Noida schools shift lessons offline after smartboard-use limits

The district’s August 13 limits on smartboard use are prompting private schools in Noida and Greater Noida to increase whiteboard teaching, reading sessions and hands-on activities.

District magistrate Medha Roopam’s order capped smartboard use at 30 minutes a day for Classes I-V and 60 minutes for Classes VI-VIII. The order noted that some students’ average screen exposure had reached four to five hours a day.

At DPS Greater Noida, reading, storytelling, role plays, art and craft activities are taking a larger place alongside selective use of digital resources. Seema Roy, the school’s principal, said technology should support learning rather than replace “meaningful human interaction, physical activity and experiential learning.”

Grads International School is using whiteboards and school diaries for homework instructions and parent communication instead of WhatsApp, ERP and other platforms. DPS Greater Noida West has started a “Drop Everything and Read” programme and sessions on mindful screen use.

Some schools are also using outdoor and experiential lessons, sports, yoga and Zumba.