September 28, 2010

In an announcement made by Indra Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Vice Chancellor Rajasekharan Pillai, recently, that the open varsity is to soon extend its facility of full time on campus programmes in its Regional Centres. The Vice Chancellor made the announced the above at a function, 'Aagmann', organised by the on campus Students' Society of IGNOU for welcoming new students to the varsity. The occasion was marked by performances by full time students as well as hearing-impaired students. The varsity currently has 22 full-time academic programmes with around 500 students enrolled in them. These programmes had been launched last year at the New-Delhi campus of IGNOU for the first time.

Intel India chief talks about adopting technology for growth in education

News

digitalLEARNING Network

September 28, 2010

Intel India president Praveen Vishakantaiah appreciated Indian students for creating the world's cheapest laptop and encouraging the education sector of the country as technology adoption is crucial for the growth of this segment. This prototype tablet OC has been developed by students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Science (IIS), which was unveiled by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal unveiled a prototype tablet computer developed by students of India's two leadingtechnology institutes.

The seven and nine-inch Linux-based touchscreen gadget priced at `1,500 has all the basic features, including a built-in key board, a two GB RAM memory, Wi-Fi connectivity, USB ports and is powered by a two-watt system for use in power deficit areas. The device is likely to be available next year. The computing device will support functions like video web conferencing facility, and multimedia content viewing. Emphasising Intel's efforts in this direction, he said, the company has developed several solutions for the education sector. The company, in collaboration with the National Association for Blind, has recently developed an open-source computer software for the visually-impaired.

Tasmanian schools get iPad trials

K-12

digitalLEARNING Network

September 28, 2010

The Department of Education and Training at Tasmania has revealed over 30 iPads are being trialled in a number of schools across the state, with plans in the works to also examine the potential for Android and Windows-based tablets to be used as an education device. 30iPads have been provided in about 10 schools.Trevor Hill, Director of Information Technology Services at the department mentioned that a few high schools have ten each are trialling them across some curriculum areas.

The Tasmanian department is divided in four geographical locations, with each region represented by a technical IT consultant who works with the schools in their respective regions to coordinate IT support and desktop and ICT plans. The Victorian Department of Education and Training has distributed 500 iPads across the state as part of the $150 million Brumby Labor Government investment in government school IT programs. The Tasmanian departments provides each school with annual grant money for ICT purchases. Each institution has the prerogative to purchase products that suit it from the DET web-based shop. The online store features equipment from two Windows PC suppliers

Dept Education plans for textbook free education at Philippines

Policy Matters

digitalLEARNING Network

September 28, 2010

The Philippines Department of Education (DepEd) is planning to offer a textbook-free education. However, it is expected that the cost will be high. Nonetheless, this represents a substantial reform as the Philippines moves into a more information technology (IT)-based education mode. In a meeting by a Senate finance sub-committee chaired by Sen Edgardo J Angara, DepEd Secretary Armin F Luistro mentioned that he recently met with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officials on this issue where they (USAID officials) agreed to finance a study on a possible textbook-free Philippine education setting.

He hinted that this system might begin in the next two years as the DepEd budget has a substantial IT budget. The current DepEd budget of P170.74 billion has been increased to P207.05 billion for 2011 or an increase of 18%. The DepEd has also started its goal of promoting ICT in the elementary level with 2,534 elementary schools are targeted to be given multi-media equipment.

ICT use in education contest by UNESCO

News

digitalLEARNING Network

September 28, 2010

A contest is being organised by UNESCO for premium of King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Halif on the use of information and communication technologies in education. In a statement in Azerbaijan's Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies, it was mentioned that the award will be given to the best projects envisioning ICT application for raising quality of education and overall scientific activity. The awarding ceremony will be held on 12 January 2011 at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The award includes a diploma and a money prize of $50,000 which will be divided between two winners. The winners will be selected and announced by UNESCO director general on the basis of recommendations of an international jury, comprising independent members of five nationalities.

Six European countries to see IGNOU open Study Centres

News

digitalLEARNING Network

September 27, 2010

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the largest open university in the world, is to open study centres in six European nations, including Germany and France, to offer personalised courses, its Vice Chancellor VN Rajasekharan Pillai. The Netherlands and Austria are other European countries where IGNOU, the world's largest by student enrollment, is considering to open study centres. It already has a centre in London, the vice chancellor added.

Pillai, who also heads the government's Distance Education Council, said IGNOU would also offer personalized courses in Gandhian studies and some Indian languages such as Sanskrit through its new study centres in Europe, besides the regular courses. IGNOU has presence in 35 countries through 56 study centres. Over 42,000 students are enrolled at its overseas centres. More than 90 % of them are the people of India origin. The vice chancellor said student enrolments at the university have almost trebled in the last four years. The university also plans to introduce video-conferencing facilities for all its 56 overseas study centres within a few months.

Indian children up for Facebook and gadgets

K-12

digitalLEARNING Network

September 27, 2010

There is an increasingly growing number of adolescents in cities and urban India, who are actively involved in the virtual world on a daily basis, even at cost of studies. Besides the internet, there are other distractions too like the Blackberry messenger service. Parents and teachers label it as waste of time, teenagers call it multi-tasking.

There are nearly 52 million internet users in India, according to the Internet and Mobile Association of India. And many of these are school-goers who spend much of their off-school hours surfing. But a study conducted by Britain-based psychologists found that the exam results of students using Facebook while working on other tasks were 20 percent lower than non-users. The study surveyed 219 students aged between 19 and 54 at an American university. The study has unleashed fresh worries over Facebook, which has nearly eight million users in India. Parents, especially, are cautious. One of the Facebook groups is 'No Exams' has over 100,000 members, with plenty of Indian members. Of the 635 million mobile phone subscribers in India, more than 16 million access internet on their phones, claims Facebook.

Literacy battle at Rajasthan, beyond fingures

K-12

digitalLEARNING Network

September 27, 2010

In Rajasthan, at Kamlu Ki Dhaani, about 60 kms from Alwar, around 116 children sit under a tree without any building and are enrolled in this school. The government claims that the student teacher ratio is about 30 students to 1 teacher but this picture goes blurred as one gets away from the cities. At Kamlu Ki Dhaani, 116 children have just one teacher.

On paper the Rajasthan government claims that things are different. The government says that in the past 10 years Rajasthan's literacy figures have doubled especially when it comes to women's literacy. The government claims it is a state with one of the best student-teacher ratios but figures can be deceiving. While more children are getting literate, many more are not completing their education. In 2005 there were more than 7 lakh children who were out of school. In 2010, more than 11 lakh children are out of school. Most parents in this village have never been to school but want their children to be part of the government's success story.

Chinese language in CBSE syllabus

Policy Matters

digitalLEARNING Network

September 27, 2010

Soon CBSE recongnised schools are to include Chinese language (Mandarin) as a part of their curriculum. Kapil Sibal, Human Resource Development Minister, made the announcement regarding the same on September 15, 2010 after discussing with China's Education Minister Yuan Guiren the modalities of training Indian teachers for the task. The suggested reason was that China is emerging as a biggest consumer of global resources and this would be a way of introducing China in India in a better manner.

The collaboration plans to involve training of 200 Indian teachers initially. The CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi has also agreed to introduce Chinese in the curriculum as soon as some teachers are available. The minister also offered a student exchange programs to his Chinese counterpart so that governments of the two countries support scholars from both sides.

4500 new students to enter Adama University

Higher Education

digitalLEARNING Network

September 27, 2010

The Adama University mentioned that it will be accepting 4,500 new students this academic year. It was described by President, Prof Dr Herbert Eichele that the university has finalised preparations to enroll the students in the first half of next month. The students are to be enrolled in all the first degree training programmes of the university. Also it was indicated that the university will also launch new first degree training programs in tourism, business English, information and communication technology (ICT), and applied science, among other.

He further said that tremendous efforts are underway in close collaboration with German universities so as to make the university a model of technical excellence. Adama University is currently offering training to 21,000 students under its regular, summer and night programs. The university graduated 5,100 students last Ethiopian academic year.

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