Welcome To The Seminar

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Developing Distance Educators in India and abroad

Dr Prabir Kr Biswas

Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education IGNOU INDIA pkbiswas@hotmail.com aizawl@indiatimes.com

Situation :1 A new Institute of DE has been established. Ten academic staffs have been appointed.They have been asked to develop self-learning materials for the distance learners.Situation: 2A tutor /academic counselor has been appointed and has been asked to give counseling to a group of distance learners. He has limited time for a Block consisting of 5 units ( around 25000 words). He has been asked to mark the assignments and to write tutor comments.Situation:3A regional Director has been appointed and has been asked to monitor the functioning of 20 study centers in his region.

The Division of Distance Education , IGNOU was upgraded into the Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE) in 1993. Initially the institute was entrusted with the task of training the staff of IGNOU, the staff of state open universities and distance education directorates in India and South Asia. Over the years it has expanded its jurisdiction tremendously by responding to the distance education needs of many countries in Asia, Africa, South Pacific and Caribbean region.

STRIDE, IGNOU

* To identify training needs of different target groups.* To build up resource base of up-to-date information.* To develop training strategies and training materials.* To organize and conduct training and staff development activities for the identified target groups and institutions through various strategies leading to completion of certificates, diplomas and degrees.* To get involved and promote research in open and distance education.

Objectives of STRIDE

To develop human resources for distance education institutions STRIDE offers two programs:

* Postgraduate Diploma in Distance Education(PGDDE).

* M.A. in Distance Education(MADE).

Each program is a 30 credit program and consists of 5 courses.Duration: Minimum 1 year. Maximum 4 years

STRIDE Programs

Course 1: Growth and Philosophy of DEBlock 1: Socio-academic issues.Block 2: Philosophical foundations.Block 3: Growth and present statusBlock 4 and Block 5: Collection of articles.

Course 2: Design and Development of SLMBlock 1:Factors in design of print materials.Block 2: Principles of text designBlock 3: Preparation of texts.Block 4 and Block54: Collection of articles.

Course 3: Learner support services Block 1: Support services: need and mechanism.Block 2: Counseling and tutoring services.Block 3: Interaction through assignments.Block 4 and Block 5: Collection of articles.

Course 4: Management of DEBlock 1: Educational systems management.Block 2: Management of higher education.Block 3: Planning and management of distance education.Block 4: Planning and management of IGNOU.Block 5: Management of change.

IGNOU: 3 tier systemHqs. ------ RCs(48)-------SCs(1081)Tele-learning centers(29), Overseas centers(23)Programs(78), Courses(815)Students on rolls(10,13,631), Students in 2003(3,16,547)

Tutor/Academic counselors(25,500)Students registered for Term-end exam.,2002(5,08,541)Students awarded Degrees/Diplomas/Certificates(3,93,506)Schools(9), Divisions(14), Other Units(4),Teachers/Academics(300), Administrative and other staffs(1,415)

Media/Technology: Print, Audio(1,235), video(1,520),Gyan Darshan Educational Channel(24 hrs.), Eklavya:The technical Educational Channel(16 hrs.), Gyan Vani FM Radio stations(7), Teleconferencing(around 450 hrs./year),Interactive Radio Counseling(1 hour every week from 186 Radio Stations of Akashvani), Computer(around 2000 computers at various offices including computer laboratories at Regional centers). Projects(24) including Virtual initiatives.

Course 5:Communication technology for DEBlock1: Communication technology basics.Block 2: Media in distance education.Block 3: Audio and video production (Part 1).Block 4: Audio and video production (Part 2)Block 5: Computer and communication networks.

Program delivery:* Study materials are sent to the participants directly by post along with the Program Guide and assignments(total 15) at least 1 month before the session.* Induction meeting(face-to-face) is held during the Ist/2nd week of the session in every study center(total 51), or through teleconference (one way video and two way audio) from the HQs.

* Face-to-face academic counseling starts in the month of February. Max. 10 counseling for each course(academic counselors involved).

National operations

•Tutoring through assignments starts in March(academic counselor and faculty involved).* Audio and video programs supplement the print materials. These can be used at Regional centers and Study Centers. Gyan Darshan Educational TV channel (24 hrs.) telecast video programs.* Phone-in–radio counseling is held through 186 radio stations (faculty and academic counselor involved).* Faculty provides support through e-mail, telephone and letter.

International operationsRajiv Gandhi Fellowship(RGF) Scheme launched jointly by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), IGNOU and Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.100 participants from different commonwealth countries took admission to this program in 1995. Later in 2000, 50 more participants have joined.* Orientation for academic counselors had been organized in New Delhi.* STRIDE faculty provide tutoring through assignments (tutor comments) and provide support services through e-mail (who has the facility).

Name of the countries:Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Mauritius, Tanzania, Ghana, Guyana,, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia, Samoa, Swaziland, Antigua, Jamaica,Trinidad& Tobago, St. Kitts, St. Vincent, Solomon, Tonga, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles.

IICBA-UNESCO & STRIDE(IGNOU) collaboration

110 participants from Ethiopia, 15 from Liberia and 8 from Madagascar took admission in this program under this scheme (2000-2002).* Intensive counseling for 10 days duration in April and November(STRIDE faculty).* Tutoring and other support services through e-mail(who has the facilities).*Tutoring through assignments(tutor comments).* Selected participants who have completed the program and have obtained good grades have been given live orientation.

MADE courses:

Course 1: Research for Distance Education.Course 2: Curriculum Development for Distance Education.Course 3: Distance Education : Economic perspective.Course 4: Staff Development in Distance Education.Course 5: Project Work.

Project work:Purpose: * To develop research skills.* To sensitize to the realities and practices of DE system,* To solve local problems through scientific method of investigation,Thematic Areas:*DE system: status and prospects*Student support services and other sub-systems in DE*Cost factors in DE*Developing self-instructional material*Learner concerns in DE*Use of technology in DE*Language issues in DE*Developing human resources in DE

PGDDE & MADE program: Admission and completionIndia (1987-2002):Admitted: 10,236 Completed: 1826RGF-COL scheme(1995-1997)Admitted: 100 Completed: 61RGF-COL(2000-2002)Admitted: 50IICBA-UNNESCO-STRIDE(IGNOU) scheme (2000-02)Admitted: 110

MADE program:RGF-COLAdmitted: 61 Completed: 52IICBA-UNESCO-STRIDE(IGNOU)Admitted: 110India (1993-2002)Admitted: 418 Completed: 202

Short training program:* Orientation /Workshop for the new academics* Workshop for the course writers (self-learning materials development, transformation of existing material into self-learning format)*Orientation for the tutor/academic counselors.

Workshop:*Training materials are sent to the participants as pre-workshop activities.*One or two Units are developed during the workshop(5-10 days duration) under the direct supervision of the STRIDE faculty.*Other Units are developed after the workshop (guidance are taken through e-mail as and when necessary, and if there is facility).

Training Materials:* Handbook 1: Open and Distance Education* Handbook 2: Effective Learning* Handbook 3: Academic Counseling* Handbook 4: Assessment and Evaluation in Distance Education* Handbook 5: Development of Self-learning Materials* Handbook 6 Editing of Materials* Handbook 7 Media in Distance Education* Glossary of Terms used in Open Distance And E-learning* Training Manual for Non-academic Staff

Round Tables of representatives of state open universities and distance learning institutes:

Organized for coordination and development of shared understanding on ground realities and practices of open and distance education.

Topics:* Assignments* Academic counseling* Self-learning material development* Media delivery system* Material distribution* Training of trainers programEach institute prepares status paper and present. Discussion takes place. Action planes are prepared.

Training given to some other organizations

* National Institute of Bhutan* Indian Army* Department of Personnel Training , India.

Research Projects Completed By STRIDE

* Utility of IGNOU programs (MBA, BLISc)* Need analysis of programs of training of trainers in Asia, Africa and South Pacific region* Strategies to meet the needs of the disabled* Survey of partner institutions* Medium of instruction in distance education* Distance education and job market* Use of activities in self-learning materials by distance learners* Impact of STRIDE training program* Models of course development* Program evaluationBesides these STRIDE faculty members have completed several individual research.

Thank You For Active Listening

Special Thanks To

*Authority OUHK * Authority COL * Authority IGNOU

Sincere & warm thanks to

Prof. WONG Tat Meng, Dean , School of Science & TechnologyDr David MURPHY, Acting Director, CRIDALDr YUEN Kin Sun, Head ETPUDr Rex G SHARMAN, Course Designer, ETPUAll the members of Research Team, Research Management & Administration, Secretary to Director and Scholars, CRIDAL