1.4 The issues

1.4.1 In view of the existing situations of education system described above, following issues may be raised: what is the effectivity of teaching in the class-room? How much is received (or not received) by the students? Why are the students not regular and responsive in the class room? Can such responsiveness and regularity be ensured by modifying or replacing the techniques of teaching? Further, What role the present communication technology can play to diagnose the problems of students? If the present methods are to be changed, what type of instructions should be given through non-conventional aids for teaching? Are the new or modern methods economical and their adoption feasible in the Indian conditions? How to motivate teachers and students for accepting these methods?

1.4.2 In the present report an attempt has been made to find answers to these questions. M/s Haq Consultants have undertaken this study to analyse the suitability of conventional methods of education in our universities/colleges vis-à-vis the merits of the alternative methods and their feasibility. The alternative methods whose suitability has been examined in this study are: Overhead Projector, audio and visual aids like TV and VCR(s).

1.5 Objectives of the Present Study:

The present study was undertaken with the following objective:

i) To analyse the feasibility and cost–effectiveness of using modern media of communication for teaching:

ii) To analyse the response to teachers and students about the introduction of modern media in higher education, and

iii) To explore the modalities of bridging communication gap in education and developing innovative mid through modern media.

1.6 Scope and Methodology

1.6.1 Teaching at the graduate and post graduate levels and research at M.Phil and Ph.D levels has so far thrived on ineffective method of communication. The class room lectures delivered orally and dictation of notes are no longer relevant in the present context. The solution of the problems perhaps can be sought in the technological change in our teaching methods. However, the crucial concerns for declining about the alternative methods of teaching in higher education for effective communication are as follows:

i) Can higher education be made more effective and relevant by the use of modern communication media (audio-visual and electronics)?

ii) Will such instructional techniques be acceptable by the teaching community?
iii) What type of communication techniques will be most suitable in the conditions prevailing in Indian universities and colleges as students generally hail from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds?

iv) How to rank order different technological/ communication options in universities and colleges in view of the resource constraints?

The alternative arrived at should cater to the requirement of students all over the country. Different characteristics of the universities / colleges located in a region as well as the students feeding these institutions posses a varied picture. An alternative should consider these factors to make the modern communication methods feasible and accessible in the universities and colleges of India. Accordingly, the Haq Consultants have undertaken the study on education technology in the stages note below:

1.6.2 Stage-I

To begin with, libraries, documentation centres and communication sections of Delhi based institutions like U.S. Information Centre, (UNESCO) University Grant Commission, India, National Institute of Education Planning & Administration etc. were visited. The information ascertained from publications, periodicals, proceedings of seminars/workshops and other literature available on the subject have been scrutinized and reviewed to prepare the status report of techniques used for higher education communication in the country.

1.6.3 Stage-II

At this stage experts on education technology and media professionals were approached. For this, Government and other agencies like UNESCO, University Grant Commission, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, India Education Centre, NCERT, Education Consultants of India, Deendayal Upadhyay Educational Research Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Ahmedabad, Seva Mandir, Udaipur, Doordarshan and All India Radio located at Jaipur have been contacted to explore the possibilities of techno-market survey suitable to universities and colleges of India. For recording the informations supplied by experts, Dictaphone was used. An indepth interview with experts enabled the Consultants to analyse different issues minutely.

1.6.4 Stage-III

In the third stage, an in-depth study of different types of Universities and colleges have been made. An intensive information about the existing technology of communication in teaching was gathered through questionnaire. The responses about other issues relevant to education in different institutions have also been recorded. The Deans/Principals/Teachers of respective universities and colleges’ chosen in the sample were interviewed. The interviews with the Deans/Principals/Teachers of Arts, Commerce, and Science faculties in the universities and colleges have been carried out to evaluate the prevalent education communication in their respective centres. Students belonging to different courses and classes i.e. under-graduate, Post-graduate and M.Phil/Ph.D. from arts, commerce and science faculties were also selected randomly for the purpose. The reactions of teachers as well as students on various issues of education / communication technology and existing scenario of education in the university /college concerned have been recorded. Instead of quantitative survey, qualitative aspect of data has been duly emphasized upon in the sample chosen for this empirical study. The institutions selected are presented in the Appendix.

Appendix.

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