Arts, engg colleges told to adopt virtual teaching

With semester exams for those studying in the State-run colleges and universities scheduled from April, the Tamil Nadu government has given instructions to complete the portions – that couldn’t be taught in classes following the announcement of holidays in the wake of coronavirus threat – through electronic means.

Tamil Nadu government had not only announced the closure of all colleges and universities across the State, but also postponed the semester exams for Engineering, Polytechnic, Arts and Science students owing to the COVID-19 threat.

Though the revised semester exams for most of the students will be held from the mid of April, most of the portions in various subjects could not be taken in classes due to the sudden closure of the colleges.

A senior official with the Higher Education Department told DT Next that the authorities have received several requests and feedback from the teachers andparents, requesting the government to conduct classes for the students through electronic means.

“Accordingly, the Directorates of Technical Education and Collegiate Education have been entrusted to instruct the faculties concerned to immediately conduct virtual teaching sessions, as was done by some private institutions, and monitor the teaching activities so that students will be fully prepared to face the exams,” the official said.

“We have already issued orders to all the principals and vice-chancellors of all State-run colleges and universities respectively to take initiative along with the faculties concerned to maintain regular communication with the students by creating groups on social media so that there is no sense of fear and anxiety among the students due to exams,” he added.

Stating that it has also been instructed to make available lectures of all the subjects, especially the left-out portions online, the official pointed out that e-lectures will be sent to the students according to their requirement.

A senior staffer with Anna University also said the Centre for Faculty Development is conducting web content audio-video lecture programmes. “The online classes will also contain all the course materials,” he said adding that the university is also conducting the EDUSAT live interactive audio-video lecture programmes transmitted through KU-Band provided by ISRO.

Pointing out that downlinking facilities have been provided to more than 100 engineering colleges including all government institutions, he said, “During the end of the lectures, students, who stay at home, could interact with the expert faculty members to get clarification on the subject matter taught.”

At present, about 54,000 students are studying on the government’s university campus and about one lakh students in government Arts and Science colleges, while about 15,000 are pursuing engineering courses in government colleges. Apart from this, around 5,000 students study in government polytechnic colleges across the State.