Matters India Reporter
Sonada, May 1, 2020: In the wake of extended and potentially prolonged lock down due to corona virus pandemic, Radio Salesian and Salesian TV offer broadcast and podcast lessons prepared for the syllabus of University of North Bengal’s (NBU) Under Graduate and Post Graduate programs.
The virtual launch of ‘Radio Edu Pods’ – the mass education project for college students – an initiative of Radio Salesian 90.8 FM and Salesian TV was held, 1st May 2020 in the virtual presence of NBU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Subires Bhattacharyya, NBU Registrar Dr. Dilip Kumar Sarkar, NBU Secretary of Under Graduate Council Dr Nupur Das and Principal of Salesian College Sonada/Siliguri Dr. (Fr.) George Thadathil.
The radio lessons are available with free access 24×7 on Salesian TV YouTube Channel from 1st May 2020. The Monday to Friday 6 pm Radio broadcast on 90.8 FM and web transmissions at 6.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m. on “Listen2MyRadio” App will start from 4th May 2020.
All radio lessons for 2nd and 4th semester syllabus will be available on SALESIAN TV YouTube Channel, as soon as they are submitted by the faculty.
“This no-cost mode of teaching and learning which reaches maximum number of students at any given time is offered by faculty members of NBU colleges,” says Director of Radio Salesian and HoD of Journalism & Mass Communication Fr. C. M. Paul inviting NBU faculty members to keep sending lessons for as many topics as possible.
Departments currently featured in Salesian TV YouTube Channel are: English, Bengali, Mass Communication, Sociology, History, Philosophy and B.Voc. More subjects and lessons will be available in the coming days.
“The digital technology of using radio lessons on ‘Salesian TV’ YouTube channel which allows 24×7 access of the lessons, is boon to student community both in the hills and plains,” said Dr Thadathil who is also president of All India Association of Christian Higher Education complimenting Radio Salesian and Salesian TV Teams in offering this technology to faculty and student community which has suffered suspension of classes since 16 March 2020.
“The procedure of preparing lessons for radio is very simple,” explains Radio Salesian Program Director RJ Samir.
“All you have to do is to keep the lessons simple and focused, short and crisp, breaking it down to modules of 10 to 15 minutes duration and record it on a mobile phone’s digital recorder,” says RJ Samir.
“The secret of getting a clean and perfect audio,” RJ Samir adds, “Is to record the entire lesson in a closed room (bedroom) which has curtains and minimum of ambient noise.”
“In the plains, the summer heat and swirling noise of the fan will definitely affect audio quality, hence it is advisable to record in a quiet and cool corner,” suggests RJ Samir.
“Other than language subjects,” he says, “it is advisable that lessons are delivered in English language.”
The recorded audio file could be send on WhatsApp number 8918343658 to RJ Samir for packaging and broadcast.
Radio Salesian 90.8 FM – the Voice of the Hills – established in 2016 is the only college campus radio of North Bengal and entire northeast India.
There are 64 colleges (Darjeeling-Kalimpong-30, Jalpaiguri-16, Cooch Bihar-4, Alipurduar-12, Uttar Dinajpur-2) affiliated to NBU offering 169 courses in 11 streams with some 30 faculty departments and 20 specializations. Some 1.13 lakhs NBU students are spread over both the hills and plains of 6 districts of North Bengal.