Classification of MOOC - h-MOOC

h-MOOC: the letter ‘h’ stands for Hybrid, means over a period of time MOOCs have adopted characteristics’ of both ‘c’ and ‘x’ MOOCs and emerged as Hybrid-MOOCs. The contents are delivered by Subject Matter Specialists and Learning Management Systems provide opportunity to collaborative learning also. The Course instructor also interacts with learners, evaluates them and promotes interaction between the registered learners. 

Definition of a MOOC

A MOOC is defined as an e-Mediated learning opportunity for an e-Ready individual, wherein the learning materials in text, audio and video formats are shared publically covering an entire course of a degree programme / knowledge or skill oriented programme on a learning management platform also assessed by the instructor who offers course. The learning process is facilitated by the subject matter specialist and registration for the course is free and open.

An Open letter to President ISEE and Extension professionals

To,

The President

ISEE, IARI, New Delhi

Sub: Radical modifications needed in ISEE functioning

Respected Sir,

At the outset hearty congratulations for organizing the ISEE National Conference at Hisar in befitting manner.  Gathering delegates from 23 states and stalwarts of the profession is an uphill task and, you did it. Rich appreciations are due to your team at both Banda and Hisar.

Sir, I am putting my personal opinions regarding making the society more professional, you may or may agree with these ideas, but you should go through them. I wish there should be debate on the issues being raised and ultimately come to a amicable conclusion.

1.     There were 10 young scientist and 11 ISEE fellow awards distributed at Hisar conference. What are the implications of disbursing these awards? Do these awardees have any responsibilities in future? The previous practice reveal that, as long as you get an award you will attend the conference/seminars and then switchover to some other venues. Hence let ISEE think on entrusting some responsibility on each awardees and let them work for the society for ever and based on their contributions to the society and discipline next award should be considered.

a.     Sir every year we can have nominations from each zone for Young Scientist and ISEE Fellow, there should be an evaluation committee, they should present their contributions, let there be a score card and committee will award the numbers as per the score card and cross examine the candidate then declare one winner. Finally we can have five zone wise Young Scientists and ISEE Fellows and One National Level Young Scientist and ISEE Fellow. Once they achieve award they will have responsibility to edit the papers for the journal, making new members for the society, organizing zonal level meets.

b.     Every awardees should attend annual Conference. If they are missing three successive annual conferences without any valid reasons and with prior intimation to the president, ISEE, their award will be withdrawn.

c.     Every zonal vice-president should organize two half yearly meetings in their respective zones, ensure sufficient delegates to take part in National Conference. Also we can fix responsibility to each zonal president, that he should attend National Conference with minimum 100 delegates from his zone. Failing which his vice-presidentship will be reviewed in the general body meeting of the conference.

d.     Every award of ISEE should have a Presentation followed by evaluation process by senior professionals. The recommendations of committee should be final and entire process should me made transparent by putting every information on the official website of ISEE.

e.     Every presentation made for the award should be published as a special issue of conference.

f.      In every state and every SAU there should at least one ISEE Chapter and should organize fixed number of events annually and report to the head office. Head office should update everything in the website. Or Zonal vice president should have an access to update the websites on the activities done by the regional chapters in their respective zone.

                                               i.     Some suggested annual celebrations could be:

1.     Birthday of Prof. Y. P. Singh

2.     National Innovation Day

3.     National Entrepreneurship Day

g.     To motivate high quality Masters and PhD research at SAU, ISEE can institute awards for Best Masters and Doctoral Research. Let there be three levels to begin with ISEE chapter level competitions for selecting best researches, winners will move to their respective Zonal level and finally Zonal winners will present at National Conference and One Masters and One Doctoral research will be recognized for award.

h.     Each awardees should deliver one lecture for extension fraternity in their respective zone to motivate extension researchers and professionals every year.

i.      ISEE should play instrumental role in instituting an AICRP on Extension Education. Without any new posts, it should focus on coordinated extension research activities in SAUs, ICAR institutes and other Private organsations and NGOs. One annual workshop will consolidate the extension research, methodology, conceptual and other issues taken up in the year.

j.      List of Members of ISEE should be updated on ISEE website

k.     At least from this year, list awardees of ISEE should be updated in ISEE website and it should be a regular practice.

l.      Every regional chapter / zonal vice president should enroll at least 20 new members every year

m.   Many regional state level extension societies should be merged with ISEE and declare as Regional chapters. Their members should be merged with ISEE main body.

n.     Similar to ICAR ISEE should institute JRF/SRF for promoting quality research in extension education (with same amount as offered by ICAR), initially seems to be difficult task, over a period of time it can be achieved and it will be role model for other societies.

o.     Election of office bearers of ISEE should be held during the national seminar only. Those who are attending the annual conference can caste their vote during the conference and those who are not able to attend the conference shall opt postal ballot. But the counting and declaration of results should be during the conference only. Immediately after the election during the valedictory session of the annual conference the new committee will takeover everything and start functioning for the stipulated period of time.

With kind regards

Basavaprabhu Jirli

Professor and Head

Department of Extension Education

Institute of Agricultural Education

Banaras Hindu University

Varanasi-221005

Basavaprabhu Jirli on ResearchGate