A five-day online workshop on Digital learning in the 21st Century: An Innovative Practice in Teaching- Learning is being organized by Amity Institute of Behavioral and Allied Sciences. The workshop is aimed to equip the teachers with the skills through latest techniques of information and communication technologies. It will also enhance practical and functional skills through digital literacy. During the program, the main focus areas will be innovative applications of online pedagogies, MOOCs delivery platforms, online examination, digital tools, and technologies in teaching research and extensions. This program was inaugurated by Dr. (Mrs.) Balvinder Shukla, Vice-Chancellor, Amity University in which thousands of students, teachers, and research scholars participated.
During the first session of the program, Prof. K. Srinivas, Professor, Head of ICT & Project Management NIEPA shared his thoughts on the topic of Building the competencies of teachers for the blended learning environment. According to Prof. being a perfect teacher is not so easy. There are many challenges associated like teachers have no prior online teaching experience and hence do not wish to swim against the tide without adequate preparation. Lack of enthusiasm to learn new methods and techniques is also a very common issue. Teachers are also not convinced about the quality of delivery/ assessments. In the wake of the Covid 19 pandemic, millions of students and teachers across the globe have been driven out of the university campuses to the safety of their homes. Both the groups are grappling with the new norm of Covid enforced technology-mediated teaching & learning due to lack of training in understanding the blended learning environment and its ecosystem. “Let us make use of this pandemic period as an opportunity and relevant to the present situation. It is time to adapt to change, to be relevant since the technology of online education and all the digital initiatives have the possibilities to revolutionize higher education”, averred Prof. Srinvias.
Dr. (Mrs.) Balvinder Shukla, Vice-Chancellor, Amity University said Coronavirus has affected every single sector; due to this education sector has been affected the most. We are encouraging digital platforms for education purposes. Amity is organizing FDP through online platforms by which teachers will learn techniques to connect students through virtual mode better; this will benefit students and teachers as well. Dr. Shukla said we should use every opportunity which we get.