Academic Support Through E-Learning To Open And Distance Learners: A Case Study Of Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University
1. ACADEMIC SUPPORT THROUGH E-LEARNING TO OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNERS: A CASE STUDY OF YASHWANTRAO CHAVAN MAHARASHTRA OPEN UNIVERSITY Miss Ajbani Latika Ajitkumar Miss Kale Vini Arun Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University
In self-paced courses the learner can learn any time at his own convenience. Self-paced courses usually have features like multimedia, interactivity, book-marking, and tracking report while some have the advanced features like simulation, online experts, multiple bookmarks, search, notes and highlights. These courses are delivered through Internet, Intranet or Local Area Networks, CD-ROM or DVD Discussion group/ message boards/ bulletin boards/discussion forums are collection of conversations that occur over time. The discussion starts out as a question from an individual where another individual responds to it some time later. A discussion group is a very efficient way to provide provides expert answers to a large group people. A single answer to a common question can benefit many.
A virtual classroom is replica of the competency found in a real classroom. In a virtual classroom students and teachers use their computers to go to a virtual meeting place instead of a classroom student’s attendance is recorded. Lecture is delivered through Slide presentation, Audio and video conferencing. Through Audio and video conferencing there is interaction. Audio conferencing can be implemented through computers connected to the Internet and Phone. Video conferencing can also be implemented through computers connected to the Internet the computers need digital cameras and Special video conferencing devices that connect over the Internet or over phone lines. Participants use a computer to type their comments. The other participants can see the name of the person and their comments. A shared whiteboard helps group of learners to communicate by typing comments, drawing, highlighting and pointing Demonstration of how to use software applications to remote learners is possible with application sharing. A teacher can also let the learner take control of the application to practice performing tasks. It is similar to chat. One person communicates to another through typing. Instant messaging also provides some additional features. With instant messaging, you can keep a list of list of people that you might like to chat with. The list will indicate if they are online, offline, available for chat or busy. These features make instant messaging an excellent tool for learning from peers.
Through mobile van attempt is made to make the people aware about the technology being used and equip them with the basic knowledge of computers. The Internet facility is also provided in the van with the help of Tata Photon. First batch was conducted at Savargaon in Nashik, with total 25 students. And the second batch is being conducted at Ladchi in Nashik, with 28 students. YCMOU is now planning to initiate the third batch in the Dhagor village in Nashik district. The students of the first batch have received opportunities to work on the basis of this course. Some of them are working as computer operator and few of them are working as supervisor in reputed firms.
who is free to choose mode of reply (by normal postal system, email or here on this discussion forum) to query.
The pre-recorded videos by the computer experts ensure uniform, consistent and quality education at all YCMOU study centres.
The student can appear for the exam only if the exam request is sent for him by the Study Centre and has been approved by exam unit. The exam request and approval is maintained so as to keep a track of eligible students and for other control activities.
On the university website, the Study Centre has to login to the website using the Study Centre login and password.
Under examination, Click on the link “Start Practice Examination” to start the practice examination.
The screen appears which prompts the student to enter his Permanent Registration Number.
After entering the Permanent Registration Number (PRN) of the student, a list box appears. The list box consists of the list of the courses for which the student is eligible to appear. Then the student has to select the course name from the list box for which he has to take the practice test.
After the course is selected, the screen appears which displays the student’s name, PRN number and his age. It also displays the photograph of the student. This page gives the necessary instructions to the student regarding the duration of the examination, structure of question paper, duration given for each question, etc. After reading the instructions carefully, the student has to click on the “Continue” button.
Then the question paper appears one question at a time. For practice examination, questions are selected randomly from the Question Bank. Each question has 4 options, from which the student has to select the appropriate answer. Each question has been allotted time according to its difficulty level. And then click the “Submit” button.
After all the 30 questions have been answered, a mark sheet is generated. It displays the total number of questions in the exam, number of questions answered correctly and marks scored by the student
The exam unit selects the name of the examiner from the database and clicks on the “Submit Action” button to send the system-generated password to the examiner to start the exam. This password is sent through email 10 minutes before the examination.
At the time of the exam, Study Centre coordinator has to login on every machine .
The link “Start Student Examination” has to be clicked.
The screen appears which prompts the examiner to enter his name and password received through email and then clicks on the ‘Continue’ button.
After the examiner has logged in, the student has to enter his PRN number.
After PRN number is entered, a list box appears from which the student has to select the course name for which he has to appear.
After the course is selected, the screen appears which displays the student’s name, PRN number and his age. It also displays the photograph of the student. This page gives the necessary instructions to the student regarding the duration of the examination, structure of question paper, duration given for each question, etc After reading the instructions carefully, the student has to click on the “Continue” button.
Then the question paper appears one question at a time. Questions are selected from the Question Bank as specified in the paper format. There is a time limit for each question.
After the student has attempted all the questions, a provisional mark sheet is generated and displayed on the screen. The mark sheet displays the total marks received in the exam as well as in the home/practical assignment, the total marks out of 100 and the grade obtained . The original marksheet is sent by the University in due course of time. Study Centre takes print out of the provisional mark sheet, gets it signed by the examiner and hand it over to the student. The online exam link is available 24 hours between t he start and end date.