EDUCATION VIA INTERNET

INTERNET

• Internet is a huge collection of computer networks that can be communicated with each other.
• This word is coined from the word ‘interconnection’ and ‘network’.
• Through this, each computer user can communicate and share common resources with other users.

WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW)

• WWW is a vast collection of documents stored on internet computers.
• It was invented by Tim-Burner-Lee.
• It provides easy access to information.
• It is a system of media rich documents spread across the internet, linked with each other through related topics.
• WWW documents contain texts, pictures, sound, video, etc.

Web Sever    : It is a programme and a computer clubbed into one entity which responds to the requests from web   browsers for internet resources.Eg:- Yahoo, Google.

Web Browser : It is a programme that allows a user to display and interact with a ‘hyper text’ documents.Eg:- Internet explorer, Net Scape navigator.

Home Page   : Home page is the first hypertext document to be shown when a user follows a link to the web server.

Search engines: Special tool to search for information on the net.Eg:- AltaVista, Yahoo, Google.

Website           : A collection of related pages on particular information.

Web Page       : It is a file of information stored on a web server.

INTERNET EDUCATION (USES)

• Internet education provides the following.
• Distribution of information.
• Dissemination of information.
• Need based instruction.
• E-mail system.
• Surfing facilities (checking out the sites on the web).
• E-commerce (Buying and selling over the net).

Thus,   Internet education,

• Increases the efficiency,
• Effectiveness and
• Competitiveness.

INTERNET AS MASS MEDIA

• Internet (International Network) is a means of communication for the masses.
• It follows all the elements of mass media.
• The size of the audience of internet is enormous like any other mass media.
• It is focused on the public people and their needs and interest.
• It helps the industrial world by providing information regarding market conditions.
• It also provides matrimonial pages and services.
• It communicates the latest development in different fields.
• In short, it provides information to various age groups, educational groups and economic groups.

      The content of the material downloaded from the internet may be of three types.

1 .Entertainment; like music, movie, etc.

2. Information ; on art, science, trade, etc.

3. Orientation  ; to public events, issues, etc.

E-mail studies

• E-mail implies electronic mail.
• User must have a personal address (e-mail account).
• There are various sites free of cost.

E.g.:- Yahoo.com, hotmail.com

How to have an e-mail account in Yahoo.com?

• Open the browser.
• Go to the site by typing on the location.
• Click on e-mail link.
• Click on ‘sign-up here’ button.
• An acceptance form will be displayed; go through it and click on ‘I accept’ button.
• If you accept, an entry form will be displayed.
• Enter all information.
• After filling up all the information, click on ‘submit this form’ button.
• If everything is correct, ‘Yahoo will welcome and congratulate you.

How to handle incoming e-mails?

• Open the browser
• Go to the site.
• Click on e-mail button.
• Enter your e-mail address and password.
• Click on ‘sign in’ or press ‘enter’ button.
• Various buttons like compose, send, forward, reply will be displayed.
• To see the e-mail, click on ‘inbox’.
• Mail can be read by double clicking on that mail.
• If you want to send an e-mail, click on compose button; enter ‘To address’.
• Write the matter and click on ‘send’ button.
• If you want to reply, click on reply button; write the matter and click on ‘send’ button.
• If you want to forward the e-mail to someone, click on forward button; write ‘to address’, and click on ‘send’ button.

DISTANCE EDUCATION VIA INTERNET

• In August 1997, Department of Computer Science at James Madison University (James Madison University (also known as JMU, Madison, or James Madison) is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University) started a remote master programme with a concentration in information security.
• This programme paved the way for distance education via internet.
• Programmes are almost ‘Lecture less’.
• Instructor meets the students only twice.
• Just for introducing the course and For wrap up of the course and examination.
• The remaining sessions are via internet with heavy emphasis on the use of e-mail.
• Students access all the information through a website which contains the course description and the activities that the students need to perform.
• Students can communicate with the instructor via telephone, fax or by any other means to clarify their doubts.

On Line Teaching.

• The interactive web based teaching is known as on line teaching.
• The materials for online teaching contain teaching, reviewing and testing components and can be delivered through website or from a central location.
• This approach requires a modem, standard communication software and online information service account with an internet service provider.

Benefits of Online Teaching.

• Reduces learning time.
• Reduces cost.
• Provides instructional consistency (not forgetting key points).
• Provides privacy.
• It ensures mastery of learning.
• Increases retention power.
• Increases motivation.
• Increases the safety.
• Increases accessibility.

INTERACTIVE DISTANCE LEARNING OVER THE INTRNET

• Interactive distance learning provides learning through interaction from a remote distance.
• Initially, the students attend large group instruction together.
• Then disperses into groups of 15 for the small group portion and discussion.
• A Small Group Instructor (SGI) is assigned to each group. He will guide them properly.
• This small group analyses the text and tools themselves and produces new things by interacting with the text; then submits to the SGI.
• SGI reviews and grades the product submitted by a particular group over the internet.
• If satisfied with the terms and conditions, they can move to the next phase.

Steps of interactive Distance Learning

• Analysis of the text and tools.
• Development of course of action.
• Analysis and comparison of course of action by SGI for grading.

 INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA          

 ‘Interactive multimedia is a computer delivered electronic system that allows the user to control, combine, and manipulate different types of media such as text, sound, video, graphics and animations’.
E.g.:- Most of the Games.

The user is required to activate, manipulate and respond to the presentation of instructional material.

The development of an interactive multimedia project involves three phases.

1.      Development of the information design.

2.      Development of interaction design; and

3.      Development of the final presentation design.

• The last product should be reviewed for better results.

Non-Interactive Multimedia.

·                     Multimedia presentation in which audience just watch the show as it proceeds from the beginning to the end in a sequential manner is known as non-interactive multimedia.

Desktop Video Conferencing

• It is a technique which uses computer mediated communication (CMC) to combine distance education and face to face instruction.
• It offers online courses using computer mediated communication (CMC).
• CMC happens in four ways;

1.                  One- alone techniques             (E.g.:-Information from e- books, e- journals).

2.                  One-to-one techniques            (E.g.:-From e-mail)

3.         One-to-many techniques         (E.g.:- Information from bulletin boards)

4.     Many-to-many techniques      (E.:- Interaction with project group through video conferences).

            These techniques facilitate three types of interaction.

1.                  Learner-content interaction.

2.                  Learner-instructor interaction.

3.                  Learner-learner interaction.

            Desktop video conferencing can be used in various on-line courses.

Interactive Technical Documentation

• Technical documentation means the documentation through computers.
• I t is an alternative way to keep huge volume of paper documents.
• It allows to access large amounts of textual and visual data in an associative fashion.
• Interactive technical documentation provides high degree of interactivity by using multimedia system.

POTENTIALITIES OF IT IN EDUCATION

How can we use IT in different Stages/ Levels of Education?

IT for Learning at Home (Before Primary Education)

• Can be used for giving some ideas about basic things in education with the help of elders.
• Intelligent toys can be used to get some elementary ideas about the concept of programming.
• Elders can guide the children to operate touch –sensitive switches on television sets, to press the buttons of a pocket calculator.

IT in Primary Schools

• Children’s computer awareness is slowly increasing as computers arrive in primary schools.
• To get keyboard literacy.
• To practice ‘mouse movements’.
• To provide practice in problem solving techniques by giving logic games in computers.
• For learning languages. (Especially in language laboratory).
• Computer assisted learning can be used to create interest in learning.
• Various types of discs can be used to create interests.

IT in Secondary Schools

• Hardware and software training can be started.
• For the preparation of course materials by using computers (E.g.:-Project and Assignment)
• For improving literature. (E.g.:-Teachers can ask them to write a critique after seeing a cartoon).
• For more advanced learning of languages.
• Simulation through computers can be used for demonstrating experiments.
• To provide interactive learning through multimedia and internet.
• Opportunity for Online teaching (E.g.:-through EDUSAT)
• Can be used for computer assisted learning projects.
• Can be used for evaluation (Both for self and general evaluation).

IT in Teacher Training

• Can be used for pre-service training for attaining better quality. (E.g.: to show model lessons).
• For in-service training (E.g.:-Training on revised curriculum and evaluation system).
• For orientation and refresher courses.
• Awareness on computer application for guiding students in proper channels.
• Can be used for evaluating the performances of trainees.
• Can be used for training to select programmes for educational purposes.

            # Training for the selection and preparation of educational programmes can be at ‘3’ level.

§  Awareness level(3 or 4 days)

§  Expertisation level(one month)

§  Advanced level(3 month)

IT in Higher Education

• Can be used for collecting learning materials.
• For using online computer library centers.
• Can access to the students of other universities.
• Can be used for accessing to the experts in various fields.
• Computer based simulation can be used in technical and engineering fields.
• Can be used for cataloging in libraries.
• Computer assisted learning materials can be used.
• Internet service can be used for getting information from e-books, e-journals, etc.
• For self evaluation.

IT in Vocational and Continuing Education

• Computer based simulation can be used for making the training more effective. (Eg;-Simulatin in pilot training).
• Online teaching opportunities (E.g.:-Through EDUSAT)
• To interact with the experts in the various fields.
• For sharing and accessing the ideas with other students.
• Telecourses can be offered in the field of continuing education.

IT for Informal Learning for Adults

• For providing awareness about health and medicines. (E.g.:-through multimedia presentation)
• For providing awareness about sanitation.
• For effective use of leisure time
• Can be used for news services.                                                                                                           
• Can be given awareness on the use of e-mail system.
• Can be given awareness in e- commerce.

Computers for Storing Information and To Gather Stored Information

• For keeping records.
• For keeping cumulative records of students.
• For keeping attendance and assessment.
• For producing individual letters to parents.
• For making students’ lists.
• For preparing progress report.

Computers for Testing and Monitoring

• Question banks can be stored and prepared.
• For constructing tests (For random checking )
• For the selection of questions (for classifying items).
• For preparing blue print of question papers.
• Can be used for printing the test items.
• Can be used to select questions from question banks according to content, marks, objectives, etc.
• For ‘adaptive testing’. (i.e., Depth of questions will be increased according to the depth of students).
• For tabulation.
• For obtaining statistical parameters such as mean, S.D., etc.
• Can be used in item analysis of question paper.

Economics of use of IT in Education

• More economical.
• Needs only initial investment.
• Information can be stored.
• Reproduction is very easy.
• Less risk.
• Saves energy and time.
• More perfection.
• Printing of documents is very accurate and easy.
• The problem of unavailability of materials can be solved. (e.g.:- a topic in a foreign book).

ICT IN CLASSROOM

I.                   Constructivism and ICT

• ICT helps to develop constructivism among learners.
• Learning is project based in constructivism, there comes the importance of ICT.
• Learners make/construct knowledge through ICT.
• Learner centered and learner controlled learning.
• It does not provide linear logic.
• It provides intrinsic motivation.
• It provides richness and variety to students’ work.
• It encourages co-operative learning and collaborative learning.
• It satisfies/reduces their anxiety.
• Learner’s autonomy and confidence increases as they rely less on their teacher for knowledge creation.
• They can gather more real-world data.
• It provides up-to-date information.
• In short, ICT helps the teachers and students to follow the constructivist ideas and in the classroom.

II   Higher order Thinking and ICT

• ICT provides project based training; thus it helps for creativity.
• It helps to take his own decision as he controls his learning materials.
• Learner searches, prepares and presents the information and therefore expertise in the subject.
• It provides not only ‘minds on training’ (learning) but also ‘hands on training’ (practice and usage).
• It helps to think in different ways.
• Their role broadens /changes from investigators of other products to designers, authors and publishers as they share their findings to the world.
• Internet content is less structured and manageable than outlined in a text book. Therefore they will have to question, evaluate and arrange the information they found. It requires higher order thinking.
• Raw data provided by internet requires a proper arrangement for meaningful presentation. It also requires higher order thinking.
• Eg:-Pictures from space, Numbers from census.                                                                                 

III. ICT for Equal Opportunities

• ICT provides greater assistance to traditionally undeserved population.(Physical or developmental disabilities).
• It can ease the problem of social isolation as they can work with computers without anyone’s help.
• Light weight computers are also helpful.
• It increases academic motivation and lessens anxiety as they can progress at their own speed.
• Distance education using ICT is to achieve education for all.
• It creates inequality among girls and boys as most of the internet materials are meant for boys.
• Teacher should be very conscious to bridge such a gap.

IV. ICT for Pedagogy

• ICT makes teacher centered instruction into a learner-centered instruction.
• Teachers and learners are co-partners in teaching –learning process.
• Teachers and learners are co-constructors of knowledge through ICT.
• It changes the learning process into ‘learning by doing’.
• Teachers can provide students with self paced, self directed and problem based learning experiences.
• It provides curriculum guides for teachers.
• It provides various forms of lesson plans and teaching strategies for teachers.
• In short, role of the teacher has changed from a disseminator of information to a learning facilitator.

V.  ICT for Assessment

• It provides rapid feedback.
• Assessment is linked to the learning.
• It can assess higher order thinking and learning through simulation as he has to make his own decision at different stage.

VI. ICT in Administration

• It reduces costs of administration significantly.
• It can be used for keeping all types of records.
• Speedy functioning.
• For more perfection.
• Can be used in school management and information system.
• To know accountability of staff in terms of students’ achievements, complaint about teachers through continuous assessment of their work.
• It saves time and energy.
• For preparing time tables.
• To avoid errors in administration.
• It helps to provide guidelines for educational institutions.

VII . ICT and simulation and Game

• It enables the learners to experiment with situation which would otherwise be too expensive, too time-consuming.
• Simulation in pilot training and nuclear explosion.
• It promotes discovery learning.
• Games for small children for keyboard literacy and mouse handling.
• It helps to improve speed and quality of learning performance.
• It stimulates motivation and curiosity.
• It enhances learning through visualisation, prediction,etc.
• It enables students to experience success and a sense of achievement.

Don’ts with ICT (Practical Advice for Using ICT)

            According to National Council for Educational technology, (NCET) there are 7 don’ts.

• Don’t assign pupils to computers before preparing them for the task they will be doing.
• Don’t give a task which is irrelevant to school curriculum or home needs, etc.
• Don’t let the students to do anything while giving introduction to the lesson.
• Don’t expect the print out of their work at the end of every lesson.
• Don’t end the lesson without having a discussion on what they have achieved.
• Don’t rely on the technology to run the lesson.
• Don’t leave the pupils for working on their task without reminding them of the educational purpose of it.

Role of the Teacher

• Role of the teacher has changed.
• Values of teaching are changed.
• Now, the new role is,
• To help how to search for information.
• To help in editing.
• To help in presentation.
• To give proper feedback.
• to help the learner to analyse the learning materials.
• Giving directions for the effective use of I.T.

Health Issues Related to the Use of IT and Their Remedies

Health Related Issues

• Headache
• Back Pain
• Sight Problem
• Neck Pain, Etc.

Remedies

• Sitting down with good postures.
• Feet should touch the floor.
• Use wrist support for the keyboard and mouse.
• Use a document holder for typing.
• Monitor should be placed at eye level or directly in front of the person.
• Use glare-reducing screens.
• Keep your computer area organized.
• Keep things that you use frequently within your reach.
• Take break and shift your position.
• Phone should be kept in proper place.
• Use a headset to avoid neck strain which telephoning.

Impact on Behavoiural Pattern

• Lack of socialization.
• Lack of social involvement.
• Moral issues.
• Computer crazy.
• May develop selfishness.

I SEMESTER MODEL QUESTION PAPER

B.Ed. DEGREE (SEMESTER PATTERN) EXAMINATION

MODEL QUESTION PAPER

EDU. 103. TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATICS IN EDUCATION

Time: Two Hours Maximum: 50 Marks

Part A

Answer all questions. Each question carries 1 mark.

1. Define communication

2. What you mean by educational informatics ?

3. What you know about ViCTERS?

4. Give two examples for activity aids.

5. Define the concept of multimedia.

6. Expand the acronym HTML and mention its purpose.

7. Give two examples for search engines.

8. Define e‐leaning.

(8 X 1 = 8 marks)

Part B

Answer  all questions.Each question carries 2 marks.

9. What is mean by communication cycle ?

10. Write any four merits of multisensory approach.

11. Differentiate CAI and CMI.

12. Write a short note on e-content authoring.

13. What is blog? How it is useful in learning?

14. Distinguish hardware and software approach.

15. Explain the terms, home page, bookmarking, web browser and web page.

16. What are the functions of EDUSAT?

(8 X 2 = 16 marks)

Part C

Answer any four questions. Each question carries 4 marks.

17. What  are the barriers of communication?

18. Explain the scope of technology in classroom teaching.

19. Explain briefly about computer networks.

20. How will you create power point presentation?

21. What are the merits of e-mail? How will you create an e‐mail ID?

22. Explain the role of teacher in computer mediated learning

(4 X 4 = 16 marks)

Part D

Answer any one question. The question carries 10 marks.

23. Traditional learning process are replaced by e-learning  today – substantiate your views

24. Briefly explain the major strategies for technology enabled teaching and leaning

(1 X 10 = 10 marks)

MODULE V: MEADIA SKILLS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

Computer graphics

            Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware.

Typically, the term computer graphics refers to several different things:

• The representation and manipulation of image data by a computer
• The various technologies used to create and manipulate images
• The sub-field of computer science which studies methods for digitally synthesizing and manipulating visual content.
• Developments in computer graphics have had a profound impact on many types of media and have revolutionized animation, movies and the video game industry.
• Computer generated imagery can be categorized into several different types: 2D, 3D, and animated graphics.
• As technology has improved, 3D computer graphics have become more common, but 2D computer graphics are still widely used.

Computer graphics may be used in the following areas:

• Computational biology
• Computational physics
• Computer-aided design
• Computer simulation
• Digital art
• Education
• Graphic design
• Information visualization
• Scientific visualization
• Video Games
• Virtual reality
• Web design

computer graphics software

• GIMP
• Corel Draw
• Photoshop

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is an image retouching and editing tool and free and open-source software. There are versions tailored for most operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

GIMP has tools used for image retouching and editing, free-form drawing, resizing, cropping, converting between different image formats, and more specialized tasks. Animated images such as GIF and MPEG files can be created using an animation plugin.

The developers and maintainers of GIMP strive to be a high-end free software graphics application for the editing and creation of original images, photos, icons, graphical elements of web pages and art for user interface elements.

Teachers can make use of the Gimp in three main areas: (Educational Use of GIMP)

1) A free and relatively easy to use tool to edit images that you may use when building presentations, handouts, worksheets, tests, web content, or any other digital or print media. Since it runs on all platforms and is free, you can use it at home as well as at school.

2) A free tool that will work on any platform (windows,  Mac OS, Linux) including older machines that you can use to teach students concepts of digital photography, image editing, or as a tool for students to edit images used in their own reports and presentations.

3) A tool for scientific analysis of digital images taken for scientific purposes. It is possible to strip out certain color bands, adjust brightness and contrast, take measurements, and form conclusions based upon image data.

OpenOffice Impress

•          OpenOffice Impress, a part of the Apache OpenOffice office suite and developed by Sun Microsystems (headquarters in Santa Clara, California), is an open source presentation program similar to Microsoft PowerPoint.

•          Impress is a truly outstanding tool for creating effective multimedia presentations.

•          It is able to view, edit and save files in several file formats, including the .ppt format, which is used by Microsoft PowerPoint

Audacity (audio editor)

·         Audacity is a free digital audio editor and recording application, available for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and other operating systems. The free and open nature of Audacity has allowed it to become very popular in education, encouraging its developers to make the user interface easier for students and teachers 

Audacity's features include the following:

·         Importing and exporting of WAV, AIFF, MP3

·         Recording and playing back sounds

·         Editing via Cut, Copy and Paste (with unlimited levels of Undo)

·         Multitrack mixing.

·         A large array of digital effects and plug-ins

·         Precise adjustments to the audio's speed while maintaining pitch (Audacity calls it changing tempo), in order to synchronize it with video or run for a predetermined length of time

·         Changes to the audio's pitch without changing the speed

·         Conversion of cassette tapes or records into digital tracks by automatically splitting the audio source into multiple tracks based on silences in the source material

·         Support for multiple platforms — Audacity works on Windows, Mac OS X, and Unix-like systems

·         The latest stable version supports Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista/7, but Windows 95 and NT are not supported.

Kdenlive (KDE Non-Linear Video Editor)

·         Kdenlive is a powerful multi-track video editor, including most recent video technologies.

·         Software is completely free, as defined by the GNU foundation.

·         Kdenlive is an acronym for KDE Non-Linear Video Editor

·         Can include audio and video effects to video production.

·         Audio effects include normalization, phase and pitch shifting, limiting, volume adjustment, reverb and equalization filters amongst others.

·         Video effects include options for masking, blue-screen, distortions, rotations, colour tools, blurring, obscuring and others. 

Animation

·         Animation is the process of creating the impression of a motion picture by continuous and speedy exhibition of two or three dimensional pictures using special animation software.

·         Animation – Two types:

   o        2D Animation

   o        3D Animation

Animation Software

·         2D Animation Software

   o        Tupi

   o        KToon

   o        Synfig Studio

   o        Pencil

·         3D Animation Software

   o        3d Max Studio

   o        Maya

   o        Blender

Storyboards

Storyboards are graphic organizers in the form of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualizing a motion picture, animation, motion graphic or interactive media sequence.

Tupi 2D Magic

·         Tupi is a design and authoring tool for digital artists interested in 2D Animation, offering an interface experience focused on 8-100 years old kids.

Tupi - Features

·         Modular and friendly interface

·         Preview animation module

·         Basic tools for vectorial illustration.

·         Time line and Exposure sheet.

·         Animation export option for many video formats (OGV, AVI, MPEG, SWF).

e-content

·         e-content (Electronic-content) is Digital content that can be transmitted over a computer network such as the Internet.

·         The e-content could be in the following type:

   o        Short course / unit / module

   o        Full courseware
e-content - Authoring
·         E-content authoring means Development of digital content using special authoring tools.

·         Authoring tool is a software package which developers use to create digital content.

o        Eg: Graphic design software, Video editing software, Animation software, Programming Language etc.

Special features of e-Content Material

• Technologically Friendly so as to be downloaded and used on any computer either independently or in a LAN situation.
• Learner Friendly for easy navigation.
• Learner Centric to be useful in self-instructional mode.
• Teacher Friendly so as to be used in various teaching-learning methods such as classroom lectures, tutoring to a group, lab session etc.
• Self-evaluation: It should include formative as well as summative evaluation.

E-content - Significance

• E-content is valuable to the pupil and also helpful to teachers of all individual instruction systems.
• The ultimate aim of the E- content is abolish the disparity among the learners through effective education.
•  It is enhancing the learner knowledge level which leads to creative thinking.

Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC)

• The Consortium for Educational Communication popularly known as CEC is one of the Inter University Centres set up by the University Grants Commission of India.
• It has been established with the goal of addressing the needs of Higher Education through the use of powerful medium of Television along with the appropriate use of emerging Information Communication Technology (ICT).
• Realizing the potential and power of television to act as means of Educational Knowledge dissemination, UGC started the Countrywide Classroom Programmes in the year 1984.
• For production of such programmes Media Centres were set up at 6 Universities.
• CEC emerged in 1993 as a nodal agency to coordinate, guide & facilitate such Educational production at the National level.
• Today 22 Media Centres (Educational Multimedia Research Centres )are working towards achieving this goal under the umbrella of CEC.

Educational Multimedia Research Centres (EMMRC)

• The UGC set up Media Centres in various universities and institutions in the country with the objectives to produce educational programmes for electronic media.
• The Centres are engaged in production of Video & Multimedia based programmes.
• CEC has perhaps the largest repository of Educational Video programmes being produced by its Media Centres, numbering more than 17,000.
• At present about 1000 Video based programmes and almost same number of e-Contents based on UGC model curriculum are being produced annually by the Media Centres.
• These programmes are telecast on VYAS Higher Education Channel.
•  CEC in its media center circuit is having 22 centres across the country known as EMMRC

EMMRC in India

EDUSAT (Educational Satellite) & VICTERS

•  EDUSAT is the first artificial satellite developed for educational needs.
•  It has been become operational by 2005.
•  Its weight is 1950kg .It is manufactured by satellite centre of ISRO, Bangalore and launched using GSLV from Sreeharikkotta on 20th September 2005. It has a projected life of 10 years. Estimated expenditure for this project is 90 crores.
• It can cover the whole geographical area of India.
•  It has many possibilities like Radio and T.V Transmission, Online Education, Video Conferencing etc.,
•  It is a powerful communication tool for emulating virtual class room in an effective manner.
•  It provides in-service training for existing teachers.

EDUSAT & KERALA

• EDUSAT facilities enabled the students across Kerala to watch lectures delivered live from the       central studio being set up in the state capital.                                                                                                         
• VICTERS (Virtual Class Room Technology of Edusat for Rural Schools) are implemented in       Malappuram and Palakkad districts. (Inaugurated by A.P.J Abdul Kalam).
• The virtual class rooms are established in 50 schools in the remote and backward areas of these  districts through ROT (Receive Only Terminal).
• The facilities are extended to 500 schools in the academic year 2005 – 2006.
• The satellite lectures and training programmes are extremely useful for teachers and students       alike.
• The beneficiaries are the children form remote areas.
• ISRO plans medical education through EDUSAT.

Beneficiaries of Edusat

•  Main beneficiaries are the students from standard I to standard XII.
•  More useful to high school students.
• It provides training for Directorates, Institutions and teachers coming under Public Educational       Department.
•  It helps to provide awareness programmes by various Government Departments.
•  It helps to conduct contact classes by state open school.
•  It provides coaching for entrance examination.
•  It helps to arrange career counseling

Other Important Points on EDUSAT

•  EDUSAT is mainly intended to meet the demand for an interactive satellite - based distance       education system for the country.
• EDUSAT is specially configured for an audio-visual medium, employing a digital interactive class   room and multimedia- multicentric system.
•  ISRO provides space segment for EDUSAT system.
•  Kerala is a model to other states in making technologies a part of our education.
•  With the help of EDUSAT, it is expected that there will be a great leap in the quality education and  training with the help of modern technology to the students and teachers from primary classes to  the college level.
•  It will be implemented under the leadership ‘IT @ School project’ and with the co-operation of ISRO.

       ViCTERS (Virtual ClassroomTechnology on Edusat for Rural Schools)

• India's first broadband network on EDUSAT for schools - inaugurated by H.E. A P J Abdul Kalam  the President of India on 28th July, 2005 in Thiruvananthapuram .
• The scheme which is being executed by IT@School Project of Government of Kerala, is mainly       intended to meet the demand for an Interactive Satellite based Distance Education system for the   country.
•  It strongly reflects India's commitment to use space technology for national development,       especially for the development of the population in remote and rural locations.
•  ViCTERS offers interactive virtual classrooms that enable the school students as well as the       teachers to directly communicate with the subject experts and educationists.
• It also ensures the dissemination of high quality education to the students and teachers from the  original source.

      ViCTERS has two modes of operation –

•  Interactive mode 
•  Interactive mode of ViCTERS is used for video conferencing and other such educational                training purposes.

•  Non interactive mode.
• The non interactive mode of ViCTERS is the complete educational channel, first of its kind in the country, which was officially inaugurated by Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala  Shri. V.S Achuthananthan on 3rd August 2006.
• The channel which is telecast for 17 hours a day from 6 AM to 11 PM