FEATURES OF OPEN LEARNING IN NOS
 

Promoting Access and Choices

Research and evolution of theories of Instruction Design and of the processes of cognition, coupled with advances in educational technology and increasing availability and sophistications of the electronic media, as a support to learning, coupled with the rigidities and inflexibility of the Formal System, separately and together ushered in Distance Education and Open Learning, as an alternative to the Formal.

Open Learning System has created opportunities for continuing education for a wide spectrum of students. The precise reasons that prompted them to seek the Open Channel may vary from individual to individual, but some of the reasons are:

Conditions of educational attainment laid down by the formal

Economic backwardness Geographical remoteness

Demands of certificate for employment

Social, cultural and domestic constraints Age

It is natural to expect that the Open System would attract a growing number of students, who would otherwise find access to continuing education difficult, if not impossible.

Distinctive Features of Open Learning System, which have been adopted by the NOS

1. Open Entry

Students seeking admission to the Foundation Course (Middle level) or to the Secondary Level are admitted on the basis of a self-certificate by the student, stating that he,/she has the necessary educational attainments and is capable of pursuing the course of studies. However, since NOS is a system for education than merely an opportunity for taking an examination, the students must sit for an internal assessment test, 4-5 months after admission and qualify, with at least 25% marks. If not, the student must continue to study till he qualifies and becomes eligible for external examinations.

As such, what looks like making entry very cheap becomes a tougher condition, since it is easier to get a certificate of previous educational attainments than to prove it through an actual test.

For the Senior Secondary Course, a certificate of X pass from a recognised Board is required.

2. Age

The minimum age for admission to the Foundation Course is 14 completed by 31st August of the year of admission.

For admission to the Secondary Level Course, a student should have completed 15 years by 31 August.

For the Senior Secondary admission, the minimum age is 16 completed by August 31st.

There is no upper age limit for any category.

3. Choice of Subjects

This is an important feature of Open Learning. Students have the freedom to choose the set of subjects that they find useful or necessary. The only compulsion is to choose one of the two languages offered, namely Hindi or English.

If a student wishes to choose only ONE subject, for reasons of it being needed to supplement an earlier certificate or because of demand from the employer etc, NOS allows this.

4. Self-Paced Learning

A registered student is given upto five years to complete the course. Part employed or full-employed persons find it difficult to devote much time to study, and this provision is a great help to them to continue their education.

5. Scheme of Examination

There is provision for two full scale examinations every year, one in May and the other in October. The student has the option to appear in one or more subjects of one's choice or take them altogether. In case of failure, one can appear again, within the five year period. All passes are kept as credit and when the student has acquired the required number for certification, the certificate is issued.

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6. Multi-media Learning Package

The specially prepared printed study materials form the basic source for learning. Prepared specially for the distant learner, incorporating all the features that a good teacher actually does in class, in a face-to-face, situation, the text is a distant teacher in print. Besides, NOS is currently planning the preparation of audio and later video packages to supplement the printed text.

7. Learning Support Centres

Provision of teachers, who, besides tutoring, may also counsel the students, at the Accredited Institutions. would further support the student's efforts to learn on one's own and at one's pace.

The system promotes self learning and provides orientation to the students to become independent learners by giving them basic study skills.

"Open Education is particularly characterised by the removal of restrictions, exclusions and privileges; by the accreditation of students' exclusions and privileges; by the flexibility of the management of the time variable; hand by substantial changes In the traditional relationship between professors and students. On the other grand, distance education Is a modality which permits the delivery of a group of didactic media without the necessity of regular class participation, where the individual is responsible for his own learning."