CEMCA finalizes the evaluation strategy for Community Radio Technology
CEMCA finalizes the evaluation strategy for Community Radio Technology
New Delhi, 13/01/2015: Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), New Delhi organised a workshop on “Evaluation Strategy for the Community Radio Technology” on January 12-13, 2015 in New Delhi. The basic objective was to develop a question bank of multiple choice questions which would be used to evaluate the progress / achievement of students enrolled in Certificate in Community Radio Technology (CCRT) course and broadly to test the technical knowledge of the enthusiasts of community radio. Ten community radio and technology experts participated in the workshop. Through a consultation process, CEMCA finalized the evaluation strategy of community radio technology using IVR System and mobile app.
CEMCA is associated with the community radio movement in India since its inception. Experience has revealed that while Community Radio Stations (CRS) are able to manage their production and management aspects, there is a pressing need for technical guidance and support relating to running or setting-up a CRS and maintaining the basic equipments. The paucity of trained personnel at the local level makes them dependent on ‘outside experts’ even for elementary tasks. Getting trained professionals from metros for troubleshooting is expensive for CRS. With this view, CEMCA developed learning content at the level of a certificate programme for CR Technicians to help prepare a cadre of technical support persons at the local levels in collaboration with CR technology experts and BECIL, Noida.
Mr. R. Thyagarajan, Head, Finance and Administration, introduced the new Director of CEMCA, Dr. Ramesh Ch. Sharma, at the beginning of the workshop. While inaugurating the workshop, Dr. Sharma, Director, CEMCA expressed his views that this activity may be considered as a pioneering work in the evaluation process of skill based learning. Mr. Y. K. Sharma, Adviser, BECIL outlined the fact that how this activity can help to increase the knowledge of the CR technicians of India. Dr. Ankuran Dutta, Programme Officer (Livelihood and Health), CEMCA delineated the importance of the workshop. Dr. A. D. Tewari of NCERT enumerated the techniques of developing objective type items. Mr. Aaditeswar Seth of Gram Vaani Community Media discussed on how IVR system can be used for the evaluation process. Among the participants, N. Ramakrishnan, Y. K. Sharma, Khuswinder Singh, Pankaj Giri, Hemant Babu, Vasuki Belavadi offered their suggestions to develop mobile based evaluation for the CR technology. The participants developed about 200 questions on CR technology. D. Rukmini Vemraju, Dr. Anamika Ray and Monica Sharma assisted in development of a few objective type items on community radio policy and philosophy in India.
