Best Practice II : Indigenous S/Ws & Apps

Best Practice - II

1. Title of the Practice:

Digital Sailing of SKC (Sri Kaliswari College, Sivakasi) through Indigenous Software Solutions and APPs

2. Objectives of the Practice:

Envisioning New National Educational Policy, the Institution, Sri Kaliswari College (SKC) has shifted from Traditional to Outcome Based Education and to concretise it, ICT enabled teaching-learning has become essential. To achieve this end, automation of College Administrative office and C.O.E Office has also become indispensable. Digitalisation, especially the Indigenous Software Solutions and Apps, has enabled the smooth Digital Sailing of SKC in both Academic and Administrative streams with the following objectives:

to foster ICT culture in teaching-learning.

to enhance Student Profile to global standards by monitoring performance and progress through ICT tools.

to maintain E-governance in Administration for error -free work and perpetuation of records.

3. Context:

SKC, a Self- Financing Institution, faces inadequate funding from National Educational Agencies (such as UGC, CSIR, ICSSR) towards promoting Academic/ Research Development. In such fund-starved environment, updating ICT infrastructure with huge financial investment poses a challenge. Additionally, purchased software lacks customization options. Hence the Institution has opted to develop indigenous Software Solutions and Apps, in addition to the purchased Software Solutions.

In accordance with the value framework outlined by NAAC, the Institution ardently embraces the inexorable shift towards digitalization across the entirety of Academic and Administrative domains. Hence, in the Institution, Digitalization encompasses all these domains: Administration, Teaching - Learning Process, Examination - Evaluation Procedures and Research. This digital transformation entails the increase in use of digital media and technologies for Administration, Teaching and Learning, Examination & Evaluation, Research, Communication and Support services as well as the need for Faculty and Students to develop digital skills for their current and future endeavours. Digitalization, being paperless has spun the Result publishing activity faster, better and more importantly in a dynamic and interactive way.

4. Practice

To achieve the above stated objectives, SKC has constituted a Software Team, comprising selective Faculty and Students and this team keeps working towards developing Indigenous Software Solutions and Apps. Resultantly the following Software and Apps are developed in the Institution.

Indigenous Software in Academic domain

1. NME Selection Software: Devised to empower students to select their desired courses and streamlines department-wise name list generation.

2. SKC OLMS: The Institution initially relied on Google Classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic for sharing course materials and assessments. In the subsequent academic years, the Institution launched an in-house user friendly SKC Online Learning Management System (SKC OLMS 1.0) which was later upgraded to SKC OLMS 2.0. This new system is accessible 24/7 through Internet with separate logins for Faculty and Students and can connect with multiple classrooms. Using SKC OLMS, teachers can easily create personalised classrooms and share course descriptions, course outcomes and course materials in various formats (JPEG, PDF, Doc or in Image) for promoting blended learning. SKC OLMS serves as a centralized platform for hosting Assignments and Quizzes. SKC OLMS handles both individual and bulk score release and delivers Feedback and Announcements to both individual students and the entire class. SKC OLMS facilitates Outcome-Based evaluation including tracking and grading Student progress.

3. Event Management System: Devised to streamline seamless Registration and Event Management during Intercollegiate Competitions, Seminars and Conferences at District, State and National Levels. It encompasses a range of features such as event registration, scheduling, attendee engagement and post-event analysis.

4. Automatic Bell System: Devised to ring at scheduled time to indicate the end of each Lecture Session.

Indigenous Software in Administrative Domain

1. Result Publication Software: Facilitates the secure online publication of End Semester Examination Results. Students can have access to their results through unique individual logins using their User ID and Password.

2. Online Registration and Admission Portal: Streamlines the Admission process by providing a centralized platform for Students to submit their applications, upload required documents, pay application fees online, track application status and receive notifications regarding their Admission progress.

3. Attendance Software: Simplifies the process of marking daily student attendance, reducing administrative workload.

4. Online Payment Gateway through Bill Desk, Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank: Facilitates safe and secure fee transactions like Tuition Fee, Exam Fee and Convocation Registration fee etc.

5. Alumni Web Portal: Offers a platform to facilitate a friendly interface to all Alumni to update their bio-data for job requirements, to share information about currently available job opportunities and to gain insights about the Co-Alumni’s interactive activities and their financial contribution to the Institution.

6. Co-operative Maintenance System: Facilitates Co-operative billing and Stock maintenance.

7. Complaint Management System: Streamlines the registration of complaints, documenting actions taken for resolution.

8. In-House Digital Advertisements: Create a comprehensive and cost-effective online advertising campaign that enhances the visibility of the Institution its Curricular Provisions and Infrastructural facilities and strengthens its brand reputation.

5. Evidence of Success

♦ Developed 11 cutting-edge Indigenous Software Solutions to meet specific Institutional needs.

♦ ICT-enabled classrooms create visual learning environment improving learning outcomes.

♦ State-of-the-art LCS facility enables teaching faculty to create e-content.

♦ More than 600 YouTube Videos, 83 Blogs , 95 Podcasts (audio lessons) by Faculty enable Students to relearn lessons at their pace.

♦ Online Conferences, FDPs and Webinars have been conducted regularly.

♦ Faculty use SKC OLMS for sharing study materials, uploading sample Question Papers, giving instructions related to e-Assignments and conducting e-Quizzes for all the Courses.

♦ Digital learning platform of the Institution strengthened by the Indigenous Software Solutions and Apps motivates the Students to learn and enhance their digital skill sets essential for both Higher education and Employment/Entrepreneurship.

♦ The ERP modules such as Admission Information Module, Application Module,Library Module and Fee Collection Module ease and speed up the Administrative process.
♦ Administrative Staff members are well-equipped and future-ready to incorporate changes in technology.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

♦ Rural students face financial constraints to avail Internet facility and to buy electronic devices. It hampers access to online resources, limiting participation in ICT learning methods.

♦ Resistance and Adaptation challenges may arise, especially among non- computer Faculty and Supportive Staff.

Digital Sailing of SKC through Indigenous Software Solutions and APPs

Digital Sailing of SKC through Indigenous Software Solutions and APPs
Sri Kaliswari College (SKC) Software Team
Softwares Developed by SKC Software Team
Screenshots of Softwares Developed by SKC Software Team
Manuals for the Softwares Developed by SKC Software Team
Landing Page to the Softwares Developed by SKC Software Team