About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Delhi Slum Education Project Wins A Million-dollar Prize

by Rukmani Krishna on March 1, 2013 at 9:53 PM
Font : A-A+

 Delhi Slum Education Project Wins A Million-dollar Prize

Demonstrating how children collectively can teach themselves complex issues, has won educator Sugata Mitra the first one million dollar 2013 TED Prize. The experiment known as a "hole in a wall" was conducted in a Delhi slum.

Mitra, an education technology professor at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, said he will use the prize, awarded by TED, an annual global ideas conference, to launch a global initiative for self-directed learning that builds on his discovery.

Advertisement

"My wish is to help design the future of learning by supporting children all over the world to tap into their innate sense of wonder and work together," he said in his acceptance speech Tuesday at the TED 2013 conference in Long Beach, California.

"Help me build the School in the Cloud, a learning lab in India, where children can embark on intellectual adventures by engaging and connecting with information and mentoring online," Mitra said outlining his plan to build a child-driven virtual school.
Advertisement

"I also invite you, wherever you are, to create your own miniature child-driven learning environments and share your discoveries," he said asking the global TED community to make his dream a reality with Self-Organized Learning Environments (SOLEs) in homes, schools, and community programmes worldwide.

The TED Prize is awarded annually to an exceptional individual who receives $1,000,000 and the TED community's resources and expertise to spark global change.

According to TED, after a series of experiments revealed that groups of children can learn almost anything by themselves, Mitra began his pursuit to inspire children all over the world to get curious and work together.

In 1999, Mitra and his colleagues dug a hole in a wall bordering a slum in Kalkaji in south Delhi, installed an Internet-connected PC, and left it there (with a hidden camera).

Soon, they saw kids from the slum playing with the computer, learning English and searching through a wide variety of websites on science and other topics, and then teaching each other.

Mitra and his colleagues carried out experiments for over 13 years on the nature of self-organized learning, its extent, how it works and the role of adults in encouraging it.

Lara Stein, director of the TED Prize, said Mitra " has not only created a remarkable body of research around self-directed learning, but he has support from teachers around the world who are tapping into his methodology with great success."

Source: IANS
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest Lifestyle and Wellness News

Defying Time: Unlocking the Secrets to Wrinkle-Free Skin
Decoding the secrets of wrinkles by knowing the causes, prevention, and expert advice.
Summer's Gaze: Prioritizing Eye Care!
With the arrival of summer and the lure of outdoor activities, it is essential to give equal importance to the well-being of your eyes and skin.
Summer Makeup Battle: Conquering Humidity and Heat
Combination of high humidity and scorching heat in summer poses a daunting task for makeup wearers; balancing it is thus crucial.
Protecting Yourself from Summer Sun: Tips and Tricks
Selecting the right SPF for your skin is quite tricky, but the thumb rule is to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for effective results.
 World Family Doctor Day: Let's Celebrate the Family Doctors at the Heart of Healthcare
World Family Doctor Day held on 19th May highlights the vital role and contribution of family doctors in healthcare systems worldwide.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Delhi Slum Education Project Wins A Million-dollar Prize Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests