e-learning in Delhi varsities in times of corona epidemic
Colleges and universities across the capital are going the extra mile to ensure that the learning process continues even as the institutes remain closed owing to the 2019 novel coronavirus threat.
From uploading e-lectures and digital reading material, to allowing video calls during class hours to clarify doubts, colleges and universities across Delhi are doing it all.
Last week, the Delhi government had announced that schools, colleges, and universities in the capital should remain closed till March 31 as precautionary measure.
Following the directive, universities — like Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia — suspended regular classes and issued guidelines on sharing e-resources with students to continue in the teaching-learning process.
Several colleges have fallen back on unique methods. For instance, Ramjas College, which had developed a dashboard last year connecting students and teachers, will be expanding its functionality.
Principal Manoj Khanna said, “Teachers were already using our dashboard to send assignments and upload e-lectures accessible by students of that subject. We are now modifying and have expanded the size so that more material can be uploaded to prepare e-modules. Students can also upload queries which can later be addressed by teachers.”
Due to existing digital platforms like MHRD’s SWAYAM and UGC’s Consortium for Educational Communication, several teachers had already prepared e-learning material that could be disseminated among students.
“The e-resources which were already prepared have also been uploaded on platforms like YouTube.
Since we had already covered three-fourths of the syllabus, that material is being used for revision by science students who have their practicals towards the end of April,” said Hardeep Kaur, who teaches in the Zoology department at Ramjas.
Colleges like Miranda House are also working on a similar mechanism where teachers can share e-resources which can only be accessed by their students. “While classroom teaching will not take place, we will be having an academic committee meeting on Monday to discuss the modalities,” said principal Bijayalaxmi Nanda.