Stay@Home, Study@Home – by Dr.S.Ganesan (RD, IGNOU)

- Dr. S. Ganesan (RD, IGNOU)

The concept of 4-walled class room is fast changing due to extensive integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching-learning process. We all know that our home is our first school, to start the initial steps of learning process. Mother is the first teacher for a child. The 4-walled study-room at home provides a similar educational environment of a school; it is more so for university level education. The Open Learning system provides education at your door steps. But, now it is able to reach inside the study room right away. The ‘distance’ in Distance Education system has been disappearing due to computer mediated education at ‘click’ away distance. The e-mode learning platform available now is easily able to teach at a distance. Thus, the home based study is more effective and powerful for self-learning students.  The constructive use of time, during long lockdown period, is one way of improving our study habits.  Confined to 4-walls is to be made more purposeful for self development; especially, for the distance learners of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

WE LEARN                                      83% THROUGH SIGHT                       94%       11% THROUGH LISTENING                                      3.5% THROUGH SMELL                          6%       1.5% THROUGH TOUCH                                      1% THROUGH TASTE

WE REMEMBER                           20% OF WHAT WE HEAR                           30% OF WHAT WE SEE Audio-Video } 50% OF WHAT WE SEE & HEAR                          80% OF WHAT WE SAY                          90% OF WHAT WE SAY & DO

The recent announcement of alternative learning platforms through Doordarshan, cable TV, All India Radio for school children is one of the best student welfare measures by department of education.  It is a powerful educational broadcast / telecast to reach every student. Both the parents and school children will enjoy the radio-class and TV-class at home.  In other words, it is the school classroom inside the home. For some of them, it may be first experience to listen to radio-class. The Educational Radio of India-GYAN VANI - FM Radio Stations are doing this activity for all levels of education, for students, teachers & public. Now-a-days, its broadcast can be received through web-links also.  There are number of such learning platforms available now, for example: Gyandarshan – Educational TV Channel of India- (24 x 7), You Tube, Skype, Google Duo, Google Hangouts, Chat options available on various platforms, Whatsapp, Face Book, Instagram, Zoom, E-mail, E-Gyankosh from IGNOU (http://egyankosh.ac.in/), Ignou's Youtube videos (http://egyankosh.ac.in/handle/123456789/35033), IGNOU's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPageIGNOU/)

Self-motivation is highly required to learn from any virtual class room. The parents can motivate and guide, the school children, to equip for such e-learning platforms. The adult distance learners can train themselves to make use of all such teaching-learning platforms effectively.  Mentally preparing to attend such virtual class room is more important factor to gain knowledge. Keeping the pen, pencil, note-book, books, dictionary, mobile-video-recording etc. ready to use is equally important aspect for better learning environment. Some children maintain their own home-library with books, audio-video CDs also.   Setting a suitable audio volume in radio / TV set is essential to have proper listening pleasure. It also improves better concentration of students. Having seen TV as entertainment device, the shift to ‘education importing gadget’ may create small psychological adjustment problem for some students. Little orientation is required for the same. It is like, seeing the ‘father as teacher’ in a classroom.

The radio and TV  are more powerful electronic mass media suitable for educating the students at large number. Due to lockdown period, the untapped potential of such e-media is now explored for the benefit of students. Everyone will appreciate to continue such platforms, in use, forever.  Like the pre-class preparation activities, the post-class (tele-class) activities are also equally important; and are to be carried out very systematically. Otherwise, the TV class effect vanishes in volatile memory of students. Spending 30-40 minutes for reading the relevant topics will strengthen the storage process. Here the parents can play good facilitator role.  Even educated parents can supplement the topics, to enrich their children. It gives good opportunity for parents to prove their talent and command in subject / topics. Gradually the image of the parents will increase in the mind of their wards.

Having more than one cable TV channel in A & N Islands, the different classes in different medium of instruction(s) can be explored effectively. Similarly, the primary channel (medium wave) of AIR and FM channel can take-up verities of school subjects simultaneously. The simultaneous broadcast / telecast in all electronic mass media, at a time, will change the lockdown period into ‘educating period’ through    e-home study. The success of such experiments can be deeply studied by students of M.Ed., or M.A., Education or PG Diploma in Educational Technology or PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication. Let the parents and students jointly enjoy the indoor classroom activities, entering inside their home. Day-by-day, its effectiveness must improve in teaching-learning process. The positive impact must be our aim to use such giant media for the benefit our young students.  Academically enjoy the stay @ home, by studying @ home.

(The author is Regional Director of IGNOU, Regional Centre, Port Blair and can be reached at rcportblair@ignou.ac.in (or) 8900936718)