CBFL.
About Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services,
business solutions and outsourcing organization
that delivers real results to global businesses,
ensuring a level of certainty no other firm can
match. TCS offers a consulting-led, integrated
portfolio of IT and IT-enabled services delivered
through its unique Global Network Delivery
TM
Model , recognized as the benchmark of
excellence in software development.
A part of the Tata Group, India’s largest industrial
conglomerate, TCS has over 143,000 of the world's
best trained IT consultants in 42 countries. The
company generated consolidated revenues of
US $6 billion for fiscal year ended 31 March 2009
and is listed on the National Stock Exchange and
Bombay Stock Exchange in India.
For more information, visit us at
www.tcs.com.
Contact
The CBFL is developed and implemented by:
TCS Corporate Adult Literacy Program (ALP) Group
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.
11th Floor, Air India Building, Nariman Point,
Mumbai 400 021, Maharashtra, India
Tel : (022) 6778 9393,
(022) 6778 9378 (Direct)
Fax : (022) 6778 9344
Email : [email protected]
For more details visit : www.tcs.com/cs
Product Information
The CBFL programme teaches reading skills to illiterate
adults, between the ages of 18-50 years, who have not
attended a formal school.
It uses animated graphics and a voiceover to explain
how individual alphabets combine to give structure and
meaning to various words. The settings for the lessons are
visually stimulating and crafted in a manner that learners
can easily relate to.
CBFL is implemented using computers, which deliver the
lessons (via puppet shows) in multimedia form to the
learners. Supplementing computers in this process are
reference textbooks or primers from the National Literacy
Mission (NLM) and State Resource Centres (SRC). TCS has
adopted the NLM approach and has incorporated
content from many of the NLM primers into its courses, as
the NLM Primers are widely tested, readily available, and
highly usable. However, while traditional methods
require more time and resources, as well as dedicated and
well-trained teachers, the CBFL courses speed up the
learning process through scientific, cognitive and
pedagogical learning models.
CBFL Urdu is a special case where TCS has conceived and
developed the educational material on its own, as Urdu
education material was not available with NLM during
this time. CBFL Arabic and the supplementary
educational material are also currently being developed
by TCS.
CBFL leverages the benefits of IT in terms of repeatability,
simultaneous blending of the spoken word and written
language, and an appealing graphical interface.
Apart from the critical multiplier effect (where capable
teachers have been able to manage five to six batches of
CBFL training per day and teachers with little or no
experience have been able to provide above average
instruction), IT has also helped to provide
standardised quality of instruction.
An adult can learn to read, write and perform basic
arithmetic after following 45 hours of instruction. The
duration of these sessions is around 1 to 1.5 hours, and the
sessions are usually conducted thrice a week, over
a period of 10 to 12 weeks.
The total cost of making a person literate using CBFL is
only Rs 100. This solution has the potential to lift our
country's literacy rate in record time: As per our estimates
using CBFL will help achieve a literacy rate of 90% in
about five years.
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