Bihar students lag behind in e learning

GAYA: Renowned educationist Prof. Ranjit Verma regrets the failure of Bihar students to avail e learning facilities and take advantage of learning material available in e text books. Verma, Professor of Chemistry in Magadh University presently on leave working as Pro VC of Patna University told TOI that high quality interactive e-text books based on UGC syllabi are available free of cost on internet.
The students including those from Bihar can not only read the standard books on computer but excel through self study using the multimedia and audio visual simulations etc.
This poor response is being reflected in the user registration on the UGC’s inflibnet website (epgp.inflibnet.ac.in). Under this scheme, 500 to 550 modules are available on different topics of any subject. Each of the 71 subjects covered under this mega project is divided into 16 papers from the faculties of Arts, Humanities, Languages, Engineering, Technology, Life Sciences, Medical/ Health Sciences, Social Sciences and Basic and Physical Sciences.
Under the Rs 84 Cr mega project of NME-ICT (National Mission on Education through ICT, MHRD, GoI) , e-Books on dozens of subjects have been released.
Verma, the author/coordinator of one such e book, an M.Sc standard chemistry text book said that e-contents can be accessed free of cost in the 19 modules of the paper but for availing multimedia and interactive sessions facilities like that in a virtual class room, one has to get registered and registration is done free of cost.
Commenting on the indifference of Bihar students in e learning methods, Prof. Arun Kumar Prasad, Vice Principal, MG college, Gaya, said that one reason why Bihar students lag behind in e learning opportunities is that such learning requires a strong base with good understanding of the fundamentals.
Unfortunately Bihar students, for nearly four decades now have been deprived of quality education at the school and college level. Prasad suggested production of e mode programmes specifically designed to cater to the requirements of Bihar students. Bihar students need extra support, said Prasad.
Moreover, students with economically disadvantaged sections are not computer friendly enough to take advantage of e learning opportunities available to them.
Poor but promising students have to be provided lap tops/good quality tablets and high speed internet connectivity to benefit from e learning opportunities. Such facilities, if properly administered can do lot of good to Bihar students as faculty shortage in the universities of the state has already reached a critical stage and a large number of working teachers do not update themselves with the latest in their respective fields of specialisation, commented Prasad.