The Hindu : New Delhi News : Open Learning to go virtual from next year

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 03, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Open Learning to go virtual from next year

Staff Reporter

Study material to be made available online

NEW DELHI: Ensuring a classroom `at home' for nearly 65 per cent of Delhi University's student community, the School of Open Learning is all set to go virtual with its study material from next year.

An ambitious attempt to make open learning more accessible and productive through the use of technology, the School has already shifted to a computerised admission process and is also planning to transfer to the e-mode for a major part of its examination process.

"We are planning to provide virtual study materials to students from next year so that they don't have to come here just for the books or study material. This is to ensure that students don't need to make rounds of the School for the material. We hope to give the students a login name and password, so that they can simply log on and get the necessary material of their courses," said H.C. Pokhriyal, the Executive Director of the School.

With nearly two lakh students enrolled in various courses offered by the School, the need for improving the communication process has been felt for some time. While students will have to wait another year or more before they can access their `books' online, the School has decided to use technology as an aid for solving other glitches.

Promotion cases too will be dealt this year with the help of e-working, with students likely to receive a letter regarding the amount of fee they need to pay depending on the number of courses they have cleared.

"We would have long queues earlier with students wanting to know how much to pay and then coming another day to deposit the same. But now they can know their fee sitting at home and come only once to pay it. Since there are different categories of students this will help make the process faster and easier," said Mr. Pokhriyal.

With the School making a major attempt at revamping its working, computerisation is being seen as the solution to provide single window assistance. "Nearly 65 per cent of DU students are pursuing their studies through open learning mode. It is very important for us to ensure quality so that they are not left behind."

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