Online classes are to be rolled out by Savitribai Phule Pune University for the non-first year batches, results of whom have been declared since August 5th. A coordinated platform has been elaborated by the university, for the affiliated colleges. Every lecture is supposedly around 250 to 350 MB. There are quizzes in every 10 minutes gap or following every lecture which promises to check that students do not skip lectures after just logging in. Students will be unable to skip to parts of the lecture series without scoring a minimal percentage of the right answers. The centralized system will make certain to the university officials about the number of lectures completed by a college while accounting attendance of the students.
“Professors are advised to give short audio or video clips where they explain the topic. They are required to email a few pointers about the objectivity of clips, the expected level of learning of students, and any graphics possibility,” said Nitin Karmalkar, Vice-chancellor. He further assured that the clips are reviewed, compressed, questions are added and are then reviewed by the professor finally before being uploaded. He also clarified about building bibliographies so that the students would not only have recommended reading materials but also relevant topics to study.
Teachers are receiving training about developing e-contents so they prepare a module by inserting or modifying the contents of the lecture planned and uploaded. All students and teachers will have a login ID and password, through which the university will keep track of how much content, has been covered. Karmalkar mentioned the plan to cover at least 40% of the syllabus through online classes and rest 60% to be covered when colleges reopen. A class of 100 students is to be divided into 4 batches and every batch will attend classroom lectures based on the week they are scheduled on. Furthermore, the batches will supposedly get a quarantine of 2 weeks at home after classroom lectures, during which, they can access online material. Karmalkar also pointed out that the complaints about students being given admissions and exams conducted within 10 days will be cross-checked easily through the system.
Sanjay Chakane, principal of Arts, Science Commerce College in Indapur, one of the 10 colleges piloting this project, said their teachers are trained in making the module and they can insert graphics and questions.
The principal of Arts, Science, Commerce College in Indapur, Sanjay Chakane said, “Our teachers are receiving training on making a module, inserting graphics and questions into them.” He also commented that the formative assessment model will keep a record of the online modules and check progress; the process had already begun with students of BA, it had run smoothly. The decision to start online classes is being tentatively focused on 5th or 6th August for the first batch students who will have taken admission over time.
Nitin Karmalkar consoled that the students belonging to regions where the internet or phone range would prove to be an obstacle will have the facility to have the module provided to them on a pen drive and download it from their nearest center. There is no funding charge by SPPU against this platform of the college, however, the funds for buying sports equipment, etc will be canceled by the varsity. Karmalkar added that their efforts are to reach not so rich colleges which do not have funds for building their own platforms; they will be able to use readymade modules, the teachers are being trained to perform the same as well.
State minister of higher education, Prajakt Tanpure concluded that SPPU has come up with a good infrastructure to advance the learning process through online classes. All universities of the state are putting an effort into reaching the students by online lectures. “As the different problems arise, solutions will be found,” he commented.
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