Faculty Development Programme on Open, Distance and Online Learning: “Emerging new realities: Bridging the Gap of Regular and ODL Mode” for the Faculty of Rajiv Gandhi University 28 July, 2020 – 1 August, 2020 Online Mode

Background

Despite having huge advantages associated with the Distance Learning method, there is a constant debate on its validation. However, the modern world has witnessed that the conventional method of teaching is being replaced by the ODL method rapidly. The pandemic situation of COVID-19 further escalates the importance of ODL method of teaching.

Today is it becoming more and more evident that the lines between the regular mode and ODL mode is blurring. The central differentiating line of regular mode of education and ODL was the fact that one has compulsory face-to-face learning and the other relies more on self learning. The emphasis was on ‘Self Learning Material’. From the earlier mode of ‘Distance Education’, the non-formal education system has come a long way to be known as ODL (Online and Distant Learning).

Since the transformation of Distance more to ODL mode, online technologies have taken the focus. Since before the pandemic crisis, ODL mode was marching full force into online mode to improve the quality and credibility of distance education. The new strategy of the ODL mode had today become the need of regular mode. Classroom teaching is fast being replaced by online classes, which was the domain of ODL mode.

In this background, the Institute of Distance Education, Rajiv Gandhi University, proposed in collaboration with STRIDE, IGNOU to conduct a Faculty Development Program on Online Teaching Methods. The focus of this FDP is to learn the tools of ODL will be shared by the eminent Resource Persons of the ODL mode, and will be shared with not just the ODL faculty members but teachers from both the mode.