Madhumati, founder and CEO, MPower learning Solutions, tells SHAlINI SAKSENA how to make learning more affordable and effective through various video apps that are goal-centric
What is MPower learning all aboutIJ Its USP...
MPower learning is an educational services organisation that focuses on building conceptual clarity and strong application skills for students between the age of 14-25 years. It’s product — Videos2learn app — is a five-minute learning video series designed for various programmes which are goal-centric like clearing tests or getting a job. These learning sessions, cater to engineering students through sub categories like maths, physics and chemistry. The app renders very well in phones with larger screen size/tablets. The product, developed after months of research and with lots of inputs from the student community, is a game changer, and a crucial differentiator in a heavy cluttered and highly competitive market.
How does one make learning effective, accessible and affordableIJ
Our mission is to make ‘learning effective, accessible and affordable’ through deployment of quality content using appropriate technology on handheld gadgets. The company has developed cost effective, scalable, and robust training solutions for students even in the smaller cities where good teachers are hard to come by and there is no standardised delivery of content. This means that the majority of the youth market has inadequate access to learning. We tap the untapped youth market.
How will digital space help make better classroomsIJ
According to Internet and Mobile Association of India (IMAI) survey, India has an overall user base of 150 million. According to a study by McKinsey and Co, by 2015, the overall Internet penetration is likely to reach 28 per cent, rural penetration is likely to be nine per cent, that will be as many as 500 million people. Also, among the age segments, 15-24 years of age group has been the fastest growing age segment online.
With the entry of tablets and smartphones, digital usage has seen tremendous increase in popularity. The portable factor makes them irresistible for the youth to remain connected on the go. The advantage of using audio-visual enhances the learning and makes it more interesting for users. The e-learning platform is gaining popularity in schools in India. Teachers are incorporating it in their curriculum to make the classroom a more engaging and interactive session.
With more and more people hooked on to the Internet and a surge in students getting on to the social networking platform, the graphical and multi-media content empowers students to study and excel with better grades. With the technological boom, people are adopting to the idea of smart phones and even tablets in the rural areas. Hence, MPower learning solutions bridges the gap between brick-and-mortar classroom teaching through the appropriate use of technology.
Some solutions to make learning effectiveIJ
Videos, e-books, web tests to applications, all have been created to help the student community learn better and effectively. Short online courses with teachers explaining varied concepts on the e-commerce platform helps students assimilate information better. Gone are the days when students only studied or prepared for exams by just studying the textbooks.
We have developed 750 videos for students taking the JEE Mains. Then there is Campus2 Corporate (a finishing school product) with about 60-plus videos and Word Power (vocabulary building) with about 500 words and 150 videos.
Growth of m-learning industryIJ
M-learning sector will have a total value of Rs87 billion by the end of 2016, according to recent statistics. The concept has brought a strong portability by replacing books and notes with small RAMs, filled with tailored learning contents for student communities. With budget tablets and smartphones, technology is available at a very low cost to the students and hence there is a huge potential in the country with regards to m-learning.
How do students in rural areas benefit from m-learningIJ
The concept of m-learning has brought a strong portability by replacing books and notes. The Videos2learn app that is available at a nominal price of Rs 99 for a month. Word Power is a free module which can be availed by simply downloading the application to the desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Rural areas do face a problem when it comes to connectivity, however, for Videos2learn, Internet connection is required only when the user is downloading the application.
Once the application is downloaded and paid for, the modules can be watched without Internet usage. Students can also use their pre-paid balance on their phones and download it for a week for only Rs 25.
Fee for the services...
To avail these modules (except Videos2learn Word Power which is free) for a month, it would cost a aspirant Rs 99 for one month, Rs 249 for three months, Rs449 for six months and Rs 899 for a year. So, a student in Class XI can prepare for the entire year for less than Rs1,000. We also have an inaugural offer of Rs150 instead of Rs 249 for math, physics and chemistry for three months.