A five-day Faculty Development Program (FDP) was organised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), CGC Landran, in association with E&ICT Academy, Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC) Mohali.
The FDP on ‘Transforming Teaching-Strategies for Digital Learning and Content Development’ was attended by more than 100 members of faculty from CGC Landran. They gained extensively from the sessions conducted by over 19 experts invited from related domains.
The FDP was aimed at equipping the educators at CGC Landran with requisite research capabilities, practical skills and an effective understanding of digital tools and teaching strategies to improve learning outcomes, and help prepare them for the implementation of the New Education Policy and for collaborative growth.
Through a blend of theoretical insights and practical applications the faculty members were given a comprehensive overview of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
Key sessions focused on curriculum design, research methodologies, personalized learning and mental health awareness. Featuring several expert speakers the FDP served as a great medium for CGC’s faculty in gaining valuable insights into various aspects of digital education while exploring emerging trends in the ever evolving educational sector.
The inaugural day of the event was graced by the presence of Dr. Balwinder Singh, Chief Investigator E&ICT Academy, Joint Director, C-DAC Mohali, Dr. P.N Hrisheekesha, Campus Director, CGC Landran, Dr. Ruchi Singla, Director, R&D, CGC Landran, Dr. Harsimran Kaur, Dean, IQAC, CGC Landran, among others.
Dr. Balwinder Singh, C-DAC, Mohali, focused on advanced teaching practices and digital learning tools, while Dr. Harmesh Kansal, UIET, Chandigarh, covered research methods and teaching practices. Mr. Tanvir Singh from IIT Bombay, introduced MOOC platforms and content development tools through an interactive session on creating engaging e-content.
Dr. S.S. Gill, NITTTR, Chandigarh, shared his expertise on advanced concepts in MOOCs and Open Educational Resources (OERs) and also led a session on preparing educators for the National Education Policy (NEP).
Dr. Suneet Madan from C-DAC Mohali, explored the role of AR, VR, and Mixed Reality in enhancing teaching methodologies, and Ms. Vibhuti from ICMR demonstrated techniques for creating multimedia and interactive content.
Prof. Pamil Arora from Chandigarh University, Gharuan, underscored the importance of animation tools in multimedia content, while Dr. Amit Kumar from NVS, MoE, Government of India, shared insights on personalized learning in MOOCs using AI, followed by a practical session on learning management system (LMS) integration.
Dr. Sunil Dutt, formerly Professor of NITTTR Chandigarh, shared strategies for designing self-paced learning courses, and Prof. Anil Rose, CCET, Chandigarh, discussed research methodology basics and tools. Dr. P.K. Tulsi, formerly Professor of NITTTR Chandigarh, emphasized innovative pedagogical techniques, encouraging educators to embrace new methods for effective teaching.
Dr. Satbir Singh, NIT Jalandhar, explored AI and Machine Learning (ML)-based learner-centered teaching strategies, while Dr. Ruchi Singla from CGC Landran discussed entrepreneurship and skill development.
Dr. Balwinder Raj from NIT Jalandhar spoke about the role of digital libraries and platforms in modern education, and Mr. Tanvir Singh returned to lead a hands-on session on AI tools for documentation.
Dr. Shashi Bala from CGC Landran guided participants through the nuances of writing and publishing research papers, and Dr. Gopal Nair from Auckland University, New Zealand addressed mental health awareness for educators and students.
The final day featured a session by Dr. Meenakshi Sood from NITTTR Chandigarh, on curriculum design methods, followed by a feedback session and participant evaluations. The FDP empowered participants with enhanced digital teaching skills, including proficiency in AI tools, MOOCs, AR/VR, and interactive content creation. The program concluded with a question and answer session and the vote of thanks by the organizers at CGC Landran.