AMR APARD eLearning ProjectProgramme/Project innovative

1. Computer Based Tutorials: About AMR-APARD :

The Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural  Development (APARD) has been working relentlessly for over 58 years in building capacities for sustainable development of the rural poor. APARD is an apex training institute in AP for capacity building of rural development officers and panchayat raj officials. We also consistently focus on research that helps us offer high quality consulting services in rural development. The academy also has a consistent focus on research and innovation in rural development, it undertakes need-driven research and evaluation studies as part of its own operations strategy and also for other organizations and agencies working in the field rural development. With in-depth understanding of rural conditions, problems and opportunities, and its extensive experience working with rural communities, APARD also provide high quality development consulting and project management services in rural development to government and leading national and international clients.With an aim to generate efficient and high quality manpower working towards the cause of rural development, APARD has now forayed into education services by offering comprehensive educational courses in Rural development.

APARD Computer Based Tutorials (CBTs)

1. Integrated district planning 2. Scheduled grama panchayati Sarpanch training 3. Agro Techniques for dry land crops 4. Sarpanch training CBT – 1 5. Grama sabha (english) CBT -1 & 2 6. CNRM watershed management – telugu vision labs 17. IDP VOL 2 8

8. Plan Plus 49. IWMP 110. Integrated District Planning Disc 1 - 811.Plan Plus Disc 1 - 212. Integrated District Planning Disc 1 - 313. Integrated Watershed Management Disc 114.Mandal Praja Parishad President's Training Disc 115.Visual Docemnt on RC Puram Disc 116.e-Panchayat Disc 117.Visual Docemnt on Hazipalli - telugu Disc 118.Visual Docemnt on Hazipalli - english Disc 119.Grama Sabha Campaign Disc 120.Visual Docemnt on Gangadevipalli Disc 121.Development of powers- Rural water supply Disc 122.CSE & E CBT 3-3-2010 Disc 123.Film on PMES Disc 1

Capacity Building Services:A time tested multi-pronged approach is being adopted by APARD for several years, to reach the huge target of 2.61 Lakh elected representatives. Training is imparted through both Direct Mode and through Cascading modes. Distance Mode of Training through centrally located studio (located at Hyderabad) using Ku band Satellite transmission facility is being adopted to reach Village Level Functionaries of various departments. This approach helps us cover huge groups of targeted participants and also reduces costs. Direct Training Programs are arranged for all key functionaries at APARD, 5 Extension Training Centres and at district levels. Direct training is imparted for a period of 3 to 6 days at APARD and ETCs.Cascading Mode of Training is adopted for bigger groups like Ward Members and other grass root level functionaries. A system of identifying suitable trainers, who can handle training sessions are selected from NGOs, Retired Officials, former members of Mandal Parishad Presidents and other Panchayat Raj staff. These Trainers are subjected to rigorous training at APARD in using Participatory methodologies for training the elected representatives. Cascading Mode of training is imparted for a period of 2 to 3 days at mandal head quarters, where batches of 35-40 functionaries are organised.

2. APARD Knowledge Commons:

APARD’s Knowledge Commons provides a platform for instant access to highly interactive and interesting Computer Based Tutorials, e books, presentations, research papers and a host of other valuable educative resources on virtually all aspects of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj

Administration. Knowledge Commons offers a self-paced, on-demand, high-quality training environment designed to meet the individual training needs of all the users. This e-learning solution ensures the learning process easy, highly interesting and reaches large number of users.

Some of the advantages claimed for Knowledge Commons systems are:

1. Sharing of valuable organizational information throughout the academy hierarchy.

2. Can avoid re-inventing reducing redundant work.3. Reduces training time for new employees4. Retention of Intellectual Property after the employee leaves if such knowledge

can be codified. 5. Self-Paced Learning

3. Panchayati Raj Comprehensive Help Line:

Offers access to information, advice or service via Telephone and Web.Our goal is to create a platform that we can use to set up a unique way to collect and visualize information for monitoring. The core platform is designed so that it can be customized for different locales and needs. The beta version platform an open source application is made available as a continuous handholding support to offer solutions to the problems that occur in day to day administration of Panchayat Raj Institutions. It is also being used to disseminate information related to various rural development programmes. It also helps as a tool for internal monitoring or visualization purposes. This is a comprehensive helpline can reach in several ways such as asking information of Gos of Panchayat Raj,want to know about Gram panchayat and genral body activities, Annual report etc..,file complaint and sending /calling for queries/request to know about the Panchayat Raj Acts.by Telephone and Web.

4. APARD Wiki :

Wikis provide opportunities for trainees to collaborate with other Peers, share what they have learned, and become a centralized online resource as educators. This technology tool is ideal and used for project-based learning,

cross curricular projects in teams, and thematic units. One advantage of Wikis in collaborative projects is that they are online. Participants can demonstrate their Knowledge by providing information which fits within specific parameters on the Wiki. Wiki can be used as Online Resources for training use. A list of websites that provided appropriate information related to subject content is provided by the developer for trainee use during the year. Wiki is also used to store files, images, videos,News Letters,Publications and other information in a special access controlled area of the Wiki. Apard Wiki is collaborative with digital e-learing environment of Apard activities like Grama Sabha,sakshar bharath and also with Learning Management System(LMS)

5. APARD BULK SMS:

APARD has recently embarked on a community empowerment initiative,Viz,, KEYCAP (Link) which requires continuous contact with large number of village level volunteers called Bharat Nirman Volunteers. For this APARD has commenced a Bulk SMS Service to send frequent updates to these Volunteers. Bulk sms system has many advantages over the free sms services offered by various services providers whose services are limited and unsecure. We canreach our vast target group of over 2000 Bharat Nirman Volunteers in lab to land programme at a time and by march2012 We can reach our vast target group of over 10,000 Bharat Nirman Volunteers in lab to land programme at a time

Since Lab to Land envisages an effective communication strategy to create awareness among the BNV’s, this system bulk sms facility is greatly helping the APARD to reach the large numbers at comparatively lower prices.

6. APARD You Tube Channel:

APARD website carries a link to the You Tube channel in which all the video lessons/documentary films developed by APARD are made available. Content on various subjects related to rural development is

made available for public 520 training videos are uploaded on to you tube and Daily Update will be done.

7. Social Networking: AMR-APARD Facebook AMR-APARD Twitter

APARD has been making the best use of social networking site like Facebook, and twitter to create a social group of rural development functionaries to share their job experiences and knowledge for effective functioning and for adopting good governance practices. A link to these social networking sites is provided on the home page of APARD website. Daily updates are available on Facebook and Twitter with all activities donein Rural Development of Andhra Pradesh.

8. Distance Education Programme Information Monitoring System:

APARD telecasts its distance education programmes through SAPNET MANA TV (Ku Band Transmission) to consolidate the learning of various functionaries including elected representatives. With the help of Department of IT & C, APARD had established 1097 Receive Only Terminals(RoT) in the Office of the Mandal Parishad. This is a two way audio and one way video interactive system which enables the participants who are present at RoT station to interact with subject matter experts in the TV Studio through a live phone-in programme. This system is a very effective tool in reaching large number of trainees at one go and ensures quality delivery of training content. In order to monitor the training attendance at various RoT Points, APARD has developed an MIS application and it helps regular monitoring of the training delivery. This seeks to develop a knowledge and understanding of rural policy making and management approaches to gross roots community,developmentand capacity building , with skills to design and implement sustainable projects with effective tools and methods.

9. Sthanika Palana e magazine:

It is a 64 page multi - colour Telugu Monthly Magazine. The focus of the magazine is to enhance the knowledge base of the elected representatives and official functionaries working with the PRIs. The magazine features the topics related to Panchayat Raj, Financial Management, RD Programs, Disaster Management, Environment, Land and Poor, Women and Child welfare, Social Equity and Empowerment, Natural Resource Management and many such subjects. It also carries certain articles of general interest like short stories, cartoons etc. APARD Sthanika Palana monthly e Magazine in e book format is made available on APARD website for public viewing. The Circulation of the hard copy of the magazine is 27,000 copies every month and it Reaches all the Sarpanches, MPPs, ZP Chairpersons, CEOs, District Collectors, HODs, Principal Secretaries, Hon’ble Ministers , CMO, MPsMLAs, MLCs , District Level Officers

10. Video Conference:

In order to reach large number participants especially from the grassroots level, APARD has leveraged the ICT tools and established video conference facility with state of the art digital teaching equipment. Through this video conference facility APARD has established virtual connectivity with all the 22 District Head Quarters and 5 Extension Training Centres. The video conference facility is made available in 3 types 1) ISDN (connected to all SIRDs across the country) 2) Special Lease line to ETCs through Rail Tel 3) BSNL Lease Line to all district head quarters. APARD faculty regularly conducts training sessions through this facility and interact with various participants. This system not only helps in the training delivery but also helps as a management tool to review and monitor the training delivery at District and Sub Distirct levels with the Chief Executive Officers of Zilla Parishads and District Panchayat Officers.

Achievements Programme/Project innovative

1. The website was in static condition during 2009 that time presenting the same content to all of them. It is not possible to provide the most appropriate or suited content for each of these visitors or visitor

groups, however the site was made dynamic in 2011 using open source technologies.

2. During 2010 the website has won an award from Public Relations Society of India, Hyderabad Chapter .

3. The site covers video sessions for distance learning who are keen to learn further. The site is also within the reach of other countries who are regularly accessing it for their needs.

4. Intel, a Multinational computer chip manufacturing company which came to know about BNVs work through APARD website, has appreciated the excellent work being done in our state. Sri Srinivas, Senior Vice-President, Intel has provided 100 laptops to AMR-APARD that can used for Lab to Land - KEYCAP programme.the rural youth ‘Bharath Nirman Volunteers ‘are making best use of these laptops to maintain the database relates to the villages .these BNVs are regularly posting their updates by using this laptops . The initiative has obliterated the digital decide among rural and urban areas .The BNVs are utilizing this laptops functions many activities like internet browsing ,video chat is the peers in other villages , through which lot of cross learning is happening among them.

5. e-India Awards 2011 Special Jury award was won.

Implementing the Programme/Project innovative

1. Initially the site was hosted through outside agency and were completely dependent on them, but recently it is being hosted on its own servers and manned by its staff itself.

2. Recruitment was earlier through offline mode like manual, but now through software it is made online basis.

3. The overall servers and computer lab is now using open source technologies and is implemented in the Institute going with new trends.