EasyNow: Introduction
CEMCA as part of its mandate to develop, support and popularise easy technological options to all teachers both in formal, non formal and ODL systems, engaged Mr V Krishnamoorthy, a renowned IT expert with more than 5 decades of experience in computers, to give shape to his own idea first formulated at the start of the millenium, the Easy now. CEMCA's efforts helped him to develop, pretest, amend the concept into a workshop module of 'EasyNow', integrating all the procedural requirements of Educationl media deliveries. Any one engaged in knowledge sharing can learn the system by attending a five day orientation course , provided of course he has the basic computer skills like web browsing, office skills, and an interest in multimedia.
The system which was tried in more than 20 institutins across the commonwealth asian region, found acceptabliltiy with all the participants in Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Bangladsh and Malaysia. Universities such as Open university of Malaysia, University of Malaya, Wawasan open university, Open university of Sri Lanka, State Institute of Educational Technology, Government of Andhra Pradesh, India, D Net, an NGO Bangladesh, ANDC colege, University of Delhi, and Individuals like Prof Subbiah Pandian, Professor of Physics, Presidency college, Chennai , India are regular users of this system.
The system integrates various open source software and also includes certain easily available software from systems like Windows and allows the teacher/knowledge provider to just use a mouse click and record his message/lecture and then electronically changes the same into various electronic formats such as video, audio, presentations, interactive multimedia, and also sometimes live interactive participatory sessions without much help from professional media personnel or IT experts. There is no need to buy any new software. Easy now takes into account the users available resources.
The materials developed by various participants in the workshops and later on their own can be accessed through CEMCA's website www.cemca.org. An offshott of this was the development of the four quandrant approach for delivering materials on humanities and social sciences entitled 'Radio enabled Learning'. Developed similar to the National Programme on Technology Enabled Learning' (NPTEL) through which the world famous lessons from the Indian Institutes of Technologies are delivered, the REL is capable of taking such high end technologies to the hitherto neglected areas in Humaities and social scienes. REL has been approved by the National Mission on Education through ICT' by the Government of India. It has the support of over 25 universities and 100 Community radio stations in India.
EasyNow:Components
- Textual deliveries using HyperText Markup Language (.html) Browsing and eBook (.pdf) deliveries
- Audio Recording, Editing,Streaming PODCasting using open source products
- Text to Speech
- Streaming Slide Shows
- Streaming Videos
- Deliveries on PCs/Mobile Phones/Tablets(IPAD)
- ODL formats for Distance Open Education
- Live Audio/Video shows (IRadio/ITV)
EasyNow: Workshop Schedule (Recommended)
In the workshop Written, Verbal, Visual Educational Component deliveries will be covered. The Educational material readily available with participants,
preferably in Softcopy form will be converted into different forms and the multiple media formats will be taught and demo versions will be prepared and loaded on to
http://www.Eduframe.net.
Audio/Video recordings will be carried out by the participants with simple devices. Having done so, majr four types of delivery will be covered in the workshop viz
- Textual deliveries using HyperText Markup Language Browsing and eBook deliveries will be covered
- Audio Recording and Editing products
- Text to Speech
- Streaming Slide Shows
- Streaming Videos
- Trying out deliveries on PCs/Mobile Phones/Tablets(IPAD)
- ODL formats for Distance Open Education
Workshop Schedule at a Glance
EasyNow: Organisor's Responsiblities
Organisers to prepare:
1. List of participants with their Names, Designation, Organisation, Telephone/Mobile Numbers, eMail address. Suggested number of participants around 25 per workshop.
2. Prepare copies of Expectation Form and Evaluation form as per number of Participants
3. Flyers may be prepared as per the sample attached.
Organisers to Provide
1. A broadband INTERNET WI-FI connectivity. All participants in the classroom will access it simultaneously, so it should be at least 256 K Bauds per person
2. All participants should be provided with/their own Multimedia PC or Laptop (with Microphone/head-set) inside the class with Internet connectivity. They should be in a position to face the expert and carry out tasks on their own in practice sessions. IT experts should be there to set the systems to enable the INTERNET access
3. One system connected to a projection system should be made available with internet connectivity for the lecturer.
4. Support for all to upload files to ftp.eduframe.net (without firewall block) should be provided
5. A classroom type of a larger table if possible to conduct Science experiments.
6. Couple of power distribution boards/Tower
7. IT technical support for all the workshop days to overcome problems, if faced with internet and the supports
8. Proper Electrical power/access support for all participants
9. Participants Expectation Form/ Feed Book Form should be replicated and distributed
10. All open source software should be install in all sytems (This can be done on 1 Day)
11. CEMCA to provide requide material and advice
12. Softcopy of all presentation/Lecture Material/Useful software tools may be distributed on Cds
13. Video Recording supports
14. Photography of proceddings
EasyNow: Participant's (Learner's) Responsiblities
Participants should bring the following material
1. All Participants should carry educational/Learning material on any subject of their expertise, in Text form or MS Word or in open office format (Minimum 4 pages with illustrations, figures, proper sections and activity included)
2. Carry flash/pen drives (Virus Free)
3. Please carry the Scripts for Audio recording (based on the Text content used on Day I for the Workshop)
4. Power point presentation for the same
5. The Audio contents should match with the Power point presentation
6. Four Participants Lectures for 10 minutes will be recorded (Be Prepared)
7. Two Participants will carry out Video recordings of Live Classroom
8. All remaining participants talks will be Video recorded for 2 Minutes each
9. All formally prepared material will be uploaded
10. You may carry preferable your own laptop
EasyNow: How the Workshop can be organised?
There are two ways of organising the EasyNow workshops.
- By conducting the workshop in your organisation
- Online through SKYPE Classrooms (Recommended for futher sessions, after one session conducted at your place)
If the Workshop has to be conducted in your organisation premises, you need to provide facilities as indicated in the Organiser's Responsiblity (Click on Organisers)
and also you have to bear the expenses involved as follows:
- Travel to-and-fro to your organisation from Delhi ( By Air )
- Lodging and Boarding arrangements
- Consultant fees
If you wish the Workshop has to be conducted online, you need to have nessary Internet Connectivity and atleast 2 MBPS, line. The expenses involved at the
teaching end can be discussed.
EasyNow: Contact
By eMail: rsreedher@eduframe.net
By Phone: +91-11-26537148
By eMail:vkrishnamoorthy@eduframe.net
