2009-10 (16.6 MB) - The National Institute of Open Schooling

National Institute of Open Schooling
Another important decision taken while revising the
lessons was the integration of life skill issues in five
subjects offered at the Secondary level. Details of
this activity are included in para 3.3.1.
3.2.2 Development of new courses
NIOS develops need based courses for its learners.
Three new courses were introduced during the
academic year 2009-10: Painting at secondary level,
Sanskrit and Mass Communication at Senior
Secondary level. A new course on Environmental
Science at Senior Secondary level has also been
developed and is expected to be launched in
2011-12 session.
3.2.3 Revision of course at Senior
Secondary level
As part of its policy to update/revise courses, in the
year 2009-10 the work on the revision of History at
Sr. Secondary level was completed. This course is to
be launched in 2010-11 session.
The major thrust of the revised course is on the
development of objectivity and scientific temper for
understanding the historical process. For this purpose
many educationists from various institutions such as
University of Delhi, IGNOU, JNU and teachers from
senior secondary schools came to discuss all these
issues. For the first time optional modules have been
introduced in History at Senior Secondary level. There
are two optional modules on themes which are
'Evolution of States in India', and 'Culture in India'.
Both the modules are relevant to understanding the
present Indian political and socio-cultural situation.
The course will be offered in Hindi, English and Urdu
mediums.
3.2.4 Regional Language Programme
An initiative was taken to introduce Bengali and Tamil
language courses as a subject at Senior Secondary
level. The work was undertaken by the Regional
Centres of Kolkata and Kochi with necessary support
from the headquarters. In the period under review,
curricula were prepared and finalised for both the
subjects and lessons writing was underway in Tamil.
The lessons were written and reviewed in the subject
of Bengali.
The NIOS conducts programmes at secondary level
in 5 regional mediums i.e. Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu,
Malayalam and Oriya. In the year 2009-10 the task
of translating Tutor Marked Assignments in 5 regional
mediums and 11 regional languages was completed.
In addition to this, translation of Painting Course at
Secondary level in 5 regional mediums was initiated.
3.2.5 Expansion of Question Bank at
Senior Secondary level
The NIOS is the first institution in the country to have
launched the innovative On-Demand Examination
Scheme (ODES). Under the scheme, all major
subjects at secondary level are offered. The question
bank is updated and enhanced from time to time by
Academic Department. The ODES is also available
at Sr. Secondary level. In the year 2009-10, the
ODES at Sr. Secondary level was taken up both for
expansion and initiation of new subjects. The question
banks in the subjects of Hindi, Mathematics and
Physics were updated and increased in size, while 7
new subjects viz. Chemistry, English, Biology,
Geography, Psychology, Economics and Urdu were
developed as expansion of this question bank for ODES.
It was also ensured that all items, wherever necessary,
were developed in both Hindi and English versions.
3.2.6 Development of Tutor Marked
Assignments (TMAs)
For continuous assessment of learners, Tutor Marked
Assignments (TMAs) are developed. During the year
2009-10, TMAs were developed in Hindi and English
mediums in different subjects at secondary and senior
secondary level for use by NIOS learners. A separate
TMA was developed for Regional Languages offered
at Secondary level.
3.2.7 Marking Schemes
NIOS prepares three sets of question papers in each
subject scheduled for public examination. To reduce
subjectivity in evaluation, marking schemes are
developed and standardized for all subjects at
secondary and senior secondary level. During 2009-
10, meetings for standardization of marking schemes in
different subjects were organized for the public
examinations held in April-May, 2009 and October-
November, 2009.
3.2.8 Workshops held
Details of the workshops organized by Academic
Department in the year 2009-10 are presented in the
table given below.
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