Traditional and digital cocreating value
GAIN SOME Coexist in a symbiotic relationship yields desired results
No nation can achieve sustainable economic development without a sound education system as its foundation. India continues to take great strides forward and this can be attributed to the transformation of its education sector. Historically reliant, almost entirely, on the traditional classroom setting, it has slowly seen a paradigm shift over the last few years. With the advent of technology and the inroads made by internet-powered smartphones, students are now supplementing their learning in the classroom through the use of mobile technology.
The traditional setting has always been a reliable means of teaching. Utilizing the individual teaching styles of students, it has fostered a bond between teacher and student. Teachers are tasked with a lot more than merely teaching curricular subjects to their students. They teach them valuable life lessons, inculcate a sense of discipline in them and also teach them to think for themselves. By assigning homework, they give students a means to improve themselves in their free time. By taking tests, they let students measure their progress. By interacting in class, they help shape student personalities. Teachers, by nature are invested in the growth and development of their students.
The advent of technology and the impact it’s had on education as a sector can be highlighted by how it has supplemented student learning in the traditional sethave ting. It is not only offering quality education to students across India, but is also helping them bypass limitations that they might face on their road to learning. Students who cannot afford to study at top institutions due to long commutes, lack of options, expensive fees, lack of seats and other reason no longer miss out on prospects they deserve. They can now use internet powered smartphones to access the content they need no matter where they are.
That’s not all. These students now get the individual attention they need to enhance the way they learn and prepare for major academic landmarks like examinations. E-learning platforms let them watch video lectures to learn curricular subject content at their own pace. The use of artificial intelligence, machine learning algorithms and Big Data software helps these platforms understand the individual strengths, weaknesses and learning abilities of students. They can then use new learning pedagogies, practise sessions and test modules to help enhance the way students think, learn and perform over a period of time. When they have any doubts, they can readily get the help of academic experts across the country any time.
India has always held education in the highest regard. Its people have always had a massive appetite for educational excellence, including those in tier-2, tier-3 cities and even many rural areas. Students across geographies today are preparing for major competitive examinations as a stepping stone to successful careers. What these students now is a holistic way of learning that leaves no areas unattended. The cost-efficient nature of e-learning has helped assimilate it into the lives of many Indian households, who already spend large sums of money on education. This explains why millions of students across the entire K-12 education spectrum are already using digital platforms.
With a population of 400 million in the school going age, the future is strong for our country. What this generation needs, is the right impetus on the road to progress. And the best way of doing this is not by pitting traditional and digital learning mediums against one another before making a choice.
The true benefit comes when both coexist in a symbiotic relationship with students and co-create value in their lives by enhancing their prospects of a brighter academic journey, and eventually, a successful career.