CS Magic Box

Background

We in India face a tremendous range of unmet needs related to health, education, food security and energy use. Having made considerable strides in improving access, efforts are now being made to improve the quality of education in India. As of the NSSO 2014, there are more than 334 million school-age children that reside in the nation. Household surveys on economic status suggest that most of these children’s families are not able to afford the costs of obtaining an adequate education provided by the private sector.
These disparities, driven by class, caste and regional disparities are one of the greatest challenges that the country will need to address in the 21st century. This presents a serious challenge for those trying to change the status quo. The numbers are often disheartening and too large for any one individual or organization to begin to address.

Vision
To bridge the divide between haves and have-nots using technology.
Mission
To build an ecosystem for providing Computer Knowledge and Training with passion and commitment, to deliver value in the form of Computer trained people, who use this skill for the betterment of their lives in every possible way.
To use technology to deliver solutions & reduce challenges faced by under-served communities in every walk of life.

Computer Shiksha (CS), a non-profit trust formed under the Indian Trust Act of 1882, offers computer literacy programs as a service to schools who are already successfully engaging with communities but do not have the assets, and resource capabilities to produce an effective Digital Literacy program.
The organization believes that exposing children to the modern marvels of the personal computer can serve as a mechanism that will better their lives substantially. In the short time since its inception, Computer Shiksha has seen tremendous growth in the number of students that it has reached. The impact ranges from attracting more and more children to come into the fold of formal education to a desire amongst beneficiaries to pursue further education.

The Proposed Solution – CS MagicBox

Objective
To cover 100% of children, age group 5 to 16 years of age, in India with Computer Awareness Course, by 2047, to free them from digital illiteracy.
This number is currently estimated to be at 25 crores.

Background
The project ‘Eradicating Computer Illiteracy Through Free Self-Learning Videos embedded in a MagicBox’ aims to combat one of the troubling features of education inequality by providing technology access and instruction for children of under-served communities in areas of need.

Current Status at CS
Currently CS is adding 0.75 school per day for complete Computer Literacy solution and 2 schools per day for implementing Computer Awareness classes.
At this rate, CS would take 1370 years to reach 100% of target population, only with Computer Awareness classes and not even Computer Literacy labs.
That is why the new thought, of implementing CS MagicBox solution at a scorching pace, to be able to complete the target segment numbers by 2047, 100 years after India got independence.

Computer Awareness Course on CS MagicBox
CS MagicBox is a TV like display unit which has complete set of Computer Literacy course videos embedded in it and can be played and videos seen, using a simple remote by anyone.

Expected Outcomes with this approach
Children will be exposed to Basic concepts of Computers, their usage, etc.
- MS Paint 1 drawing
- Text Processing
- Worksheet
- Presentation
- Internet and Email
Since the delivery of concepts would be video based, hence retention will be much higher than just reading these from a textbook.
Students can complete each module and get certificates for each module after undergoing an exam conducted by CS.
These certificates increase the value of students in the marketplace, and as explained in the impact of the program, if students today don’t learn Computer Literacy, they will not be able to fit into the society properly and won’t be able to get employed in most of the jobs, as almost all jobs require knowledge of Computer Literacy.

Target population : Children in age group 5 to 16 years, already enrolled in schools across the country, with little or no access to computers. Currently this number is expected to be 250 million.

If students today don’t learn Computer Literacy, they will not be able to fit into the society properly and won’t be able to get employed in most of the jobs, as almost all jobs require knowledge of Computer Literacy.

The project ‘Eradicating Computer Illiteracy Through Free Self-Learning Videos embedded in a MagicBox’ aims to combat one of the troubling features of education inequality by providing technology access and instruction for children of under-served communities in areas of need.

1. Small team of 33 persons handling the entire Indian sub-continent.

2. Well groomed team over a long period. Organization started in 2012. 

3. Process and Documentation evolved, as we moved from Model I to Model II and on to Model III. Project Implantation, maintenance and continuity ensured through proactive coordination.

In the next financial year we will work to add another 2500 schools and about 480,000 students as beneficiaries. Following year target is 5000 schools with 1,280,000 students as beneficiaries.

Considering the remarkable outcomes achieved in the pilot project, it is only logical to extend the program's scope to encompass 25 crore children within a span of 24 years, ultimately achieving complete coverage by 2047, coinciding with India's 100 years of independence.
While a comprehensive forecast and plan have been formulated until 2047, detailed in a separate Excel sheet, practical implementation will revolve around successive 3-year plans.
Given the magnitude of this substantial expansion, the organization must be appropriately prepared.
Ensuring the availability of funds for a 3-year time frame becomes imperative to prevent any potential disruptions to the program's continuity.

A significant number of school leaders who had been on a waiting list for our services, shared the following insights with us.

1. If providing computers by CS proves to be a challenge for every school that approaches us, why not provide them with computer course videos? This way, children can at least watch and learn the concepts, if not actively practice them.
2. When we questioned the usefulness in the absence of hands-on practice, those with extensive experience working with children shared the following perspective:
a. Firstly, it is a step forward from having nothing at all.
b. Presently, a majority of studies remain primarily theoretical.
c. Considering that the course is video-based, retention would likely be more effective compared to reading from traditional books.
d. Once schools begin showcasing these videos to students, it will inevitably exert pressure on the education ecosystem to procure computers for practical application.
Consequently, responsibility for arranging computers will shift beyond just CS; even school leadership will feel compelled to source computers and smartphones. This transformation would establish a genuine partnership between CS and schools, advancing the shared vision of widespread computer literacy.
e. CS has also developed a solution for learning CS course videos and practicing on a smartphone screen simultaneously through screen splitting. With one half of the screen dedicated to video-based learning and the other half for hands-on practice, this presents an alternative method for students to engage in practice.
3. Subsequently, we inquired about their expectations from us and why they couldn't simply download our videos from YouTube and share them with students. They explained that their regions lacked robust 4G connections, making it challenging to download large video files. Thus, they sought a device from us that could run these videos. The alternative would involve either a computer/projector setup or a computer/TV combination, both of which were financially demanding propositions.
4. Returning to the drawing board, we procured a SmartTV from the market and began experimenting. By disabling its smart TV features and embedding our course videos within it, the CS MagicBox was born. This innovative device allowed anyone to run our course videos using a simple TV remote.
5. The results we witnessed took us by surprise (to say the least, "shocked" would be a more fitting word to capture our feelings).
6. In just six months since the launch of the CS MagicBox, during which we provided minimal training — a 30-minute online orientation to schools on remote usage — 182 schools across 16 states have been imparting computer literacy concepts to over 54,000 children. To provide some context, it took us a decade to reach our first 100,000 beneficiaries.
7. Interestingly, the performance of students we tested in Module 1 was on par with those who had access to a computer lab!

Hence, we were fully convinced by this innovative idea.

Technology & Cost innovation of Magic Box lead to following outputs already.

Since it launch in Nov 2022, 455 nos CS Magic Box has been made functional in schools across India in 27 states.

- No. of Magic Box schools is 455 (as of end Jan 2024).

- No. of students undergoing CS course is 159314

- Number of students certified is 728.

Pilot Details
a) To test the assumptions and premises, a pilot project was launched to
- understand the dynamics of the
i. school response
ii. children response
iii. children’s learning
b) Date of the launch - Nov 2022.

c) CS MagicBox to be taken to 150 schools and the results are much beyond our expectations.
Result of the Pilot programme
By 31st July 2023, we had 182 schools in 16 states using CS MagicBox to deliver computer literacy
concepts to 54796 children, and sample feedback of 32 schools is presented below -
- The classes are going on in all schools.
- Children are very excited to learn from specially developed Computer Literacy Course Videos using CS MagicBox
- 3 schools have also completed the exams for the first module.
- Evaluations comparable with schools who have full-fledged operational computer labs where children can practice what they learn.
More than 75% of schools could arrange 2 to 3 computers and few Smartphones* (Annexure II Smartphone Process / Utility developed by CS) for children to practice.
The results were as had been advised by School Leaderships, who pushed us to do this experiment.
These results were totally unexpected and now we need to go all out to expand our reach with CS MagicBox.

1. Between Oct 2023 to March 2024, CS Magic Box to be installed in 500 schools and student beneficiaries to be minimum 80,000.

2. Between April 2024 to March 2025, CS Magic Box to be installed in 2500 schools (cumulative 3000) and student beneficiaries to be minimum 480,000.

3. Between April 2025 to March 2026, CS Magic Box to be installed in 5000 schools (cumulative 8000) and student beneficiaries to be minimum 1,280,000.

We are also grading the schools based on our periodic monitoring and certification process.

Method : Audiovisual 

CS Magic Box - A smartTV with certain features disabled and embedded with course videos.

Voice & Subtitles - Multiple languages : Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali and Oriya.  Also in French.

Goal : Quality computer awareness programs for all students in schools (#sdg4).

After couple of learning modules are completed, we put the school in our waiting list for providing refurbished computers. We get end-of-life computers from corporate as donation. These are refurbished at our warehouse in Gurgaon,Haryana. We utilize open software and ensure there are no license fees payable by the schools. We have already deployed over 10197 refurbished computers in schools.

As CS services are free to school and students. No logistics cost payable by them.

Total 33 persons

- No part time staff and contractors

- No contractors

- All functions carried out by permanent staff.

The CS Magic Box (Model 3) pilot project was initiated in Nov 2022. Prior to that Model 1 and later Model 2. Model 2 and Model 3 continues in our growth phase. The organization has been pursuing this initiative since 2012.

Eleven years in total.

Our Policy document:

 

Policy Objective

 

To lay down the organization’s policy on Non Discrimination of any kind.

 

Eligibility

 

This policy applies to all employees, contractors, partners, beneficiaries, donors and anyone else whom employees come into contact with at work.

Description

 

Our non-discrimination policy expresses our commitment to engender a way of working which is free of discrimination, so that all our stakeholders can experience fairness in our way of doing work. It is the policy and commitment of Computer Shiksha that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, caste, and physical or mental disability. Not only will this apply to the selection of employees but also selection of beneficiaries.

 

Discriminatory Harassment or intimidation of a partner, beneficiary, staff person or guest because of that person’s race, age, color, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, or religion is specifically prohibited and may be grounds for termination. Harassment and intimidation includes abusive, foul or threatening language or behavior. Computer Shiksha is committed to maintaining a workplace that is free of any such harassment and will not tolerate discrimination against staff members, volunteers or agency clients. Issues of discriminatory treatment, harassment, or intimidation on any of these bases should immediately be reported to the Trustees or immediate supervisor and, if substantiated, prompt action will be taken.

 

Any employee, board member, volunteer or beneficiary (individual or organization) who believes that s/he or any other affiliate of Computer Shiksha has been discriminated against is strongly encouraged to report this concern promptly to the Trustees. The complaint can be in the form of an e-mail or even a phone call.

Computer Shiksha helps provide free computer literacy for
the under-served at schools, where students are already regularly attending
classes. We don’t just provide computers but deliver a complete package including video course-ware, training, monitoring, evaluation, free lifetime maintenance support and certification. And, all of our services come free as a pay back to society.

We enable partner schools to conduct classes by
- Enabling teachers with resources in the form of self-learning videos. Learning videos are in 7 languages - Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, and Oriya.
- Enabling teachers with rigorous 8 days of training by which even a 12th standard pass person who may have never seen a computer in life can become a computer trainer and resolve 90% of the hardware and software problems.
- Supporting schools with the required hardware (computers, Led TV, etc.).
- Supporting schools to maintain all hardware with uptime > 95%.
- Evaluating students to certify them.

Computer Shiksha is a charitable trust. It does not charge any fee for its services from anyone.

All financial statements and IT returns are uploaded on our website
http://www.computershiksha.org...

We receive grants & donations from corporate - both local and overseas. Also donations from individual philanthropists.

A list of donors as below:

United Way of Delhi BENGAL FINANCE AND INVESTMENT PVT. LTD Spirotech Heat Exchangers Pvt. Ltd Virtusa Consulting Services Private Limited  Volkswagen Group Technology Solutions India Pvt. Ltd.  EML Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd SYNOPSYS (INDIA) Private Limited Letz Dream Foundation Afton Chemical India Pvt. Ltd  Ashish Ramesh Chandra Kacholia Excel Warehousing Pvt. Ltd. Shree Krishna Landbase Private Limited  Polaris Consulting  and Services Limited Yahoo Software Development India Private Limited Online Giving Foundation Bain Capability Centre India pvt. Ltd Sika India Private Ltd. Sigma Chemtrade Pvt. Ltd Inder Murli Enterprieses Smt. Bhagwanidevi Basudev Jhunjhunwala Trust Macmillan Publishers India Pvt. Ltd Kisan Kraft Limited MPS Limited Imperial Auto Industries Ltd. Bajaj Auto Ltd