Department [INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY] Detail
Department Details
Name :
INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Establishment :
1974 (This institute was established with the foundation of University as its integral part)
Introduction :
The Institute of Educational Technology (IET) - a centre for media production was established with the foundation of the university as an integral part. It has effectively used three mass media i.e. print, sound and picture for its delivery system. The radio and television programmes produced in the Institute of Educational Technology promote and support the distance-teaching-based courses of the University. The audio-visual material produced is transmitted on the national broadcasting network and non-broadcast media is used for small group instruction and individual study. The media support which supplements the university course materials also has a significant public educational value. The second Educational Channel of PTV started functioning from November 1992. The ETV is using satellite for beaming its programs. The IET is contributing one hour daily Educational Programme on this channel.
Objectives :
Hello and welcome. This is the voice of AIOU: FM Radio of Allama Iqbal Open University.
Ever since its inception in 1974, it is the first time that the University is going “on air” through FM radio transmission. Up to now radio programmes for University courses were broadcast mainly from the transmitter of PBC (Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation), Islamabad. The broadcast time remained quite limited and confined to two 15-minutes chunks daily during semester period only. With the enormously increased current studentship to the tune of over four hundred thousand student enrolment and over 1.2 million course enrolments, it has become imperative to use new media communication tools for effective liaison with the students and the public at large. In the light of this scenario and the initiative taken by the present Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Mahmood-ul-Hassan Butt, the idea of University’s own transmission has been translated into action.
Test transmission of “Voice of AIOU” has already commenced on frequency 91.6 MHz on the FM band. License has been granted by PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority). The FM has started covering listening area within Rawalpindi and Islamabad through 1.2 kw transmitter. Daily test transmission timings are:
From: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Friday: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
The AIOU FM Radio Station has been established with the cost of Rs.38.75 million sponsored by the HEC (Higher Education Commission). This amount will be spent for purchasing FM Radio equipment as well as construction of a building for the radio station within one year time.
Further plan includes setting up a chain of FM radio stations throughout countrywide for extended coverage. This requires installation of broadcast facilities in all the regional campuses of AIOU for reaching out interior areas of the homeland. The same frequency of 91.6 MHz has been allocated by the Frequency Allocation Board to AIOU for all future FM radio stations in the country.
Test transmission, carried out from the presently available studios in IET, in practical terms, is a proper full-fledged radio transmission on public broadcasting pattern. Programmes are broadcast according to a detailed broadcast schedule, where chunks of transmission have been divided into smaller segments with live information in between.
In next phase all academic faculties will be allocated 30 minutes transmission time everyday giving representation to each academic department. The combination chart is in process by mutual consultation with heads of academic departments.
A series of script-writing workshops have already been conducted for University academicians. Ninety faculty members have participated in the radio and television workshops.
Radio is considered as a personal, intimate and warm medium. These qualities coupled with its easy access to homes and workplaces and cost effectiveness is suitable for use of the medium as an educational tool. The FM would be used for expanded teaching and learning services, explaining text material of the University courses as well as to provide general information and keeping linkage with the widely spread and scattered students. This will help bridge the gap of communication between students and the teachers as well as between students and the University support services.
In addition to the University course-based programmes tightly connected with curriculum, some general educational and informative programme series are also proposed for the general students and public. Purpose is to provide spill over benefits to the people of Pakistan by providing them knowledge and general information.
“Open forum” is such a weekly audience participated programme of AIOU FM Radio for discussing the diversified aspects in education. This series includes AIOU academic activities, introduction of prominent educationalists and their valuable experiences and debate on educational problems. Open forum will remain ‘open’ for incorporating new ideas.
Another objective of FM Radio is to provide a chance of getting practical knowledge and on-hands training for the postgraduate students of AIOU Mass Communication Department to work on internship with FM Radio. A batch of internees has already joined AIOU FM Radio Station at the Campus.
A new multipurpose building is under construction adjacent to IET present building. According to approved financial plan from PC-1 the cost will cover the following:
i. Transmitter and equipment;
ii. Studio building; and
iii. Project execution staff.
The new multi-media and multi-purpose building will be a long life asset for the University. This step will prove a quantum leap towards inducting modern communication technologies in our open learning system in near future.
Report by:
Director
Institute of Educational Technology
Future Plans :
The importance of Information Technology in the present day world has been taken into consideration by the university by launching BS(CS)/BS(IT) and other diploma course in Computer Science. The Institute has provided media support in this crucial area in different realms of computer science. The Institute has also planned media support at graduate and post-graduate level for science courses in the next five years.
Academic Facilities :
N/A
Postal Address :
Institute of Educational Technology, Block No. 22, Allama Iqbal Open University, H-8, Islamabad
