7 Days national seminar-cum-workshop on “designing and development of moocs” begins at PU

Chandigarh, November 4, 2019: National Seminar cum Workshop on Designing and Development of MOOCs is organised by Centre for Academic Leadership & Education Management (CALEM), Department of Education, Panjab University, Chandigarh in collaboration with SWAYAM CELL, Panjab University, Chandigarh. Prof Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh enlightened the audience about the importance of MOOCs and the initiatives by MHRD (GOI) in this direction. He mentioned that this area of learning has huge potential. MOOCs have reached remote places, deprived ones, marginalized and people from diverse financial status. He motivated the participants and said that we need to come out in a mission mode to develop MOOCs. Prof.Manpreet Manna, Former Director, AICTE, MHRD, GOI shared with participants the journey and challenges of implementing SWAYAM platform initiatives in India. He mentioned that SWAYAM is the only structured academic e-learning platform in the world which is free of cost. Learners can find lectures on biotechnology to modern mysticism on MOOCs. He elaborated on the meaning of blended learning, flipped learning and pedagogy of MOOCs. In the first academic session, Dr. Tajinderpal Singh from UBS,PU, discussed about the introduction and various technical aspects involved in the designing and submission of the MOOCs proposal to competent authorities.The four quadrant approach(e-tutorial, e-content, discussion platform and assessment) in the development of the MOOCs was also discussed. Dr. Vishal Sharma, PU Coordinator SWAYAM highlighted the importance of MOOCs in the higher education sector for taking knowledge to diverse learners in our country and across the globe. Prof. Jatinder Grover, Coordinator,Centre for Academic Leadership and Educational Management (CALEM ), PU,addressed the participants and introduced the theme of the 7 days’ workshop on developing MOOCs and shared that the MOOCs are supplementto the formal learning, distance learning and for lifelong learning. He also shared that there are only four CALEMcentres in India. PU is one of the University having this Centre approved by Govt. of India. He also highlighted that till date CALEM has organised 5 workshops of seven days and five workshops for 2 days for Faculty development.