Abstract:

Professional development of teaches educators, teachers, trainers and master trainers to improve the learning of children at elementary level and provide qualiiy elementay education to them is the major target of Sarva Shiksha Abhlyan (SSA). Distance Education Programme (DEP) is a major intervention under Sarva Shiksha Abh~yanto provide quality training to teachers, BRC and CRC functionaries, and DIET and SCERT faculty all over the county through open and distance learning. DEP-SSA aims at recurrent training programmes for various stakeholders of SSA through effective implementation of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs). Teleconferencing is the media through which training is being imparted to functionaries at various level of SSA all over the county, Through this paper an attempt has been taken to reflect the perception of teachers, and BRC and CRC functionaries of the state of Orissa on\ various aspects of teleconferencing, and their reaction with regard to the effectiveness of teleconferencing for their professional development. The findings of the present study have been discussed under seven heads namely i) technology-related aspect, ii) content and presentation aspects; ib] programme design aspects; iv) interaction aspects; v) perception of teachers; vi) perception of BRC and CRC functionaries; and vii) overall impact of teleconferencing. The findings of the present study aim at development of intervention strategies for the effective implementation of information communication technology (teleconferencing) to achieve the targets of teacher education programme and quality elementary education.