Ludhiana, April 22
With the launch of several graduate as well as postgraduate courses in computer technology and management through its “virtual campus”, the Punjab Technical University has become the first university in the state to introduce online courses.
Offering online access to the coursework, interaction with the faculty through chat, discussion forum and e-mail, interactive CDs for the entire course and online library access to a host of online journals and e-books for its courses in MBA, MCA, MSc (computer science), MSc (IT), BBA, BSc (computer science), BSc (IT), Masters’ Diploma in International Trade, Master’s Diploma in Computer Application, the PTU has declared July 1 as the date for commencement of its online session.
Giving this information, Dr H.S. Gurm, Vice-Chancellor of the university, told in a telephonic conversation that the classes would be operative through the site, www.ptuonline.com. He said the work designed for the course would be highly interactive containing animations, voice over text, demonstrations, case studies, online help, notepad, glossary, bookmark, audio and visuals, online tests and quizzes.
To further add to its attraction, a host of collaborative tools have been added, said Dr Gurm. He said an electronic white board simulating the conventional blackboard would be used by the teachers for instruction purposes to the students who would view it in real time. He said through file sharing technique, the students would be able to share their documents with batchmates while they work on similar assignments or projects. Through newsletters, circulars and reminders, the university authorities would inform the students about important announcements, news updates and tasks to be sent on a particular day, he said.
Dr Gurm said he was getting good response from the offer. He said several online and telephonic queries were being made by those interested in joining the courses and added that e-mails were also being received from professionals settled abroad.
Fee for most of the courses is in the range of Rs 4,900 to 6,900 per semester and the students would be spending an additional amount on using the Internet daily for attending classes, taking tests and submitting assignments, the courses may not be affordable even by those from the middle class families. Agreeing to this, Dr Gurm said the issue was much in talk and even some ministers called him up after knowing about the charges.
Besides, the Vice-Chancellor also mentioned that even though online tests would be conducted by the university regularly, final assessment would be made on the basis of an offline written examination at the end of semester carrying 80 per cent weightage and 20 per cent weightage would be given for assignments and projects. He said the “virtual campus” was accredited by the International University Accrediting Association, and Virtual University Accrediting Association and nomenclature of all courses was as per the UGC norms.
