Methodology

Seven states of Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh at 13 Satellite Interactive Centres (SITs) spread across the country.

IGNOU EduSat Assessment Study is a user-centric study done to assess the efficacy and sustainability of IGNOU’s interactive multimedia learning support system through video-conferencing and web-based platforms by utilising EduSat and the internet facilities. The study aims to explore and probe the entire system of teleconferencing in terms of suitability of timing, dissemination of information to target groups, level of motivation/interest of students to attend the sessions, accessibility and students’ perceptions on the content and presentation. The “Feed In” collated and analysed will be useful in making the teleconferencing system more effective and student friendly.

The quantitative part of the study will include a survey of 2856 face-to-face interviews out of which 2800 will be of students enrolled in EduSat programmes and 56 from staff associated with the EduSat at 13 SIT centers selected for the proposed study. The SIT centers have been selected purposively in consultation with IGNOU personnel. The survey would cover students enrolled in EduSat professional programmes (MBA, MCA, B.Sc. Nursing, etc), Bachelor’s degree courses (Science and Non-Science) and in Diploma/Certificate courses so as to get a representative ‘feed in’ of the entire system. The sampled study centers are purposively selected in consultation with IGNOU.

The qualitative aspect of the study would include the interviews of Regional and Assistant Regional Director in the sampled seven states and the interviews of Gyan Vani Staff stationed at the sample SIT locations. A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) of resource persons from different streams who are involved in telecast of teleconferencing programme of IGNOU would be carried out. The purpose of the qualitative probe and FGD is to incorporate the opinion and ‘feed in’ of all stakeholders of IGNOU’s interactive multimedia learning support system so as to make study a holistic one.

Sanjay Kumar of the CSDS is directing the study. The fieldwork of the study is coordinated by Rakesh Ranjan (Bihar), Kinjal Sampat (Delhi), Mahasweta Jani (Gujarat), B.S. Padmavathi (Karnataka), Ram Shankar (Madhya Pradesh), and Sandhya Goswami (Assam). The team that is designing, coordinating and analyzing the study at CSDS comprise of Pankaj Pushkar, Praveen Rai, Vikas Gautam, Himanshu Bhattacharya and Kanchan Malhotra.