Last week, the two partners in progress were in Delhi to conduct a workshop for mathematics teachers and school principals on `Going Graphic in the Information Age'.

Kong Tiong Kah, Asia Pacific development manager for HP Calculators, says the objective was to build an interface between AAMT and the teachers in India. ``AAMT has rich experience in the field of mathematics education, and we wanted them to share this experience with their counterparts in India,'' he said.

Tarun Mutreja of HP India says that though mathematics is a global language, it is taught differently in different countries. ``The Australian method was found to be closest and most relevant to our learning system. We are particularly interested in the Australian learning system that has been developed for gifted students,'' he says.

Adoption of new technology in the learning system is one of the key objectives of the HP initiative. The seminar, therefore, highlighted the experiences of Delhi schools, including Delhi Public School RK Puram, Modern School and CRPF School, on the use of graphic calculators to facilitate the teaching of mathematics in senior classes.

HP India has in fact set up mathematics laboratories at DPS RK Puram, Modern School and CRPF School, where HP 38G graphic calculators are being used by teachers to aid instruction and to make mathematical learning interactive and fun for the students.

Kong adds that HP calculators are being used as teaching tools in nearly 85 per cent of the universities and colleges in the US. ``We hope that schools in India will also be adopting these aids in their instructional methods,'' he says.

``India is the first country where we have initiated this learning process. We plan to take this initiative to many other countries in the due course of time,'' says Kong.

Mutreja says the idea is to arouse the fun element in learning. ``Students should be able to equate what they see around them with the various mathematical equations they learn in class. We have to take mathematics closer to the real world,'' he says.

``Training in mathematics should include use of basic knowledge, logic and visualising skills,'' he adds.

The HP graphic calculator has an APLETS programme that enables the user to learn mathematics through games. ``Students will not have to memorise the equations. They can see for themselves how the various equations can be applied,'' says Mutreja.

HP has been regularly consulting mathematics teachers worldwide on how to improve teaching aids. ``We plan to include teachers from India, too, in our R&D efforts. Normally, teachers work with us on sabbaticals,'' says Kong.Kong would like to create a market for HP graphic calculators in India. At Rs 5,300 per piece, it is unaffordable for most students across the country.

To make it easier for students to use these calculators, HP is planning to develop specific leasing arrangements with schools in the country. Mutreja says the company plans to make a limited offer to 10 schools that have decided to purchase 50 units of graphic calculators. ``We will provide these schools with a maths lab, HP PC 4000 Mz, overhead projector, PC connectivity kit, access to the Internet and the APLETS programme,'' says Mutreja.

The APLETS programme will enable students to have mentors in any part of the world. The offer is open to 10 schools at the moment.

``We don't believe in providing free units. Instead, our goal is to create the right environment wherein technology becomes accessible to students from all strata,'' concludes Kong.