Status Effectiveness and Challenges of New Media in Indian Open Universities withSpecial Reference to Video Lectures

Abstract

New Media technologiesembraces themost modern pedagogical tools used for Open and Distance Learning across the world as it possesses the capacity to provide education using a multisensory approach which yields in improved learning and better understanding. Video lectures are among one of the new media-based material extensively used in the Open and Distance learning system. The objective of the present study was to find out the status, effectiveness and challenges of New Media in Indian Open Universities with special reference to video lecturesfor which the Sequential Explanatory design was used among many of the mixed method research designs. For the present study, the current status of use of new media based digital tools were investigated for which a purposive sampling was used on 14 Indian open universities which were listed in DEB/ UGC website. For subsequent objectives data were collected from 600 students, 60 teachers, 7 Information Technology Experts and 11 video producers and video experts selected using purposive sampling from the three universities IGNOU, VMOU and UOU. Multiple tools were used for collection of data including Questionnaire, Rating scale and Interview. The data collection also included focus group discussions with experts. The result revealed that the effective use of new media-based technologies at Indian Open Universities in general and at State Open Universities in particular is still in preliminary stage and are not being used as required. The major reason behind it is lack of financial and human resources at State Open Universities as compared to IGNOU. Further stakeholders also reported thatin Indian circumstances video lectures of moderate duration (15-20 Minutes) displaying presenter and the PowerPoint presentation of the content together format integrated with animations and graphics delivered through any web-based platformare more effective than that of video lectures of shorter or longer durations in some different format or without animations and graphics. In addition, the