7 - Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research

Education through Video Conferencing with Special Reference to
Engineering Colleges in Coimbatore District: A Proposal
Mahalakshmi K. 1 and Nirmala J.P. 2
Abstract
The present-day digital environment has a great impact on the education system
especially higher and technical education. It has become a component of education and
at the same time facilitates advanced learning techniques with the help of technologies
like e-learning packages. The libraries in educational institutions like IITs, IIMs, and
NITs are extensively using these advanced learning techniques to enhance teaching,
learning, and research. It provides an excellent means of delivering education and
enables learning beyond the four walls of a class room. These advanced learning
techniques are applicable more to engineering and technical education hence and the
present paper makes a proposal of developing and using video conferencing as an
educational technology by the Engineering Colleges of Coimbatore District.
Video conferencing uses telecommunications of audio and video to bring people at
different sites together for a meeting. This can be like conversation between two people
or with more than one person at different sites. Besides audio and visual transmission of
people, it can be used to share documents and computer based information. In an
Educational institution, video conferencing can provide cross-institutional links, valueadded
curriculum teaching, value added services such as professional development for
staff. Video Conferencing is an excellent media for sharing and effective usage of not
only the E-learning packages, but also to share expertise of specialists in their respective
fields.
This paper suggests some cost-effective measures for setting up a Video conferencing
facility in the colleges and some guidelines to be followed such that the colleges benefit
by the advantages of the technique and enrich the learning experience of the students.
1. Introduction:
Video conferencing technology connects people at different locations so that they can
communicate, interact, and share information. This connection is accomplished through
audio and video links, which enable face-to-face and voice-to-voice communication.
Connections are made using specialized equipment and those connections are carried over
wiring using the Internet, satellite connections, or microwave signals. Videoconferencing
provides students and teachers with the opportunity to expand their teaching and learning
possibilities. Students and teachers will no longer have to rely exclusively on the
resources available within their institutes. It is used in mass media, Government and
Private sector and in health industry. But it is extremely useful for academic institutions in
sharing the expertise, knowledge, lab and library resources. Students using
videoconferencing will have the following advantages as stated in Wikipedia (1):
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1 Librarian, Avinashilingam Deemed University, Coimbatore – 641 108
2 HOD, Dept., Printing Tech., Avinashilingam Deemed University, Coimbatore – 641 108
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