IIT Bombay's TARA Mobile App Brings Oral Reading Fluency to the Forefront; Check Details Here
IIT Bombay has developed a mobile app, TARA, designed to assess students' reading proficiency by analysing recorded audio and generating detailed reports. Check details here
IIT Bombay's TARA Mobile App
To revolutionise literacy assessment in schools, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have developed TARA (Teacher’s Assistant for Reading Assessment), a mobile app that evaluates students' reading proficiency through recorded audio and generates detailed reports eliminating the need for human intervention. The project, funded by the Tata Centre for Technology & Design and the Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation Fellowship, is led by Professor Preeti Rao from IIT Bombay's Electrical Engineering Department. She collaborated with language experts and teachers to develop TARA.
TARA Mobile App
The mobile app leverages advanced speech processing and machine learning technology to automatically measure oral reading fluency. Designed to address the need for regular assessments to enhance students' reading proficiency, TARA offers an efficient, automated solution. It listens to a child reading a level-appropriate passage aloud, analyzes the recorded audio, and generates a comprehensive report on the student's reading progress minimising time and human effort. TARA has been recently adopted by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghatan (KVS) for English and Hindi ORF assessment for Classes 3 to 8, comprising more than seven lakh students in 1,200 schools across India.
Explaining the functions of TARA, the professor said, “From an audio recording of a child reading a level-appropriate passage aloud, TARA extracts rubrics for ORF including the widely employed WCPM (words correct per minute). With TARA, phrasing (grouping of words), intonation and stress in speech are also measured that helps obtain a holistic score indicative of the precise stage of reading development. The system is trained on expert-annotated recordings of children’s reading and currently works for English and Hindi, with its reliability verified to match that of human experts.”
Dr Shailaja Menon, reading pedagogy expert and lead, Center of Excellence in Early Language and Literacy at Tata Trusts, said, “Organisations have long felt the need for a digital tool offering real-time data on learning levels. TARA addresses this gap with an end-to-end system that facilitates audio recording and provides performance data for each child, as well as for cohorts such as class, school and region, on a dashboard.”
Q: Is IIT Bombay good for MBA courses?
MBA is one of the popular courses of IIT Bombay, offered through Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management. The institute has a good ranking in the Management category. Here are few parameters that will help candidates decide if IIT Bombay is a good option for pursuing an MBA:
- Rankings: NIRF has ranked IIT Bombay under the 'Management' Category for three consecutive years. In 2024, NIRF ranked the institute at #10 position among the top MBA institutes in India.
- Placements: IIT Bombay conducts placement drive every year. Students pursuing MBA can get placed in the top companies through the placement drive. The highest and average package offered during SJMSOM IIT Bombay MBA placements 2024 stood at INR 72 LPA and INR 28.01 LPA. Further, the placement rate recorded during SJMSOM MBA placement 2024 was 100%. A total of 48 companies visited the campus during SJMSOM IIT Bombay MBA placements 2024.
- Faculty: As per IIT Bombay Shiksha Reviews, every faculty member here is highly qualified, and many of them have multiple publications in renowned research journals.
Q: Is MSc available in IIT Bombay?
Yes, IIT Bombay offers MSc for two-years. The PG-level course is available in seven specialisations, including Chemistry, Biotechnology, Applied Geology, Applied Geophysics, Mathematics, Physics, Applied Statistics & Informatics. Moreover, the institute also offers MSc + PhD (dual degree) course in three specialisations including Environmental Science & Engineering, Operations Research, Energy Science & Engineering.
Q: Is B.Sc. at IIT Bombay worth the investment?
Based on the feedback from students and alumni, here's a summary of the key points:
Pros:
* Excellent Infrastructure: Modern and well-equipped laboratories, libraries, and sports facilities.
* High-Quality Education: Qualified and experienced faculty members, with a focus on practical learning.
* Good Placement Record: Approx. 88% placement rate, with the highest packages reaching up to INR56 LPA and average packages ranging between INR18-20 LPA.
* Scholarship Opportunities: Availability of scholarships based on family income and merit.
* Research-Oriented Course: Emphasis on hands-on projects and interactions with Ph.D. researchers.
Cons:
* Limited Campus Facilities: Old hostels may require renovation, and some students might feel that the rooms are small.
* Some Faculty Members May Not Be Effective Teachers: While most professors are helpful, some may not be as effective in imparting knowledge.
* Course Curriculum May Need Updates: Some students reported that certain subjects' curricula may not be updated regularly.
Overall Assessment:
Considering the pros and cons, investing in a B.Sc. degree at IIT Bombay appears to be a worthwhile decision. The university offers an excellent education, cutting-edge infrastructure, and strong placement records. Additionally, the availability of scholarships and research opportunities provides a competitive edge for students.
However, it's essential to acknowledge that the campus facilities could improve, and some faculty members may require more effective teaching methods. Nonetheless, these drawbacks seem manageable considering the program's strengths.
Ultimately, whether or not B.Sc. at IIT Bombay is "worth" the investment depends on individual priorities and goals. For those seeking a rigorous academic experience, strong networking opportunities, and career advancement prospects, IIT Bombay's B.Sc. programme seems like a valuable investment.
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Sanjana Surbhi has over five years of experience in the online education sector. Drawing from her tenure with ed-tech companies, she infuses her work with a wealth of knowledge from the education realm, lending an i... Read Full Bio
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