Open Courseware initiatives for e-learners in India

Abstract

Open Courseware is nothing but the repository of the study and learning materials in digital form in the web which is open for every user i.e. Open Access. These repositories envisage to store, index, preserve, distribute and share the digital learning resources with any time access offering interoperability. On the other hand, e-learning covers a myriad set of applications, and processes such as computer based learning, web-based learning, virtual classrooms, etc. What is most significant about the method is that it ensures faster learning at comparatively reduced cost and gives access to more learning resources. In India, a number of institutions are digitizing their course materials and a good number of open courseware have been established e.g. eGyankosh-a National Digital Repository, CEC Learning Object Repository, Indo- German eGurukul on Digital Libraries, NPTEL, NCERT Online Textbooks, UNESCOSALIS e-Learning Portal, etc. This paper presents a scenario of the Open Courseware initiatives in India that can be helpful and necessary to the e-learners.