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DU set to launch Massive Open Online Courses
Delhi University (DU) is all set to launch its series of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) later this month. MOOC is a system aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the web. It does not always quantify as formal education but provides a platform to study quality courses from institutions offering them, usually for free.
New Delhi: Delhi University (DU) is all set to launch its series of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) later this month. MOOC is a system aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the web. It does not always quantify as formal education but provides a platform to study quality courses from institutions offering them, usually for free.
"DU will be offering a series of MOOC which will be open and accessible to everyone across the globe. The courses will be free of cost," said Malay Neerav, Media Coordinator and Joint Dean of Students Welfare, Delhi University. "The first course in the series will be 'India in 21st century'. It will include 10 lectures all of which will be delivered by Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh himself," he added.
"The first MOOC will kickstart from January 30. The enrolments for the course will be announced soon," Neerav said, adding, that "in the initial phase the interactive facility will be available at four colleges including Aryhabhatta College, Maharaja Agrasen College, IP College for Women and Keshav Mahavidyalya." The students enrolling in MOOC at DU will be given a certificate for the short-term but non credit courses, subject to approval by the varsity's Academic Council (AC) which is meeting today.
With the government launching 'Swayam' (Study Webs of Active-learning for Young Aspiring Minds) initiative last year, various Indian universities including the IITs are offering the course, with DU joining the league. The purpose behind this initiative is to demonstrate the power of technology and its effectiveness in enabling good teaching and learning. Students and members of DU community can access the course through the varsity's Internet network.
"Other citizens and individuals worldwide can access the course by enrolling in the course and viewing it through the DU website," said Prof. Ashum Gupta, Advisor DU MOOC. The course is designed to portray some of the great milestones in the modern history of India with perspectives from the past and indications into the future.
"It is also important to note that given the phenomenal rise in numbers of students who are graduating from high school in India; this platform shall likely demonstrate the possibility of using this medium for providing access to quality education in easy and inexpensive ways. It is imperative for India to take full advantage of the power of technology and this course is an experiment designed to demonstrate the fact that if good content is merged with effective technology based delivery mechanisms then India's needs may well be served effectively," Gupta said.
