DOIMUKH, Apr 29: Amid the ongoing nationwide lockdown in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) here organized a three days ‘online faculty development programme (OFDP) on teaching-learning’ through e-learning technologies with a mission to carry forward the online education system.
The OFDP was oriented to develop required skills among the participants for course design and transaction through the collaboration of individuals and institutions while strictly adhering to the lockdown protocols laid down by both central and state governments and local administration as well.
During the inaugural session on Monday, RGU Vice-Chancellor Prof Saket Kushwaha reiterated the message of the prime minister that “we should maintain physical distancing, while ensuring our work.”
He further stressed that the larger student community of RGU has to move ahead towards online and blended mode of learning. “After lockdown is over, new avenues in this regard will be explored to help the students regain their academic loses they suffered so far,” the VC said.
RGU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof A Mitra stressed on the importance of online platforms for learning during this pandemic.
RGU Joint Registrar (Academic & Conference) Dr David Pertin informed that a total of 4882 participants registered from across the nation, and few from abroad – also joined the programme.
In his inaugural lecture, Prof S Senthilnathan, Director, HRDC, Bharatidaan University, Tamil Nadu, stressed on the need and modalities of online teaching-learning.
On the first day technical session, Prof RC Sharma of Dr BR Ambedkar University, New Delhi demonstrated and interacted with the participants on the identification, selection, use and creation of open online educational resources.
On the second day, Dr Deepak Bisla System Administrator, IT department, Dr BR Ambedkar University, New Delhi, discussed various online and offline tools which are helpful for creation of e-content.
Dr Parveen K Sharma, faculty of Maharshi Markandeshwar University, Ambala highlighted about the importance and creation of podcasts for learning.
“Podcasts are very powerful learning tools and it can be very useful in context of Arunachal Pradesh, where mobile and connectivity has always been an issue,” he opined.
In another session, Dr K Thiyagu, School of Education, Central University of Kerala (CUK), Kasargod, demonstrated various tools, which teachers can use, both in synchronous as well as asynchronous ways, for online collaboration and assessing the performance of their learners.
On the last day of the program on Wednesday, head of ICT department, NIEPA New Delhi, Prof K Srinivas conducted two sessions on design, developing, delivery, and access of online teaching with modular object oriented dynamic learning environment and delivered upon blended mode of teaching-learning.
National ICT awardee and Google certified trainer from Delhi based Sanskriti School, Dr Sangeeta Gulati gave a demonstration on handling the ‘Google Suit’ consisting of mail, drive, classroom, docs, sheets, slides, sites, calendar and many more applications which Google offers as an education partner.
