Use of Information and Communication Technologies in India's First Open University : Experience and Perceptions of Learners and Learner Support Providers
Abstract
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU), the first distance teaching university in India, was a great educational event. It started a new chapter in the history of India’s distance higher education. The general objects these research studies are: • to identify the information and communication technologies used in open distance education system in general and in BRAOU in particular, • to find out the process of planning and management of the technologies for distance teaching of BRAOU, • to assess the impact of the technologies on the distance learning of BRAOU students, and • to make suggestions, on the basis of the study, for effective and efficient management of technology in BRAOU. This study adopted descriptive method of research, which is widely used in educational research. Experiences, opinions and perceptions of 510 undergraduates students, 184 postgraduates, 110 academic counselors and 52 study center Heads are collected through separate questioners. Important results of survey are briefly stated here.
Keywords
Distance education, information and communication technologies, selection of media and management.
References
- Bansal, K and Chaudhary, S. S. (1999). Interactive Audio for Supporting Distance Education: An
- Evaluation Study. Indian Journal of Open Learning, 8 (1). Bates, A. W. (2005). Technology, E-Learning and Distance Education. London: Routledge.
- Chaudhary, S. V. S and Panda, S (2005). Educational Television and Teleconferencing. In Reddi,
- U.V., and Mishra, S. (Eds), Educational Media in Asia: Perspectives on Distance Education. Vencour : COL. Mishra, S. (2005). Audio, Radio and Interactive Radio. In Reddi, V.U., and Mishra, S. (Eds),
- Educational Media in Asia : Perspectives on Distance Education. Vencouver : COL. Prasad, V and Venkaiah V. (2005). India’s First Open University: Experience of Two Decades.
- Hyderabad: GRADE, BRAOU. Ranga Rao, C. V. (2006). Technology Enabled Learner Services in Dr. BRAOU: Promise and Performance, in Spectrum: Research Contributions of India’s First Open University. Hyderabad: GRADE, BRAOU.
- Satyanarayana, P and Emmanuel DK (2007): Use of ICTs in Distance Education. In Emerging
- Trends in the Use of ICTs. Hyderabad: MGNIRSA. Sesharatnam, C. (2002). India’s First Open University: Two Decades Journey, Hyderabad:
- Book Links Corporation. Venkaiah, V. (2005). Educational Media in Dr. BRAOU with special reference to
- Teleconferencing. In Educational Media in Asia : Perspectives on Distance Education. Vencouver : COL.