| • | | | | development programmes in the next few |
| Abstract | | | | years by incorporating Radio programmes. |
| Media has opened new dimensions in | | | | The impact of community radio is massive |
| learning. Now education is no longer a | | | | and its impact is felt on every section |
| constraint for anyone. Media has brought | | | | of the society. With the passage of time |
| education to the doorstep of each and | | | | everyone has learnt to acknowledge its |
| every individual. All forms of media- | | | | positive impact on individuals. |
| the newspaper, radio, television and the | | | | Effects of Media Boom on distance |
| internet are equally important in | | | | education: |
| imparting education. As the technology | | | | Distance education is often defined as |
| is progressing, the different | | | | "institution-based, formal education |
| educational modules are being channeled | | | | where the learning group is separate, |
| through certain community access centers | | | | and where interactive telecommunications |
| like community radio system, | | | | systems are used to connect learners, |
| televisions, internet, community | | | | resources, and instructors" (Schlosser |
| multi-media centers etc. Media literacy | | | | and Simonson, 2002). |
| or education does not only mean to be | | | | The original distance education by |
| entertained by media but to learn | | | | correspondence has been upgraded by |
| something from it. As a major part of | | | | twenty-first century technology. |
| the learning process is concentrated on | | | | Distance education has vastly benefited |
| children, media plays a significant role | | | | from the media boom with telecasts and |
| to satisfy their intellectual curiosity. | | | | broadcasts limiting the dependence on |
| Children often learn important things | | | | the written word. In the past, distance |
| through the media, which change their | | | | education was primarily delivered |
| perspective to life. Moreover, radio has | | | | through mail and was called |
| now started to enter into the | | | | correspondence courses. The medium of |
| educational sector commonly known as | | | | instruction was mainly through books, |
| Community Radio System, which indirectly | | | | paper documents and other printed |
| forms the part of e-learning process. | | | | materials. Contrary to classroom |
| Computer-based education has transformed | | | | learning, instructions provided by |
| the traditional offerings of distance | | | | professors or teachers were delivered in |
| learning. This medium of education | | | | print to the learners who didn't have |
| converts the traditional static | | | | the opportunity to have interactive |
| resources into interactive and | | | | classes. Queries and notes were |
| interesting online modules for the | | | | interchanged between teachers and |
| learners. The primary motive of the | | | | students and vice versa. But now the |
| Interactive Learning Modules is to | | | | trend is fully replaced by colourful |
| create modular interactive learning | | | | computer-based graphic resources. |
| materials for the development of | | | | Computer-based education has changed the |
| education and to demonstrate their | | | | traditional offerings of correspondence |
| effectiveness in university curricula as | | | | education. This medium of education |
| well as industrial training programs. | | | | converts the traditional static |
| Interactive Learning Modules, which is | | | | resources into interactive and |
| another form of media, serves the | | | | interesting online modules for the |
| purpose of both the technical and | | | | learners. Moreover, online-learning |
| management corporate trainee people | | | | retains most of the characteristics of |
| along with the people with learning | | | | the classical form of distance learning, |
| disabilities. The main aim of this | | | | while offering more sophisticated |
| article is to focus on the positive | | | | learning materials at a much reduced |
| effects of media on learning and how | | | | rate. |
| different forms of media have | | | | At present, the concept of distance |
| contributed to the development of | | | | education with the help of media has |
| mankind. | | | | gained wide popularity. The media boom |
| Media and learning: New dimensions | | | | with telecasts and broadcasts has to a |
| Author: Bipasha Chowdhury | | | | large extent limited the dependence on |
| Introduction: | | | | the written word. Moreover, with the |
| Media is everywhere; it has become a | | | | emergence of the Internet as a global |
| part of our daily life. The media plays | | | | media, the concept of distance learning |
| a dominant role in the learning process. | | | | has been revolutionized. From the age |
| Its impact is vast in shaping the life | | | | old days, distance learning was mainly |
| of an individual. Media has the | | | | provided through correspondence. But the |
| potential to shape personalities, change | | | | introduction of the internet has changed |
| the way we perceive and understand the | | | | the concept of distance learning to a |
| world and our immediate reality. Though | | | | great extent. At present, distance |
| we know that all good things have both | | | | learning programmes are increasingly |
| good and bad effects, likewise, media | | | | being delivered through computer |
| too have some positive and negative | | | | technologies but the traditional media |
| effects. Moreover, we have seen that a | | | | is not totally obsolete as it helps in |
| large number of people depend on the | | | | effective learning. We can define |
| internet to collect information, read | | | | quality online education as a |
| news, listen to music and download | | | | people-oriented, instructor-led |
| movies, play games and also for work. | | | | activity, where the level of |
| Newspaper, Radio, Television and the | | | | communication should be comparable with |
| internet- all form part of the media and | | | | on-campus education. Due to the |
| are important in imparting education. | | | | connectivity of the internet, distance |
| Media offers culture, sports, | | | | education is often called online |
| information, entertainment, current | | | | learning because the Internet-connected |
| affairs and education. Sometimes the | | | | computers bring the teacher and learner |
| impact of media is very high. For | | | | face to face, which substitutes/replaces |
| example, children love to watch the | | | | classroom learning. Moreover, the |
| superheroes and sometimes try to copy | | | | Internet has also facilitated the |
| their actions while playing. On the | | | | students to study online from any |
| other hand, the impact may not be so | | | | location and at any convenient time. |
| vast or immediate. It happens gradually | | | | There are numerous factors which have |
| as children see and hear certain | | | | contributed to the increasing popularity |
| messages repeatedly. Some of the | | | | of the distance education through media. |
| devastating advertisements include: | | | | With the introduction of online learning |
| Fighting and unnecessary quarrel, | | | | in universities, distance learning has |
| cigarettes and alcohol being shown as | | | | gained immense importance. Online |
| the symbol of heroism, style and | | | | learning has assumed the role of an |
| attractive, but not deadly and | | | | important media for imparting distance |
| unhealthy. Moreover, violation of laws | | | | education. It also went to the extent of |
| is shown as a means to gain justice and | | | | providing quality online courses which |
| sexual action with no negative results, | | | | have become almost comparable to the |
| such as disease or unintended pregnancy. | | | | traditional classroom learning. Now |
| In recent years, the impact of media on | | | | students can get access to a broad |
| teaching and learning has increased | | | | spectrum of disciplines from any |
| tremendously. New opportunities are | | | | location. With the mingling of online |
| being provided to give a techno-touch to | | | | learning and distance education, |
| the traditional educational process and | | | | education is no longer a constraint for |
| system. As the society is becoming | | | | any class of the society. |
| media-savvy day by day, the educational | | | | Distance education can also be termed as |
| modules are being channeled through | | | | Interactive Telecommunications system. |
| certain community access centers like | | | | Interactive telecommunications systems |
| community radio system, televisions, | | | | broadly mean that the instructors and |
| internet, community multi-media centers | | | | the learners use a variety of |
| etc. | | | | technological resources while teaching |
| Media and Children: | | | | and learning from a distance. |
| Media Literacy: "the ability to access, | | | | Now-a-days, many universities have come |
| analyze, evaluate and communicate | | | | up with the idea of transferring its |
| information in a variety of formats." | | | | on-campus learning into online learning. |
| -David Considine | | | | Now-a-days, we see an excessive use of |
| The role of media in imparting education | | | | media in education. Media has made its |
| is increasingly on the rise. Media | | | | presence felt everywhere, be it by |
| surrounds us and is present in | | | | television, radio or computers, the most |
| everything. This phenomenon has made | | | | popular medium of imparting education. |
| learning easier and interesting for | | | | Unlike the past, education and |
| children. Television, radio, and | | | | examination is no longer monotonous. |
| computers are gradually entering | | | | With the introduction of media, |
| classrooms and changing the way of | | | | education has assumed a different role. |
| learning. With the onset of new | | | | Now-a-days, we can see that before the |
| technologies and the emerging trends in | | | | board exams or any competitive exams, |
| the global economy, the present day | | | | different medias like television, radio |
| education is changing. Therefore, there | | | | etc. come out with different |
| is a need to educate ourselves with the | | | | education-related programmes to help |
| emerging wave of technology. It is well | | | | students to deal with their study |
| known that by learning to read and | | | | materials. These media channels rope in |
| write, we can be called literate. | | | | different intellectuals, professors and |
| Similarly, in the 21st century, by | | | | teachers of different institutions to |
| gaining knowledge about the different | | | | guide the students with their valuable |
| aspects of media, we can also be called | | | | suggestions and give them necessary |
| media literate, although there are both | | | | moral boost to cope up with their burden |
| positive and negative sides of it. | | | | of studies. |
| Therefore, as we are adopting the good | | | | The most important advantage of online |
| from it, the bad should be avoided. The | | | | distance education is to earn a degree |
| negative messages could be avoided by | | | | from one's home or workplace. In |
| developing the skills of questioning, | | | | traditional distance learning, |
| evaluating and analyzing them. This can | | | | interaction is limited to a certain |
| be called media literacy or media | | | | point and feedback from the other side |
| education. | | | | is often delayed because of slow postal |
| Media literacy or education does not | | | | systems. It has helped a large number of |
| mean to know about media but to learn | | | | people to pursue education, who don't |
| something from it. Moreover, we find the | | | | even have the time to enroll for regular |
| subjects that we learn in our curricula | | | | courses. Moreover, it is usually easier |
| are also found in media. They may be | | | | and less competitive to obtain admission |
| related to arts, science, different | | | | for the online courses. Moreover, in |
| languages, social sciences and health. | | | | case of online distance courses, |
| It also helps to develop critical | | | | learning is more fun and interactive. It |
| thinking skills. The students can get a | | | | is also flexible. It is possible to |
| vast exposure to the pop-cultural | | | | incorporate charts, maps, graphs, moving |
| references. They can get statistics and | | | | images, slides, video clippings and even |
| data from the news, which can be the | | | | audio recordings with the course |
| basis for math and science learning. The | | | | material. It helps to understand the |
| teachers can also incorporate media | | | | entire syllabus without the help of a |
| analysis whenever the Internet, | | | | teacher. The students are able to |
| television or video are used in the | | | | interact with their peers through online |
| classroom. | | | | class projects, e-mails and also with |
| The impact of media is vast on children | | | | the help of online conferencing. This |
| and even on the adults. The intellectual | | | | interaction with the help of media using |
| curiosity of a child is satisfied by | | | | e-mail, conference calls and chat makes |
| media literacy. At present, in order to | | | | learning easier and entertaining. It |
| exist in the competitive market, there | | | | substitutes the face-to-face experiences |
| is always a need to equip oneself with | | | | of traditional learning. The |
| better knowledge and analytical skill. | | | | availability of online libraries with |
| Apart from books, television also helps | | | | their huge collection of books has also |
| to improve the Intelligent Quotient and | | | | made the learning process easier and |
| General Knowledge of every section of | | | | worthwhile. Speaking about the economic |
| the society, particularly the children. | | | | side of online distance learning, it is |
| Media education skills develop the | | | | seen that most of the time, the expense |
| children's thinking and analyzing power, | | | | of a regular course is much higher than |
| which in turn, inspires them to make | | | | the online courses. The media-related |
| queries and think about the media | | | | online distance learning is relatively |
| messages they watch, hear and read. As a | | | | economical than the traditional |
| child tries to critically analyze the | | | | class-room learning. Nevertheless, |
| things he reads, likewise he tries to do | | | | keeping in mind its positive effects on |
| the same with sounds, actions, moving | | | | individuals, these computer-based |
| pictures etc. There are numerous | | | | distance education continues to grow. |
| benefits of media on children. The first | | | | Role of Interactive Learning Module in |
| and foremost effect of media is | | | | Education: |
| definitely the accumulation of General | | | | Interactive Learning module is another |
| knowledge, different dialects and | | | | form of online distance education. The |
| cultures. Television boosts the social | | | | main idea of interactive learning is to |
| awareness of a child to a great extent. | | | | provide educational guide through |
| Sports channels develop the logical | | | | on-line education. In this module, |
| mindset of a child. Cartoon channels | | | | support learning is available on a 24/7 |
| keep the children happy. News channels | | | | clock and delivered from class-room to |
| increase the vocabulary of the children | | | | anywhere and at anytime. The Interactive |
| and inform them about the positive and | | | | Learning module generally engages the |
| negative impacts on the society. It | | | | learner and the teacher in effective |
| increases the concentration and | | | | instructional communication without |
| retention power of a child, which | | | | disturbing the interaction. Interactive |
| benefits their studies to a great | | | | learning modules developed by corporate |
| extent. | | | | media companies are becoming |
| There are also negative effects of media | | | | increasingly popular. Now-a-days, the |
| on children. Children often learn | | | | Interactive Learning Module materials |
| certain things, which change their | | | | are used in management courses, |
| perspective towards life. For example, | | | | undergraduate and graduate engineering |
| if they watch violent scenes on TV, | | | | courses, as well as technical and |
| their nature tends to be the same. There | | | | management corporate training programs. |
| are many incidents where children try to | | | | The prime aim of the Interactive |
| imitate the super heroes and it results | | | | Learning Modules is to create modular |
| in death. Studies often get hampered and | | | | interactive learning materials for the |
| lapse of concentration occurs due to | | | | development of education and to |
| excessive watching of television. The | | | | demonstrate their effectiveness in |
| advertisements shown in the media often | | | | university curricula as well as |
| captures the mood of the individuals. | | | | industrial training programs. Thus, the |
| Generally, girls are very vulnerable and | | | | acquaintance of knowledge is maximized |
| sensitive about their physical image. | | | | through the advent of Interactive |
| When an adolescent girl watches the ads | | | | Learning Module. |
| that show unless we buy a product or | | | | Now-a-days, we have seen that |
| carry the style statement or wash our | | | | interactive learning modules developed |
| hair with a specific shampoo and look | | | | by different corporate media companies |
| smart like a slim model, we don't get | | | | are becoming increasingly popular. |
| respect in the society or get a job. | | | | Witnessing the importance of Internet, |
| These messages attack our self-esteem | | | | innumerable training players are |
| and create a negative impact on a child. | | | | offering their training online. These |
| Two Studies conducted by the South | | | | modules are helpful to provide |
| Australia's Flinders University have | | | | value-added services and equip |
| revealed that "television advertising | | | | professionals to work in a dynamic and |
| featuring idealised thinness negatively | | | | competitive environment. Interactive |
| affected both the mood and the body | | | | design tools help the learners to |
| image of adolescent girls, with those in | | | | explore the activities of product |
| the 13 - 15 year age group being more | | | | development and emphasize on the |
| affected". | | | | integration of design, manufacturing and |
| On the whole, media has made a | | | | marketing concepts. Moreover, |
| tremendous impact on children. Compared | | | | interactive learning provides solutions |
| to the positive impact, the negative | | | | for evaluating and monitoring of the |
| impact is too negligible. The craze of | | | | learner's progress. |
| media is such that no one can escape its | | | | Like most of the media houses, ZEE has |
| vibe-be it the adult or youth. | | | | also come up with the concept of online |
| Effect of Community Radio on Education: | | | | education, which they named as ZEE |
| Radio has now started to enter into the | | | | Interactive Learning Systems (ZILS). |
| education sector with the name of | | | | ZILS generally provides its online |
| Community Radio System. The term | | | | courses through a Learning Management |
| Community Radio signifies radio | | | | System. According to Rajendra Raju, |
| broadcasting with the objective of | | | | executive vice president, corporate |
| serving the community by involving | | | | services of ZEE Interactive Learning |
| members of the community in the | | | | Systems, "this offering not only |
| broadcast of their programmes. It will | | | | facilitates in Synchronous and |
| help the students to hone their public | | | | Asynchronous learning but also provides |
| speaking skills. Though the concept of | | | | Customized Training Solutions based on |
| teaching through radio or television is | | | | individual needs and access to rich |
| quite new, but some media or production | | | | resources and expert support". Apart |
| companies have come forward with such | | | | from ZEE, another company which came |
| kind of proposals. | | | | forward for making faster its training |
| Certain questions may crop up about the | | | | market is Xansa Websity (formerly known |
| validity of the relation between radio | | | | as IIS Websity). It planned to focus on |
| and learning. The readers may also ask | | | | the corporate IT training market through |
| whether the community radio is | | | | its Learning Management System called |
| performing any tasks of e-Learning. If | | | | the 'Quality Learning System' (QLS). |
| learning is universal and 'e' is used | | | | Apart from ZEE and Xansa, Oracle also |
| for 'electronic', then why can't the | | | | thought of introducing an e-learning |
| verbal knowledge spread through | | | | methodology for its existing and future |
| electronic media like community radio as | | | | courses through the Oracle Learning |
| a part of 'e-Learning'? The advantage of | | | | Network (OLN). According to SV Krishna, |
| a community radio is that any listener | | | | head-Asia Pacific division, Oracle OU, |
| within the range of five to ten | | | | "The purpose is to disseminate |
| kilometers can tune in the radio | | | | information anytime, anywhere and help |
| channel. Community radio is helpful | | | | in providing to those who are really in |
| enough for people of the poor and | | | | need of it. On OLN, one is learning from |
| developing countries and even for people | | | | Oracle and with Oracle. The corporates |
| living in rural areas without basic | | | | can choose their specialized module, |
| amenities like electricity, satellite | | | | rather than undertaking the whole |
| television, internet etc. | | | | course. And the whole offering becomes |
| In India, the non-commercial | | | | more customized". |
| organizations were not allowed to run | | | | Interactive Learning Modules are |
| radio stations. The private | | | | designed not only for the technical and |
| organizations with good financial | | | | management corporate trainee people but |
| background like Radio Mirchi, Red FM, | | | | also for the people with learning |
| Big FM, Radio city and educational | | | | disabilities. With the advent of |
| institutions only get broadcasting | | | | technology, physical barriers are no |
| licenses. This distinction is little | | | | longer a constraint for leading a normal |
| reduced with the Cabinet decision. This | | | | life. Technology can abate any learning |
| move has triggered modest celebrations | | | | disabilities. It can also make learning |
| among a number of community radio, NGOs | | | | accessible for the people with |
| and broadcast professionals. A number of | | | | disabilities. Interactive Learning |
| broadcasting organizations have moved | | | | Modules are particularly helpful to |
| forward to introduce community radio in | | | | people with learning disabilities. |
| schools and colleges. With the | | | | With the transformation of a new era, we |
| introduction of this technology, quite a | | | | have seen that the concept of |
| few civil society organizations have | | | | E-learning, supported by the web-based |
| come forward to broadcast their | | | | learning environments. This could help |
| educative radio programming over AIR. | | | | people with learning disabilities or |
| Webel Mediatronics, a profit making | | | | social difficulties to adjust with |
| company, engaged in the development, | | | | normal contemporary life and |
| manufacturing and in the areas of Studio | | | | knowledge-based curricula. Till now, the |
| and Broadcasting Systems, Industrial | | | | society and the media have not thought |
| Electronics, Information Technology | | | | about the impact of computers on the |
| Applications and various systems for the | | | | lives of the disabled in general and the |
| disabled has come up with the idea of | | | | visually-challenged in specific. Special |
| introducing radio in schools. It has | | | | schools were built for their education. |
| already given offers to two | | | | But the federal 'Individuals with |
| schools-Heritage school and GD Birla | | | | Disabilities Education Act' (IDEA) made |
| Center for Education. If the offer is | | | | it mandatory for the schools to educate |
| accepted, Webel feels, the radio system | | | | children with disabilities in general |
| can make teenagers conversant with | | | | classrooms. |
| public speaking. According to Gautam | | | | The Interactive Learning Guide for the |
| Burman, Chief Executive Officer of Webel | | | | disabled, coupled with the application |
| Mediatronics, "Schools feel that | | | | of technology in education provides |
| perfection in public speaking can only | | | | better understanding of theories, their |
| be achieved through practice. The | | | | applications and identification of |
| community radio system will give | | | | alternate solutions for them. This |
| students the opportunity to develop | | | | advanced type of learning for the |
| their communication skills and expand | | | | disabled has helped them to get over |
| their knowledge base". | | | | their weaknesses and start a new life |
| This community radio can also help to | | | | afresh with better knowledge as their |
| organize counseling sessions, prior to | | | | strength. A teacher, principal, |
| any board or entrance examinations. | | | | specialist or a paraprofessional can |
| Moreover, this kind of radio will help | | | | help a child with learning disability to |
| students to revise their classroom | | | | achieve full potential by helping them |
| teaching, which they may forget. The | | | | to adapt the online interactive |
| health and hygiene issues can be | | | | education guide. Therefore, education is |
| addressed; lifestyle problems can also | | | | no longer restricted to the normal |
| be solved though these programmes and | | | | persons, but it has crossed the barriers |
| even an awareness campaign by experts on | | | | and enlightened the life of every |
| HIV/AIDS can be transmitted. CRS can | | | | individual irrespective of their |
| also help to notify parents about | | | | disability. |
| important announcements of schools. | | | | From the above inferences, we can |
| Burman added that "Often after exams, | | | | rightly conclude that the effect of |
| students seek informations in | | | | media is vast on the life of each and |
| scholarships and admissions in other | | | | every individual. With the on-going |
| universities or courses. All such | | | | development of information and |
| queries can be clarified through | | | | technology in the society, media has |
| community radio. Eminent educationists | | | | given particular attention to the need |
| can be invited to the studio to deliver | | | | of education and cultural diversity and |
| lectures. Radio browsing will soon | | | | promoted media consciousness among |
| become popular among Gen Y". Any | | | | individuals. Media has entered in every |
| listener within the range of five to ten | | | | sections of our daily life- be it in |
| kilometers can tune into the radio | | | | education, news, entertainment, culture, |
| channel of the schools. It can also | | | | sports, etc. Last but not the least, |
| familiarize the local students with the | | | | media has opened a new dimension and |
| similar syllabus of the other schools. | | | | gave a new meaning to education. |
| There are schools that have allocated a | | | | Education has become more entertaining |
| budget of Rs.1 crore for students' | | | | like never before. |