e-Learning: Initiatives in India

Abstract

The rapid growth in the e-content development using web technology and its ever increasing usage has given unprecedented opportunities to educators to extend teaching material to students not only within the four-walls of their class rooms but also in the comforts of their home all over the globe. Indian Government has taken a number of initiatives, and awarded a no. of e-content development projects under NME-ICT for the growth and development of e-learning environment. The targeted users are not fully availing the e-learning opportunity of such initiatives. The bigger challenge is to get the attention of target users or in the other word to spread the awareness amongst its target users so that the e-learners not only get the maximum benefits from the projects but also participate in its creation and evolution through interactive Learning Management System (LMS) platforms. With increases use of ICT in education and setting up of National Mission in Education through ICT (NMEICT) in 2009, e-learning has become the most popular learning method that helps a learner to learn at his own place. In this article we have defined the e-learning and studied about the major initiatives taken by Government of India for e-learning & self education. The article also develop upon the categories of the learner and their respective e-Learning choices among the e- GyanKosh, Sakshat, FlexiLearn, NPTEL, CEC, Institute of Lifelong Learning (ILLL), and e-PG Pathshala.