Scribd
Upload
8 views

Self Learning Materials

Uploaded by

supriyakumarisharma203
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views

Self Learning Materials

Uploaded by

supriyakumarisharma203
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Self-Learning Materials

https://youtu.be/KU_8b8w45YU

Hello learners! Welcome to Indira Gandhi National Open University. In this small video, let us
discuss why self-instructional materials are important in an open and distance learning system,
how you should use them, how you can use them to prepare the assignments and prepare for the
term end examinations.

As the learners of open and distance learning, you can learn anything, anytime, anywhere. But
you are away from your university. You are separated from the university and teachers by a
physical distance. You do not get opportunities for regular interaction with your peers and
teachers. Sometimes you may feel isolated. Media and technology play a very significant role in
removing this isolation of the learners, bridging the gap between the learners and the tutors and
the distance learning institutions. Printed self-learning or self-instructional materials are the
foundation of a sound distance learning system. All the institutions and universities of open and
distance learning use printed materials as the most viable medium. These materials are
complemented by visual, auditory, audio-visual and multi-media content.

The self-learning materials of IGNOU are best in the country and are followed by universities
and institutions of open and distance education across the country.

Self-learning materials help you in the following ways:

 They have the teacher in-built in them and provide learning experiences similar to the
classroom-based teaching-learning process
 They guide and support you at each and every stage during your study.
 They build up your confidence and sustain your motivation
 They positively impact your learning style and keep you connected with the contents
and the system.
 They help you grow as self-reliant and independent learners with minimal or no
support from external sources.
Hence you should have a thorough understanding of the features and characteristics of self-
learning materials.

The self-instructional materials have a special structure in Open and Distance Learning system.
In this system, Programme means the curriculum or combination of courses in a particular field
of study, a Bachelors Degree Programme, for example. Course describes the teaching materials
and other components of a specific segment of the syllabus. For your convenience, a course is
divided into Blocks in the form of booklets of around 60/80 pages. Generally each block presents
one unified theme. Division of the course into blocks helps you in two ways: you don’t have to
carry voluminous books and you feel a greater sense of achievement each time you complete a
block. Each block has 3-4 units of 15-20 pages. Each of the unit deals with one theme or topic
and has sections and sub-sections for the clarity of the presentation of concepts, information,
illustrations etc. All the units of a block are logically, and also thematically, linked with each
other. They are presented systematically and sequentially. Each of the sections is followed by a
Self-Check Exercise or Self-Assessment Test which provides feedback to you on your
performance.

Self-learning or self-instructional materials have the following features:

1. Self-motivating: Self-learning materials arouse curiosity, raise issues in your minds and
motivate you to relate theoretical knowledge to real life situations.

2. Self-learning: Self-learning materials provide study guide - directions, hints, references etc
to facilitate autonomous learning or self-learning with little or no support from external sources.

3. Self-explanatory: The contents of self-learning materials are self-explanatory and


conceptually clear. You can understand them without much external support..

4. Self-contained: The self-learning materials are self-sufficient or self-contained so that you


do not need to refer to additional resources for your understanding of the materials.

5. Self-directed: The self-learning materials provide you guidance at every stage by providing
necessary guidance, explanations, hints and suggestions.
6. Self-evaluating: Self-learning materials provide you adequate scope to check your
progress from time to time and get feedback on your performance. This is done through in-text
questions, self-check exercises, activities, etc..

7. Self-Active: The self-learning materials have the potential to make you active and responsive
by engaging you in various types of activities. There can be three types of learning activities.

a) Thinking: Self-assessment questions in the self-learning materials include multiple


types of questions and other questions demanding the application of higher order
thinking skills. These questions motivate you to think from different perspectives and
choose the right responses.
b) Writing: The activities inside the self-learning materials involve some writing activities
which may include using information already learnt, writing from memory, and
explaining topics or concepts in your own words, rephrasing the given text or summing
up the points.
c) Doing: In order to develop skills amongst you, some practical exercises or activities like
reading of maps, going on study tours and field visits to collect information and data etc
are included in the self-learning materials to make practical application of the theories
learnt during the study.

In order to make proper use of the self-instructional or self-learning materials, you should:

 Start reading them carefully after you receive them.


 Underline the important points while reading each of the units.
 Use the margins to note down the queries or important points to be discussed during the
academic counselling sessions.
 Go through them thoroughly before you attend the academic counselling sessions on the
blocks concerned.
 Attempt all the self-check exercises honestly and do not look at the answers until
completion of the units.
 Download the digital materials of your programme from e-Gyankosh and IGNOU
Student App on your mobiles and read them at your convenience when you do not have
the hard copies of the materials with you.
 Write to [email protected] or [email protected] if you have any problem in this
regard.
 Contact the Officer in Charge of Self-Learning Materials
(http://rcpatna.ignou.ac.in/Ignou-RC-Patna/userfiles/file/whom-to-contact.pdf) if you
have any long pending grievance in regard to self-learning materials.

Wish you happy learning during your stay in the university.

You might also like