Decoding Edtech- the tenet for success lies in personalisation

Edtech in India has been a catalyst in offering uninterrupted learning for the last two years and reshaping the fundamentals of the Indian education system. While online learning was not a novel concept in India, the technological footprint witnessed a huge boost during the pandemic enabling improved access and an easy exchange of ideas and concepts. Not only did it alter the ways students learn but also developed the instruction delivery mechanisms that plagued conventional schooling in the country.

While the world inches back to normalcy and schools reopen, more than 90% of students believe that online education will continue to supplement traditional classroom learning.  Parents and teachers are also cognisant of the benefits that online education offers and are increasingly leaning towards a hybrid approach that is ingrained now in the education system. With 36% of India young and learning, edtech is poised for strong growth and at the core of it lies its ability to personalize education and standardize the access to quality learning resources.

Here’s a rundown on how personalized learning is reshaping the education landscape and creating a more effective learning environment -

• Flexibility - Flexibility has been the biggest merit of online education. The ability to access education from anywhere, anytime has benefitted not only students but teachers as well. Empowered by flexibility in gathering information, tutors in smaller towns and cities are increasingly getting equipped with the latest technology to deliver better.  This also enables education to continue despite disruptions like long distances, lack of infrastructure, access to feasible time and place and even a pandemic.

• Access  - Unlike the traditional setting where all students were exposed to similar learning tools, online learning has opened unfiltered access to diverse, customized and high quality learning resources that students can access at their convenience and accelerate their development. Brainly, in India comprises 48 million questions and answers across subjects and grades that are available for free to students.

• Convenience: Online education is not defined by the one size fits all technique which leads to extreme pressure, shorter attention spans and gaps in learning. Every student learns at a different pace and has distinct interests and skills. Digital tools enable students to look out for courses that suit their sensibilities and attention. Availability of customized materials not only widens the overall learning possibilities but helps the pupils achieve better academic goals.

• Innovation - Multiple formats like gamification, AR and VR, as personalization tools are gaining prominence in digital learning. Integrating a learning situation with a game or offering automated solutions have the potential to stir curiosity and boost engagement among students who seek differentiated formats for learning. Students can opt for gamified or visually immersive solutions to turn something monotonous into something intriguing and thereby garner motivation.

• Comfort of language - In a culturally diversified nation like ours, language is critical to learning. Online education champions this further by providing the opportunity to learn in a language of comfort that aids understanding and attention. On Brainly learning app, the world’s most extensive knowledge reserve is available across Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, and Sanskrit for Indian students.

If there’s a propitious moment to witness the impact of technology in learning, it is now. Digital tools have not only made education in India interesting but also ensured equality and diversity. Hereon, edtech companies will ensure that the reliance on online resources spirals up further and expands to other core areas of development.  And how would they do that? By keeping the pulse on personalisation right. Increased focus on creating customized, immersive experiences and making it accessible to students across geographies and languages will be integral to growth hereafter.

According to Brainly’s recent survey, 71% of students are comfortable with self-tutoring via online learning platforms. Therefore, personalized or one-on-one engagement will need to scale up further to deliver impact. The government has recognized the massive opportunity that edtech promises today and platforms which manage to deploy the right tools for the right audience  will stand to  sustain this growth in the long run.