Project Title: Learning to write Methods and Devices - How children learn to write their first script In Devanagari script

Supervisor: Prof Ravi Poovaiah

Writing is a standardized man-made activity, technique. We have to specially learn this activity. Written letter is just a moving line in a particular direction which eventually gives birth to letter- form. Handwriting is process that produces letter-form as product; where process and its product is inseparably composed. This mark-making activity needs to rigorously learnt. This research aims to probe into questions of this nature: Can learning hand writing be made simpler, easier? Can learning appropriate basic strokes lead to ease in learning to write? Can this be applicable for learning Devanagari letter-forms?

Video observation about ‘how children learn to write’ points to the necessity of observing ‘learning devices’ and methods of teaching these children. Primarily in terms of devices, there are two types of books/manuals/primers: (a) For observation of letter-form, (b) For rendering practice of Letter-form.

This preliminary research threw up the following enquiries:
1. While first visual exposure of letter-form why one needs to show dimensional looking letter-form in type? Especially when first writing practice produces mono- liner letter-form due to writing tool such as pencil, pen.

2. (a) Can correct and accurate number of segments of the letter-form be decided for children? (b) How many times child needs to render a letter-form to acquiring the correct form? (c) Will the segregation of letter-forms by creating ‘form-wise’ or ‘action-wise’ group help the learner?

These research enquiries will direct one to design scientific experiments, fact-finding survey of current teaching methods in the coming year. It is expected that the outcome of these enquiries will attempt to ease the learning of writing for children.


Publications:
- 'Language of child's writing' Paper presented at- 4th International Conference on Typography and Visual Communication. (ICTVC) 17th to 19th June 2010 at University of Nicosia, Cyprus.

- 'Sulekhan Kala (Bharatiya)' -Article published in "Vishwakosha" Vol-19 (The only Marathi Encyclopedia working from last 40 years.) Published by Department of Literature and Culture, Government of Maharashtra, on 22nd November 2012

- 'AKSHARA' a workshop about- How basic Calligraphy leads us to design new concepts in type designing . conducted at Dublin-ATypI 2010

- 'Investigating Handwriting practice manuals in currant scenario' A presentation. And a work shop on experimenting with letter form- in Typography Day 2012, 1st to 3rd March 2012 at IDC, IIT, Powai Mumbai.

Contact details:
Industrial Design Centre,
IIT Bombay ,
Powai, Mumbai 400076

Telephone:
091-022-25767812

E-mail: santosh.kshirsagar[at]iitb.ac.in