CDs, DVDs replace study matters

Mumbai Univ's distance education programme replaces printed study materials
with 21st century tools

Shweta Shertukde

The University of Mumbai's Institute of Distance Education (IDE) has decided
to replace its textbooks (printed study material) with CDs and DVDs.

The IDE intends to supply the study material for all its under-graduate,
post-graduate and diploma courses in the CD or DVD format. The institute has
introduced digitised study material for final-year Arts and Commerce
courses, and will now extend the concept to various diploma courses in
financial management and operational research management.
Students can also get the CDs and DVDs during admission for Rs50 (per CD).
"They will contain the syllabi, study matter and references of the
particular subject. By October 2007, all study material for under-graduate,
post-graduate and diploma courses will be provided through CDs," said IDE
director SD Pawar. The IDE has also decided to set up a computer laboratory
with 100 computers for the purpose. "The decision (to provide CDs) has been
taken due to the delay in the provision of printed study material," Pawar
said.

However, some students are sceptical about the decision. Lilesh Lokare, who
is pursuing his FYBA from IDE, said: "Studying through CDs and DVDs may be a
costly affair. Instead of inventing new methods of providing the syllabus,
the IDE should concentrate on providing printed material during the
admission period." Mahesh Pangare, a student doing his TYBA, added:
"Studying through a CD will prove to be time consuming. A student glued to
the computer for hours will experience physical strain. As the matter loaded
in the CD can only be read on the computer, students will get limited hours
to study. On the other hand, in case of printed material, I can study at any
hour of the day."

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