e-Education Winner – 2008

Gyandarshan – Gyanvani – e-gyankosh

DESCRIPTION
Gyandarshan, Gyanvani and Edusat are pioneering moves by Indira Gandhi National Open University to bring about  notable changes  in the age old education system through  web casting facilities.  GyanDarshan-I is a satellite based TV channel devoted to educational and developmental needs of the society. Then there is GyanDarshan-II / Edusat, which is an exclusive educational satellite to provide interactive education using DVB-RCS technology. It offers distance education through Virtual Class Room mode and provides access to digital repository of educational content hosted at IGNOU.    The GyanVani  educational FM Radio network provides programmes covering different aspects and levels of education including  Primary and Secondary Education, Adult Education, Technical and vocational Education, Higher Education and Extension Education. eGyankosh is an exclusive dedicated initiative to digitize the entire course curriculum of IGNOU and make it available to all.

CITATION
There is hardly any example of any university in India which uses all possible media tools and applications to reach out to those who want to be educated. IGNOU is an example which uses print, radio, TV, Web/Internet to reach out to the masses. After having deployed various TV channels, EduSat, Community Radio, IGNOU is at task through eGyankosh to utilize digital media to the best of its possibility. Through these multifarious technological interventions, IGNOU is putting maximum efforts in extending its reach beyond the borders of the country and facilitate international students. What is laudable is IGNOU’s continuous pursuit in providing higher and quality education using digital tools and technologies and reaching out to the unreached.

Producer Prof. Uma Kanjilal

Organisation Indira Gandhi National Open University

Location Delhi, INDIA

Telephone 91 11 29534336

Email ukanjilal@ignou.ac.in

Technology/Medium Web/Internet
Language English

‘Learn with fun’

DESCRIPTION
The aim of ‘Learn with fun’ Maths programme is to teach basic mathematics concept and its application in solving problems to primary school children (I – V Std) through the satellite. The programme is conducted from the expert centre in Bangalore and 16 villages from various parts of Karnataka logging in for 5 days a week (Monday – Friday).
Classes are conducted from 9 to 10am Monday to Friday. Communication is in  vernacular language – Kannada. The efforts are directed towards teaching Math not as a subject, but as a fun game. The class is based on teaching concepts like addition, subtraction but not calculation of sums. (For eg. teaching the concept ‘multiplication’ as repeated addition and not otherwise).

CITATION
Mathematics has been proved to be the most difficult subject among school going children, a fact maintained in the rural areas too. Most school dropouts complain that mathematics is an ‘unmanageable subject’. ‘Learn with Fun’ programme has been trying to change this. After a modest start, ‘Learn with Fun’ is generating enthusiasm through interaction built around a healthy competition among the 14 centres promoting better learning and in the process raising the bar of confidence among the learners. Giving a 100 per cent result in mathematics at most of the centres in the last academic year, ‘Learn with Fun’ is a new found panacea to a traditional learning problem for many.

Producer
Sumana K Samuk
C Arvind
Dr Nandini Mundkur

Organisation
Centre For Child Development & Disabilities

Location
Karnataka, INDIA

Telephone
91 9844124930

Email
ccdd@airtelmail.in

Technology/Medium
Satellite

Language
Kannada

Kissan Krishideepam

DESCRIPTION
Kissan Krishideepam is a weekly agricultural based informative television program produced by the Indian Institute of Information Technology and management Kerala (IIITM-K) targeted at the entire farming community of Kerala. It forms the forward selective dissemination of dynamic information of value to farmers across entire Kerala. The television program is backed by a toll-free telephone call center and the KISSAN-Kerala portal for asynchronous interaction between viewers (farmers) and to get feedback from the viewers. The Krishideepam program is telecast through satellite channel (three times per week) and at the end of the program, the toll free numbers are being advertised to ensure the interaction between the farmers and the scientists. Apart form this, the DVD`s and CDs are also available for the farmers to view the programme as part of continuous learning. The contents are highly interactive. The video contents are mounted online in collaboration with Google YouTube. The biggest boon is the toll free call centre (1800-425-1661), from where farmers can also take expert advice

CITATION
Agriculture education for farmers and the using medium like TV, satellite, telephone, CD/DVDs and Internet clearly indicates that how powerful the oral media could be for the empowerment of the likes of farmers. Kissan Krishideepam in Kerela by Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Kerala  is doing exactly that. The project aims at providing ‘right information at the right time in the right context’ to the farmers across the entire state of Kerala and is unique in more than one way. Krishideepam is the first television program directly produced and telecast by State Agricultural Department as part of e-governance, and well received by the farming community in Kerala. The integrated model of the project ensures the speedy aggregation of relevant information from various sources, and disseminate through cross media platforms. Also, the project is supported with an agri-data center with fully professional management to cater various information requirements of the farming community in Kerala.

Producer
Smt. Tinku Biswal IAS
Dr. K.R. Srivathsan
R. Ajith Kumar

Organisation
Indian Institute of Information Technology and
Management- Kerala (IIITM-K)

Location
Kerala, INDIA

Telephone
91 471 2700965

Email
ajithr@iiitmk.ac.in

Technology/Medium
Cross Media

Language
Malayalam