A Critical Systemic Analysis of an On-line Teacher Education Program of ICONSENT, India: An Experiment of e-Learning in Teacher Education

Abstract

Rapid advances in information communication technology (ICT) and their applications in education have greatly influenced and changed the learning environment. The content development and the processes of learning today show a growing orientation to ICT. E-Learning is gaining prominence in satisfying the demands of emerging sophisticated global knowledge society, and also in satisfying the need for accessible, affordable quality education for all. Especially, in a country like India, where “access to quality education for all” is an issue that is being addressed to on priority, e-learning shows great promise. An alternative innovative schooling has become a need of the times and for facilitation of the new processes of learning, suitable for new generation of learners, there arises a need to have teachers who are well versed with the dynamics of facilitating learning in an online environment. // It was realized at the very beginning that educational transformation is not possible unless teacher education programs are transformed to prepare the teachers to play their pivotal role in this process of change. Indian Consortium for Educational Transformation (I-CONSENT), a voluntary organization, established by educationists and educators, not happy with the present qualitative and quantitative condition of education in India, particularly in the context of globalization and mass personalization of education, possible due to advent and applications of ICT in the field of education, has undertaken the programs and activities to form, reform and transform educational objectives and practices in this country. I-CONSENT began with the Teacher Education Program.