1. DIGITAL INFORMATION SOURCES, RESOURCES AND E-LEARNING : SCOPE AND CHARACTERISTICS

2. In general, raw data that (1) has been verified to be accurate and timely, (2) is specific and organized for a purpose, (3) is presented within a context that gives it meaning and relevance, and which (4) leads to increase in understanding and decrease in uncertainty. The value of information lies solely in its ability to affect a behavior, decision, or outcome. A piece of information is considered valueless if, after receiving it, things remain unchanged.dataaccurate organizedcontextleads uncertaintyvalue of informationabilitybehaviordecision receiving INFORMATION

3.  Facts, data, or instructions in any medium or form.data medium  The meaning that a human assigns to data by means of the known conventions used in their representation.  A collection of facts or data.  The act of informing or the condition of being informed; communication of knowledge.

4. DDigital information, estimates analog data using only ones and zeros. DDigital information can be copied, edited, and moved without losing any quality. DIGITAL INFORMATION

5. INFORMATION SOURCE  "Source" means the origin of something. An information source is a source of information for somebody, i.e. anything that might inform a person about something or provide knowledge to somebody. Information sources may be observations, people, speeches, documents, pictures, organizations etc. They may be primary sources, secondary sources, tertiary sources and so on.information primary sourcessecondary sourcestertiary sources

6. DIGITAL INFORMATION SOURCES (DIS) Where Information stored in digital formats and retrieved over distributed networks, is known as Digital Information Source. These DIS are stored on different kind of storage devices in high end computers and servers.

8. Comparative study of traditional information sources and digital information sources Traditional information source Here forms and contents are inseparable One information source can be accessed by only one user at any given point of time Supports limited search facilities Access is limited by time and space Only metadata (related to source) is search Digital information source Here contents can be detached from the form Digital information source available over a distributed network can be accessed by many users simultaneously Supports sophisticated search operators Access is independent of time and space Both metadata and full- text contents are searchable

9. Potential Benefits of Digital Information Sources Digital Information infrastructure brings the library to the user Digital Information infrastructure supports sophisticated searching and browsing Digital Information can be shared Digital Information sources are easier to keep current Digital Information sources always available New forms of information become possible

10. Digital Information Resources (DIR)

11. Digital information resources are those resources whose deal with both born digital and digitized materials which can be either accessible from library’s in house database or from the world-wide- web, the born digital materials includes; e -books, e-journal, e-news paper, e-magazine, thesis, dissertations, reports, website, www -resources and other related materials which can be considered necessary by the user, researcher, informational professional or even by the library management itself;

12. on the other hand digitized materials means converting the materials from other format into digital format; in that case materials must have preserve the copy right law, for both the born digital and digitized format, some resources will be permissible to furnish information in full text and others will be limited to metadata and some resources will be freely accessible for anyone from anywhere in the world and others will have limited accessibility due to the library’s policy and for cost related issues and also for the authentification.

13. Advantages of DIR Access to information is instant Effective searching is possible for a required information Digital information resources can be easily networked Digitized information can be made available to any one at anywhere at minimal cost and its source does not get exhausted by unlimited use

14. Advantages of DIR Presentation of information through digital resources can be done within a reasonable time with speed and ease Multiple access to digital resources is possible

15. Advantages of DIR Downloading of the required information is very easy It develops a distributed learning environment by which all the users can be benefited at a time

16. Advantages of DIR Remote access to information is possible Large volume of data can be stored in the digital resources and made accessible to the users Information transfer can be done with speed and accuracy Addition of information to the collection of digital resources is faster Cataloguing, editing, referring, indexing, etc. can be done with ease and speed

17. Advantages of DIR The quality of information service can be improved and maintained through digital resources Education and training can be provided through digital resources effectively Career planning and related information can be accessible through digital resources effectively

18. Disadvantages of DIR Searching or consultation of digital information resources is machine dependent It is difficult to consult longer texts online These require special arrangement for maintenance and preservation

19. EVALUATION OF DIR Ten point criteria for evaluation of DIR  Author  Publisher  Accuracy  Date  Bias  Evidence (external)  Links to  Links from  Expert review  Print sources

20. E-LEARNING

21. Meaning E-learning sometimes referred to a computer based training or on-line distance education. It also refers to structured, computer enabled learning carried out by individuals or groups, outside of a physical classroom over the internet or internal network. Thus, e- learning is a new mode of learning which is facilitated and supported through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT).

22. Types of E-learning Synchronous e-learning Asynchronous e-learning

23. Synchronous e-learning This is a computer assisted e- learning environment where the instructor and learners are both involved in the course, class or lesson at the same time (That is why it is called synchronized). Web conferencing is an example of synchronous e-learning where the learners can log on and interact with the instructor and /or other learners can interact at multiple facilities or locations.

24. Asynchronous e-learning Computer assisted training where the instructor and learners are involved in the course, class or lesson at different times (That is why it is called asynchronous). Web based training, electronic bulletin Boards, blogs and e-mail lesson are the examples of this kind. Asynchronous method allow learners to access training materials anytime, even when other students and/or instructors are not present

25. Benefits of e-learning Instructional effectiveness Cost effectiveness Ability to reach more learners Provides learners the new opportunity to direct their own learning Convenience to learners

26. DIFFERENT LEARNING SYSTEMS E-Learning System or simply e- learning Digital Learning Environment (DLE) Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Managed Learning Environment (MLE) Blended Learning

27. CONCLUSION Now a days Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) are used to support e-learning. This refers to various kinds of online interactions that take place between instructors and learners. This also provide appropriate architectures and tools for an e-learning environment where tutors can easily produce, offer, assess, manage their course and learners can assess materials and learn online at their convenience.