Use available technology to digitise higher education: panel

Call for smart classrooms, e-content and teaching materials

A panel of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission (KKC) has suggested that the state government make use of the available technology to digitise higher education, including creation of e-content of teaching material, which can be shared by colleges.

A task group on ‘Educational Technologies for Higher Education in Karnataka’, constituted by the KKC with several well-known technocrats as its members, has also suggested a few cost-effective ways to upgrade and digitise the present facilities in higher education.

The 19-member panel co-chaired by former member of the Space Commission and Director of Indian Institute of Space Technology, B N Suresh, and vice chancellor of Sri Siddartha Academy of Higher Education, Tumakuru, P Balakrishna Shetty, recently submitted its report to the state government.

“We have the resources for digitalisation of higher education. The panel has provided a roadmap on making use of the available technologies and satellite-based technologies to improve the existing higher educational system in the state,” KKC member secretary Mukund Rao said.

A series of workshops and discussions were held in the past one year before arriving at the recommendations, Rao said. The task group has suggested that every classroom in higher educational institutions in the state should be converted into a smart classroom (the classroom should have uninterrupted power, Internet connection, laptop and projector facilities and audio system) within the next three years.

It has suggested creation of e-content of teaching material by recording and digitising lectures, presentations. The e-content should be hosted on a centralised media server so that it can be shared by colleges as per their needs.

The panel has also suggested that a state quality assurance team be constituted to choose the best e-content. Besides, the state must move away from one-way satellite education to dedicated two-way interactivity. The government must enter into a dialogue with the Indian Satellite Research Organisation to ensure continuous satellite bandwidth for the state’s education and training needs.

The report also states that it is possible to automate all administrative activities related to admissions, examinations and transcripts within the next two years.