A thoughtful integration of online and face-to-face
environments helps students to integrate their classroom teaching skills in the blended-learning approach that helps in connecting with expertise from around anywhere across the world.
Theivanai Ammal College for Women, Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, has
always been on the forefront of pioneering innovation on the blended learning
front, and I was not quite surprised when I got a call from their Head of the Department
if I could do a video confy for their UG/PG Literature Students. I promptly
agreed, and the date and time was also arranged, well in advance. On Monday, 11
September 2017, the D-day, a trial video confy was taken at around 1.15 pm and
at sharp 1.30 pm the conference started.
Hundreds of students had assembled in their auditorium
at Villupuram, (160 kms from Chennai) an auditorium known for its acoustic
design. Here I was in Chennai, on a skype call with the students and staff,
coordinated by a wonderful professor from their side. The lecture went on for 1
hr and 30 minutes, followed by a time of discussion.
Indeed, video conferencing is a giant leap in the era
of blended learning, when convergence seems to be the order of the day.
Kudos to the techno-savvy team at the Department of
English, TACW! Way to go!
Well, the highly resourceful blended learning is - at last! - here
to stay!
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