The Computer Based Functional Literacy Solution For Adult Literacy Customer Woolworths Limited Industry Retail & Consumer Goods 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. n Acclaimed as pioneering the third generation approach to Corporate Social Responsibility. n Successfully deployed in India and abroad, as part of the Corporate Sustainability initiative of TCS. n
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 Adopts a Systems Approach and Concurrent Engineering Methodology Makes innovative use of theories of Cognition and Pedagogy, and multimedia to impart learning Focuses on words rather than alphabets Harmonizes visual and audio patterns to enable reading, and helps retention of cognized patterns in subconscious memory. Imparts reading, writing and basic Arithmetic ability 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: Table 1: Comparative 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 Table 2: Comparative Analysis of Costs between the Conventional and CBFL Methods 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 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 per computer per year. ALP Urdu @ Rs. 30 per literate at Siasat: 9000 * 30 = 2, 70, 000 Total: Rs. 1,13,70000 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 Does not require trained teachers or large-scale school facilities. People educated using the CBFL method can themselves become tutors for the next group. Quick results - It takes just one-thirds of the time taken by writing-oriented methods. 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. Lower dropout rate when compared to other methods Can be operated on basic Intel 80486 personal computers, which many IT organisations would be willing to provide Can effectively supplement and enhance other existing adult literacy programmes 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).
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 obtained 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. 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 They have acquired a heightened sense of self-awareness and desire to gain knowledge on a host of women s issues. 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. At the NGO Mahita, dropouts who are learning Urdu through CBFL, are obtaining formal education as well. There have been 112.5 beneficiaries per computer per year. Siasat conducts Urdu D ani, Zabandani and Insha examinations twice a year. These basic courses are designed for the learning of Urdu by non-urdu people. At least 30% of the Siasat Urdu Dan i centres use the ALP package. Since September 2006, 30,407 candidates appeared for Urdu Dani examination and 27,835 have passed. The completion of the course is validated by the exams held twice a year by Siasat. 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 education with a second chance of becoming educated.
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. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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 : Corporate.CBFL@tcs.com For more details visit : www.tcs.com/cs All content / information present here is the exclusive property of Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS). The content / information contained here is correct at the time of publishing. No material from here may be copied, modified, reproduced, republished, uploaded, transmitted, posted or distributed in any form without prior written permission from TCS. Unauthorized use of the content / information appearing here may violate copyright, trademark and other applicable laws, and could result in criminal or civil penalties. Copyright 2009 Tata Consultancy Services Limited TCS Design Services M 0809