The rapid developments that have taken place in recent years in the field of information technology, have paved the way for revolutionary changes in higher education, in terms of both methodologies
and concept.
Conventionally, the transfer of information
has
been through the
media
of letters, books, telephone,
radio, video, television and computers.
Media has immense potentialities
for
augmenting education facilities and improving the qualities of education. It includes the
Internet, various modern and traditional media radio, television,
video
recorder, audio
recorder, films, printing materials and
graphics etc. With a view to make education available to
various learner groups of vast diversities
and
entering to the requirements
of different curricular courses, media support is essential.
These media need to be used in seminars, symposia
conferences, meetings, workshops, demonstration and so on, besides classroom teaching.
All
media materials with the support of teaching machines, computers, TV and radio can make education very effective as well as interesting.
News media and Information Technology has
direct influence on all areas of education.
"Media"
refers to various means of
communication. For example, television, radio, and the newspaper are different types
of media.
Radio, Television,
Print and Cinema are the mediums of media which play important roles in
enhancing the progress of education and bringing in innovative means of
learning.
The mediums which the
media utilises include internet resources, blog, newspaper, documentaries,
magazines and social media.
Functions of the Media
Technological media enable the
adaptability
of the
educational
process to the individual student’s differences – in pace, temperament, background, and style of learning. These
media can perform many of the following functions
involved in
the
educational process:
• They can store information until it is needed or wanted.
• They can distribute it over distances to reach the student wherever he happens to be, instead of bringing him to the
teacher.
• They can present the information to the student through various senses and in many modes.
• They can give the student the opportunity to reach the material and respond in
many ways.
Socialization Agent
There goes an old adage in Kannada saying - for a child, school in infancy is home. But now a new adage is coined substituting the old by
saying - for a
child Media is the first school.
Indeed! Media is influencing the process of socialization. Whether we like it or not, we have been encircled by its influence. Newspaper, Radio, Television, Cinema, Internet etc.,
have outgrown themselves from mass communicator
to influence our day to day activities and are leaving
deep imprint on our attitude, conduct and ideologies.
Global
village
Marshall McLuhan's phrase 'the global village' suggests that people of the world can be brought closer together by the globalization of communication. The globalization of communication enables
us
to share in each other's lives.
In today's life, media glare is visible everywhere
in several
forms. It has opened up many
vistas in all
spheres of life - social and economical; art and culture; tradition, information and publicity; education
and
entertainment; politics etc., It has become a
voice for the neglected classes. Thus, in the present scenario, media has become part and parcel of our life.
In spite of growing concern of media's internal com-
petition and its fall out on social responsibility, it has
not lagged behind in fostering education.
The different medias used in Education
1.
Print Media
Media
provides education in two ways - one formal and another informal.
In formal type, it directly imparts syllabus based education to students. Radio and
Television are broadcasting such programmes in various formats. In recent years, even
the
Print media is publishing syllabus based articles.
Radio and television have extended their helping hand by broadcasting educational programmes for educationally deprived classes and motivates them to pursue their education through distance education.
Through
this, students can learn and understand their
syllabus
much similar to the students learning in the class-rooms.
Prime Resource
Print media, an uncrowned king which is in existence for over a century and half is a major partner in Mass Media. In recent times, it is facing stiff competition from the electronic media and technology supported channels.
Even then it is moving forward
with full strength by keeping its ground intact. In
print media, newspapers and magazines have a lion
share. Newspapers and magazines educate the people
on
political, social, economical,
educational and cultural developments.
Educational supplements:
In addition to the routine publication, in recent times, English and Kannada dailies are bringing out Educational
supplements
on weekly basis. In-depth
articles on challenges of education, innovation in
educational sector, experiments in teaching-learning process find a place in the supplements.
Add to it,
almost all Kannada Newspapers are focusing their attention towards publishing syllabus based education for SSLC and PUC students. Text book based
articles for a few degree courses are also published.
This is a boon for the students to refresh their school teaching and improve upon their own understanding
of studies.
In a bid to bring
students to the reading
table and to cultivate the habit of reading, newspapers
are
publishing and supplying additional supplement to the schools and colleges in targeted areas so as to wean their attention on the core issue of education.
Publication
on
career guidance and employment
opportunities are helping the unemployed youth.
Thus,
newspapers are providing formal and
informal education. Many researchers
have confirmed
the
fact that such kinds of publications have really helped the target group.
2. Television
Among all, television
is the most powerful
medium in the electronic media. It almost succeeded in quickening the pace of development and education.
It has enormous strength to attract both literates and
illiterates and has equal strength in effective communication. In India also, television has been used for educational purpose to a great
extent. For this,
a separate exclusive channel named DD Gyanadarshan has been made operational Based on Syllabus
Now, Doordarshan
is presenting syllabus based programmes for primary to post-graduation level. These programmes are produced for the
respective classes/courses on the basis of prescribed syllabus in a very systematic and interesting format. In a way,
these programmes are encyclopedias on its own right
from which required/additional
information can be
accrued. Educational programmes coming from Doordarshan
are
supportive and are in line with the lectures given
in the class rooms and circulated printed
material.
The Programmes
Information about admissions, examinations, tutoring, counseling etc., can be passed on to the learners instantly. Moreover, such information can be transmitted at national, regional or local level in the learners' own languages and even in their dialects.
Educational Programmes
As already mentioned, two types of educational programmes are telecast-formal education and
developmental education-currently.
These programmes are intended primarily to educate learners. They are related to specific curricula, say those of the school or the university. These programmes are
primarily supplementary in nature, and provide enriching experiences for the learners. Thus, these programmes, as additional sources of information, support face-to-face teaching or printed text materials available to distance learners. Indira Gandhi National Open University is moving towards certain other uses of television-complementary and integrated
programmes. Nowadays, Doordarshan telecasts the
following types of formal education programmes:
i. Educational Television (ETV): These programmes cater to primary school children of 5-11 year age
group. ETV enrichment programmes are planned, produced and evaluated by the Central Institute of Educational
Technology (CIET) and its counterparts in
(SIETs). The programmes are
telecast by Doordarshan
through satellite
in the children's
instructional languages. Primary
school children view these programmes on community sets. An ETV capsule of 45 minutes duration. (consists of two programmes of
20
minutes each with five minutes changeover time)
ii. School Television (STV):
STV programmes, started on October 24, 1961, are
meant for students of the secondary and the higher
secondary schools. These
programmes are produced
and telecast by Doordarshan.
As per information available, four Doordarshan Kendras-Delhi, Bombay,
Madras and Srinagar, are engaged in the production
of
STV programmes for the students of their respective coverage areas. These programmes are strictly
syllabus based and are telecast during school hours.
iii. Higher Education Television (HETV):
With an objective to bring a qualitative change in higher education, University Grants Commission
(UGC) has started Higher Education Television (HTV)
programmes through Doordarshan.
In
fact,
Doordarshan took a revolutionary step on 15th August, 1984
by introducing countrywide
class room programme based upon the syllabus formulated by
EMRCs established by various states including
Karnataka
(Mysore) for higher studies/courses. These
programmes are telecast
all over India on regular basis. UGC programmes are produced for telecast focusing
completely on the prescribed topics from Languages, Science, Social Science, Mathematics, Engineering &
Technology, Medicine etc.
iv.
Indira Gandhi National Open University
(IGNOU): Lakhs of students from
all
over country are pursuing their education through distance education from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). To enrich the knowledge base of its students, IGNOU is supplying printed material, audio-video CDs containing syllabus based lessons to the students. On screen lectures delivered by subject experts provides the feel of class room. Moreover, in
addition to the TV coaching, print material is also
provided to strengthen
and expand the knowledge base of students. In this way educational
programmes of Doordarshan have become boon for the students.
This is how Doordarshan takes active part in the betterment of education.
v. Teachers' Programmes:
In order to make the primary school teachers aware
of
the innovations in teaching-learning processes, management of televised instruction, child psychology, etc., the Central Institute of Educational
Technology (CIET) produces programmes for teachers,
known as 'Hints for Teachers'.
3.
Radio - a senior component of electronic media has maintained a very good influence. By and
large it covered almost all parts of our country reaching public everywhere.
Programmes:
Jnanavani - an exclusive channel for educational broadcast has been started in recent years. This channel is broadcasting various programmes on education. "Chukki Chinna"
(Star Gold),"Chinnara chukki" (Child Star) etc., syllabus based programmes in Kannada language have been conceived, produced
and
broadcast for the benefit of primary and secondary school students. Programmes on language learning have also been arranged on radio. In this way, radio has devoted its services for formal type of education.
Radio
has done remarkable service in educational broadcast. Besides airing syllabus based it is also trying to
expand the horizon of their knowledge base by broadcasting programmes like "Palaka Darshini"
(information on health);"Sasya Sanjivini"
"Sasya Surabhi" "Sasya siri" (information on medicinal plants); "Dhareya siri" (information on biological plants). It is revealed in one of the audience research reports that numerous students have registered their Baravanige" (Radio Writing); "Mahila Sabalikarana" (women empowerment), "Akka kelavva" (Listen Sister).
4. New Media
In recent times, Invention of mobiles, internet, and blogs have made revolutionary changes in the field of Mass Media.
a) Blogs – what are they
•
Online diary
style website
•
Quick and easy
web publishing
•
Offer instant
communication
•
Regularly
updated
•
Require little
technical knowledge
•
A social /
networking activity
•
Links to other
online resources
Blogs
- potential uses
•
Replacing standard class web pages
•
Professor-written blogs which cover
interesting developments that relate to the theme of the course
•
Organization of in-class discussion
•
Organization of intensive seminars where
students have to provide weekly summaries of the readings
•
Requiring students to write their own
blogs as part of their grade
•
Writing up as you go along
•
Floating new or embryonic ideas
•
Dissemination of research results
Great
potential for reflection?
b) SlideShare - what is it?
•
Upload PowerPoint presentations so they
are freely available online
•
Easily embeddable in other services e.g.
blogs
•
Add an mp3 soundtrack / narration and
sync it with the slides
•
YouTube for PowerPoint
•
Community features such as tags,
comments, favourites, related SlideCasts etc.
SlideShare - possible uses
•
Disseminating lecture material for revision
purposes
•
Discuss lecture material using the
comments feature to aid understanding
•
As a student assignment assessing
virtual presentation skills
•
Find other presentations on your topic -
save reinventing the wheel
•
Building up a body of resources over
time on a particular topic
•
Drawing together conference / seminar
materials using a common tag or keyword
c) Podcasts – what are they?
A
podcast is …
•
Audio – videos are more likely to be
learning objects and vlogging does not need RSS
•
Regular – one audio file does not
constitute a podcast, must have a sense of regularity
Podcasts – potential uses
•
Distance learning / self-paced learning
•
Advanced or supplementary material
•
Choice depending on learning style
•
Promotion of research
•
Topical updates related to lecture
material
•
Replace the lecture
•
Student assessment and feedback
•
Collecting data in the field
d) YouTube – what is it?
•
Number one video sharing site on the
Internet
•
Ten of millions of videos are watched
each and every day
•
Vast majority of videos are "user
generated content" - made by people like you and me
Teaching
on you tube
YouTube – possible uses
•
Distance learning
•
Supplementary lectures (e.g. research
skills, presentation skills)
•
Contextualising an issue, e.g. old news
footage
•
Perspectives for students to examine
critically (news coverage, activist videos, TED lectures)
•
Student video assignment?
e) Twitter - what is it?
•
Asks what are you up to right now?
•
Limited to just 140 characters
•
Like the status update feature on Facebook
- and that's all
•
Follow people you know, those you don't,
organisations, publications
•
Part blog, part social networking site
Twitter - possible uses
•
Pointers to online resources based
around a course
•
Student reminders about deadlines
•
Breaking down barriers and getting to
know others over this
•
Keeping up to date for you and students
•
Instant lecture feedback - are you
Twittering about this presentation?
f)
WIKIS
•
This is a developing tool and one that
is just being trialled, but it has the potential to be an exciting web page for
each class. Pages on different areas of
learning can be created and links added.
g) Facebook:
What
is Facebook?
n
Social networking
website connecting people across the street, country and world
n
Focuses on building
and relating social relations among people who share common interests,
activities and experiences
Who
uses Facebook?
n
Most recognized social
networking site in the world;
n
Allows continuous
contact to and from anyone in the world with an Internet connection
Conclusion:
There is a need to formulate perfect guidelines for use of media in education. the
following suggestions
can be considered:
Potential of Media as an educational medium has yet to be realized fully. In this regard, Media policy
should be designed from the point of view of the needs of the users, the citizens.
Utilise ICTs to promote education and empowerment, giving citizens access to information. Give priority to broadcast or print the educational issues in the media. Publish the successful and unsuccessful events, story of the people in education. Media will be responsible in communication and
dissemination of educational plans and programme,
work as watchdog, implement educational activities and awareness programmes in the community,
and
special programs for targeted parents. Awareness on educational programmes need to be
enhanced through advertisements and publicity. Encouragement has to be given towards the creation of more educational FM stations to be established and
run
at college levels throughout the country.
Local inputs and interaction should be made a regular feature in the educational radio and TV programmes. Prepare and disseminate different types of educational awareness programmes on a massive scale.
“Use media Sensibly and Intellectually”
