College Radio as a Mechanism for Participatory Learning: Exploring Scope for Radio Based Learning among Undergraduates

Naveen Mishra,Bahaeldin Ibrahim

doi:10.29333/ojcmt/2579

Abstract

This paper explores the prospects of online college radio at Sur College of Applied Sciences, its need among students and the possible scope of its contributions to student learning, engagement and community service. It explores the method of developing a holistic mechanism to capture the possibilities of maximizing learning experience by employing college radio as an educational tool to understand the micro-dynamics and localized necessities that deem it necessary or unnecessary. Through this, it attempts to locate an appropriate mechanism, and targeted use of the college radio in contributing to the learning outcomes and educational experience of the students. The study finds considerable scope for radio based learning at Sur College of Applied Sciences across a range of uses and gratification indicators consistent with the primary objectives of the college. The study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of the findings, and the pedagogical significance of the college radio as an alternative.

Highlights

Many scholarly studies have established the importance of college radio in student learning and development and argue for the need for a participatory approach to knowledge sharing and dissemination with the help of new media (Cheatham2008, Copley 2007, Johnson 2008, Merrill 2008, Read 2005, Yu 1995, Zwibelman&Rayfield 1982)
Participatory media production and consumption too has proved to affect the self-learning and training abilities and its effects on retaining and using information have been widely documented.This paper aims to explore the prospects ofcollegeonline radio, hereafter referred as college radio, at Sur Collegeof Applied Sciences,its need among students and the possible scope of its contributions to student learning, information dissemination, engagement and community service
This research tried to measure the possibility of introducing radio and its probable acceptance among students,using limited yet reasonable indicators.The focus of this study was to explore the need for radio at Sur College of Applied Sciences

Summary

Introduction

Many scholarly studies have established the importance of college radio in student learning and development and argue for the need for a participatory approach to knowledge sharing and dissemination with the help of new media (Cheatham2008, Copley 2007, Johnson 2008, Merrill 2008, Read 2005, Yu 1995, Zwibelman&Rayfield 1982). The need for this study stems from the desire to exploring the fresh dimensions in strengthening the pedagogical mechanism for enhanced learning experience for students It aims to explore the method of developing a holistic mechanism to capture the possibilities of maximizing learning experience by employing college radio as an educational tool. In addition to traditional educational and learning approaches, employing radio as an instructional medium can redefine the learning experience, have integrative effects, trigger active participation, enhance educational experience and maximize community engagement.Every mass media is space and culture bound which implies that while technically its reach may not be spatially bound, its functions and responsibilities may be, and so will be its roles and challenges depending upon the nature of the target community and its expected reach and functions.In this case, the envisaged college radio is to be limited to the Sur CAS campus with a target community of approximately 900undergraduate students, teachers and administrative staff.Against the existing scholarship, while it can be comfortably argued that college radio can be a great learning medium for student development, its viability and scope especially in the local context deserve thorough investigation to documentthe possible achievements and challenges that may emerge during its operation, and to devise a framework that delivers maximum benefits while feeding into the key objectives of the college aimed at holistic growth of the student community

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion