Gaming is one of the most innovative trends influencing educational technology development. Contrary to popular belief, video games do teach valuable life skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, social awareness, teamwork, and collaboration, says Dr Vandana Gupta, Principal, EuroSchool North Campus, Bengaluru in an interview with Nidhi Shail Kujur of Elets News Network (ENN). Edited excerpts:
Tell us about your achievements in terms of ‘Innovation in Education’ during the year 2022.
EuroSchool has a dedicated academic research and development wing, Cerebrum, which has designed a learner centred curriculum that provides opportunities for experiential and self-motivated learning.
At the centre of our innovation strategy, we have our very own digital learning ecosystem, ARGUS, which enables learning anytime, anywhere.
How are futuristic technologies going to transform education in the year 2023?
In the 21st century, technology is crucial to everyone’s ability to survive. The world cannot be imagined without it. As technology has wriggled its way into our daily lives, its grip is becoming tighter in every way. Technology has shown to be a boon for the educational industry ever since Covid-19 took place. Although educators were already aware of the importance of digitisation, this pandemic provided it with an abrupt thrust.
Gamified future is definitely going to transform education. In fact, gaming is one of the most innovative trends affecting the development of educational technology. Contrary to common assumption, video games actually teach important life skills including problem-solving, critical thinking, social awareness, teamwork, and collaboration.
Further technology skills including data science and programming are soon likely to be offered as a language option in schools.
What innovation accelerated the transformation of growth in the education landscape in the year 2022?
After the pandemic, we headed more and more towards a hybrid and blended environment where we integrated the greatest aspects of the online and offline worlds. Online has so many advantages. Online learning allows for knowledge to be accessible anywhere, at any time, and at a pace that best suits the needs of the student. Students have the option to fast-forward and rewind while watching. That is undoubtedly a significant advantage of content transmitted via the internet or other technological means.
What is your mission and vision to impact the paradigm shift of the education arena in the year 2023?
As per my understanding of the current school scenario and NEP 2020 choose what to learn and how to learn would be up to the students in future schools, which would be centred on learner autonomy. Even how they assess their own learning will be up to them.
The three maxims of learning, leading and innovating, which result in impact, influence, and inspiration, are essentially what a potential school leader would thrive on. So my main priority would be to fundamentally transform my school to accommodate cutting-edge teaching and learning methods.
