Distance learning systems of in India

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system is a system wherein teachers and learners need not necessarily be present either at same place or same time and is flexible in regard to modalities and timing of teaching and learning as also the admission criteria without compromising necessary quality considerations. ODL system of the country consists of Indra Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), State Open Universities (SOUs), Institutions and Universities offering education and includes Correspondence Course Institutes (CCIs) in conventional dual mode universities. This is becoming more and more significant for continuing education, skill updation of in service personnel and for quality education of relevance to learners located at educationally disadvantageous locations. Distance learning began in India to bring education to those who could not afford to attend regular classes in conventional universities or colleges. Distance education is learning through technical media (printed material, audio material, video material, digital material) when there is a separation or distance between the teacher and the learner. Progress in information technology has enabled new educational delivery methods such as distance learning and E-learning. As an outcome of this, many universities and colleges have entered this new e-learning world in a major way. For this reason the need for pedagogical and technical knowledge to teach using the Internet has emerged, and this knowledge is slowly becoming a core competence for many teachers. Distance education takes place when a teacher and student(s) are separated by physical distance, and technology (i.e., voice, video, data, and print), often in concert with face-to-face communication, is used to bridge the instructional gap. Distance learning institutes in India have witnessed a remarkable rise in student enrolment crossing the 10 million mark. While experts in the distance and online education domain agree that this mode is amongst the best to increase the gross enrolment ratio in higher education (30 percent by 2020), it is the quality aspect in offering such courses which is of prime concern. This paper sheds some lights on the importance of distance learning to societies, universities, organizations and to individuals. The paper also discusses some of the important distance learning methods that are being used by educators, trainers and practitioners.