Prof. (Dr.) Banwari Lal Gupta
The emerging technologies and its application in higher education, including both teaching and administrative applications, is the need of present times. The ability to identify and exploit new technologies is increasingly important as competitive and cost effective in the global marketplace. Today’s learners are digital natives who thrive in technologically mediated environments and interfaces. Sophisticated learning-management systems equipped with latest technological inputs are embracing new horizons and are providing large opportunities to students to compete in today’s knowledge economy.The medium is the message could well be applied to technology and its impact on higher education.
J&K Higher Education Department is the Controlling authority for all the Higher Education Institutions of the State having 6 state and 2 central universities; 95 Government colleges and 250 Private Colleges. This vastness of institutions imparting higher education calls for an in depth discussion on a wide range of issues and perspectives concerning technological advancement in higher education including determining criteria for technology selection, technology deployment, and assessment. In order to undertake an exercise to make quality defining element of Higher Education in J&K, incorporation of technology in the institutes of higher learning is a must.
Technology has many advantages for the quality sustenance in Higher Education. It offers flexible learning environment, monitor student progress, accesses internet and distance learning, opportunities for students with disabilities, Global linkages, enhanced outreach, virtual motivation, enhanced instruction methods, increased productivity and efficiency. There are five stages of technology Integration in Higher Education. They are as such; (i) Admission, (ii) Teaching, (iii) Examination and Evaluation, (iv) Infrastructure and (v) Good Governance. In these five stages of technology, one has to learn the basics of using the new technology skill at the entry level, adopt new technology to support traditional instruction and practice (application software), focus on cooperative project based interdisciplinary work and discover new uses for technology tools.
To infuse effectiveness, the classrooms need to be equipped with cameras and sound mixers. Online collaboration tools software that supports individually paced learning and learning-management systems are among the communication technologies that shall replace the traditional methods to improve academics in higher education institutions. Web 2.0 technologies such as wikis, instant messagingand social networking, freeware such as Goggle docs, online gaming and simulation software need to be adopted. Using such new technological methods, memorization of materials by the students can be replaced by the application of knowledge to the particular problem. Video conferencing, satellite linkages and internet connectivity equipped with new upcoming software will help the Academic Administrators to run the higher education institutions with efficiency and ease.
Technology interventions could make the application process convenient for applicants, their parents, as well as college administrators.Online College Admissions System (OCAS) may be used to provide easy, convenient, efficient and reliable method to students for admissions in Government and PrivateColleges for higher level of education.The problems with the Current Admission Process are likePrint Forms,handle queries & distribute forms, collect forms, sort list candidates, etc. Online College Admissions System (OCAS) minimizescost of entire admission process, total time required, human Involvement, data Redundancy, paperwork. It maximizes availability, transparency, accuracy, reliability and productivity.There’s just no substitute for good old-fashioned teaching, but add a little technology, and you’ll be sure to capture your student’s attention.
Technological tools can be used by educators for improving their teaching skills. Teachers and students can write on the interactive whiteboard that work with a projector and a computer in digital ink or use their fingers to control computer applications by pointing, clicking, and dragging. They can also circle relevant sections on the projected image, draw geometric figures, and underline.Use of ClickersorStudent Response Systems may convert passive lessons into dynamic interactive discussions that engage and entertain students. The small, handheld devices look like TV remote controls and are connected to presentation software on the classroom computer and a receiver that captures the students’ answers to multiple-choice questions.GPS Receiversmay provide basic geographic information like latitude, longitude, elevation, direction, and bearing. Higher quality receivers include altimeters, magnetic compasses, detailed topographic and city maps, and other points of interest. Educators may use them to teach geography, spatial awareness, navigation, and basic mapping and tracking.MP3 Playerscan be used with clip-on microphones to take ‘live notes’ on a field trip or in the classroom. They can edit the recordings in a sound editing program to create a podcast, which can be posted on college website. Document Cameras, sometimes called a digital overhead, is a small camera mounted on a stand that’s hooked up to an LCD projector. Educators can place objects or documents under the camera and project their images onto a screen, allowing the whole class to see photographs, maps, books, magazines, or even 3-D objects. Computers, Tablets, Docking Stations, Internet, Wi Fi,Smart boards, Video Conferencing, LED, LCD fitted labs and classrooms, Magnetic input devices, Handwriting recognition devices, and Biometric systems for attendance are other infrastructural aids that are also used for effective teaching-learning process.
The institutes of higher learning, particularly located in far off places must make use of Websites of institutes, Automation of libraries and Inflibnet resource utilization, E-mail accounts of students, Use of the latest learning sources viz. Blogs and Wikis,RSS and Podcasting, Mobile devices, Pervasive networks (WIFi, broadband at home,3G,),Integration of services (“mashups”), Google developments, Web 2.0, etc. for good governance of Higher learning Institutes.
Technology integration in academic curriculum of institutes across the state will not only bring academic excellence but will also provide a platform to exchange the knowledge at the global level, thereby bringing and sustaining quality in higher education. It will provide International level exposure to our students by means of access to international journals and symposia, accountability on the part of teachers and institutions as whole, good governance and hence, better outcome. India’s higher education system is the third largest in the world, after China and the United States. But for sustenance and to provide quality, we need to act now.
To quote Jack Welch, CEO of General Electric (GE),”When the rate of change inside an institution is less than the rate of change outside, the end is in sight”. Let us not allow the end to take over the beginning that we can have. Technological impetus in institutions of higher learning is the need of hour in order to bring quality out of quantity.
(The author is Principal GDC Billawar)
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