Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) is a constituent unit of NCERT that was established in 1984. This institute came into the picture after the merger of the Center of Educational Technology (CET) and the Department of Teaching Aids (DTA). CIET is an institute of educational technology that aims to promote equity and improve the quality of educational processes at the school level. The motive for setting up this institute is to promote the utilization of educational technologies via the use of radio, TV, films, satellite communications, and cyber media.
Functions of CIET
- Designing alternative learning systems
Alternative learning systems provide a practical option to formal instructions. The motive of establishing an alternative learning system is to provide opportunities to students who find it difficult to cope with traditional classroom practices. It helps them learn at their pace without compromising the education quality.
- Promotion of educational technology
Promoting educational technology has become the need of the hour as it brings teachers and students close to modern technology. Using technological advancement, teachers can integrate new tools into the classroom.
- Training of personnel in educational technology
Educating all stakeholders about technological advancements is crucial as it helps them understand what technology they can use for maximum benefits. Moreover, the adoption of new technology in the education industry has become critical. CIET trains teachers and helps them become tech-savvy for the benefit of students.
- Coordination of SIETs activities
CIET takes care of the activities to be performed by the State Institute of Educational Technologies. These institutes are responsible for planning, research, production, and evaluation of educational software like video, audio, and other multimedia resources.
- Provision of consultancy and media support
The institute provides consultancy services and media support to the constituents of NCERT.
Vision & Mission of CIET
The vision of the institute is to become a pioneer in the field of educational communication and technology. Moreover, the institute pays equal attention to professional development.
The mission of CIET is to:
- Aid quality improvement in educational institutions by improving the capacity of educators.
2. Act as a nodal resource center for school education media software.
3. Design and produce exceptional educational software for teachers, parents, and students.
4. Aid the professional development of teachers through the convergence of appropriate technologies.
Different departments in CIET
Different departments work together to improve the quality of education and build teachers’ capacities. Some prominent departments are mentioned below.
- Media Production Division
This department constitutes two production houses: audio and video. Due to the rising demand for the production of audio/radio programs, the need for a dedicated audio production house has increased over the years. CIET has launched an educational FM channel named Gyanwani. These programs are designed to cater to the needs of students attending regular classes. Moreover, those who fail to attend school can also derive equal benefits from this audio program. Likewise, the media production division produces high-quality, easy-to-understand video programs for school-going children and teachers.
- Planning and Research Division
The planning and research division of CIET is associated with the following functions:
- Monitoring and implementing government-approved educational programs.
- Sharing the monthly and annual reports of CIET with government agencies and other national/international funding agencies.
- Providing training to candidates interested in the research field. Moreover, the department has to lay plans for conducting and disseminating research activities.
- Collaborating with multiple departments like MHRD, SIETs, and ET cells of different educational institutions.
- Department of ICT and Training
This department focuses on the creation of multimedia materials for students and educators. These materials consist of audio and video support to make learning easy and fun for students. Moreover, this department is also responsible for maintaining the CIET website. Organizing training programs for educators is also a significant part of the responsibilities of this department.
- Engineering Division
The engineering department is responsible for looking after the technical facilities required in the production of educational audio and video. A group of senior engineers, assistant engineers, technicians, and other staff work together to improve the quality of multimedia resources.
In addition, the accounts and administration department looks after finance-related queries. Each department has a unique role that binds CIET together and assists its flawless functioning.
How does CIET make its content available to students?
CIET follows a three-way transmission approach to make its multimedia resource available for teachers and students. These approaches include:
- Broadcast
CIET produces audio programs in Hindi, English, Sanskrit, and Urdu. These programs are made to enlighten teachers and students. The audio is mixed with music and sound effects to make it more appealing. CIET produces these audio programs under two categories: curriculum-based audio programs and edutainment programs. The curriculum-based program is designed for students in classes 1 to 8 and covers various topics discussed in the NCERT textbooks. Similarly, edutainment programs are produced in multiple media formats like a documentary, features, magazines, talks, interviews, music, and more. These programs are developed to fill the gap in the curriculum.
- Telecast
To facilitate learning and teaching, the Government of India has laid out a program named PM eVidya. With the help of 12 TV channels and the DIKSHA platform, the government is aiming to reach all students and educators across the country. These platforms host multiple multi-modal educational contents for free. These resources can be accessed by every stakeholder working in the education industry.
- Podcast
CIET has partnered with podcast channels to reach the maximum stakeholders. Students can hear the podcasts at any time of the day to learn new concepts.
The different transmission approaches fulfill the same goal–providing the best teaching-learning experience to students and teachers. CIET has managed to make education accessible to all students. They can learn from the comfort of their houses without worrying about the quality of education. Learning is made simple and accessible with CIET.
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