Unesco Expert calls for a new interactive pedagogy for Multimedia

Dr. Warren Mellor, Senior Programme Specialist, UNESCO, called upon the educational community and IT specialists to develop a new pedagogy that fosters active learning and interactivity while using multimedia resources. Delivering the key note address at CEMCA's Orientation Programme on Educational Applications of Multimedia, Dr. Mellor emphasised the changing role of Educators in the twenty-first century vis a vis the use of new technologies. He stressed 'Educators must become expert computer and media users and advise media and computer specialists on how to meet the educational needs of multiple communities.' Others who spoke on the occasion included Prof. J.S. Yadava, Director of Indian Institute of Mass Communication, the host institution for the Programme, Mr. Gopal Saksena, Director, CEMCA, and Mr. Ravi Kanth, the Programme Coordinator. The 5 day Orientation Programme was attended by 26 senior educational administrators, media and training professionals from both government and non-government sectors. The Programme aimed to familiarise the participants with the medium of multimedia and its educational applications through presentations, demos, case studies and "hands-on" sessions. Eminent IT Specialists and Instructional Technologists who included. Dr. Sugata Mitra, Vice-President, NUT, Prof. Sadagopan, IIM, Bangalore, Dr. S.P. Mudur, Associate Director, National Centre for Software Technology, Mr. Kunal Mullick, MD - Macro Graphics, introduced to the participants Fundamentals of Multimedia, Internet, Databases, Virtual Reality and other related concepts. The Case-Studies included a site-visit to Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi, and a presentation on MITRA project by Specialists from CMC Ltd, Hyderabad. The participants were appreciative of this CEMCA endeavour.

Dr.Sugata Mitra,Vice-President, NIIT, unravelling the Multimedia mystique at CEMCA's Orientation Programme

Inaugural session of Orientation Programme - r to i, Mr.Gopal Prof J.S.Yadava, Dr.Mellor & Mr. Ravi Kanth

Editor's Note To begin with, my apologies for the delay in bringing out tins issue of Edu Comm Asia. I was away on leave for over three months and on resuming duties had to devote most of my time to designing and conducting CEMCA's training programmes. During this period, I missed very much the helping hand of my colleague. Dr. Pumima Vyas, who had left CEMCA to pursue leisure-time interests. With Mr. Gopal Saksena assuming charge as Director of CEMCA, the organisation's training activities received a shot in the arm. Within a period of 6 months (Feb - July'97), CEMCA was able to conduct 4 need based training programmes. The highlight of these initiatives being that they were all participant-paid and conducted in collaboration with other educational institutions of national importance. CEMCA's training programmes, in future, would not only retain this character but also be organised in venues outside Delhi. We are keen to hear from educational institutions outside India that are well placed to collaborate with us and host some of our initiatives. In response to an appeal in these columns in the last issue. Pakistan's Allama Iqbal Open University has promptly sent us a profile on their Institute of Educational Technology. Many thanks ! We hope to hear from other distance teaching/educational media institutions too. Please send us information on recent developments in Educational Technology at your institution preferably with some photos. With sharing of resources and experiences between institutions becoming the order of the day, the National Open School in India too has launched recently a National Consortium for Open Schooling. We wish this initiative all success and look forward to an era of cooperation between Open Schools in India in areas such as learning materials development and student support services. Till next issue, sayonara !

Prof. A.W.Khan welcomes IGNOU V.C.
Prof. Takwale for a CEMCA Workshop

CEMCA's Workshop for NOS staff in Script Writing

Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) had organised a 5-day Workshop in Scriptwrittng for Educational Television for the benefit of the academic staff of National Open School. The Workshop began on April, 7, 1997, with an inaugural address by the Joint Educational Advisor, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India, Dr. P.H.S. Rao, who traced the role of Multi-media in the Open Learning system of today. In the subsequent days, Ms. Kusum Nangia, Jt. Director, CIET, provided a context for the use of audio-visual media in distance education, Ms. Sabeena Ghadioke, Sr. Lecturer, Jamia Mass Communication Research Centre, introduced the TV production process with participants being exposed to an actual studio-based shooting. Dr. M.M. Chaudhri, Director, Consortium for Educational Communication (UGC), highlighted some of the issues (eg. producer-academic relationship) that affect a ETV production. Noted film maker, Mr. Arun Kaul compared the writing approaches to different media and Mr. Gopal Saksena, Director, CEMCA, spoke about the TV Language using examples from his work.

Participants of CEMCA-NOS Workshop with the cheif guest,Mr.Shiv Sharma
Retd.DG,Doordarshan, Prof M.B.Mennon, Chairman,NOS and the trainers

The Workshop concluded with a valedictory address by Mr. Shiv Sharma, Retired DG, Doordarshan. He expressed concern at the increasing commercialisation of the Indian Television to the detriment of educational programming. He lamented the paucity of good TV Scripts as was evident from the fare offered by the contemporary Television. Prof. M.B. Menon, Chairman, National Open School, thanked CEMCA staff for their efforts. Mr. K. Ravi Kanth, CEMCA, and Mr. R.K. Arya, NOS, were the Programme Coordinators tor this training initiative.

Presentation Techniques for Educational Broadcasters

A 3-day Workshop on Presentation Techniques for Educational Broadcasters covering various forms of presentation as talks, demos, experiments, interviews, discussions as relevant to educational television was conducted by CEMCA in collaboration with Electronic Media Production Centre, IGNOU.

During the forenoon sessions, well known media experts shared their experiences and offered valuable tips to the participants in making effective presentations through different formats. Mr. Sunit Tandon, a noted media and stage performer, spoke about audio & video presentations,showing the way to perform belter with the microphone and before the camera.

Mr. Sunit Tandon & Ms. Jai Chandiram
as trainers for a CEMCA Workshop

Ms. Jai Chandiram, Director - EMPC, IGNOU, sensitised the participants to some of the commonly encountered flaws in illustrated talks and demos. She offered suggestions for making slicker and effective presentations. Mr. Kamleshwar, a well known media personality, shared his vast experience in interviewing. He emphasised that an interview needs sharp skills to get the best out of a guest within a few minutes at the disposal of the interviewer.

In the afternoon sessions, the participants' presentations were recorded on video and audio in different formats. These recordings were reviewed by Ms. Jai Chandiram. Mr. Gopal Saksena, Ms. Usha Puri and Ms. Smita Vats, who then offered individual advice to participants on how to perform better. The Workshop. which evoked a positive response from the 14 participants representing Open Universities & Schools and Institutes of Correspondence Education, was coordinated by Mr. K. Ravi Kanth. CEMCA.

CBA Chief visits CEMCA
The Secretary-General of Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, London, Ms. Elizabeth Smith paid a visit to CEMCA on 22 Jan' 97. She had discussions with CEMCA stalf to identify areas of mutual interest. wherein collaborative endeavours could be envisaged.

Ms. Elizabeth Smith, Sec-General,CBA being familiarised with the features of CEMCA's database. Also in photo are Ms. Usha Puri,Director(Prog's),AIR and CEMCA staff

Asian participants of COL-ADB Workshop on Integration of Media in Distance Education with trainers

Institute of Educational Technology, Allama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan

Institute of Educational Technology (IET) was established by Allama Iqbal Open University in 1974 for the production of broadcast and non-broadcast audio/visual materials which supplement small group instruction and individual study at a distance. In its initial years of operation, the Institute was assisted by Pakistan Television (PTV) in the production of its television programmes. In 1979, the Institute had its own TV studio under a technical assistance scheme of UNDP. The Institute's technical infrastructure was strengthened further in 1996, under a grant-in-aid project of the Japanese Government.

Objective

To promote and support the distance teaching courses of Allama Iqbal Open University

Infrastructure

The Institute has the following units:
Programme Production Department Staffed by Producers, this department engages itself in the conceptualisation, design and actual production of the audio visual materials. In all these processes, the producers function as members of course development teams and media related decisions are based on the objectives of the course, target audience characteristics and the required learning outcomes.

Engineering Department Its staff consists of a team of trained television & radio electronics engineers and technicians who operate and maintain the television and the two radio studios. The department also provides general audio/visual services to the different units of the University and installs & services the audio/visual equipment of the Model Study Centres.

Design DepertmentIt provides the art, graphic and illustration inputs into the television and audio/vision productions. Designers, illustrators, cartographers, calligraphers and photographers work with the producers and course teams to develop high quality visual materials. This department has a spacious and well equipped Design Studio with a Photographic Suite.

IET's Television Studio

UKOU's research into Multimedia Applications

Meeting individual learning needs is still a major challenge in education. Many developments, including the use of information technology, continue to address this issue. In this context, the Multimedia Enabling Technologies (MET) Group at the U.K. Open University is engaged in research endeavours that focus on the applications of information technology for teaching and learning drawing upon innovations in multimedia and enabling technologies.

The Virtual Microscope is an acclaimed application of the MET Group developed in collaboration with the University's Department of Earth Sciences. The provision of virtual instrumentation, the effective simulation of expensive equipment for difficult scientific procedure is a domain where significant cost savings and real educational worth can be demonstrated for multimedia. The Virtual Microscope, for example, can be used to allow students to rotate a rock sample whilst viewing it in plane polarized and cross polarized light simultaneously - something which is not possible with a conventional microscope.The Virtual Microscope is presented on CD-ROM. The twelve thin rock sections on the disc can be viewed either using a hand lens or microscope. The microscope images can be rotated'by three different methods.

IIT to set up India's 1st Virtual Campus

The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, would be setting up India's first Virtual Campus in Bhubaneshwar for distance education through fibre optic links. As part of this project, the Institute has entered into an agreement with Dronacharya Academy, Calcutta, for production of video taped lecture packages to be transmitted 'On-Line' to the students. A Centre for Network Planning is also to be established with financial assistance of Rs. 60 lakh a year from the multinational, Nortel of Canada (Source: Hindustan Times).

Online Radio Service for Broadcasters

In an attempt to harness the technological potential of the Internet, One World Online (the Internet arm of the One World Broadcasting Trust) with the help of Commonwealth Broadcasting Association has launched an Online Radio News Service in April'97 as a one-year pilot project.

The project will enable radio broadcasters worldwide to download from the Internet - and then re-broadcast from their local stations - sound clips containing important human rights and development news. The information is intended to flow both ways: radio stations from the South that join the Radio News Service will be contributing material as well as receiving it. To assist the broadcasters, One World has made available a text summary of each audio clip, a suggested introduction, in and out points, and a possible back announcement.

For further information,
E-mail One World on: justice@oneworld.org or
fax: 00 1494 481751 (Source: Combroad)

ITV for Teacher Training in India

Interactive Television (ITV) is to be used for Inservice Education of 2.5 million Primary Teachers in India over a 10 year period. The National Action Plan (NAP) drawn up by the Government of India and UNESCO as part of the 9th Five Year Plan, envisages the mass training of teachers through ITV in the distance education mode. Self- instructional materials and personal contact programmes are also to be integrated into this form of delivery. Interactive Television would enable partial interactivity through the use of a 2-way audio and one-way video between the teaching and receiving sites. The ITV component of this Teacher Training project is to cost US $ 2.12 million. UNESCO has plans to design & develop three CD-ROMs on the conceptual design & the technical aspects of ITV and also on the Plan's pedagogical strategy.

Compact Video Microscope

In yet another instance of convergence of technologies, a firm in the U.K has developed a new compact video microscope (CVM). which may prove to be an invaluable investigative tool for the scientific community. The microscope can be used hand-held or as a stand-based conventional microscope. Its ability to perform non-contact measurement and function as an inspection probe give the microscope tlie potential for varied higher education applications ranging from botany to archaeology to engineering.

The CVM is capable of displaying. printing and recording 480 TV line resolution colour images at magnification of up to 1000X. The zoom lens offers a dual magnification range -10X to 75X and 35X to 240X, and a built-in illumination system provides semi-coaxial light. A prototype fully portable unit which should prove a useful aid in the field, is in development. For details, contact: P. W. Alien & Company 25 Swan Lane. Evesham, Worcs WR 11 4 PE

OLI renamed the Open University of Hong Kong

Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong has been renamed the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) on 30 May 1997 following the approval by the Legislative Council of the amended ordinance. OUHK becomes the seventh university of Hong Kong.

The University's President Prof. S.W. Tarn opined on the occasion,'The change of title reflects the recognition of our academic standing, our achievements and contributions over the eight years. Young though we are. we have been providing higher education and training for over 60,000 adult students whose needs cannot be met bv the conventional institutions.'

'The mixed media so far used in open universities must be supplemented or changed to real multimedia using recent advances in telecommunication and information technologies.'
-Prof. Wichit Srisa-An while delivering the Prof. G Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture at New Delhi,July'97

Interactive Satellite Television

Tele-Conferencing in Distance Learning: Indian & Israeli Models

Introduction

In an effort to make distance learning a more interactive experience for the students and to upgrade the skills of the field-based functionaries, some distance education institutions in the Asian and Middle East regions have adopted interactive communication technologies as Tele-Conferencing, Computer Mediated Communication etc. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India, and The Open University of Israel (OUI) are currently using a satellite-delivered interactive television system for teaching & training purposes. This form of communication is referred to by some as virtual classroom and by others as tele-conferencing. It differs from Desktop Video-Conferencing in that it does not use the ISDN telephone system to deliver images and sounds.

Tele-Conferencing has been used extensively in North American educational institutions to reach out to learners in remote places. The Instructional Television Fixed Service of Stanford University delivers lectures in engineering subjects (in real time) from the university campus to receiving sites in the surrounding industries. However, in this case, the lectures are transmitted through a microwave system.

The System

The Tele-Conferencing facility at IGNOU is called Training & Development Communication Channel (TDCC) and is technically supported by the Indian Space Research Organisation while the one at OUI is called OFEK and operates under a cooperation agreement with Gilat Communication Engineering.

The basic configuration of the system consists of a teaching end studio (2 in the case of TDCC, one at IGNOU campus. New Delhi, and the other in ISRO premises, Ahmedabad) and receiver 'nodes' (23 for TDCC and 18 for OFEK) spread across the respective countries. In the case of TDCC, these 'nodes' are located at IGNOU's Regional Centres, a few remote Study Centres and at all the State Open Universities. The TDCC being a multi-user national resource has an additional 200 nodes set up by other public institutions.

The teaching end studio is fully equipped with cameras, audio console etc. and uplinks the audio & video signals to the Satellite from its control room through a Transportable Remote Area Communications Terminal (TRACT). These signals are downloaded at the receiving 'nodes' through the use of Direct Reception Sets (DRS). The learners at these "nodes' are able to view the TV presentations and establish a return communication link with the teaching end studio through conventional STD telephone lines & fax. Both systems, TDCC & OFEK, are 2-way audio and 1-way video. In the OFEK system,Computer Mediated Communication is also an integral part, giving scope for 2-way Multimedia presentations and Computerised reponses. In India, there are plans to extend the national TDCC with VSAT mode of communications. This would improve the 2-way voice & data transmission.

IGNOU's Training & Development Communication Channel(TDCC)

Learning through Movements

This programme shows a typical Learning Through Movements (LTM) workshop in progress. The students are introduced to the LTM pt by engaging in movement ac-s across a range of selected ar-rhe aim of the LTM workshops promotion of learning through kinesthetic experience. Areas covered in this tape are the vocabulary and dimensions of human movement, health and fitness, skill acquisition, creativity and expressive movement, affective development, learning , reinforcement of intellect through physical, multiple intelligence, problem solving and education/coaching/leisure/sport.
Enquiries to: Dr. Myint Swe Khine,
Head, - ETC, Universiti Brunei Durusalam, Brunei
E-mail: myint@ubd.edu.bn

Videos For Computer Literacy

Distance Learning Packs on Electronic Media

Distance Learning is again finding favour with educators and trainers, worldwide, given its increasing association with technologies as Internet, CD-Rom, Video Conferencing. Little wonder that even the broadcasters have taken to it lately for imparting training and disseminating information on media production. Some of the more recent distance learning packs available for use by educators & broadcasters are:

i) 'PSC Matters !' - a print and video course in single camera production, aimed primarily at TV journalists. It consists of a training manual illustrated by video clips and is designed to help word-based storytellers to tell their stories effectively using moving pictures, sound and commentary.

ii) 'Technology Matters' - a complete stand-alone self teaching resource with print and video components developed with the expertise of Skillset, UK's national TV training body. It explains TV and Video technology principles in simple terms, for non-technical production personnel or media students. Avoiding all maths and using text, diagrams, photographs and video clips, it includes just about everything you would like to know about how TV works but had never dared to ask an engineer.

iii) 'Video Production Matters' - a study pack designed for media students and covering the production process in four units, pre-production (planning), acquisition (shooting), post production (editing) and distribution/ evaluation. Much of it is also suitable for inexperienced programme makers in broadcasting. The pack has been fully tested and evaluated.
For more information, contact: Peter Dewrance, Script to Screen

ILKLEY LS29 6RE U.K.
Phone ++ 44 1943 870238
Fax ++ 44 1943 876252
(Source: Combroad)

NIIT's Computer Literacy Initiative for Indian Public

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of India's independence, National Institute of Information Technology (NUT), a pioneer in computer training, has launched a new TV series titled BOOT IT! aimed at fostering computer literacy among the 280 million people in Indian TV households. The TV series combines the effective communication skills of a gifted teacher (.i.e. Dr. Sugata Mitra) with NIIT's own expertise in training methodology and instructional design.

Given the one-way nature of TV communication with little scope for teacher-student interaction or practice of skills. Dr. Sugata Mitra, the conceptualiser of the series, has skillfully woven a learning system around the TV broadcasts, ^distance learning kit, hands-on practice sessions, telephone tutoring and certification on completion are all integral elements of this effort to help learners derive maximum benefit from the broadcasts.

The distance learning kit consists of course books in modular self- instructional format covering a spectrum of topics, audio cassettes to reinforce the main points and provide step-by-step solutions to the practical exercises given in the books.

The opportunities for the hands-on practice sessions are provided through NUT 's network of 400 LEDA Family Clubs, Educational Centres and Computerdromes.

Telephone-tutoring (in the form of a dial-a-question service) and Certification are value added paid services and are optional.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Sugata Mitra Senior Vice-President(R & D)
NIIT Ltd 8 Balaji Estate, Kalkaji NEW DELHI -110 019
Phone: 91 11620 3027,620 3037
Fax: 9111 620 3333
E-mail:sugatam@internet.niit.co.in

IGNOU's short courses in Electronic Media

The Electronic Media Production Centre (EMPC), Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi would be conducting the following Workshops in Media Production over the week-ends:

* Advanced Techniques in Studio Lighting Oct. 24 - 26, 1997
* Art of Video Presentation Nov. 1 - 2, 1997
* Interview Techniques for Television Nov. 8 - 9, 1997

As the number of participants for these Workshops is be restricted to around 10, early registration is advised.

For further details, contact:
The Director/Jt. Director (R) Electronic
Media Prodn. Centre
IGNOU, Maidan Garhi NEW DELHI -110 068
Phone & Fax : 91 11 6857079

Forthcoming CEMCA Training Programmes

Developing Multimedia Courseware - an International Workshop on tin' design and production of educational multimedia materials, Nov. 24-28.97 Collaborating institution: National Centre for Software Technology

'Capturing Action Outdoors' - a Workshop on Field based Television Production Collaborating institution: Film & Television Institute of India, Pune

Orientation Programme in Computer Applications for Non-Academic stuff of Indian Universities* Collaborating institution: Taleem Research Foundation, Ahmedabad

dates to be announced later
For further information, contact:
Director, CEMCA
Phone: 91 11 698 5208,699 6730
Fax: 91 11 698 5208
e-mail: cemca@giasdl01.vsnk.net.in

October 3-5,1997

IlIrd International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks, Marriott

World Trade Center Hotel, New York, U.S.A Details from: Third ALN Conference, SCE Registration office,
P.O. Box 1206,
Stuyvesant Station, New York,
NY 10009-9988
Web: http://www.aln.org/

November 8-12

International Congress of International Council for Educational Media (ICEM),

Lisbon, Portugal Theme:Media Education (Elementary, Secondary, Higher Education and Adult Education) Details from:
Dr.Ana Toennies,
Universidade Aberta,
147, P-1250 Lisbon, Portugal

Novemeber 11-14

XIth Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities, Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Theme: Quality Assurance in Distance and Open Learning Details from: Conference Secretariat, 11 th AAOU Conference, c/o Rector's Office, Institut Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Fax:60-3-5591057 E-mail: aaou@psmb.itm.edu.my

May 10-13,1998

Connections '98: The Conference on Educational Technology for Post-Secondary Educators, Vancouver, Canada. Details from: Amanda Harby, Fax: 250-387-9142 e-mail: harby@ctt.bc.ca

August 31 - September 4

Teleteaching '98: Distance Learning, Training and Education Theme: The Global Information Society and the Next Millenium Details from: Austrian Computer Society OCG, Fax: 43-1-5120235 9 E-mail: ifip98@ocg.or.at

Electronic pathways: adult learning and the new communication technologies (1997) Field. J (ed.), National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, Leicester, U.K.

Web-based instruction (1997) Khan.B.H. (ed.). Educational Technology Publications Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA

Open and distance learning: prospects and policy considerations (1997) Unesco, Paris

Educational uses of the Internet: an exploratory survey (1996) Starr. R. & Milheim.W., Educational Technology, Sept./Oct., ppl9-28

Integrating Technology into Distance Teaching at The Open University of Israel (1997)Beller.M, ALN Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 1

The future of Educational Technology (1997) Bates.A.W., Learning Quarterly, Vol.1, No.2

Evaluating OU multimedia: experience of evaluating CD-ROMs (1997) Whitelock.D, Kirkwood.A. & Kukulska-Hulme.A., IET seminar paper, 30 Jan 97

Integrating New Technologies -Indian Perspective (1997) Alagh. Y.K, University News, Vol.35.No.31

How television production specialists learn distance education skills and knowledge (1995) Telg.R.W, Journal of distance education. Vol. X, No. 2

The Virtual University: value and feasibility (1995) Laurillard.D, Paper presented at 'Beyond competence to capability and the learning society' Conference, 21 Nov. 95, UMIST, Manchester, U.K.

Considering the Use of Technology in Education and Training (1996) Butcher.N, Open Learning through Distance Education, Vol.2, No,4

Dr. M. Aminul Islam as Vice Chancellor, Bangladesh Open University, Dhaka

Prof. Afzal Mohammed as Vice Chancellor, Dr B R Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad, India

Prof. Moegiadi as Director, Unesco, New Delhi

Mr. Gopal Saksena as Director. CEMCA, New Delhi

Mr. Gopal Saksena joined CEMCA in Nov. 1996 after a distinguished career in mass communications and education, spanning over 4 decades.

Mr. Saksena retired as the 1st Director of Central Production Centre, a Centre of Excellence ofDoordarshan, India's State Ty broadcaster. He also served as Controller of Programmes and Officer-in-charge, Schools Television there when he introduced India's first Primary School TV Service. Earlier, he taught television at Film and TV Institute, Pune. Last. he worked as Controller (Video Documentation) in Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi. A prolific writer, Mr. Saksena authored a book Television in India: Changes and Challenges. He was given the Media-India Award for Excellence in Electronic Media in 1988.

We miss....

Ms. Kusum Nangia, who passed away on 16 September 97. Mrs. Nangia made valuable contribution to the field of Educational Media. She had recently retired as Joint Director, CIET, NCERT, India.

Acknowledgements....

International Centre for Distance Learning, Milton Keynes, U.K. BUFVC, London, U.K. ACU, London, U.K.

Contributions to....

The Editor Edu CommAsia CEMCA

52, Tughlakabad Inst. Area
NEW DELHI- 110062
Phone & Fax: 91 11 6985208
e mail:cemca@giasdl01. vsnl.net.in