EVENT TITLE: One Day Seminar on E-Content Development
DATE: 14.05.2025
TIME: 09.30 am to 03.30 pm
VENUE: Block V, Gallery Hall 1
EVENT COORDINATORS : Dr. K. Sutha / Assistant Professor, Head of the Department (BCA & B. Sc. CS – Shift II)
NO OF PARTICIPANTS:
Session I– Commerce (All Streams) – 44
Session II– Computer Science and Applications (All Streams) – 26
Session III- Media Studies, Fashion Designing, Bio-Technology. Maths, EFL – 40
RESOURCE PERSON DETAILS – BRIEF PROFILE OF THE SPEAKER:
Dr. G. Vairavel serves as the Dean – Academics and Educational Initiatives at the SRM Group of Institutions, Tiruchirapalli. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India). In June 2023, he was elected as a Member-at-Large of the CDIO International Council.
His research interests span a wide range of areas, including Massive MIMO Communication Systems, Antenna Design, Wireless Sensor Networks, Engineering Education, Instructional Technology, TPACK, and CDIO-based curriculum design and implementation.
Dr. Vairavel actively contributes to academia as an editor and guest editor for reputed international journals and has chaired numerous prestigious conferences. He also serves as a Governing Council Member and academic advisor for several esteemed institutions across India.
He is accredited as a Programme Leader for the Cambridge International Certification by Cambridge Assessment International Education. He has delivered numerous lectures on Outcome-Based Education (OBE) at leading institutions nationwide, often in association with the Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI).
In recognition of his contributions, he received the IET Promotional Award from the IET Chennai Local Network in 2019 and currently serves as an Executive Committee Member of the same network. He is also an active member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and the TPACK Special Interest Group.
SUMMARY OF THE EVENT:
Inaugural session:
The inaugural session of the One-Day Seminar on E-Content Development was held with great enthusiasm and participation. The session commenced with a warm welcome address by Dr. S. Thirumagan, Dean, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST). In his address, he emphasized the growing relevance of digital platforms in education and encouraged faculty members to embrace innovative tools for effective teaching and content delivery.
Following the welcome, Dr. Jesinthal, Assistant Professor, Department of English and Foreign Languages, took the stage to introduce the Chief Guest. She highlighted the remarkable contributions of Dr. G. Vairavel, Dean – Academics and Educational Initiatives for SRM Group of Institutions (Chennai Ramapuram and Tiruchirapalli campuses), particularly in the areas of education, instructional technology, and digital pedagogy. After introducing the Chief Guest, Dr. Jesinthal handed over the session to the resource person.
Key Highlights of the Session:
The Chief Guest, Dr. G. Vairavel, elaborated on the importance of e-content development in the current academic landscape. He focused on the significance of moving towards paperless course documentation using platforms such as Google Sites. Dr. Vairavel shared insights on best practices, tools, and strategies for creating engaging, outcome-based digital content, urging faculty to adopt these practices for enhanced learner engagement and institutional readiness.
Dr. Vairavel began his session by addressing a fundamental question – “What is E-Content?” He emphasized that e-content goes beyond simple digital notes or slides and involves a structured, pedagogically sound approach to digital learning that caters to diverse learner needs.
He introduced the Four Quadrant Approach, widely adopted in MOOCs and digital learning platforms, comprising:
- Text and Image
- Video Content
- Assessment (Quizzes/Assignments)
- Further Learning Resources
He then clarified the difference between a course plan and a lesson plan:
- The course plan provides a broad overview and structure of the entire course, including learning outcomes, assessment strategies, and weekly schedules.
- The lesson plan focuses on individual sessions, detailing specific objectives, teaching methods, activities, and resources for each class.
Dr. Vairavel also distinguished between learning material and lecture material:
- Learning material is designed for self-study and independent exploration by students.
- Lecture material supports in-class teaching and typically includes visual aids, presentations, and instructor notes.
He stressed the importance of strategic content planning, urging faculty to:
- Plan content in advance, aligned with course outcomes.
- Create a certification database to track credentials and skills acquired by students.
- Develop a context database that captures real-world applications and the relevance of the content.
- Map these databases to specific course components to ensure alignment with academic goals and Outcome-Based Education (OBE) frameworks.
His address encouraged faculty to adopt a structured, future-ready approach to teaching through effective use of e-content and digital tools
