Maharashtra: Make rule mandating virtual classes on video mode, say officials

Exceptions suggested for students facing network connectivity. Representation pic

Academicians, cyber experts and higher and technical education officials, who were recently invited to Nagpur University to speak on cyber awareness and discipline in higher education institutes, discussed the need for inculcating cyber etiquette among students and faculty for online lessons, especially in lieu of instances of misuse.

Officials from Mumbai and Pune universities said inculcation of cyber discipline needs to be done at the college level, by respective principal. They said students must be asked to keep their video turned on during classes, and made to follow stringent dress code and cyber etiquettes.

Dr Subhash R Chaudhari, vice chancellor, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, said, "We have already inculcated a practice of using webex platforms for our online teaching programs. Also, we ensure that both students and faculty keep their videos on during the sessions, and encourage interactive teaching sessions for better understanding of syllabus."

"Covid-19 has increased the need for technology in education, so a safe cyber space and ensure that everyone adheres to cyber etiquettes, need to be also part of our learning and also good governance for the colleges," explained Chaudhari.

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Colleges must frame rules

Nitin Karmalkar, vice chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University, said, "It's important to have an interface between the faculty and students, especially those attending graduation, post-graduation and professional courses through online medium. However, at university level, we have not issued any circular on the same, but this needs to be done at the college level, where the principal, or the course coordinator can exercise their power and formulate the cyber etiquette and guidelines." "Also, we had earlier discussed that certain students or working professionals in remote areas might have difficulty in keeping the video on, either due to low internet connectivity or travel issues. Such students should inform their college in writing, so that they could get exemption, as per college norms, for keeping video off, and listening to the lecture," said Karmalkar.

Professor Baliram Gaikwad, registrar, Mumbai University, agreed that it's important to frame such guidelines. "We have come across students concerned about exhausting the data, as they use mobile connectivity for classes. Such students [even working students] can give an application from their faculty or class guardians with supporting covering letters, so they could get some concession for attending a few classes without video." Gaikwad added, "We need to come up with a separate interface for students' grievances, and help them resolve their issues at the earliest."

Ensure there's no misuse

Ajay Patil, principal, D Y Patil College of Law, Navi Mumbai, said, "We are in the process of inculcating cyber etiquettes for both the Bachelor of Legal Science and Bachelor of Law and our regular LLB students and will be finalising the same soon. Though, we have already issued directives to students to keep their video on while the class is in session."

Keeping the video on would ensure smooth two-way communication between students and faculty, and it would help the faculty understand who is attentive, Patil added.

Sanjay Shintre, superintendent of police, Maharashtra Cyber, Mumbai, said, "It is always a good practice in any virtual educational platform to keep the video on, so that there is a direct interactive session between the faculty and students. It is up to the college to come up with their own cyber safety guidelines. It would also help maintain the attendance records and class decorum."

Bar Council of India says

Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, chairman, Bar Council of India, said, "Law colleges can formulate their own internal guidelines for conducting online regular law classes, and have proper cyber etiquette in place for students and faculty."