1. ‘MGuru’ Online Language Lab software: KITE made use of an Online platform titled ‘MGuru’ Language Lab software in 2017-18 by integrating it with the Samagra portal and training was given to 40,000 teachers in the State. However, the dependence on internet was found as an issue, wherein poor or no connectivity at some places affected the running of the Language Lab. So KITE decided to develop a FOSS based, easy to adopt and deploy anywhere Digital Multimedia English Language Lab Software.
2. E-Cube English Project: Kerala launched the E-Cube English (Enjoy, Enhance & Enrich) project in 2019-20 to enhance the English language proficiency of students. The project comprises three components, viz., E- library, E-broadcast and E-language lab. The three programmes are expected to collectively enhance the English language proficiency of students.
2.A. Samagra E-Library is one of the components of E-Cube English. It consists of a digital repository of grade specific E Books in Samagra web portal for children from classes 1 to 8. The story books are made available under Creative Commons from Storyweaver by Pratham Books, AfricanStorybook.org and the like. The grade specific books in E-Library promote active reading, reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, creative writing etc.
2.B. Digital Multimedia Language Lab: The Digital multimedia content of the e Language software was developed by KITE from 2019-20. The digital multimedia content of the E- language lab consists of illustrated stories and activities related to listening, speaking, reading, writing, language elements, vocabulary, picture drawing, oral and written discourses and creative expression. The course content is arranged in the software at 4 levels based on students’ class and English proficiency levels. Each level consists of 10 stories and language learning activities related to all the stories. Stories at a particular level have 2 listening activities and activities such as: drag and drop, true or false, matching type, choose the appropriate answer, assignments, audio recording, video recording etc. When students listen to the story narration and read the stories and later do the activities, they will get rich inputs in listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, language elements etc.
2.C. E- Broadcast: E Broadcast consists of weekly broadcast of learner cantered activity based, interactive English programmes screened on KITE VICTERS Channel. The present E- Broadcast telecast consists of ‘E Cube stories’: a series of stories with narration, songs, activities, performance and art & craft integrated learning activities. E Broadcast also has a programme titled ‘Conversingly Yours’ for enhancing the English conversation skills of students.
3. Testing and implementation: KITE’s in-house Quality Assurance (QA) team has done the Alpha testing, Compliance testing and User acceptance testing during the course of development and try-outs in 2021-22 and necessary changes were made in the software.
4. Launch: The e-Language Lab was officially launched on 11 th March 2022. User Guide, Video Tutorials & Training Module have already been prepared and the massive training programme for teachers is scheduled in May 2022.
5. Implementation of E-Cube English Language lab in schools: E-Cube English was not implemented in schools during 2020- 2021 schools as schools were shut down during COVID-19. E-Cube English language lab was implemented in the primary and upper primary schools of Kerala (Grades 1-to 7) in July 2022 onwards. 2 day training in the use and implementation E-language lab was rolled to 70000 thousand teachers in May and June of 2022.
6. Findings of the Baseline Line study: KITE entrusted Regional Institute of English, South India, Bangalore, (RIESI) to study the impact of the implementation of E Language Lab in schools. The Baseline study of RIESI reported that students performed well, were confident while answering the questions and in most cases needed little to no encouragement to answer. The study also highlighted that the teachers unanimously agreed on the usefulness of digital tools for English language teaching and to enhance students’ levels of interest in English.
7. Expansion of E Language Lab to other languages: The platform would be used for the development of software in languages like Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and the like during 2024-25.