Web Based Learning in Pedagogical Platforms

INTRODUCTION

When it comes to education we always think, speak and stand for quality education; Total Quality Management (TQM) in all aspects of teaching and learning. The question of the day is not just how we learn but, how we can learn a bit more effectively and efficiently and when it comes to the answers, the buzz words come from Information and Communication Technology (ICT) practices. The effectiveness or ineffectiveness of teaching is closely linked to the teacher who sets the stage. Competent teachers would also create conditions and climates, which are conducive for students. The paper recites on web based practices that can be embedded to the pedagogical practices by teachers, for enhancing learner.

Computer Enabled Learning (CEL) refers to use of personal computers for teaching and learning as it offers an interactive medium that allows storage and retrieval of learning materials. Whereas Web Based Learning (WBL) provides integrated environment of various technologies via the internet to support diverse needs of the learners. Some of these prominent forms of teaching and learning media that fall under this head are discussed below.

► Electronic resources: are majorly documents in electronic format; modern libraries provide access to materials in electronic form like e-books, e-journals and database. ► Searching the web: can be done in three ways by using 1) organised directories – catalogues of websites collected and organised by human index and key words 2) search engines – these tools provide a database of web pages 3) meta-search engines – these are search engines of search engines and do not maintain own

► Educational web sources: are websites designed by individuals or institutions to provide education related information as well as materials to their stake holders. The materials available may be open to all or may be restricted depending upon the purpose of the website. ► Electronic mail: E-mails were primarily text based but now with the attachment options have become more acceptable for transfer of audio, video and data files. It is asynchronous in nature and is free from the barriers of geography. It is cost effective and time saving and has created a paperless culture. ► Mailing lists: is a many to many communication channel on the internet that works on specialised soft wares‟ and helps to engage in discussions within communities. Server computers maintain a subscriber list and distribution list set by the owner of the list and each subscriber. E-mails received by the address of the list are normally distributed to the subscribers of the list. ► Internet Relay Chat (IRC): is normally a synchronous, multi person, text based communication that is independent of the WWW, but it can also be launched from a web page. The software operates from a central server and keeps track of people in contact with each other and also displays who all are online. Now there are provisions for text chat, voice chat and video chat, this can be done on a one to one or conference mode. ► Asynchronous Discussion Forums: provide a limited and structured online environment with provision for exchange of ideas or for discussion. One of the specialities of this application is that it allows for comments to be posted and viewed on convenience; there is no need to be simultaneously connected. This type of communication allows enough time for reflection and allows in-depth more constructive dialogue. ► Synchronous conferencing: are communication techniques that allow users to interact face to face (f2f) at no cost, crossing all barriers of time and distance. These synchronous [real time] communication techniques make the world think of redefining f2f communication. pages in an automated manner through a single subscription of RSS readers; it avoids time to time visit to various web pages. RSS Feeds subscribed from various channels from various sources can be read using RSS Readers like Google Reader. ► Blogs: these are normally personal diary or log written on the web. Dated entries are displayed in reverse chronological order so that the recent entries get posted first. Blogs are connected to each other and are known as blogosphere. RSS feeds are made use of for aggregating the blogs and getting their summary. ► Podcasts: are blogs that play digital audio files. Technically speaking they are MP3 or MP4 files delivered automatically through RSS feeds. The action of creating and distributing podcasts is termed as podcasting. ► Vodcasts: or Vlogs are blogs in digitalized audio-video forms such as videos, photos and slide shows that are uploaded and shared with help of certain websites like YouTube. The act of producing and sharing Vlogs is called Vlogging. ► Micro-blogging: is a miniature blogging in terms of size or content of the blog; it is a multimedia blogging that allows users to instantly post brief text updates or micro-media such as photos or audio clips and publish them by way of text messaging, instant messaging, email, digital audio or web. It can be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group chosen by the user. ► Social Networking: refers to networked tools that allow people to meet, interact and share ideas, artifacts and interest with each other. ► Social Bookmarking: is a specialised web based services for identifying, organizing, storing, finding, classifying and sharing web resources among browsers, work places and people. These services can be accessed anywhere in the world with the help of an internet account. ► Webcasting: is publishing of „live‟ or „recorded‟ web-content with the aid of internet; the same may also be download after the webcast. The Web 2.0 technology and development of broadband services allows internet users in different parts of the world, to gather information on real

► Wiki: is an applied Web 2.0 technology. Wikis are open, dynamic and free websites that allows users to collaborate, share, generate, review, revise, update, use and search information. It also provides for association of topics with hyperlinks. ► Web Surveys and Quizzes: Web surveys are majorly used to get feedback from the learners about the teaching-learning activities and their satisfaction, whereas Quizzes are randomly generated and presented questions of various types that help students to have drill and practice; and at the same time provide for self-assessment and gain knowledge of their achievement.

The paper focused on locating and presenting information that would be of use for pedagogical intervention in f2f as well as in Distance mode of education. Adequate access to a broadband internet service, basic knowledge of ICT skills and a bit of manipulating skills can help anyone become successful in their walk of life. As we know a system can function well if and only if all the sub-systems perform equally well in congruence with each other; and in the field of education -- students, teachers, administrators, policy makers... all needs to be groomed well in web based practices for realising a better educated world. We have to instill in our teachers and learners the courage to ponder on web based skills and encourage them to come out of their inhibitions and start working on their own in a web based learning environment.

1. Sindhu, G., Dominic Priya & Netto S. G. (2012). Recent Advances in digital information communication technology. (pp.159-161)Faridabad, Haryana 2. Mishra, S. Ed. (2009). E-Learning, New Delhi: IGNOU (STRIDE Handbook 8) 3. Naidu, S. (2008). Enabling time, pace and place independence. In J. M. Spector, M. D. Merril, J. J. G. van Merrienboer, & M. P. Driscoll (Eds.), Handbook of research on educational communications and technology (3rd ed.). (pp. 259-268). New York: Erlbaum. 4. Bates, T. (2001). National strategies for e-learning in post-secondary education and training. Paris: UNESCO, IIEP.

Deputy Librarian, Lingaya‟s University, Faridabad