| E-learning
has become popular among educationists because of the inherent
strengths and advantages it provides to the instructional process.
Through e-learning initiatives in India dates back to 1999, it is in
its infancy as not many institutions have
jumped into the bandwagon. Many also cite the Internet penetration in
the country as the cause of the current situation. At Staff Training
and Research
Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE), Indira Gandhi National Open
University (IGNOU), we believe and understand
that technological infrastructure alone is not sufficient for success
of e-learning, through it may be a necessary pre-condition.
Therefore, we have been engaged in dialogue, discussion and debate
about the potential capabilities, strengths and limitations of online
technologies in educational programmes. We have also been conducting
training programmes on e-learning since July 2001. The Handbook
is our humble effort to put 'learning' before 'technology' in
e-learning endeavours. We expect this Handbook
to be a starting point and reference guide to new as well as seasoned
teachers to use e-learning in their teaching and learning, both
at face-to-face and at a distance. |

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