Course Introduction
OS-CIT is an Information Technology (IT) literacy course started by OKCL in the year 2011. It is the most popular IT Literacy course in Odisha. In this World of Gig economy, 21st Century, most of the new actionable knowledge is being digitally born (often through digital collaborations), digitally stored, digitally presented, digitally distributed, digitally accessed, digitally archived and managed. It only seems natural that it has become an essential part of one’s personal, professional and social life. It has also transformed the way of living in 21st Century.
OS-CIT attempts to propagate it through IT Awareness, Literacy, Functionality and Applicability among the common people with a view to bridge the Digital Divide and the resultant Knowledge Divide and Development Opportunity Divide. This surely makes a positive impact on one’s job-readiness, social behavior and ultimately boosts the self-confidence, enabling him/her to work effectively in the 21st Century workplace.
OS-CIT Course Delivery Framework
The Course Delivery mechanism/framework of the course is based upon 21st-century software frameworks with robust mechanisms of evidence capturing (ERA) and online evaluation system (OES).
- ERA: The learning software framework used i.e. ERA (e-Learning Revolution for All) has delivery mechanism at OKCL’s Authorized Learning Centers, student’s home, and through cloud. It is Evidence based learning, learning by doing (Process Folio), Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE), Gamification of learning, 21st Century Skills, and Learning in different languages.
- OES: Efficiency test and Certification of OS-CIT course is conducted by Odisha State Open University, Sambalpur. The test is conducted through OES (Online Evaluation System software framework) using unique black box technology. Black box technology captures frequent snapshots (every five seconds) of the candidate during the examination and notifies if the candidate moves from his/her position or takes any unscrupulous assistance from any other person.
- Assessment and Certification: Every learner goes through a dual level of assessment. There is an internal passing mark at the time of learning the course. On receipt of minimum pass mark, the learner is eligible for the final examination to be conducted by the OSOU in the online evaluation system. On successfully passing the said examination, an online certificate is issued by the OSOU, Sambalpur.
Parity of OS-CIT course
- International Parity of OS-CIT course
OS-CIT is compliant with the requirement of various international standards of basic computer literacy like the Common Core Standards, Microsoft’s Standard /Northstar Standard, European Computer Driving License (ECDL), International Computer Driving License (ICDL) and Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE).
- Comparison of OS-CIT with various other Courses mentioned in various job advertisements of Government Departments, related to requirement of ‘Computer proficiency’
A detailed comparison was given related to the course content of DCA and PGDCA semester wise wherein emphasis was made on the computer proficiency requirement, and the course content of OS-CIT was explained in a comparative manner which is richer in content and delivery mechanism as far as computer proficiency is concerned.
Similar comparison was made between the ‘CCC’ course of NIELET and DOEACC ‘O’ level and it was shown that OS-CIT is complying with all the basic requirements of computer proficiency in addition to having rich IT learning content and robust delivery mechanism and certification process.
- Adhering to recommendation of ‘Department of Electronics & Information Technology of Central Government’ for IT proficiency in recruitment rules
In February 2015, Government of India, through its Ministry of Communications & IT had proposed the basic “IT Skill competency levels” for Group A & B, C, D employees of the Government, with a note to incorporate the same in all Recruitment Rules across different service cadres throughout the State to ensure that Government employees have the relevant IT Skills as one of the mandatory qualifications for new entrants and in-service promotions in the government machinery to increase their skills, IT proficiency and productivity.
OS-CIT course content is also in compliant with the above recommendation of the Central Government.
- Different State Governments’ policy for IT proficiency in recruitment rules
State Governments like Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar, etc. have revised their Recruitment Rules and included the courses available in the market, in addition to course like OS-CIT, which are complying the basic computer proficiency requirement as per the specifications of the Central Government. This gives a precedence of quality IT education to the citizens of such states.
