MATH LAB

NCERT guidelines indicate that mathematics be treated as a prime focus area in schools till 2010.CBSE had issued directives to all schools following the CBSE curriculum, to install a math lab for promoting the subject.CBSE had also directed that 20 per cent of marks be kept aside for lab assessments, which would be added in the final marks.In addition to providing greater scope for individual participation in the process of learning, the math lab also enables the teacher to demonstrate, explain and reinforce abstract mathematical ideas by using concrete objects, models, charts, graphs, pictures, posters, etc.The math lab enables school students to learn and explore mathematical concepts and verify mathematical facts and theorems using tools such as the geometer's sketchpad.The tool covers mathematical curriculum from classes I to XII.Talent development and training corporation NIIT Ltd,launched in March this year, the math lab solution ,which is currently installed in 12 schools in India.Total solution package for math lab costs Rs 8 lakh for a 30-seater while a 60-seater costs Rs 12 lakh.These labs are being introduced by NIIT in collaboration with US-based Key Curriculum Press and Zome Inc.NIIT already has 100 professionals working on the development of these labs, 25 of whom are mathematicians. These labs are already in operation in four schools, including Doon School.