Online Capacity Building Workshop on "Development of MOOCs for ODL Learners"

CEMCA organised a three day Online Capacity Building Workshop on “Development of MOOCs for ODL Learners” for Teaching and Academic Staff of Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) from 11th -13th May 2020. the workshop was attended by 40 female faculty members and 55 male faculty members.

Prof Madhu Parhar, Director- CEMCA, welcomed all the dignitaries and participants and talked about the need for online learning. She also focused on the need analysis for developing online courses. Prof E Vayunandan, VC- YCMOU, in his address informed about the online counselling sessions already completed by YCMOU and he added that these online counselling sessions are going to replace physical counselling sessions. He also stressed on the need for redefining online learning/counselling. At the end he proposed his thanks to CEMCA and COL for guiding and supporting YCMOU in various areas of OER, online learning and for this workshop.

Prof Srikant Mohapatra, VC- OSOU in his address focused on the need for appropriate use of technology and platform. He mentioned that open source applications and platforms given by Govt shall be promoted and used. He added that this is the time for anytime anywhere learning and MOOCs provides the opportunity for the same.

Resource Persons of the three day sessions Dr. Nisha Singh and Dr. G. Mythili from IGNOU oriented the participants about the four quadrant approach for online learning, working of SWAYAM MOOCs, and Moodle. The sessions also dealt with video content creation through different screen casting tools, developing online courses using Moodle and all the participants were given assignment to practice all the application explained during the sessions. A whatsapp group was created for discussion with experts during asynchronous practice sessions and submission of assignments.

During the closing session Prof E Vayunandan VC-YCMOU gave a brief introduction about the workshop and how this time of crisis have been turned into an opportunity. Prof Madhu Parhar, Director- CEMCA mentioned that online learning has come to the picture in a big way due to the pandemic and orienting and training the faculty members for the same is the need of the hour. Prof parhar welcomed Prof Nageshwar Rao, VC- IGNOU for his address to the participants. Prof Rao stressed on converting the workshop learners into doers as post pandemic the learning style will change and learners will ask for cost effective and convenient learning. He emphasized on the need for integrated online learning where emphasis will be on courses then of programmes. At the end Prof Parhar proposed the formal vote of thanks.