Indian Higher Education| Image Resource : thestatesman.com
In the era of technology the higher education system has also changed. The scenario of classroom teaching is changing and now the concept has shifted to e-learning, blended learning, open educational resources, flipped classrooms and massive open online courses.
E-learning means electronic learning and it uses various means of information and communication technologies. It includes the internet, wireless network, satellite communication, digital tv, cell phones and more.
With e-learning the students can learn anytime anywhere using personal computers and smartphones. There are also digital libraries where the students can access the subject related courses at any time and from anywhere.
Different methods
One of the latest educational tools is the Open Educational Resources (OERs). In this the course materials are available in the public domain and can be used with an open license. The materials can be freely accessible and students can get a legal or free copy, use it and reshare it. It includes lecture notes, textbooks, modules, assignments, tests, projects, audio, video, animation and software tools.
Blended learning combines traditional learning and online learning. It offers a wide possibility of constructive and collaborative and computer supported learning. It requires a good financial budget, precise efforts and highly qualified teachers and learners for implementation.
Flipped classroom is a new type of blended learning and does not involve traditional learning but provides online course material outside the classroom. The students see the online lectures and work together as a team in online discussion. The students can perform research at home and use the concepts in the classroom with the guidance of a teacher. The word Flipped stands for:
- F - Flexible environment
- L - Learner-centric approach
- I - International content
- P - Professional educators
- P - Progressive learning activities
- E - Effective learning experiences
- D - Diversified learning platforms
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are structured courses where the e-content is provided to the students in a virtual class through a web-based portal. The content can be accessed by devices such as laptop, desktop, tablet or smartphone. The e-content is arranged in a logical sequence for learners to meet the specific learning outcomes. Other activities are also provided like quizzes, live videos, live chat and discussion forums.
India is a hub for higher education and the institute uses blended learning to teach the students. The Indian higher education system comprises over 1000 universities and 42,000 institutes that impart quality education. The institutes use top notch learning methodologies and learning is not limited to the classrooms.
