Bhubaneswar, Dec. 5: Utkal University authorities are taking steps to create audiovisual content for students in the rural areas as part of the newly launched virtual tutorial project.

The aim is to create a platform to establish learning equity among tribal students in the state across disciplines at BA, BSc and BCom levels using digital technology. The tutorial project was launched on November 27.

These contents, embedded in a memory card compatible with mobile phones, tablets and computers, will be provided to colleges in the remote areas that are affiliated to the Utkal University, Berhampur University, Sambalpur University, F.M. University and the North Odisha University.

A microchip will be provided to the student, containing the course material, lecture, demonstration, problem solving workouts and so on, covering both theoretical and practical components, that can be used on multiple devices. The learning material will be available in bilingual mode (Odia and English).

"This project is expected to have far-reaching effects. Our slogan for the project is 'looking at the back of the class'," said vice-chancellor Ashok Das.

"The virtual tutorials will be a supplement to classroom teaching in colleges with inadequate teachers. The audio and video demonstrations in the virtual tutorial mode by expert teachers and through animation software is believed to go a long way in bridging the rural and urban divide in access to quality education," said Das.

Students are excited about the project. "There are huge vacancies in colleges, mostly those in the remote areas. Laboratories are in poor shape. Fieldwork is almost non-existent. The concept of project work is not well understood. College students are using smart phones and already well-acquainted with the technology and hence will have no problem in accessing the contents," said Swastik Jena, a student.

The university will bear the cost of equipment to be supplied out of the Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyaan grant. It will also control the academic aspects of course material development, identify authors, course writers and verify e-contents to be adopted. Expert teachers will prepare study materials for the topic concerned. The study material will be recorded and edited at the new studio of the university. There are also plans to develop an independent app that can be loaded into the tab which will enable the students to interact with experts.