It is a move that could make YouTube stars out of talented teachers. Karnataka’s Department of Technical Education is set to tap the power of livestreaming to take classroom lectures to polytechnic and engineering colleges across the State.
The decision has been spurred by the shortage of teaching staff, a problem that has persisted for years. With experienced lecturers appearing on big screens in far-flung institutions, everyone can cover the syllabus.
What is more, at the end of the exercise, the lectures will become a repository on YouTube for everyone to use.
To take the idea forward, the department has set up a studio in Bengaluru for the subject experts.
The first lecture is expected to take place later this month.
In the first phase, the livestreamed classes will be held in 81 government polytechnics and 11 government engineering colleges for 22,600 students. The colleges need to prepare with good Internet connectivity, a computer and an LCD projector.
Can ask questions
H.U. Talwar, director, DTE, said students would also get the opportunity to ask questions. “We will enable two-way communication. Google Hangouts will be used to stream the lectures, after which they will be uploaded to YouTube,” he said. Nearly 45% of lecturer and principal posts in government engineering colleges are vacant. In polytechnic colleges, it is 25% of 714 posts.
“We ask guest faculty to fill in, but we want students to get an opportunity to listen to lectures by experienced faculty members,” Mr. Talwar said.
A good Internet connection is particularly important for rural colleges where staff shortage is acute.
S.T. Bhairappanavar, Principal, Government Polytechnic College in Gajendragad, Gadag district, said he was looking forward to the new method of reaching out to students.
