Teleconferencing
Teleconferencing is a latest technology which connects electronically a number of users
located at different places to interact through audio-video or computer technology. The
technology is very useful for distance education system as it provides both learners and
teachers of distance system to link themselves for teaching-learning purpose. All of us
know that interaction is an effective way of providing feedback in the teaching-learning
process. In a face-to-face mode, a learner receives immediate feedback when helshe
interacts with the teacher. Helshe also receives feedback from the peers. In fact, the
interaction process which takes place in face-to-face mode may be one to one (between
44 a teacher and a student) or one to many (between a teacher and a group of students). The
same kind of interaction patterns exist also in teleconferencing. There may be interaction Organizing Learning
Experiences at Micro-level between a distance teacher with a distance learner, between a distance teacher with a
group of learners and amongst distance learners themselves. Several instructional
methods like brainsfonning, questioning, role play, group discussion, problem-solving,
debates etc. Teleconferencing provides a platform wherein the distance learners can
interact with guest speakers or scholars of national and international eminence. In
teleconferencing, there are mainly teaching end and several learning ends.
Types of Teleconferencing
There can be different types of teleconferencing based on different types of technological
configurations. For your purpose we discuss three types of teleconferencing system
Audio teleconferencing
Video teleconferencing
Computer teleconferencing
Mobile Communication
Satellite-based communication can help learners at two levels. One, they can be provided
electronic gadgets like radio, cellular phone, etc., which will allow them to remain in
touch with the teachers while they are on move from one place to another. It is expected
that in future more number of learners would be mobile for their work or business
purposes. Secondly, specially designed mobile van fitted with audio equipment; talk
back facilities, etc., can be developed. These vans can move from one area to another to
impact conduct on the spot educatiodtraining. Interested groups can be created around
a learning centre (preferably in a centrally located village) in the rural and remote area
where learners in the adjoining locality can assemble and share their problems with
resource persodteachers located at the block or district centres. They can interact with
teachers located at different centers using satellite technology. The number of mobile
phone users has increased leap and bound in the recent years. As a result of various
technological options the mobile phone users in the country are increasing day by day.
Interactive Radio Counselling
Interactive Radio Counselling (IRC) is an effective method of interacting with the t
distance learners live. It is a form of audiolradio conferencing. Various issues, concepts,
problems on different subject areas are presented and discussed by experts through
IRC. Learners can ask queries to the experts' presentation from their homes through toll
free telephone. Theses interactive sessions are organized from different radio stations
of the country.
CD-ROMs
CD-ROMs are effective means of packaging both theoretical and practical experiences.
CD-ROMs can be made available to distance learners so that they learn at their own
convenience and pace. Because of the in-built scope in CD-ROM, the learners can
repeat a section of the contents many times if they find a concept or practice difficult to
acquire. CD-ROMs are also very effective in skill development programme like
professional and vocational education programmes as complex skills can be very well
animated and depicted in a CD. In case a learner misses the practical training session,
helshe can learn skills with the help of CD.
Online Tmrning
Internet has become a powerful technological tool for organizing learning experiences
online in open and distance learning system. It can be understood as a network of
computers across the globe wherein information is shared and exchanged among the
people of the world in a short time. Morrison (1997) defines Internet as a vast
telecommunication network consisting of a group of internationally interconnected
computers that communicate electronically. Galbreath (1 997) has defined the Internet
as a network of networks with a universal addressing tool allowing real-time, computerto-
computer, local-independent communication and information exchanging.
Communication on Internet takes place on synchronous or asynchronous, one-to-one,
one-to-many and many-to-many basis.
Internet can be used to provide online learning programmes to distance learners. Online
learning programmes comprise self-learning materials, audio-video support,
assignments, academic counselling, teachers-learners conferencing, etc. Like print based
material, online self-learning materials comprise text, structures, diagram, self-check
exercises etc. But unlike print based material it contains animation, audio and video
integrated with text material and provide the learner with a lot of scope for interactivity.
Audio-video support can also be made available to learners through online independent
of learning material. The design of learning materials on the net is based on using
new pedagogical models based on constructivism. The academic counselling can also
be provided through online using lectures, disc~i\\io!~i.i a~\! ~i~hronousloyr asnchronously,
wherein the learners can raise queries and clc,~rth eir doubts. Assignments
and feedback on assignment responses can also be provided to students online. The
most important aspect of online learning is that it facilitates collaborative learning
through online conferencing. They can engage themselves in virtual classroom learning.
They form collaborative groups in the form of cyberclub among themselves regarding
their learning problems using e-mail. In many subject areas, like medicine, sciences
and other applied areas practical, training can be provided in 4imulated learning environment.
Teleconferencing is a latest technology which connects electronically a number of users
located at different places to interact through audio-video or computer technology. The
technology is very useful for distance education system as it provides both learners and
teachers of distance system to link themselves for teaching-learning purpose. All of us
know that interaction is an effective way of providing feedback in the teaching-learning
process. In a face-to-face mode, a learner receives immediate feedback when helshe
interacts with the teacher. Helshe also receives feedback from the peers. In fact, the
interaction process which takes place in face-to-face mode may be one to one (between
44 a teacher and a student) or one to many (between a teacher and a group of students). The
same kind of interaction patterns exist also in teleconferencing. There may be interaction Organizing Learning
Experiences at Micro-level between a distance teacher with a distance learner, between a distance teacher with a
group of learners and amongst distance learners themselves. Several instructional
methods like brainsfonning, questioning, role play, group discussion, problem-solving,
debates etc. Teleconferencing provides a platform wherein the distance learners can
interact with guest speakers or scholars of national and international eminence. In
teleconferencing, there are mainly teaching end and several learning ends.
Types of Teleconferencing
There can be different types of teleconferencing based on different types of technological
configurations. For your purpose we discuss three types of teleconferencing system
Audio teleconferencing
Video teleconferencing
Computer teleconferencing
Mobile Communication
Satellite-based communication can help learners at two levels. One, they can be provided
electronic gadgets like radio, cellular phone, etc., which will allow them to remain in
touch with the teachers while they are on move from one place to another. It is expected
that in future more number of learners would be mobile for their work or business
purposes. Secondly, specially designed mobile van fitted with audio equipment; talk
back facilities, etc., can be developed. These vans can move from one area to another to
impact conduct on the spot educatiodtraining. Interested groups can be created around
a learning centre (preferably in a centrally located village) in the rural and remote area
where learners in the adjoining locality can assemble and share their problems with
resource persodteachers located at the block or district centres. They can interact with
teachers located at different centers using satellite technology. The number of mobile
phone users has increased leap and bound in the recent years. As a result of various
technological options the mobile phone users in the country are increasing day by day.
Interactive Radio Counselling
Interactive Radio Counselling (IRC) is an effective method of interacting with the t
distance learners live. It is a form of audiolradio conferencing. Various issues, concepts,
problems on different subject areas are presented and discussed by experts through
IRC. Learners can ask queries to the experts' presentation from their homes through toll
free telephone. Theses interactive sessions are organized from different radio stations
of the country.
CD-ROMs
CD-ROMs are effective means of packaging both theoretical and practical experiences.
CD-ROMs can be made available to distance learners so that they learn at their own
convenience and pace. Because of the in-built scope in CD-ROM, the learners can
repeat a section of the contents many times if they find a concept or practice difficult to
acquire. CD-ROMs are also very effective in skill development programme like
professional and vocational education programmes as complex skills can be very well
animated and depicted in a CD. In case a learner misses the practical training session,
helshe can learn skills with the help of CD.
Online Tmrning
Internet has become a powerful technological tool for organizing learning experiences
online in open and distance learning system. It can be understood as a network of
computers across the globe wherein information is shared and exchanged among the
people of the world in a short time. Morrison (1997) defines Internet as a vast
telecommunication network consisting of a group of internationally interconnected
computers that communicate electronically. Galbreath (1 997) has defined the Internet
as a network of networks with a universal addressing tool allowing real-time, computerto-
computer, local-independent communication and information exchanging.
Communication on Internet takes place on synchronous or asynchronous, one-to-one,
one-to-many and many-to-many basis.
Internet can be used to provide online learning programmes to distance learners. Online
learning programmes comprise self-learning materials, audio-video support,
assignments, academic counselling, teachers-learners conferencing, etc. Like print based
material, online self-learning materials comprise text, structures, diagram, self-check
exercises etc. But unlike print based material it contains animation, audio and video
integrated with text material and provide the learner with a lot of scope for interactivity.
Audio-video support can also be made available to learners through online independent
of learning material. The design of learning materials on the net is based on using
new pedagogical models based on constructivism. The academic counselling can also
be provided through online using lectures, disc~i\\io!~i.i a~\! ~i~hronousloyr asnchronously,
wherein the learners can raise queries and clc,~rth eir doubts. Assignments
and feedback on assignment responses can also be provided to students online. The
most important aspect of online learning is that it facilitates collaborative learning
through online conferencing. They can engage themselves in virtual classroom learning.
They form collaborative groups in the form of cyberclub among themselves regarding
their learning problems using e-mail. In many subject areas, like medicine, sciences
and other applied areas practical, training can be provided in 4imulated learning environment.
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