ACADEMIC COUNSELLING in distance learning

In the Open and Distance Learning System, academic counselling constitutes a significant
method of organizing learning esperiences. Unlike print material, learning experiences
are organized on a face-to-face mode at the study centres on weekends. Counselling
activities are organized by academic counsellors who are mostly from face-to-face
learning institutions. Academic counselling is not similar to classroom teaching of
conventional learning institution. It is not course-centred, but learner-centred. Unlike
teaching in which flow of information is from the teacher to the learner, in counselling
the flow of information takes place from the learner to the counsellor. In the context of
distance learning, counselling means three activities. These are: -
i) Informing,
ii) Advising, and
iii) Counselling
i) Informing: It refers to providing correct information to learners about different
aspects of the academic programme like eligibility for taking admission in a specific
programme.
ii) Advising: It means providing different alternatives for a particular academic
decision but recommending one suitable for the learner. For example, the counsellor
may suggest different available prograrrimes to learner but recommend the most
appropriate considering hisher entry qualification.
iii) Counselling: Through this activity, a counsellor helps a learner to take the
appropriate decision for himselfherself regarding any kind of academic, personal
or career-related problems.

Stages of Academic Counselling
Academic counseling is organized at different stages of an academic programme. Let
us discuss these stages.


i) Pre-entry: At this stage, counselling activities pertain to information on
Micro-level courses, eligibility for taking admission into a programme, choice of courses,
registration etc.
ii) Entry: Counselling information at this stage includes information related to tutorial
sessions, datesof submitting assignments, the procedure of changing courses etc.
iii) During the Course: This is the most important stage of counselling. Learners get
content and assignment difficulties clarified by the academic counsellors when
they come to the study centres for counselling sessions. They also discuss their
personal problems and problems related to delivery of materials with the
counsellors.
iv) During Examination: A learner of distance education receives all kinds of
information pertaining to term-end examination and przctical examination, their
timelplace of conduct etc. Helshe also receives information about the nature of
questions to be used in the examinations and how to prepare for them.
v) Post-Study : After a distance learner completes a course, helshe may require
information regarding other courses, which helshe wants to pursue. A counsellor
needs to provide counselling at the post-study system.

Media for Organizing Academic Counselling
Counselling can be organized through different media. These media are:
i) Face-to-face Counselling: This is the most important form of counselling but
sometimes time consuming and expensive. In this form of counselling both the
distance teacher and the learner interact face-to-face regarding various problems.
ii) Group Counselling: It takes care of the problems of face-to-face counselling as
counselling is provided to a group of learners at a particular place.
iii) Telephone Counselling: Distance teachers can provide counselling on one-toone
basis through telephones and on one-to-many basis through teleconferencing.
iv) Counselling by Letters: Many distance learners seek information through letters.
Such learners can be provided desired information through reply letter.
v) Counselling by Handbook: A lot of information regarding distance learning
programmes can be provided through student handbooks and programme guides.
vi) Counselling by Audio and Video Programmes: In some open and distance
learning institutions, audio-video cassettes are used to provide learners counselling
tips. Even these programmes may comprise messages from the head of the
institution, talk by distance teachers and the learning experiences of the distance
learners.
vii) Counselling by Broadcast and Telecast: Distance learning institutions organize
broadcast and telecast from time to time. During such time, both live counselling
and pre-recorded counselling can be presented to the learners.
viii) Counselling by Interactive CD-ROM: Counselling tips recorded in interactive
CD-ROM may be made available at study centres for the benefit of the learners.
1 ix) Counselling by INTERNET INTERNET provides several platforms like e- mail,
I chat, special interest groups, websites, etc. which can be used to provide learners
counselling services at their doorsteps.