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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

The Computer Based Functional Literacy Solution For Adult Literacy

ADULT LITERACY

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 CBFLnAdopts a Systems Approach and Concurrent

Engineering Methodology

nMakes innovative use of theories of Cognition and

Pedagogy, and multimedia to impart learning

nFocuses on words rather than alphabets

nHarmonizes visual and audio patterns to enable

reading, and helps retention of cognized patterns in

subconscious memory.

nImparts 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:

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

Table 1: Comparative Analysis of the Conventional and CBFL Methods

ADULT LITERACY

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.

BenefitsnDoes not require trained teachers or large-scale

school facilities. People educated using the CBFL

method can themselves become tutors for the next

group.

nQuick results - It takes just one-thirds of the time

taken by writing-oriented methods.

nFlexibility 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.

nLower dropout rate when compared to other

methods

Table 2: Comparative Analysis of Costs between the Conventional and CBFL Methods

nCan be operated on basic Intel 80486 personal

computers, which many IT organisations would be

willing to provide

nCan effectively supplement and enhance other

existing adult literacy programmes

nTeaching 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’ per computer per year.

ADULT LITERACY

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 i ssues too. The largest beneficiaries of the program are women. They are participating whole-heartedly in the l iteracy classes as learners and volunteers. They have acquired a heightened sense of self-awareness and desire to gain knowledge on a host of women’s issues.

· Awareness, Self belief and Empowerment

· Abi lity to read Newspapers, Application forms, Posters on the road; Announcement bulletin/Notice boards at the Bus and Rai lway 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 nutri tion.

· Abi lity 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 designed 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 education with a second chance of becoming educated.

· 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.

· 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.

ADULT LITERACY

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.

nLaying 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.

nStandard 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.

nReaching 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.

ADULT LITERACY

About Tata Consultancy ServicesTata 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

TMModel , 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

Product InformationThe 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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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,

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