Use of ICT (Informaion & Communication Technology) enabled Tools in teaching-learning process

Use of ICT enabled tools has become an integral part of teaching-learning processes in higher educational institutions. Ananda Chandra College, too, is not lagging behind in this respect. Several Departments and teachers of the College have been imparting lessons by using them for several years now. Needless to say that the ICT enabled mechanisms got substantially streamlined during the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequential lockdown period. Each and every Department of the College beneficially utilized ICT enabled tools for conducting their classes. Platforms like Google Meet, Google Classroom, Zoom, etc. were used potentially to organize and conduct online classes. Besides, continuing assessments, examinations and evaluations were done online. These helped the College in maintaining continuity of the academic session.  There is no exaggeration in admitting that ICT enabled class lectures become much more informative, cognitive and error-free textually.

Computer based laboratory departments like Computer Science, Economics, Geography, Mathematics, Physics and Zoology have been at the forefront in utilizing ICT enabled tools in the College. Besides, the College has a Computer Centre as well as a ‘Browsing Centre’ in the Central Library. These immensely facilitate the students in their pursuit of higher studies. The Central Library provides Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC), online library membership facility and several other academically useful online services and links.

The College feels proud to mention that each and every Department has been provided with a LCD Projector and Laptop/Desktop for their use during class lectures. Teachers combine use of ICT enabled tools along with conventional method of ‘chalk and talk’ as part of teaching-learning processes.

Special mention may be made of “One Day Faculty Development Program on Online Teaching and Learning” held on 14^th May, 2020 which gave in depth insights on various platforms available for online teaching and learning. It may also be noted that the Department of English has its own departmental You Tube channel since 24^th May, 2021 which academically caters to its students online.

Future Vision of the College

Notwithstanding, a lot remains to be achieved in order to apply ICT enabled tools to its ultimate potential. The visions of the College in this respect are:

• to encourage all teaching faculty members to maximize the use of ICT enabled tools;
• extension of mounting facilities of LCD Projectors to every department so as to overcome the hassles of carrying them physically every time and thereby minimize the disinterest among faculty members;
• purchase of few extra projectors and laptops for immediate replacement in case of malfunctioning/damage of existing ones which will help in maintaining continuity of their use;
• gradually upgrading all lecture theatres into Smart Classes; and
• ‘Hands on Training’ on a regular basis to the teaching faculty members which will not only keep them upgraded in digital literacy but will also help them overcome any sort of inhibitions.