Delhi University’s School of Open Learning to start five online courses this year

NEW DELHI: Delhi University’s School of Open Learning (SOL) is going digital. The college is ready to start five undergraduate courses in the online mode this year. Students will be able to study from anywhere with the help of special websites that will have live streaming of lectures, e-books and easy access to study materials. The school is also planning to conduct its exams partially online.
SOL applied for online courses in January this year after the July 4, 2018 UGC gazette notification prescribing the regulations that apply to a university conducting open learning classes.

The gazette stated that open schools need to have e-modules which should be self-explanatory, self-contained, self-directed at the learner and amenable to self-evaluation. It should also enable the learner to acquire the prescribed level of learning in a course of study. The modules should include e-text materials, video lectures, audio-visual interactive material, virtual classroom sessions, podcasts, virtual simulation and self-assessment quizzes or tests.
CS Dubey, director of SOL, said acquisition of all the components started soon after the notification was released and the drive gathered pace at the beginning of this year. “We are incorporating all components in our new system that is designed for conventional learners, working professionals as well as other individuals aspiring to acquire knowledge and academic credentials,” he added.
“We have developed a special system, which includes live streaming of lectures. Our teachers have already developed the lectures. We have also hired special tutors and interns,” Dubey said.
The online procedure will start for five undergraduate courses in the upcoming session. “We will also conduct 30% of the exams online in a phased manner. We are developing a new dashboard for this, which will be integrated with the one from which students get information and study materials,” Dubey said.