User:Woer13/workshop report

Report on two day Workshop on Open Educational Resources conducted at Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun
Graphic Era Hill University successfully organized a two day Workshop on OER (Open Educational Resources) on June 10 &amp; 11, 2013. This workshop was aimed at building capacity in the area of Open Educational Resources by imparting training to educators, teachers and trainers who share the vision for free educational resources. The objective of this workshop was to provide practical skills that are essential in creating a collaborative environment where content evolves through the efforts and contributions of a large community of practitioners, researchers, learners and experts along with the shared goal of making the information accessible to all. For the purpose of effective learning and efficient training, this workshop was designed and developed into 6 technical sessions. Each day was allocated with three sessions. This one of its kind of workshop proved beneficial to the faculties from various Institutions like PCTE, Ludhiana; University of Mysore; BCE, Bhagalpur; L. N. Mishra College, Muzaffarpur; TMIMT, Moradabad; BCIPS, New Delhi; AITS, Haldwani; UPES, Dehradun; DBS, Dehradun; Doon University, Dehradun; Graphic Era University and Graphic Era Hill University. It also saw participation of the foreign participants from Iran and others.

On day one, Inauguration Ceremony was deliberated with the welcome address by Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Jasola, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, GEHU followed by the welcome speech of Dr. R. Gowri, Director, GEHU. Prof. (Dr.) R. C. Joshi, Hon’ble Chancellor, GEU addressed the participants with his words of wisdom on the important features of the learning environment. Further, Guest of Honour Prof Durgesh Pant, Director, CS &amp; IT, UOU also emphasized on the quest for knowledge on Internet with the development of the free teaching, learning and research resources known as open educational resources. Keynote Address was deliberated by Chief Guest Prof. M M Pant, Pro-Vice Chancellor, IGNOU. He delivered his talk on value based education and innovation. He shared his wonderful experiences on OER and suggested a holistic approach towards education and learning. At the end of the Inaugural Ceremony, Convenor of the workshop Prof. Ishteyaaq Ahmad delivered vote of thanks to all the delegates, participants and organizing committee members.

The Technical Sessions were equally delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Jasola and Dr R C Sharma, Regional Director, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Dr R C Sharma introduced the concept, search and evolution of OER to the participants. He also trained MOOCS with the help of hands-on practical lab sessions. Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Jasola shared his insight on identifying learning tools, defining needs of OER and developing OERs. He shared various examples and important tools with the participants in order to make teaching more effective. Under the able guidance of both the resource persons, the participants were greatly benefitted with the clear understanding of OER and how to use it. After the successful completion of technical sessions, Valedictory Session was deliberated with the address by Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Jasola, Hon’ble VC, GEHU. He conveyed his thanks to Prof. Kamal Ghanshala, Hon’ble Chancellor and Chief Patron of the workshop for his inspiration and guidance. He also encouraged the participants to make their teaching effective and efficient both. And at last, with the Certificate Distribution Ceremony, this two day workshop on OER was completed on more of a positive note with a smile on everybody’s face as a sure shot sign of confidence of add-on knowledge.

This is to special mention that to make this workshop a success many people contributed and cooperated. Among them is Director of the Dehradun Campus Dr. R. Gowri, Director, GEHU; Convenor, Mr. Ishteyaaq Ahmad; Organizing Secretary Mr. Himanshu Kargeti and Organizing Committee includes Ms. Radhika Prabhakar, Mr. Manoj Thakur, Mr. Gaurav Misra, Ms. Shreejata Dey, Mr. Akhilesh Kumar and Mr. Harish Kumar. Thanks for their wonderful efforts to make it a success.