Editorial

Abstract

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in Indian context has travelled about six decades along with Indian higher educational system. During this journey, the system has undergone various paradigm shifts, right from its crude private correspondence teaching-learning systems to sophisticated pedagogical teaching[1]learning systems at a distance. All these changes in ODL system can be viewed on paradigm shift in ODL growth and development, otherwise, it can be understood from print to multi-media/multiple media and online teaching-learning system, with overall concern for lifelong/continuing education for knowledge workers of the knowledge society.

In the first paper, P.V.K. Sasidhar reports formative evaluation of technology enabled student support services using internet radio implications for scaling-up and policy decisions. Internet Radio or Gyandhara is a technology enabled Interactive Radio Counselling (IRC) initiative of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).  In this paper, specific policy interventions suggested and discussed include - reducing students support services cost through technology mediated support services; targeted and curriculum based IRC sessions; scaling-up of IRC sessions as open education resource, and; further evaluation indicators for IRC programmes.

G.R. Ramakrishna Murthy, S. Senthil Vinayagam, D. Thammi Raju, M. Krishnan, CH Srinivasa Rao and P.S. Pandey report the role of MOODLE in agricultural education in India. This study outlines a decade long experience of adopting, implementing and training on MOODLE in agricultural education in India by ICAR[1]NAARM, an academy of excellence in capacity building in agriculture. The study revealed that MOODLE can be adopted very effectively in reaching wider audience through the format of MOOCs, with high course completion rates.

Proloyendu Bhoumick studied the views and perceptions of distance learners on the importance and accessibility of support services at Regional Centre, Kolkata of IGNOU. The study attempted for improving and/or expanding the existing learner support services. The results revealed that the distance learners were highly satisfied with the distribution of study material (SLM), effectiveness of Student Handbook and FAQs, information services of the Study Centre (SC), its geographical location
and the staff behavior at 'Material Distribution Centre'.

Deeksha Dave reports on solid waste management through open and distance learning. It was recommended that there was a strong need to focus on making solid waste management a people’s movement by taking the issues, concerns and management of solid waste to citizens at the grass-root level.

The Book Review on Why Social Media is Ruining Your Life reviewed by Divya Soni appreciated the very well researched, deeply observed, experienced by champions of social media; and the usage, and analysis of how social media has affected our behavior and sadly our way of life. The review also explains various reflections on usage of media by people. The reviewer also mildly explains positive and negative sides of social media and its influence in our normal life styles.

In this issue, all articles are valuable and relevant to our times. These are the experiences/feedback from developing countries’ models emerging within the ODL teaching-learning methodologies. These studies are encouraged to make ODL more prone to indigenous understanding, which is the relevance of times. Hope this will contribute operational perspectives and implications for the ODL world especially in the developing country like India.

It is our privilege to express deep sense of gratitude towards the Chairperson of the Editorial Advisory Board, Prof. Nageshwar Rao, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU for constant support and encouragement to maintain journals’ stature at national and international levels. We also express our gratitude to all the members of the Editorial Advisory Board, the Editorial Team, the faculty of STRIDE, and the esteemed reviewers and editors for their valuable support in bringing out this issue. Also, we thank all the authors for making their constructive contribution in this issue. Last but not the least; on behalf of the Editorial Team we extend sincere thanks to the printing, administrative and support staff of STRIDE for their continued efforts
towards the successful publishing of this issue.

Editorial Team, IJOL