According to data, India is set to have the largest workforce in the world by the year 2027, with the youth front-lining as the key player of change. MANOJ CHAWLA tells us more
Here is a statement that we have heard time and again- Technology has changed the way we look at the world. Technology has seeped into our lives on microscopic levels and has surpassed being just a tool for communication. Now, the way we use technology is responsible for the seismic shift of the global industry and is bringing forth a new industrial revolution. It has transformed into a tool for change and advocacy by being the instrument that enables small businesses to bring forth a new era of business and operations. Most important is its contribution to changing the norms of education and rebuilding it to promote accessibility and connectivity.
Education is at the forefront of all big and small changes across the globe, and it only makes sense that every year, several families move across the country to give their children access to the best education possible. The Census of India 2001 recorded that approximately 2.9 million people migrated to other parts of the country solely for education purposes. Subsequently, the 2011 census showed that 13.9 million people had migrated for education purposes with Delhi and Mumbai being the most densely populated by migrants.
All this data points to a trend, India more than ever is growing increasingly aware of the ecosystem of education and that people are willing to move mountains to provide the best education for the generations to come.
But what happens for the students who do not have the luxury and resources to move to a tier-1 city? This is where major ed-tech companies of the country are taking strides to make education accessible to all. And their main weapon- The internet.
Confronting the digital divide The fourth industrial revolution is upon us. But are the students ready for the changes that this new era will bring upon us? Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Augmented Reality, and Blockchain are words we see all over the internet but are students ready to see past the use of these terminologies as mere buzzwords and embrace the changes that they will bring forth in the years to come? These concepts have already made their way to the students of Tier-1 cities but might not be as accessible to students from tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
According to data, India is set to have the largest workforce in the world by the year 2027, with the youth front-lining as the key player of change. To ensure the students are ready for the industry, the education playing field needs to be levelled out. However, the digital divide widens the gaps and makes it harder for tier-2 and tier-3 cities to have an equal playing field. The Azim Premji institute recorded that approximately 60 per cent of the Indian population doesn’t have equal access to online modes of education.
It is important to acknowledge that e-learning isn’t always accessible to all because of various reasons like connectivity, speed, access to quality devices, income levels, as well as understanding in English (the predominant language used by EdTech). Hence, it is important to address the challenges of the masses, by exploring the possibilities by providing an interactive multi-lingual learning environment, which provides the same learning experience across devices with or without connectivity on all types of learning material. Such technology should cater to the need for learning with a mixed blend of Self-paced, Live classes, eBooks, Assignments, as well as Assessments.
Leveraging Education technology for equal opportunity
Often, catching up to the technology of the future is a privilege one cannot afford when the current technology is failing them. Providing solutions where content can be distributed on an encrypted Memory Card/USB drive or providing the option to securely download content for offline viewing is one way that major EdTech companies are tackling this issue.
Learning Management Systems (LMS), hosted on the cloud, provide for multi-device support, especially when some schools have only one computer and several students have access to limited infrastructure, and one tablet/phone at home with synchronisation across multiple devices.
The videos are transcoded (a process by which the same content is available in multiple resolutions), and the system detects the appropriate quality based on bandwidth at the student’s end, thus avoiding video buffering.
The credibility of online assessments is now possible by enabling a recent innovation of the Aeroplane mode of assessments. A more advanced method is to have integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled proctoring software.
And with the diverse languages that are spoken across India, a one-click switch over to the language of choice is much sought now.
The recent pandemic has stimulated unprecedented innovation within the education sector. There is a newfound appreciation for digital education, which has accelerated the paradigm shift in the way of learning. We’ve now taken steps to reach the ‘New Normal’. In such a Mobile First and Always Connected world, it is equally critical to ensure that we address the challenges of a vast and diverse country like India and provide equal learning opportunities to all.
The writer is is Chief Business Officer at Tribyte Technologies