Noida limits smartboard use in Classes 1-8

Noida schools must limit smartboard use to 30 minutes a day for Classes 1-5 and 60 minutes for Classes 6-8 under a district administration order on children’s screen exposure.

District Magistrate Medha Roopam’s circular followed parental complaints that digital boards were being used for textbooks, classwork, question-and-answer sessions and homework. The circular said some students’ daily screen exposure had reached four to five hours.

Schools have been asked to use conventional boards regularly for writing, practice and participatory learning. They should use smartboards mainly to explain difficult concepts or show pictures and videos, rather than for every subject or activity. When a board is used only for writing, schools should avoid its backlight.

The order also recommends the 20-20-20 rule: after every 20 minutes, students should look at an object about 20 feet away. It calls for more activity-based learning, outdoor games, storytelling and group work.

For online classes, schools must follow PRAGYATA digital-education norms, including breaks of 10 to 15 minutes between screen sessions.