UNIT 4 INNOVATION IN EDUCATION

ROBOT TEACHER
Robots in education is an idea that has not fully been implemented in the
education sector but is still under the experimental stages in most parts of the
world. The type of robot that is commonly used in classrooms to represent
teachers is the humanoid robot. Humanoid robots mimic humans and are built in
a way that their physical features resemble that of human beings.
 
The humanoid teachers are programmed and intended as an aid in the
classrooms or be a complete replacement for teachers. However, the use
of robots in education is yet to be implemented in most parts of the world. To
understand this concept better, we can investigate the advantages plus
disadvantages of robot teachers.
  
Advantages of Robot Teachers

1.      Wide Knowledge
Robots possess a wide knowledge base compared to human teachers. Given that
robots are programmed to enable them to deliver their teaching roles, the
information that you want to be transferred to pupils in the class can be inputted
into the robot without limitation. This results in a wide knowledge base, which
the robots can easily transfer to pupils through teaching.
 
 The extensive knowledge base is vital as it enables the robots to provide a
solution to students' problems and helps further their educational careers.

2.     Non-Irrelevant Conversations
The utilization of robots as teachers in the classroom implies that the
elimination of lots of irrelevant discussions in the classroom. The number of
irrelevant discussions that take place usually in the presence of human teachers
is so dumbfounding. The time that would have been utilized in constructive
teaching and learning gets wasted through baseless discussions.
 
The robot cannot be diverted, caught off guard, or distracted from the lesson
ongoing. Hence, the class hours are put to good use, and the students get to
benefit big time.
  
3.     Patience
The robots cannot lose their cool at any point in their teaching time. They do not
have feelings and therefore cannot feel the same as human teachers. Hence, they
cannot become impatient or intolerant with students.

They retain their kindness, patience, and receptive to any queries regardless of
whatever it is that is happening in the classrooms.

4.    Cost-Effective
The robots do not require any payments. If they have been procured, and paid
for at source, they do not attract additional payments in terms of salaries or
wages. They just teach according to how they have been programmed.
 
Disadvantages of Robot Teachers

1.      Technical Disruptions
Everything mechanical has no guarantee of non-breakage. Hence, the robot,
being mechanically designed can break down at any time and cause a great
disruption to learn. Only individuals with expertise can repair a malfunctioned
robot. Hence, it may take days or weeks for a broken robot to be repaired. That
way, a great deal of time gets wasted waiting for the robot to be back to shape.
 
Also, in the event of a system breakdown in the robot, a lot of information can
be lost. Hence, this may necessitate the reprogramming of the robot to get it
back to its original functioning state.  
 
2.     Lack of Respect for Teachers
Students may show disrespect to the robots as they are not human. The robots
may have trouble in trying to control the students. The students may see the
whole robot teaching as a joke.
 
3.     High-quality Infrastructure in the Classrooms
High-quality systems are necessary for the robot to function properly. There
should be electricity and internet connections to facilitate their functioning.
 
The most popular educational robots

 Makeblock mBot,  Robo Wunderkind, OWI 535, LEGO Mindstorms

EV3, NAO.
 FOREST KINDERGARTEN
A Forest School is an outdoor learning environment with a child-centred
learning process that focuses on play, exploration and supported risk-taking.
Both problem-solving and self-discovery are important features of Forest
Schools. Encouraging children to learn through hands-on experiential learning
in a natural setting helps to develop their confidence and self-esteem.

Forest Schools encourage children to be physically active. The variety of

sessions and activities that are offered provide a host of learning experiences for
the child. As well as the physical and educational benefits of attending a Forest
School, the social and emotional development of the child are at the forefront of
Forest School learning.

Forest Schools are not limited by planned activities. Forest Schools are designed
to be child-led. This means children are encouraged to direct their own learning.
Learning is unstructured and is led by the child’s own curiosity and interests.
Practitioners may scaffold the children’s learning, meaning practitioners will
offer support and guidance to children and young people as they learn or
develop new skills.

A woodland or forest environment is key to the success of this type of learning.

Stimulation of the senses is a key aspect of Forest Schools, with children
encouraged to learn through visual stimuli, sounds, smells and tastes.

A Forest School offers a unique, holistic learning experience. They are most
effective when attended long term. Forest School sessions should be attended
regularly, with the recommendation being that children attend the sessions at
least once or twice a fortnight for a minimum of a year.

Although Forest Schools are particularly popular with nursery and pre-school
aged children, they can also be extremely beneficial to primary and secondary
school children.

HISTORY

The first forest kindergarten was created by Ella Flautau in Denmark in the
early 1950s. The idea formed gradually as a result of her often spending time
with her own and neighbors' children in a nearby forest, a form of daycare
which elicited great interest among the neighborhood parents. The parents
formed a group and created an initiative to establish the first forest kindergarten.

In Sweden in 1957, an ex-military man, Goesta Frohm, created the idea of

"Skogsmulle". "Skog" means wood in Swedish. "Mulle" is one of four fictional
characters he created to teach children about nature, along with "Laxe"
representing water, "Fjällfina" representing mountains and "Nova" representing
an unpolluted nature. Forest schools based on Frohm's model, called "I Ur och
Skur" (Rain or Shine Schools) moved the idea from occasional activities to
formal nursery schools, being set up by Siw Linde in 1985. Juliet Robertson's
review of Skogsmulle is a valuable modern-day summary.

Nature kindergartens have existed in Germany since 1968 but the first forest
kindergarten was first officially recognized as a form of daycare in 1993.

From 2018 on all forest kindergartens are invited to celebrate the International

Day of Forest Kindergarten every year on 3 May.

Forest Schools have six guiding principles.

 A Forest School is a long-term process with regular sessions in a natural

environment
 The Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural wooded
environment 
 The Forest School should promote the holistic development of all those
involved
 The Forest School should encourage supported risk-taking
 Forest School practitioners are qualified 
 The Forest School should be learner-centred and should create a
community for learning and developing

What are the benefits of a Forest School?

 An increase in self-belief
 An increase in confidence
 Improved problem-solving skills 
 Communication skills
 An increase in motivation and concentration
 The development of physical skills and motor skills
 Promotes emotional intelligence
  Focus on physical health
 Builds resilience
 Encourages children to have a positive impact on the environment and to
respect and care for the natural world.

Disadvantages of forest school

 Forest school is not for every child

 Some children find it difficult to adjust
 Hygiene and safety
 Climatical issues

Forest School activities usually fall into the following categories:

 Art and creative activities – This could include using natural products
such as leaves, sticks and mud for artwork. Learners could also make
their own paint or dyes.
 Growing plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables.
 Bush craft and survival activities – This could include building shelters
and foraging.
 Use of tools – Learners could use tools such as knives, hammers, saws or
fire.
 Outdoor curriculum – This could be outdoor activities designed around
English, Science or Mathematics.
 Outdoor food – For example, foraging and cooking on campfires.
 Outdoor play – This could include a mud kitchen and den building.
 Treasure hunts and trails.
 Memory activities.
 Tree activities – This could include discovering the height and age of the
tree, building a bird’s nest, identifying tree species, and decorating trees.
 Animal activities – This could include identifying insects, creating
habitats, animal tracking, bird surveys.
 Sensory activities – Activities that focus on some or all of the five
senses.
 FREE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
It is argued that everyone should have free access to university education. I
agree with this. I believe that students who opt to continue in the university
should not be burdened with their tuition fees because not all students have the
means to pay for school and, it is one of the obligations of the government to
provide education to students.

Not every student who aspires to pursue higher education can afford the tuition
fee. Many students who deserve to be sent to the university belong to poor
families who are struggling to support their daily living. If paying for tuition is a
requirement for every student to enter college then, those individuals who
deserve and have the capability to be a university student will be denied of this
opportunity. If a student from a developing country is not allowed to enter
university due to lack of resources, he will lose his opportunity to bail his
family out of poverty.

Moreover, the government should be responsible for the education of its

residents. It should be the government’s priority to ensure that students who
have the desire to continue and obtain a college degree will be granted a
scholarship. In the long run, free university education will benefit not only the
individual but also the community / country. A great example is the government
scholars in the Philippines. This scholarship program enables high school
students to be granted a free university education provided that they stay and
serve their own country for a minimum of two years. This move of the
government helped both the scholars’ family and the country at the same time.

In conclusion, provision of free education to students who have the desire to

pursue higher studies should be implemented because it is the government’s
responsibility to help students obtain a degree and it will ease the burden on the
family of those who really want to continue their studies.

PROS:

1. Guaranteed education: Free education is important because it guarantees

every student in a country some level of education. This means that each student
has an equal opportunity to access this level of education on the same scale.
2. Secured life: Education is the key to a secured life. As such, it is easier for a
student to be successful in the future if he is educated as opposed to when he is
not educated.

3. Better outlook on life: Education empowers children to think positively and

have a more informed outlook about life. Free education guarantees that all
children will have the same outlook on life.

4. Increased employment:
Free education means that most students will have the opportunity to access
education and therefore increase the prospects of being employed.

5. Creates equality: Free education means that irrespective of where a child

comes from, they will be able to access the same quality of education. This
plays an important role in creating equality among students in school.

6. Promotes fairness: Free education plays a role in promoting fairness in

school and in society. This is because all children will be guaranteed access to
the same level of education and hence there will be fairness even in class.

7. Concentration in class: Free education somehow promotes concentration in

class. This is because students will not be bothered about where the next school
fees will come from. Instead, they will be focusing on their education.

8. No student loans: Students will not be bothered about taking student loans to
facilitate their education all the way to the university. This ensures that students
remain debt-free.

9. Opens up access to college: Free education plays an important role in

opening up access to a college education because all children will be guaranteed
of studying until they get to college.

10. Students can pursue their interests: Free education leaves students with
the luxury of choice in pursuing their careers of choice.

 CONS:

1. Overcrowded institutions: Free education opens up institutions for everyone

to access. This creates the problem of overcrowding since most people will be
registered to study the same courses.
2. Create an unequal society in school: Free education brings people from
different cultures and backgrounds to the same school where the aspect of social
class may play out. This has the risk of causing an unequal society.

3. Causes strain on limited resources:

The overcrowding caused by free education means that students will be forced
to use the already limited resources. This ends up causing a strain on the
resources which may not be enough.

4. Increases government expenditure: Free education may be free for the

students but is charged to the government. This means that the government may
be forced to keep borrowing money to finance free education in the country.

5. Downplays the importance of education: Free education means that anyone

can access education from every corner of the country. While this is important
in the long term, it may downplay the importance of education.

6. Younger generations may not know how to handle money: Free education
denies the younger generation the opportunity to interact with money in a
responsible manner which may make them green in terms of handling money.

7. It may increase taxation: Free education may cause an increase in taxes by

the government to help in financing the government and this may reduce
people’s disposable incomes.

8. Low quality of education: Free education may affect the quality of

education in the long run because the classes will be overcrowded and the
resources limited.

9. Lack of personal attention and touch: Free education means that there will
be more teacher to student ratio which will negatively impact the personal touch
required between the teacher and the student.

10. It may cause unemployment: Free education may also work against the
system in that there will be a high number of graduates leaving school while the
industry offers much fewer employment opportunities. This ends up creating
unemployment.
 3D LEARNING
In order to understand various complex theories in mathematics, science, and
engineering and their application in real-life scenarios, it becomes essential to
encourage students to visualize, evaluate, and analyze a solution for a problem
from all angles. This means that students are encouraged to find the solution to
a complex problem by looking at it from different angles. By using this
approach, the students will start thinking out-of-the-box, and embark on a
journey of constantly discovering new knowledge and developing their skills
with ease.

3D animations make it possible for students to move rapidly from viewing a

whole structure to various parts of the structure, even zooming in to
microscopic and cellular levels. This process of amplification and simplification
can be an especially effective aide to understanding. 3D content focused on
science, mathematics, history and more is readily available today and more is
continually being developed. With 3D elements added to lessons, teachers can
engage students at a whole new level and capture the interest of even the most
reluctant students.

Strategies for implementing 3D in the classroom

It is comparatively easy to implement 3D animations into the regular classroom
environment. To begin teaching with 3D, a teacher would need access to:

 A DLP 3D-enabled projector: The majority of new projectors

purchased for schools already have this capability, and future purchases
of DLP projectors are generally no more expensive than those that are not
3D-capable.
 A laptop or PC with good graphic capability: Most standard PCs and
laptops can be fitted with the necessary upgraded graphics card for only a
small cost. More recent laptops tend to have adequate graphics cards.
 3D content: There are a number of 3D software content providers and
currently more than 3,000 pieces of free 3D content available online.
 3D active glasses: There are a number of companies making ‘active’
glasses. They vary considerably in quality and price. Ideally the pupils
should have a pair of active glasses each so that the fit and comfort is
suitable for the individual child. Class sets of glasses are also available
3D learning produces:
 Faster absorption of material
 Deeper understanding of subjects
 Increased attention span
 Better retention of material
 Greater motivation to learn
 More engagement with content
 Higher test scores
 3D helps special needs/learning challenged students

Five potential roadblocks to 3D implementation

 Cost and budgets
 Availability of 3D teaching content
 Non-native language support
 Teachers’ acceptance of new technology
 Comfortness of 3D equipment

TEACHER AUTONOMY
Teacher autonomy is defined by “the capacity to take control of one‟s own
teaching”. Teacher autonomy means freedom of study, learn and teach. There
should not be too much interference in the work of teacher by higher authorities
so that teacher may perform his duty without any fear.

Teacher autonomy refers to freedom of study, learn & teach. The teacher is the
controlling figure of educational process and also play critical role in the power
of social change. National Policy of Education (1986) also says that teachers
should have the freedom of innovate, to device appropriate methods of
communication and activities relevant to the needs & capabilities of the concern
of the community. If a teacher has good habits or qualities, he can transfer it in
his students and can play an important role in good nation formation.

According to Huang (2005), “ Teacher‟s willingness, capacity and freedom to

take control of their own teaching and learning are known as teacher autonomy.
Needs of Teacher Autonomy:

 Teacher autonomy is essential for ensuring a learning environment that

addresses children’s diverse needs.

 Teacher autonomy is driven by a need for personal and professional

improvement, so that an autonomous teacher may seek out opportunities over
the course of his/her career to develop further.

 An autonomous teacher feels personal responsibilities, attends workshops &

come up with new classroom ideas.

 Teacher autonomy refers to the ability to develop appropriate skills,

knowledge & attitude for oneself as a teacher, in cooperation with other.

 Autonomous teacher feel more confident with virtual learning environment.

 Teacher autonomy is necessary in order to be able to respond to student needs,

interests & motivation and individualize our approach.

What Teacher autonomy is not?

 Teacher autonomy is not an independence or isolation.

 Teacher autonomy cannot be explained as an exclusive psychological,

technical or political issue.

 Teacher autonomy is not a static entity that some people possess and other
does not.

 Teacher autonomy cannot be interpreted as additional responsibilities given to

the teacher.

 Teacher autonomy does not refer to an absolute state of freedom constraint.

Domains of teacher's autonomy :-

 Teaching and assessment :- The teacher should have autonomy to teach

and evaluate and assess their students in  his/her comfort zone.
 Curriculum development:- Teacher should have autonomy to express
his/her opinion towards framework development of school/college
curriculum.
  Professional development:- it contains all the professional and in-service
programs, these are very helpful for enhancing the skills and knowledge.
 School/college functioning;- teacher must have autonomy to express
his/her opinion with the functioning and managing of school/college.

Conclusion:

Teacher autonomy is driven by a need for personal and professional

improvement, so that an autonomous teachers may seek out opportunities over
the course of his or her career to develop further.If the teacher possesses these
qualities then he will be autonomous and studies show that the autonomous
teacher teaches very effectively and conveniently than non autonomous
teachers. There should be some professional independence among the teachers
because when they are free to teach, they teach more efficiently.

PAPERLESS CLASSROOM
New technology is constantly making its way into the classroom in an attempt
to improve the learning experience and many universities and schools are using
computers and mobile devices in the classroom to enhance students’ academic
performance. This use of technology can create a paperless classroom. Colleges,
universities and schools have different approaches when putting in place the
paperless classroom. One way is by using iPads instead of books, paper and
pens, and supplementing the iPads with Blackboard software as well as using an
overhead projector.

BENEFITS FOR THE TEACHER:

1. No requirement of any physical paper that may perish, be forgotten or lost.

2. No photocopies of the handouts are required. Teachers can share their content
on a shared software from where the students can access them whenever and
wherever they want.

3. Teachers can store all of the textbooks, students’ homework, and lecture
notes on devices like iPad.

4. In case, the teacher forgets to assign homework in the class, the homework
can be assigned even after the class.

5. Teachers can send multiple reminders to their students for their homework.
6. Teachers no longer need to be tied to their desks. They can project the
device’s screen on to the projection screen and can walk around freely. It helps
to monitor the students well and keep a check on them.

BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS:

1. Students require no filing system. Even the most disorganized students can
find their notes in an organized manner on a shared software.

2. Students need not carry their heavy textbooks in the class. They do not have
to worry about forgetting their book at home.

3. The students can access and read the assignments or notes anytime. Even if
they are absent, they do not need to depend on their friends or teachers for the
study notes and other works.

4. The discussion abilities provided by the new technologies help the students to
revise the content easily and interestingly with teachers and friends alike.

5. Browsing ability helps the student to do research on the topic instantly. This
helps to make any presentation or project in the class very interesting.

6. Students learn the content more interestingly and interactively.

The success of paperless classrooms depends on how effectively and efficiently

are the resources used for enhancing the learning of the students. All of this
sounds interesting, but it is challenging as well. Setting up the devices in the
classrooms take a lot of time. Students need to be trained to use them. The
devices need to be updated and charged all the time. Effective and safe handling
of the devices is expected from the students, which is not possible all the time.
Students may use devices other than educational purposes. This may hinder
their progress.

Changing face of School and University in

the age of information and communication
technology.
The introduction of technology to the world of education has made it easier to
students. Teachers can teach in many innovative ways and they can connect to
students more easily and fastly than before. The classrooms have become more
inclusive unlike before. With technology, today teaching has become an easy
profession for teachers and it eases the load of teachers as well.

Global pandemic speeded up the process of introducing technology in

education. Today, taking the help of technology is a compulsion more than a
choice for school managements, teachers, and students. Also in the last few
years, many schools had been incorporating E-learning in their curriculum. But
now, each and every institution has to take aid of technology for running
schools and classes.

Pandemic has made education redefined for everyone. Virtual

classrooms and online classes have replaced the traditional classroom method of
teaching. So, it would not be wrong to say that technology is changing the face
of education.

Multimedia in Education

Multimedia is a hub of opportunities and possibilities for teachers and students

in the world of technology. We are very well aware of multimedia but for the
uninitiated, it covers audios, videos, music, infographics, gifs, and others. With
the help of audio, video, and other multimedia features, the teaching quality of
teachers has been improved and now they are able to teach students in a better
way.

Teachers and students can use PowerPoint presentation, animation, and what
not to prepare their project in innovative ways than before. Multimedia
simplifies things and establishes better communication between teachers and
students. Multimedia is a boon when education has come online.

Augmented Reality in Education

Augmented reality is for teachers to provide quality education to their students.

There are thousands of apps available specially made for education targeting
various parts needed for students and teachers. For instance, 3D arts definition
apps are there for teaching visual arts. It makes the teaching easy and more
understandable with visual representation.

Augmented reality helps teachers to improve their learning outcomes as it

increases the engagement and interactivity between educators and the learners.
Today, AR has become a necessity, cost-friendly, accessible, and effective for
educators.
E- Study Material

Earlier, the source to gain knowledge were teachers and students. The only
option available to study extra was the library or just collecting the books from
here and there. It wastes their time as well. However, the availability of online
study material is an advantage for students. Online study material helps students
to get the study material just by sitting at one place. They need not search
material for study in the library. They can access the knowledge anytime and
anywhere. It has made it very simple and it offers so many alternatives to
students too they can choose from for their ease.

Studying online with e-learning study material motivates students for self-
learning and it boosts their self-confidence also.

Efficient Assessment

Assessment is the basic concept of teaching and it is important to assess what

students have learned. Summative assessment and formative assessment are two
types of assessment. The responsibility of a teacher completes not till they teach
their students but it continues to assess their progress.

The main objective of teaching is to ensure that the learners are learning and
benefiting from it and with the help of assessment, it is possible. Technology
has made this part of education easy with tracking progress. With online
teaching apps and classroom management apps, teachers can assess students’
performance in real time.

Instant availability of information

With technology, learners are only a few clicks away from accessing the ocean
of knowledge and information. They can search and find any kind of
information on the internet and can benefit from it.

Artificial Intelligence in education

Artificial intelligence has emerged as a helping hands to teachers. Grading

system was time taking but now technology has introduced the automate
grading system in multiple choice questions. Artificial intelligence also
recommends improvement on the weak areas of the student.

Thus, there is no doubt that technology is changing the face of education.

Pros of technology in education

 Students are now able to learn concepts in a better way. It is an

alternative to them.

 Students are now able to learn concepts in a better way. It is an

alternative to them.

 Students are now able to learn concepts in a better way. It is an

alternative to them.

 Students are now able to learn concepts in a better way. It is an

alternative to them.

Cons of technology in education

 Online mediums of education are making students not open to others well
and are developing social phobia in them.

 Students are lacking in follow discipline and it is changing their way of

thinking towards schools.

E-LEARNING IN EDUCATION
“E-Learning  – education conveyed via electronic means”

There may be other insignificantly different definitions, but this could be

considered succinct.

E-Learning is so ubiquitous and vast that it’s difficult to articulate a concise

outline that truly does the word justice.

What exactly is the spur in created by e-learning and its various aspects. Let us
briefly witness each facet of the trend.

Concept of e-learning

eLearning is imparting and facilitating knowledge on media, electronic devices

like that on the Internet, CD-ROMs, and DVDs, streaming media etc.

It has drifted the method of learning imparted to the students. Unlike

conventional chalk and board style of schooling, eLearning makes giving and
receiving simpler, prolific, and productive. Shortly, it is the method of teaching
purely through technology.

The word e-learning is used synonymously with virtual knowledge, online

education, computer-based training, web-based knowledge, and networked
education. Whatever may be the explanation of e-learning, it is revamping the
style traditional academia teaches and the learners grasp.

Purpose of e-learning

The idea of e-learning is to empower learners to absorb personal

accomplishment, basic schooling or to obtain a degree certificate, without
actually attending the school or university or any other academic institute.

Another idea is to apply E-learning to all levels of schooling to ensure students

grasp the lessons adequately.

Psychologists believe that audio-visual  method of teaching creates a disciplined

learning environment and fosters effective student engagement in the class.

The next benefit of learning online or on electronic media assures you are in
sync with advanced learners. Also, digital and self-initiated learning can be
acquired at the desired locations. One need not wander in search of learning.

eLearning is versatile and ample to suit all learning methods.

Types of e-learning
e-Learning eventuates in many forms and at times is the blend of the following:

1        Completely online – no face to face meetings

2        Mixed Learning – A blend of online and direct communication

3        Synchronous- the communication between the provider and receiver

happen directly as in chat rooms, or video-audio conferencing.

4        Asynchronous- The information is passed through forums, emails, wikis

etc

· Self-study
· Web-based learning
· CD-ROMs
· Audio and Visuals
Advantages of e-learning in education

The online learning style is best suited for all. This is a revolution in learning
genre. The information, now, can be accessed, talked, absorbed and shared
anywhere. E-Learning has made education easy for everyone including office-
goers, housewives etc  without compromising much.

 E-Learning is effective and powerful. It makes information easy

to grasp and absorb. It imparts enhanced ability to learn and
implement among the learners. The Audio-Visuals help in
remembering knowledge for a longer time.
 E-Learning let you be in sync with modern learners. This keeps
you updated with the current trends.
 Traditional classrooms, have mischievous elements to disturb the
class. Whereas, eLearning provides expeditious delivery of
lessons. There is no procrastinator in eLearning. It is a quick way
of learning!
 Lectures can be taken at any time and any number of times. In
traditional classes, revisions are not that easy. Unlike traditional
learning, if you have missed any lesson, you can always have it
online.
 E-Learning allows teachers a higher degree of coverage to
deliver the content regularly. This ensures consistency in
learning.
 E-Learning is cost-effective as this method quick and easy. Long
training period, infrastructure, stationary, travel expense etc is
reduced.
 It is a benefactor to those who feel nervous and disconnected in
groups. It helps you learn without having to give up the comforts
of the environment you are at ease with.
 INTERACTIVE RADIO
Interactive radio instruction (IRI) is a distance education system that combines
radio broadcasts with active learning to improve educational quality and
teaching practices.

IRI has been in use for many years and has demonstrated that it can be effective
on a large scale at low cost. IRI programs require teachers and students to react
verbally and physically to questions and exercises posed by radio characters and
to participate in group work, experiments, and other activities suggested by the
radio program.

Choosing Radio?

The interactive radio was based on certain assumptions regarding the strength
and limitations of radio as a unisensory medium, as given below.

 Radio broadcast has the inherent strength of outreach to the masses and is
an affordable medium for both the distance education institutions and the
students.
 Used at the local level it can cater to the area-specific needs of the
students and involve them in selecting problem areas for discussion.
 The decentralized approach of local broadcasting can develop a sense of
intimacy and warmth between the resource persons and the students.
 The disadvantaged groups—poor, physically and visually challenged, and
women—who find it difficult to attend or participate in face-to-face
 academic counseling sessions can be reached by the interactive radio
counseling.
 The use of local languages for interaction can help the students
understand difficult concepts discussed in their courses and can motivate
them to pursue their studies.
 As interactive radio is designed in a decentralized way, follow-up
interaction (either face-to-face or by telephone) with the resource persons
and among the students can be strengthened. This can motivate the
students to form self-help groups.
Conclusion
IR is a project with bright future. It has the potential to contribute to increased
access to an additional source of education and to improve the quality of
learning. However, it should be implemented with caution, taking into
consideration all the challenges and problems. Much more needs to be done in
the area of designing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the IR sessions.

The IR can be made effective by

 setting the right environment at both the teaching and learning ends; this
can be achieved by catering to the specific learning needs of the students;
 involving talented people, trained and with a positive attitude, in
developing and delivering the IR sessions; the right people can overcome
many obstacles provided they design, know, develop, and evaluate IR;
and
 Defining objectives clearly and specifying strategies to achieve them.

EDUSAT
 ISRO launched the GSAT-3 also known as EDUSAT on 20th September
2004 from Sriharikota.
 The total investment was 549.09 crore.
 It is meant for bringing a revolution in Distance Education Programs
within the country.
 This was the first dedicated "Educational Satellite" that provide the
country with satellite based two way communication to class room for
delivering educational materials.

NEED:

 An acute shortage of qualified teachers both at school level and higher

education including engineering and other technical subjects.

 A massive drop out of students at school level.

  A need for formal and non-formal and continuing education to the vast
masses of the country though satellite

 Need to provide a quantum jump in providing access to education to

remote areas and improving the quality of education.

 Need to supplement curriculum based teaching, provide effective teacher

training, facilitate community participation and enable interaction
between scholars and research.

ADVANTAGES

 Distance education will get strengthened.

 Education could be made available at less cost to a large number of
students.
 It eliminates the demand of huge number of teachers.
 Education reaches the doorsteps of students. There is no need for students
to go in search of good education.
LIMITATIONS
 Proper infrastructure and internet facilities is not yet available
everywhere.
 Lack of efficient instructors.
 Lack of electricity in remote areas.
 Cost of setting up system is expensive.
 Cost of replacement Satellite.
CONCLUSION
 The launch of EDUSAT has helped in providing excellent education
through video programs to students. The students have benefited a lot
from the delivered videos through EDUSAT.
 It helps the learners to strengthened their knowledge by understanding the
proper content through distance education.
 It made teaching interactive and easy to understand.

SWAYAM
SWAYAM is a programme initiated by Government of India and designed to
achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy viz., access, equity and
quality. The objective of this effort is to take the best teaching learning
resources to all, including the most disadvantaged. SWAYAM seeks to bridge
the digital divide for students who have hitherto remained untouched by the
digital revolution and have not been able to join the mainstream of the
knowledge economy.

This is done through a platform that facilitates hosting of all the courses, taught
in classrooms from Class 9 till post-graduation to be accessed by anyone,
anywhere at any time. All the courses are interactive, prepared by the best
teachers in the country and are available, free of cost to any learner. More than
1,000 specially chosen faculty and teachers from across the country have
participated in preparing these courses.
The SWAYAM is four quadrant approach:

• Quadrant-I is e-Tutorial: that shall contain: Video and Audio Content in an

organized form, Animation, Simulations, Virtual Labs.

• Quadrant-II is e-Content: that shall contain: PDF/e-Books/ illustration,

video demonstrations, documents and Interactive simulations wherever
required.

• Quadrant-III is Web Resources: that shall contain: Related Links, Open

Content on internet, Case Studies, Anecdotal information, Historical
development of the subject, Articles.

• Quadrant-IV is Self-Assessment: that shall contain: MCQ, Problems

Quizzes, Assignments and solutions, Discussion forum topics and setting up the
FAQ, Clarifications on general misconceptions.

In order to ensure that best quality content is produced and delivered, nine
National Coordinators have been appointed. They are:

1.   AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) for self-paced and

international courses

2.   NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) for

Engineering

3.   UGC (University Grants Commission) for non technical post-graduation

education

4.   CEC (Consortium for Educational Communication) for under-graduate

education

5.   NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) for

school education
 6.   NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) for school education

7.   IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) for out-of-school

students

8.   IIMB (Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore) for management

studies

9.   NITTTR (National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and

Research) for Teacher Training programme

Advantages of SWAYAM

1. The SWAYAM is free of cost for any Indian for learning but he has to pay
for certificate.

2. The SWAYAM is tailor maid to Indian scenario and are complimentary to

formal education in India.

3. The accessibility of quality teachers was limited to the institutes like IITs,
IIMs, and top most Universities and institutions of India but through SWAYAM
the learner in any corner of the county can have access to these top most
teachers of the county.

4. The courses will add to the skill India program.

5. The quality of learner is evaluated by the same parameters at national level so

the outcome will be the same at national level. It will helps in maintaining the
stand of education in India.

6. The high quality education will reach to the mass at minimum cost and
efforts by the government.

Courses delivered through SWAYAM are available free of cost to the learners,
however learners wanting a SWAYAM certificate should register for the final
proctored exams that come at a fee and attend in-person at designated centres on
specified dates. Eligibility for the certificate will be announced on the course
page and learners will get certificates only if this criteria is matched.
Universities/colleges approving credit transfer for these courses can use the
marks/certificate obtained in these courses for the same.

VIRTUAL REALITY
Technically the term virtual reality refers to the usage of computerized
technology and devices to create virtual simulations. This places the viewer in
the same setting so that they can not only see the image but can feel it
happening right in front of their eyes, as in 3D techniques. Which is also an
aspect of virtual reality. Being in that technology embedded with the required
particular devices the users can use their sense stimulations to move up and
down and to see everything as if they are really a part of a virtual world. 

The most common example for understanding virtual reality can be a 3

Dimensional movie. By the usage of special glasses the viewer can see the
entire thing as if it's happening right in front of their eyes. Similarly, the lights
and sound effects are taken into consideration so as to ensure the feeling of the
thing happening right in front of our eyes even though nothing of it is real. 

VR in Education 

Virtual Reality can entirely change the world of education. VR is going to be

used in education starting from the first grade to college. Using VR headsets,
students can see the immersive content of any subject.

Moreover, a 360-degree view of any content gives a more realistic feel to the
students as they find themselves, as a part of the virtual environment. Also,
interaction with VR content helps them explore the subject with profound detail.
When students are too involved in the virtual world, they cannot be distracted
by the real world. It also improves their concentration power.

VR provides students with a complete sensory experience through which they

can virtually touch, see, and hear the content at the same time with help sensors.

ADVANTAGES

1. Boost Student Engagement: The immersive virtual reality classroom is

equipped with adequate ways to make learning more engaging and
communicative this can help in boosting student engagement.

2. Experience-Based Learning : This provides experience-based learning by

providing stimulated displays which makes the students feel like a part of the
setup they are looking, this experience can be more enhanced by combining the
devices with sensors using which the movements of the learner can be tracked
and the displays change accordingly on the VR screen. The students can see the
things as they are and create memories that are going to last longer in their
minds enabling them to continue to recall what they learned, by experiencing
them. 

3. Virtual Field Trips: Virtual reality can be a great opportunity to take the
travel and tour experience without actually visiting the place, in a cost-friendly
and time-saving manner.

4. High Tech Training: They create a real-seeming atmosphere for the enrolled
people to practice for the real-time situation.

5. Distance Learning : There are educational applications and sources that can
be accessed from anywhere using just a smartphone and an internet connection.
As schools are adopting these techniques they are building portal using which
students can log in and access the ongoing studies.
Conclusion

This will not be wrong to say that virtual reality has opened several avenues in
the education sector for students and teachers. Due to the technological presence
being so wide and versatile the benefits are undeniable, virtual reality makes the
educational impact and learning root deeper than the traditional methods, this is
also cost-friendly and enriched with the potential to make education interactive
and practical. 

The training and live demonstrations tend to be safer for the learners than direct
training in some cases, this can help in keeping it injury-free and also wastage-
free, there are no devices or resources getting wasted in virtual training and
repeated practice. This works by just a smartphone and an internet connection
with visible benefits.