From radio to YouTube, it is classes as unusual during lockdown.

Ranchi University has started using its community Radio Khanchi to broadcast lectures by professors. These broadcasts are also uploaded on YouTube.

“Besides the normal broadcast of two-and-a-half hours from 11.30am, we are now broadcasting lectures for two more hours every evening from 6pm,” said Anand Kumar Thakur, a zoology professor and director of Radio Khanchi.

He added they had recorded about 30 lectures on botany, zoology, history, political science, physics and biotechnology. “YouTube lectures are downloadable,” he added. “Professors use Hinglish, a mix of Hindi and English, as most of our students are from rural backgrounds.”

Shaonli Mahapatra, a BCom final year student of the Amity University in Ranchi, said they attend e-classes. RKDF University has also begun taking e-classes, thanks to its registrar Amit Kumar Pandey, said biotech teacher Nilu Kumari. “Teachers send students notes in PDF and PPT formats via e-mail or WhatsApp too.”

In Dhanbad, Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University will soon launch online classes for undergraduate and postgraduate students of its 10 constituent and 20 affiliated colleges across Dhanbad and Bokaro, vice chancellor Anjani Kumar Srivastava said on Tuesday. Principal of PK Roy Memorial College Dhanbad, B.K. Sinha has been appointed as nodal officer to ensure course materials are online. The dean of students’ welfare of BBMKU, L.B. Singh will monitor online classes. Sinha said students will be able to access course material by logging on to www.pkrmc.ac.in in a couple of days.