PUNE: Distance learning has always been connected with flexibility, in terms of actual distance from the institute as well as timings.

Now the learning experience gets more enhanced with the launch of virtual classrooms and online chat facility by the Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL).

The centre has introduced virtual classrooms with the objective of creating an academic faculty to guide distance learning students.

While the virtual classrooms are intended to help students attend lectures, clear queries and replay lectures if needed, the online chat sessions allow students to be in contact with the faculty and refer to questions of a particular session.

“We offer 136 different courses at present through distance learning and in Maharashtra alone we have had about 20,000 students in the last two years. We are at present planning to introduce two virtual classes everyday on different subjects, and later, we may introduce more. We are also planning to repeat some lectures on a continual basis so that students who may have missed an earlier lecture can catch up. We are not imposing any additional fee for this service on the students,” said SCDL director Swati Mujumdar.

Students wishing to avail this service will need a computer and Internet at home, and they can log on to the academic calender to check the timings of scheduled lectures.

“The concept is especially beneficial to students who are working, as they can choose flexible timings to listen to their lectures,” said Mujumdar.

Students can log on to www.scdl.net for more details.