CEMCA-NSOU building capacity of university teachers of West Bengal on Blended Learning Practice.
A result-oriented Workshop on “Online Learning & Blended Learning” was organized by COMMONWEALTH EDUCATIONAL MEDIA CENTRE FOR ASIA, (CEMCA) and NETAJI SUBHASH OPEN UNIVERSITY (NSOU) from 17th December to 19th December 2021, at the Durgapur Campus of Netaji Subhash Open University. The purpose of the workshop was to enhance the teaching competency of the higher education teachers of West Bengal in the arena of Online Learning and Blended Learning. The organizers made a concerted effort to empower the Higher Education Teachers for engaging, enlightening and empowering their students in the online platform as well in the matrix of Blended Learning. The training workshop was conducted at Durgapur where the college/University teachers from Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Purulia districts of West Bengal were participated in the workshop. Total 51 (41 Male and 10 Female) teachers attended the workshop and actively participated in the programme. The Workshop was conducted by Dr Shaunak Roy and Mr. Purandar Sengupta –a senior Master Trainer & Instructional Designer.
The inauguration program was held on 17th December 2021. The inaugural address was delivered by Professor (Dr.) Anirban Ghosh, Director CIQA and Project Director of Netaji Subhas Open University. He made the participants sensitized regarding the purpose of the Workshop and its expected outcome. He acknowledged the valued contribution of CEMCA in planning and organizing the Workshop. The Keynote Speech was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Anupam Basu, Director of National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Govt. of India, who graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest. In his Keynote speech, Prof. Basu placed emphasis upon the heterogeneity in Learning Style and Cognitive Level of the students and advised the Higher Education Teachers to take into consideration the heterogeneity while teaching the students. He also highlighted the adverse impact of COGNITIVE LOAD upon the students and discussed about the strategies of diluting the cognitive load.
On the first day viz. 17th December, Dr Shaunak Roy highlighted the beneficial features of Blended Learning from the perspective of both institution and students. He illustrated the different models of Blended Learning and categorized the instrumental impact of each model upon the students. Mr Purandar Sengupta sensitized the students regarding the intricacies of Facilitation--- an effective medium of education. Through Role –Plays he explained how Facilitation can foster Collaborative Learning, Discovery Learning, Problem based Learning and Experiential Learning.
On the second day viz. 18th December 2021, Dr Shaunak Roy, explained the utilitarian features of the ICT Tools in visual illustration, conceptual elucidation and learner engagement. The participants were very much impressed regarding the ICT tools and GAMIFICATION Strategies. Thereafter Mr. Prandar Sengupta administered multifarious Role Plays and Structured Simulations to explain the different Psychosocial Interventions related to Facilitation Process.
On the last day viz. 19th December 2021, Mr. Purandar Sengupta explained the different Adult Learning Models that are highly conducive for both online and blended learning. After that he conducted a participatory discussion and encouraged the students to belch out their practical strategies along with the meta-cognition for applying the different Learning Models while teaching. The program got concluded with vehement appreciation and compliments from the participants. They acknowledged that the workshop was designed and conducted with pragmatism and outcome orientation.
