New Delhi: If you are a student of Delhi University (DU), you have one more reason to look forward to your classes. Videos, animation, simulation and virtual labs are all set to supplement the learning process and make it fun.

A.K. Bakshi, director of the Institute of Lifelong Learning (ILL) which was launched by the university last year to promote e-learning, said the initiative was aimed at supplementing classroom learning and encouraging better understanding of subjects.

"There is something called blended learning. There are times when a teacher can't explain everything on the blackboard. With this initiative of animation and visuals, the understanding of a subject will become clearer," Bakshi told IANS.

"Moreover, this is in sync with the present times. Today, if you ask a student to research something, he will, in all possibility, do a Google search on the internet rather than go to the library," he added.

E-learning material in 10 disciplines, including life sciences, physics, chemistry, maths and English, will be uploaded on ILL's portal, which is still under construction.

For instance, if you are a chemistry student and have learned about a particular experiment in your textbook, the video clip of the experiment in the virtual lab on ILL's portal will give you a clear idea of how to go about the reaction in the laboratory.

Similarly, for a student doing a bachelor of arts course, a storytelling session in which language and vocabulary is simplified and explained will supplement classroom learning to a great deal.

"Hopefully learning material on some of the subjects, not all 10 of them, will be uploaded by the beginning of the next academic year. But before that we will issue reading material in print form so as to help students utilise the full potential of the portal," said Bakshi.

There have been some technical challenges.

"Work, both in terms of content and technicality, is going on. However, there are challenges. Work has started in both the north and the south campuses (of the university), and connecting the two so that the benefit of this project reaches all is a challenge, technically," he said.

But, overall, Bakshi said that teachers are quite excited with this project and are eager to "change the face of learning".

"More and more professors of Delhi University are coming forward to be part of this project. It's like a movement. We are starting with undergraduate courses and then probably will work on postgraduate courses.

"Hopefully, better understanding of subjects and an interesting way of learning will encourage more students to take up research," said Bakshi. IANS