Bridging the education gap by leveraging technology The DNA-Indus Learning 2012 Survey identifies the top distance learning institutes in India that have leveraged methodology, technology, faculty and infrastructure to provide the best experience

Bridging the education gap by leveraging technology

The DNA-Indus Learning 2012 Survey identifies the top distance learning institutes in India that have leveraged methodology, technology, faculty and infrastructure to provide the best experience

You may have read the phrase, ‘keep safe distance’ on many vehicles while driving along the highway. However, when it comes to the information superhighway, the question arises, whether too much distance is advisable or not? The reality is that these days many students try to earn while they learn, so distance education helps them tremendously. Similarly, when it comes to higher education courses like management, nobody likes to lose out on work experience. Therefore, distance education courses in such fields facilitate the process of enhancing skills to a considerable extent, without compromising on work schedules. Each institution has a different way of conducting these courses, but they basically fall into two categories. Synchronous learning technology is a mode of delivery where all participants are ‘present’ at the same time. It resembles traditional classroom teaching methods despite the participants being located remotely. It requires a timetable to be organized. Web conferencing, videoconferencing, educational television, Instructional television are examples of synchronous technology, as are direct-broadcast satellite (DBS), internet radio, live streaming, telephone, and web-based VoIP. The asynchronous learning mode of delivery is where participants access course materials on their own schedule and so is more flexible. Students are not required to be together at the same time. Mail correspondence, which is the oldest form of distance education, is an asynchronous delivery technology and others include message board forums, e-mail, video and audio recordings, print materials, voicemail and fax. The two methods can be combined in the delivery of one course. For example, some courses use periodic sessions of weekend classroom teaching to supplement the remote teaching. Distance education can assist in meeting the demand for education and training demand from the general populace and businesses, especially because it offers the possibility of a flexibility to accommodate the many time-constraints imposed by personal responsibilities and commitments. There are many students that are unable to go to a traditional school setting because they cannot get around easily or a low immune system and get sick from other students. Distance education can help in these cases because the students will not have to leave their home or be around other people. It makes it possible for these students to still learn and to be able to get a good education. The trend of opting for professional courses in addition to the basic graduation is quite visible and here too, distance learning is playing a key role. In addition to study materials in the form of books, students get audio-video CDs, plus access to an on-line system where they are provided a host of web-based facilities. Virtual classrooms enable them to interact with the professors online and even measure their own progress after each topic through real time tests with instant feedback. Distance learning courses enable students to explore the scope for careers in a variety of fields without affecting their basic graduation. However, when it comes to this concept, it is important to compare institutions on relevant parameters and consider the extent to which each one will help your career before making a choice. To simplify the process and provide reliable ratings of leading distance learning institutions, DNA and Indus Learning Solutions Pvt. Ltd. recently conducted a survey. The objective of the research was to rank the Top distance learning institutes of India based on the perception of student, faculties, alumni and HR consultants. The evaluation was done on specific parameters like Course Curriculum, Faculty & Resources, Placement, Library & Infrastructure, Potential to Network and Learning Experience. The preferred distance learning institutes were listed on each parameter, followed by the evaluation of each business school on each parameter. A survey was thereafter conducted for the selected institutes with structured interviews of 300 respondents across the six cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Chandigarh and Bangalore. Convenience sampling was used to ensure that the ratings for all business schools were taken. A weighted average was then calculated across different parameters for selection of the top business schools in India. Target Respondents included students of the age group 18-30 years. These comprised potential students who were willing to get admitted in any distance learning institutes, had passed 12th standard and passed within the last 1 year, those presently studying in any distance learning institutes and alumni students who had passed from any distance learning institutes within the last one year. Faculties who responded had to be a teaching faculty of any distance learning institutes whereas the HR professionals had to be directly involved in campus recruitments. The survey clearly revealed that comparing distance learning institutes on specific parameters would definitely help aspiring students to make the right choice.