Indian Journal of Open Learning (ISSN: 0971-2690)

Virtual Learning through SWAYAM MOOCs: Awareness and Motivation Among Humanities Students

JASMEET KAUR TANDON — 2024-06-07

The main objective of this study was to find out awareness of MOOCs and the SWAYAM platform among students of humanities, and to evaluate factors inducing utilization of SWAYAM/ MOOCs by students. A questionnaire was developed by the researchers to collect the data. The sample comprised 100 students of humanities of Indore city. Analysis of the data revealed that most respondents were in favour of MOOCs and the SWAYAM platform due to their nominal cost, certification, types of skill-based courses and diploma courses, flexibility in timings and feasibility to attend the course anywhere as and when
it is comfortable.

Exploring Prospective Teachers’ Perception of Digital Competence in Digital Education

P. TAMIL SELVAN — 2024-06-07

This research aimed at determining the pre-service teachers’ digital competence. Additionally, future teachers are compared according to the sub-variables of gender, discipline, and computer courses. In this study, the researcher used the survey method and collected data through Google Forms. Gender, discipline and computer courses were taken as sub-variables. Five-point scale questionnaires were used to collect data from 137 teachers who were studying in different provinces
in the state of Tamil Nadu. The results suggest that male and female trainees, computer course-educated trainees, and computer courseuneducated trainees did not show any significant difference in digital competence. Further, the discipline of Computer Science trainees and other discipline trainees showed significant differences in digital competence. It is hoped that the results of this study will contribute to developing digital competence in teachers.

A Comparative Study of Academic Achievement of Students using Traditional and Online Modes of Teaching

SANA MARYAM — 2024-06-07

This study was conducted on 8th grade students for the subject ‘science’ using both traditional mode and online modes of teaching in respect of their academic achievement. The researchers administered an intelligence test on 100 students, and based on this, 60 students were selected for the experiment. They were divided into two groups: control and experimental with 30 students each. The control group was taught by the traditional approach, while the experimental group was taught by online teaching. The researchers also selected the content for the subject science (Physics, Chemistry and Biology), which included
chapters on Light, Metals and Non-metals and the Cell respectively. Data were collected through pre-test and post-test. Following data analysis, it was found that there was no significant difference between traditional and online mode of teaching; both methods were found to be effective in academic study and academic achievement of school students.

Online Fieldwork for Social Work Trainees during Pandemic: A Review

KANNAPPA V. SHETTY — 2024-06-07

The field practicum in social work is formed by context, responding to students’ needs within constraints imposed by external
political and economic circumstances. COVID-19’s arrival, along with the abrupt end of in-field practicum possibilities, made it difficult for students to get the necessary practical experience. Therefore, there was a need for alternative methods to carry on fieldwork practicum for social work trainees during the pandemic. To find out the alternate methods of field work practicum during the pandemic, an extensive search was done by the authors from several databases, viz. Medline (PubMed), Science Direct, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Psych info, and web of science. The search terms included “Online field work training”, “COVID-19 and Online training in Social work”, “Online filed work and Social Work trainees”, “Online internship in social work and COVID-19”, “Online block placement in social work and COVID-19”, “Professional social work, field work and Pandemic”, “Online teaching in social work and Professional courses” and “COVID and Social Work Programs”. Supporting student field work assignments, which are an essential component of students’ training and is a requirement for qualifying for the profession, was an unprecedented task for social work educators. The social work trainees, on the other hand, were
confronted with numerous challenges. Many students were forced to engage in online learning as a result of the disturbance. There were network challenges, poor internet connections, and demand for highcost data bundles that students could not afford. Other important challenges and opportunities are also discussed in the full paper. Social work educators must evaluate how to effectively train future practitioners to work towards social justice goals in times of tremendous uncertainty.

Framing Curriculum for Master of Science in Climate Change Programme in Open and Distance Learning

V. VENKATRAMANAN — 2024-06-07

Climate change poses a significant existential threat. Climate disasters like droughts, floods, and heat waves affect billions of people worldwide. The effects are evident in developing and underdeveloped nations. The urgency to address climate change necessitates the implementation of expedited measures for both mitigation and adaptation. The effective management of climate change necessitates the integration of technology advancements and modifications in human behaviour, both of which are intricately linked to climate change education. The cultivation of human capacities, skills, and knowledge plays a pivotal role in effectively tackling the issue of climate change. The primary objective of this study was to undertake a survey to
develop a curriculum for the MSc climate change programme that can be effectively delivered using open and remote learning methods. The curriculum on climate change encompasses the component of impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. This component will discuss the impacts on nature, land and water ecosystems, farming, and cities. Additionally, it addresses climate resilience, management of natural resources, human security, climate finance, and weather insurance. The analysis
identified individuals employed by the pollution control board as well as recent graduates as prospective candidates for enrolment in the Master of Science programme in climate change. The program intends to provide job opportunities in government, schools, and NGOs. The goal of the programme is to assist policymakers in developing realistic policies and programs to tackle climate change.

Editorial

Chief Editor — 2024-06-07

This is the last issue of volume 32 of IJOL which contains five research papers, one book review, and abstracts of the papers in Hindi language for easy understanding of scholars who read and write in the Rajbhasha.

The first research paper by Tandon and Sharma focuses on awareness and motivation among higher education students on MOOCs offered through the national SWAYAM platform. The results showed favourable attitude of the students especially due to credit transfer, low cost, and flexibility in learning. Selvan and Kalaiyarasan in the second paper on teacher digital competency report that there was no variation in the digital competency of student teachers across gender groups and computer course groups, though the student-teachers who had opted for the course on computer science had displayed higher competency than their counterparts.

In the next paper, Maryam and Lodi report the findings of an experimental study on the effect of mode of teaching science on the science achievement of school students. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the achievements of students taught through the lecture method and those taught through the online mode, suggesting strongly that the design of learning is more important than the mode of delivery.

The fourth paper is devoted to a critical review of online fieldwork for social work trainees during the pandemic. The meta-analysis of research publications suggests that while it was pertinent to keep going the field work through online mode during the pandemic, the social work students had faced the challenges of connectivity and cost of data bundles which the social work educators need to take into account, and prepare towards development of professional skills at times of distress and uncertainty.
Venkatramanan and Shah in the fifth paper report the findings of a survey on various dimensions of curriculum for a masters programme on climate change through open and distance learning. The results relating to learning outcomes, content, teaching-learning strategies, and employability shall be useful to all those engaged in the education and training on the impact of climate change on land and water resources, nature and environment, and on livelihood.

The book review by Anuj Aggarwal of a fresh book on ODL (by Olg Zaikin) should be useful to the practitioners of ODL with a new addition and new perspective, and on opportunities and challenges in the implementation of modern information and communication technologies in education. Besides, the abstracts of papers in Hindi should be useful to those who have expertise in the vernacular language.
We hope the research papers and the book review included in this issue of the IJOL, a UGC-CARE journal, shall be of interest to our readers.

Editorial Team
Indian Journal of Open Learning

Book Review

Anuj Aggarwal — 2024-06-07

The book explores the concept of ODL i.e. open and distance learning, its myriad implementational challenges, and
opportunities for introduction of modern information technologies in education. The subject matter of the book is
concerned with the development of an open distance learning system (ODLS), an information management system
designed to facilitate distance learning processes in educational institutions for the achievement of civilizational goals.
Various models of ODLS are being deliberated upon by the author, keeping in mind theoretical and pedagogical
considerations. The underlying idea of the book is to offer cutting edge & practical solutions to the 21st century’s
most challenging problems, by crafting a fundamental lifelong learning system, which is based on the principles of
system science, cybernetics, AI etc.The author has drawn profound insights from his decade-long research into the
area of ‘Open and Distance learning’ in the colleges and universities of the European Union, and all elements described in the book (concepts, applications, models, algorithms) are based on thorough scientific inquiry and empirical observations.

Hindi Abstracts

ALI ASGAR — 2024-06-07