Distance Learning in India

The concept and practice of distance learning in India is gaining popularity with each academic year. The distance learning study programs in India are offered from the secondary level to Masters Degree level. IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) offers Bachelors and Masters Degree study programs. Netaji Subhas Open School conducts secondary and senior secondary study courses. There are many universities like Rabindra Bharati University which offers distance learning courses.

Distance learning is extremely beneficial for candidates who are unable to attend regular classes. This is particularly noticeable for candidates staying at remote locations, employees, part time workers, and housewives. Many girls, specially from rural areas, find these distance learning study courses helpful. It not only helps them to cater to household commitments but also gives them an opportunity to pursue higher studies.

Adult education, which is another neglected sector in India is addressed marvelously by distance learning programs. There has been a steady change in the attitude of working adults in India. Many have enrolled for distance learning study courses not only to become more academically qualified but also to be aware of the surroundings. It is encouraging to note that both Central and State governments together with noteworthy universities have taken up distance learning as their prerogative.

eFaqt.com, world’s most comprehensive eStudy system was launched in Mumbai today. eFaqt is the first online system that makes studying hardcopy textbooks and articles easier, and decreases study time more than 30 percent. This unique learning system also enables the users to share their study notes and summaries with direct classmates and students across the world.

Over 150 million university students worldwide actively study books and articles everyday. The majority of these students face problems in comprehending and retaining information due to issues such as lack of concentration and ignorance about constructive learning skills.

Christiaan Henny, Founder of eFaqt said, “eFaqt is developed to enable students to learn at their most efficient level. Based on scientifically proven techniques that accelerate the process of studying books, eFaqt makes studying faster, better, more concentrated and fun. Independent professional research shows that over 80 percent of the students study their books more effectively because of eFaqt.”

Neurons, the human brain cells, make humans think and understand. Learning and remembering generates new neurons, which connect new and older information. eFaqt helps in processing the information more effectively by turning the textual information into questions and Mind-Maps. Asking a question activates neurons and triggers them be connected. eFaqt then reviews these questions at the right moments to strengthen the connections.

The use of the both the parts of human brain increases the speed of studying significantly. While studying students mostly use the left side of the brain, which stores linear information such as text. eFaqt activates the right part of our brain by turning the textual information into Mind-Maps. Mind-Mapping is a unique technique that transforms textual information into visual brain friendly images and separates the main points from the side issues.

Every learner has a different style of learning. eFaqt provides tests on learning styles and indicates whether a learner is auditive, visual, or kinaesthetic. The visual, auditive, kinaesthetic test defines what kind of information is best suited for each learner. Visual learners learn from pictures, graphs, books etc. Auditive learners adept best auditive information such as voices from your teacher or voice in a video. Kinaesthetic learners adapt to information they receive while practicing something or they learn it by observing. Based on the results of this test, eFaqt provides tips on effective mode of study.

Useful tools like Wikipedia, Google translator, and note pad are also integrated with eFaqt for the convenience of the students.  With eFaqt students can share the questions and ideas from the abstract of other students. Learners can make use of the content created by fellow learners by paying a small fee, which is partly, transfer to the creator of the content. This allows students to get paid while studying effectively.

About eFaqt

eFaqt B.V was formed in Amsterdam in April 2009. The aim of the company is to develop an online study tool with which schoolchildren, students and adults can study their course materials online. eFaqt helps learners study effectively by employing scientifically proven methods like techniques like Mind-Mapping, effective reading algorithms and automatic rehearsing form the core of the system. Visit www.efaqt.com to learn more.

For further information, please contact:

LEWIS PR for eFaqt

Arunava Khan

Mobile: +91 9820535436

E-mail: arunavak@lewispr.com

Dipa Joisher

Mobile: +91 9892661041

E-mail: dipaj@lewispr.com

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has received great prominence in the Union Budget 2009-2010. The finance minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, has allocated a huge amount of money for the proliferation of the university.

IGNOU has been one of the leading distance education providers. In order to facilitate its further expansion and achieve greater academic excellence, the finance minister has allocated Rs 50 crore to the university. The money will be invested in the different schemes launched and approved by IGNOU.

The credit of Indira Gandhi National Open University is that it is the largest Open University in the global map. More than 300 courses are imparted to almost two million students in India and abroad.

The Finance Minister of India is thoroughly impressed with the university’s academic excellence. Mr. Mukherjee’s budgetary allocation for the university is another feather in its cap. It was in the previous week that IGNOU had announced opening of 100 community colleges to facilitate education for all the under privileged students. 2 year Associate degree offered by IGNOU recognized community colleges will indeed usher in a ‘learning revolution’ in India.

Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning was founded in 2001 and is located in Pune. Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning offers programs to the students from all over India and 42 countries abroad. The campus houses all the modern technological services and facilities like video conferencing, training laboratory, class rooms, audio visual hall, conference rooms, library, communication center, corporate cell, cafeteria etc. The programs offered here are at par with the full time programs. The programs are conducted with a combination of three forms of learning, printed self learning materials, e learning and pre recorded DVD Lectures and faculty interaction.

In Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, you can opt for one year programs like Post Graduate Diploma in Instructional Design, Advanced Diploma in Creative Writing in English and Diploma in Creative Writing in English. In order to pursue these programs you will have to be a graduate in any discipline or a diploma holder with a minimum of five years of supervisory experience. Distance programs will give you the flexibility of time. This is particularly helpful if you have a busy schedule. However, distance learning means more responsibility on your part since you will have study on your own and the programs are as difficult as the full time programs.

Finally the role of technology in education has reached a height that can be applauded. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Communication and Manufacturing Association if India (CMAI) has come together for a cause. The pledge is to provide educational content to students via mobile phones. But the initiative is aimed to hit a highway of expectations with plans of making it possible for students to appear for exams via the mobile. Providing of content via audio, video and text is the first step for making Education mobile. We have been noticing the role of mobile phones penetrating all segments of the common man’s life, students seem to be the latest addition in the list.

Such a step would change the very nature of education in India, but are Indian students ready for the makeover? Promises have been made but how much of it can be effective delivered to the students is the question. Does the education industry have the capability of providing such an infrastructure to the students? Delivering  of the text via the video demands mobile phones that can support the initiative. Will this in turn also boost up the sale of technologically upgraded mobile phones?

  Burdwan University’s distance learning programs have helped the working professionals greatly. The correspondence courses that the University offers is under the Directorate of Distance Education. There are several misconceptions and preconceived notions about the distance learning program. Let me take this opportunity to let you know that the distance learning program offered by the University is at par with the regular program. Many people are under the impression that the courses and the curriculum are different for the correspondence course from the regular ones. But the fact is both of them have the same syllabus. The only difference is that the correspondence students do not need to attend classes on a regular basis which enables them to pursue their professions.

 The main motive and focus of the University is to provide self-placed student centered learning programs. You would not find it entirely separate from the regular curriculum nor would you find it totally independent of the full time courses that the University offers. The number of correspondence courses that the University offers are M.A. In Bengali, M.A in English, M.A. In History, Philosophy, Political Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Business Administration, Environmental Science, Fashion and Apparel Design, Interior Design, Bioinformatics etc. So if you are a working professional willing to pursue your higher education think no more and contact the Directorate of Distance Education at Burdwan University.