Advantages of Distance Education
February 8th, 2010
Nowadays, the technology has made the things easier in every field and it has also influenced the field of education. The elements like time, convenience, money, and the way of teaching, play an important role in the popularity of the distance learning. Distance education is best suited for those who are not able to attend on-campus classes but at the same time they want to have higher education.
You can pursue a number of online courses across different states of the country, whether you are interested in becoming a nurse, an engineer, or you want to study medicine. Distance education caters to more students as compared to the regular courses. You can refer for more in-depth knowledge. As per a recent survey, with the help of distance education, the students are able to manage their time more effectively.
As and when you have completed your distance education, most of the students have a false illusion that they won’t get a job after doing this. But this is not true as majority of schools offering distance education are accredited by some of top accreditation organizations.
You can schedule your timings which is suitable to you with the help of distance education. On the contrary, if you are opting for a regular university then you won’t be able to manage time for doing your other day to day activities. For distance education you don’t require any Visa or any other thing as nationality is not an issue here. You can be a part of learning procedure while sitting anywhere in the world.
If you are having a master’s degree then it will boost your professional career. You don’t have to go through the hassles of class attendance, classroom disturbances, issues of missed classes, and the best of all there is no time limitation. It is always better to opt for the course which is going to help you in your job as it can help you in receiving higher salary packages.
So, if studying is your passion then opting for Distance Education is the best choice you can make to suit your current lifestyle and convenience.
On draft of NCHER Bill, 2010
February 7th, 2010
Academia and Legislatures need not think! But follow the dictates of New Commission!
Vijender Sharma
The Central Government constituted a Task Force on 7 September 2009, with Prof. M. Anandakrishnan as its Chairman, to aid and advise the Central Government in the establishment of a Commission for Higher Education and Research as recommended by the Yashpal Committee and National Knowledge Commission. On first of February, the Ministry of Human Resource Development uploaded on its website (http://www.education.nic.in/) the draft of National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) Bill, 2010 as approved by the Task Force and sought “feedback and suggestions from all stakeholders”.
As one reads this draft Bill, one finds that this is not to “promote” but undermine “the autonomy of higher educational institutions”. This is to restructure higher education system for “competitive global environment” and not for catering to the aspirations of our youth. This is not for helping state governments to strengthen higher education but to snatch away from them even whatever their powers were left after education was included in the concurrent list of the Constitution of India during infamous Emergency. This is a Bill to create an all powerful Commission for the centralisation of all aspects related to higher education. This is a Bill to undermine the powers of the Parliament, State Legislatures and representatives of the people at large to opine and decide the education policy and administration of institutions of higher education in India.
What is so special About MUST University?
February 6th, 2010
MUST University is very well known for its wide range of accredited online programs. There are many factors which contribute in order to make MUST University as the best choice of students interested to pursue their education online.
Store and share any file with Google Docs…
February 5th, 2010
Are you working on multiple computers and tired of hauling an external hard drive with all your files? Looking for a way to easily share your files with other users?
Recently, Google Docs () added the new feature to upload and store your files online either for your own backup or to share with other people. In addition to collaborating on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with multiple users, one can now use Google Docs as a regular file storage system similar to external hard drive or flash drive. Moreover, one can now easily share these files with other users.
One can upload any type of files (e.g., PDF, mp4, mp3, ppt) as long as a file size is less than 100MB. Overall, the free version of Google Docs limits users to a storage quota of 1 GB but additional space can be bought for $0.25/GB.
While you can simply upload and store file in Google Docs, users can also choose to convert some filetypes (e.g., word, powerpoint, excel) to Google Docs format for later online editing. For details on file formats and sizes that can be converted, click here ().
To upload a file, simply click on the Upload button on the Docs list homepage (see image).
Potential Use:
This might be an alternative to Oncourse Resources to store and share files with a group of people (e.g., students).
Repost: Canadian Government Folds On Education (Again)
February 5th, 2010
Pondicherry University – Distance Education | Courses offered | Admissions | Fees Structure | Examination | Exam Results | Exam timetable | Download Application | Departments and other information related to Pondicherry University.
Universities in academic year 1995/96, in the field of distance education to the needs of the community of students to be honest. The courses run by the management of innovative, targeted jobs. Programs, including marketing, MBA, MBA Finance, MBA International Business MBA Human Resources Management and a number of the first programs through distance mode from the Asian continent has begun.
All payments should be paid by Demand Drafts in favour of “The Finance Officer,Pondicherry University”, Payable at Pondicherry.
Payment made in respect of Exam Fee, Mark Statement Fee, Provisional Certificate, Convocation Degree, Fee for Re-totaling should be sent to the Controller of Exams, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry. Tuition fee should not be sent to Controller of Examination.
Bharathidasan University Trichy | DDE | Admission | Courses | Exam Results
February 4th, 2010
Bharathidasan University – Distance Education | Courses offered | Admissions | Fees Structure | Examination | Exam Results | Exam timetable | Download Application | Departments and other information related to Bharathidasan University Trichy.
Demand Draft in favour of “The Director, Centre for Distance Education, Bharathidasan University”, payable at Tiruchirappalli from any Nationalised bank. The name and address of the candidate and the course applied for should be written in the reverse of the demand draft.
For those who have qualified for the Degree, Provisional Degree Certificate will be sent by post after the publications of the results. The fee for the provisional certificate, Rs. 120/- must be paid along with the examination fee in the third year.
For those who have qualified for the Degree, the convocation form will be sent by post, on receipt of requisition from the candidates. Degree certificates will be issued to the candidates only if they apply for the same in the convocation form along with prescribed DD Rs. 425/- and necessary enclosures. The Degree/Diploma will be conferred only in absentia. It will be sent by Registered Post in about two months from the date of the convocation.
Hall ticket for the Examinations may be collected from the Examinations Centre two days before the date of commencement of the Examinations.
Alagappa University Distance Education | Courses | Admission | Exam Result | Fees
February 4th, 2010
Alagappa University Distance Education | Courses offered | Admissions | Exam Timetable | Exam Result | Fees Structure Departments and other information related to Alagappa University Karaikudi, Tamilnadu.
Alagappa University Distance Education was established in the University in 1992. Alagappa University offers distance education Under Graduate and Post Graduate Courses in the disciplines of Management, Computer Applications, Science, Education and Languages. Application form for Admission and Prospectus can be obtained from The Director, Directorate of Distance Education, Alagappa University, on payment of prescribed fees by means of Demand Draft drawn in favour of “The Director, DDE, Alagappa University” payable at Karaikudi.
Alagappa University Distance Education in addition to general MBA, offers more specialised sector-specific management programmes such as MBA (International Business), MBA (Investment Management), MBA (Banking and Finance), MBA (Corporate Secretaryship), MBA (Project Management), MBA (Hospital Management), MBA (Tourism), MBA (Education Management) and MBA (Human Resource Management) and also offers MCA, and PGDCA Programmes, under Semester pattern.
At the end of each semester, Alagappa University Distance Education conducts regular examinations for UG, PG and M.Phil programmes. The students who have earned 80% of attendance from the University Departments/Constituent Colleges and 75% of attendance from the affiliated Colleges in each semester are eligible to appear for the Alagappa University examinations.
Alagappa University Distance Education a special supplementary examination at the end of the academic year for those who are having arrear in one subject (either theory or practical) to complete their programme of study. The following norms are followed for the conduct of special supplementary examinations.
Rs.1000/- will be collected per candidate as examination fee. Candidate who opt for special supplementary examinations shall not be considered for ranking purpose.
Google becomes Goddle
February 3rd, 2010
When was the last time i wondered about something without Google being 
involved? The answer is about 11 years ago. No longer adept with reference books, I’m a horse trader shrewdly weighing up the URL and looking for the tell-tale signs of subjective tampering and hackery amongst the staggering hugeness of encyclopedia GooGlatica.
Like TV channels, more doesn’t mean better, just better is better hidden. But amongst the noise of blogs, Twitter and paradigm shifts such as Open Educational Resources, are we in fact uncovering a new openness, a willingless to share what before was kept private? So is it more and better or will we eventually become as we were before, an mis-informed mass of easily manipulated peasants going back to waving pitchforks and dunking suspected witches in the local pond? Or, as our brains are freed from the drugery of decades spent aquiring information, as we delegate that task to the wires that criss-cross the planet, we can use this new found free time to practice Thinking Very Well?
I think the answer is yes. The ignorant will still crave ignorance and scuttle towards that comfortable darkness. Those educated in enquiry will enquire and search endlessly for ultimate truths reconciled it is the journey not the destination which is important. Both options will just become easier to aquire that is all.
If future generations become feckless ignoramuses then I apologise.
What’s New with Lectora?
February 3rd, 2010
Online Course Content Authoring tools: Part three
Lectora Online
Following the trend of SaaS e-learning tools, is keeping up and introduced an online version of their flagship product, Lectora. Although you won’t find all of the features of the Lectora Pro Suite desktop application, most are present in the online version. Lectora Online offers what you have come to expect in an online e-learning authoring tool: Development collaboration features.
As educational technologists, we are not strangers to the many challenges that are presented to us when working on course content with subject matter experts (SMEs). Although we may choose to use project management software to bridge our communication challenges, we cannot escape the e-mails, attachments or urls to work-in-progress content, outline documents, source document zip files, etc. The strength of online e-learning collaborative environments is the flexibility to develop while sharing and controlling every step in the process without having to use two or three other communication channels.
If you are already familiar with the development workflow of “Title creation” in Lectora Pro desktop version, the online version won’t be difficult for your to use. The design, development and publishing steps of a Lectora “Title” or Course is the same in the online version. The added collaboration features seem to have everything a project manager would need to keep the e-learning development team on task, the SMEs happy, and the project sponsor informed.
Trivantis also offers the flexibility to import course content created with Lectora desktop application into Lectora online and vice versa.
If you are not familiar with Trivantis’ Lectora, here is a summary for you:
What is Lectora?
Lectora is the flagship product of Trivantis Corporation, a software company that has been in business for the past 10 years. Lectora Pro Suite is an e-learning coursework development software. Lectora e-learning development features are also available in an online version of the software.
How Does It Work?
Lectora Pro Suite allows e-learning content designers and authors create Titles or courses with custom branching navigation features, assessments and multimedia (including built-in screen and audio recording options in the desktop version of the product). The software includes wizards, templates, animated components and allows customization, including integration with server side programming such as ASP, JSP, PHP, and Coldfusion.
The newest version of Lectora (Lectora X) also includes multi-language publishing and 508 compliance enhancements, such as FLV closed captioning, JAWS compatible buttons and distinctive templates to produce 508 compliant content.
Supported media and specifications can be found here:
The software exports as SCORM and AICC compliant courseware. Publishing capabilities include XHTML, CD, iPhone, iPod, or single executable.
508 Accessibility compliance of Lectora can be found here:
Who’s Using It?
Long list of customers including several government agencies.
Strategic Ties
Lectora is a good example of the type of software package that higher education institutions need in order to improve efficacy in the development of online course content. Software that allows the power of connected collaboration practices for rapid development and flexible deployment and publishing of course content into course management systems, packaged as standalone courseware, or even distributed via mobile applications.
Important Links
Trivantis –
Elearning case studies –