Online learning has revolutionized the way we think about education. With the right tools and resources, anyone can now access high-quality education from the comfort of their own home. IIT Madras and NPTEL have joined forces to launch seven new online courses in Sports Science, specially tailored for the Indian and South Asian body structures and cultural nuances.
The courses, scheduled to begin on February 19, 2023, are accessible through SWAYAM, India’s national MOOCs portal. These courses include topics such as biomechanics, injury prevention, sports psychology, strength training for Indians, and cultural aspects of sports. Through this initiative, IITs are reaching out and bringing education to people’s homes.
Andrew Thangaraj, Coordinator, NPTEL, IIT Madras, said, “These NPTEL courses aim to equip learners to understand how to enhance performance, monitor diet and training frequencies, formulate recovery programs, and offer a holistic approach to sports science.”
Mahesh Panchagnula, Co-Principal Investigator, Centre of Excellence, Sports Science and Analytics, IIT Madras, stated, “These courses are for everyone. This is for anybody who is an enthusiast, a sports person, or interested in topics like strengthening, fitness, conditioning, sports, nutrition, and psychology.”
Teachers, coaches, trainers, physiotherapists, and nutritionists can all benefit from this course. Upon completion of five core courses and two elective courses, attendees will receive a domain certification in Sports Science.
NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) is a joint venture of the IITs and IISc launched in 2003 and funded by the Ministry of Education of the Government of India. It started as a project to bring quality education to all corners of the country, but now offers more than 600 courses for certification in 22 disciplines each semester. Through this platform, anyone outside the IIT System can take an online certification course from NPTEL and receive a certificate from the IITs.
This initiative by IIT Madras and NPTEL is an excellent way for teachers to stay updated on the latest trends in Sports Science and help their students to perform better. With the help of these courses, educators can bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical applications.
