“Online education is no more a one way outreach”

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April 4, 2022

Sanjay Padode is the Chairman of IFIM Institutions and the Founding President of VijayBhoomi University. He spoke to Digital Learning Magazine about the advantages of the online learning model.

What are the advantages and disadvantages between the traditional and online learning model?

The basic difference between traditional and online learning models is the medium of delivery. The success of a learning model depends upon the curriculum design, choice of an appropriate faculty and the opportunity for a student to reflect and apply the newly learnt knowledge. The traditional teaching method commonly referred to as face to face teaching method is time tested and the best in-class faculty who have years of experience find this method to be more effective.

This method requires commitment of time and physical presence during the teaching hours. Lectures followed by group work, tutorials and assignments helps the student imbibe knowledge through reflection and application whilst being supervised. On the other hand the online teaching method decimates the physical barriers and time constraints, allowing the teacher to deliver classes from any place to any place.

The teacher and student enjoy the flexibility of time and hence can schedule such sessions based on their work schedules and other priorities. Thus enabling continuous learning from practicing professionals and faculty from anywhere. In a way the online learning technology has flattened the learning hierarchy and democratized learning.

A good curriculum design would leverage both traditional and online teaching methodology to maximize learning for students and widen the choices available to the learner. In my view online has to be looked upon as an add-on medium and the same needs to be combined with traditional teaching to create the best value proposition for the learner.

Do you think digitalisation of education has helped in globalization of education and shrinking the borders?

Digitalisation has flattened the world. Education is also being impacted by the same. Borders have shrunk, ability to scale has been enhanced, quality education is easily accessible and the emerging competitive environment is also containing the inflation in education. This is happening and will continue to happen.

It is said that online mediums have the power to meet policy parameters of NEP – Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability. Your views.

Yes indeed. Online education is accelerating pedagogical innovations. The use of simulation, augmented reality and virtual reality is enhancing the efficacy of learning. Coupled with new models of apprenticeships, virtual internships, mentoring and coaching learning is becoming more engaging and relevant. Online education is no more a one way outreach, it is interactive and as mentioned if leveraged correctly and blended rightly with traditional methods of teaching can prove to be the most effective form of learning. The government has identified this rightly and in my personal view NEP is a transformational step and not an incremental change. If NEP is implemented in spirit and word, it will help India reap its demographic dividend.

“Using Edtech benefited our students to sail through the pandemic”

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digitalLEARNING Network

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April 4, 2022

Puneet K is the President, The Narayana Group. He shares on how the group has actively used EdTech for better learning experience for students.

When it comes to using EdTech for schools, there are several advantages to it. The key advantages of EdTech solutions are their ability to augment the learning experience and smoothen the examination experience for students.

The Narayana Group has consistently delivered world-class education for over 40 years. We have done so by being ahead of the curve. We leverage any innovative process, product or technology that would provide our students with an edge over others. EdTech is one of the components in a series of innovations we have introduced to bolster academic excellence in our students. We began developing our online learning ecosystem in 2016.

We began by installing digital classrooms in all our campuses in 2016 to complement classroom teaching with video content. This has enhanced our students’ understanding of concepts and increased the overall quality of interaction between teachers and students. Students are now able to visualise what they are being taught, frame their questions better and recall concepts with ease.

In 2018 we developed and released nLearn, Narayana Group’s in-house learning and testing application. We invested heavily in curriculum planning, content creation, design, and a proprietary test engine to help our students excel in competitive exams such as JEE Main, JEE Advanced and NEET. We also invested significantly in hardware and equipped our campuses with digital labs to ensure that all our students had access to nLearn’s content and testing platform. We shifted to online testing across all our campuses and provided students with the ability to practice effectively at home. This helped us rapidly scale the amount of practice we were able to give our students in their preparations for competitive exams. The National Testing Agency’s (NTA) decided to move JEE examinations fully online in 2019.

We have integrated features like integrated learning, regular testing, and detailed remediation in the nLearn app to complement our process with technology for every step of the learning journey. Micro lessons for enhanced conceptual understanding. Assessments and testing for focused practice. Detailed feedback and analytics on the performance of every student. The feedback loop is closed by our teachers who leverage this data to tailor instructions, focus on difficult concepts and quickly close learning gaps. Integrating our process excellence with technology has enabled us to make learning adaptive and engaging for students.

Since 2020, we have significantly scaled our EdTech capabilities on the strong foundations that were laid. We rolled out online live classes on 24th March,2020, just one day into the lockdown announced by the Indian government. We expanded the reach of the nLearn app to pre-primary and primary students, giving them access to classes, curated video content, interactive practice, platform for doubt solving and assignments.

Over the last two years, we conducted over 10,000 live classes per day. Our students cumulatively consumed 150 crore plus video hours of educational content. Our proprietary online test engine is one of the best in the country. Over 1.5 lakh students simultaneously take tests on the nLearn platform every week. While most online test platforms offer only objective (multiple choice format) examinations, we developed and deployed online, multi-chapter descriptive tests to ensure that our students do not lose touch with the subjective examinations during the lockdown.

During the pandemic, we also deployed the nDigital app for students outside the Narayana ecosystem. It is a platform where any student in the country can sign up for short, medium, and long-term courses for JEE and NEET preparation. Students benefit from content and exams curated by our experts. This was to address the lack of remote access to quality coaching for JEE and NEET aspirants.

The impact of the loss of schooling on students during the pandemic has been extensively discussed in the media. The Narayana Group’s early adoption of EdTech ensured that we were able to seamlessly pivot to online learning during the Pandemic. Our strong digital infrastructure ensured that we minimize the learning losses for our students. As we move back to traditional education, we are integrating the best aspects of our EdTech with classroom learning to maximize learning. We are leveraging technology for asynchronous learning, customized content (Video/ audio/activity-based), tailored assignments, remediation classes, one-to-one doubt solving sessions. Some of these activities which used to previously cut into classroom teaching time are now moved beyond it so that teachers can focus completely on teaching during classroom hours. Furthermore, by providing remote access to doubt solving, remediation etc. students get time to resolve their doubts comprehensively. Additional access to content allows students to solidify concepts.

Understanding the EdTech world and its roles

Editorial

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digitalLEARNING Network

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April 4, 2022

When the EdTech industry was established, it served one simple purpose – to provide learners with access to engaging multimedia educational content. But, in the last five years, the e-learning industry has been offering students an entirely different, useful and interactive experience that includes live classes, cloud access, online labs, projects, and even online assessments.

In 2022, Edtech is going to increasingly become a consumer industry – learning in the next 10 years will be going through a mega transition, just like staying fit and healthy went through in the last one decade. Earlier it was only athletes who worked out and maintained a healthier, fit lifestyle. Now we all do it to stay healthy. The same will be the case for learning: high performers did it to shine, but now we all need it to be part of our lives to maintain our professional development.

However, EdTech has it’s own cons too. Use of digital technology makes students highly susceptible to distraction and sidetracking. Also, there are gaps in terms of availability of content in regional language which is much needed for the wider and bigger reach of technology.

Understanding the contribution of EdTech and recognising the players, Elets Digital Learning Magazine is dedicating this issue to the EdTech industry. Read how the industry has grown during the pandemic and also, the details of Union budget FY23 and the gifts to education.

Have a safe and healthy month ahead.

“Edtech transforms education system based on users behavior

Interviews

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digitalLEARNING Network

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April 2, 2022

Gaurav Vohra is the Chief Business Officer of UNext Learning. He spoke to Digital Learning Magazine.

Tell us about UNext.

UNext is a next-generation online learning company, focused on the higher education ecosystem. We aim at improving access to higher education, increasing affordability, providing good quality content & pedagogy and enhanced outcomes for the student/learner community by leveraging technology. We are India’s first ed-tech company that provides end-to-end learning and assessment solutions in the online space. With best-in-class content and technology stack, UNext offers platforms for online courses, digital & online assessments, and student engagement tools. Our platform is available to universities, colleges, and institutions to make quality education affordable and accessible to learners anywhere, anytime.

Do you think the digitalisation of education has helped in the globalization of education and shrinking the borders?

With the advancement of digital technology, all industries including the education sector, have gradually started embracing these technologies to modernise their offerings. Online education, e-learning and EdTech innovations got a sudden boost with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020. Digital technology was pivotal in continuing education, which was disrupted due to the widespread infection and subsequent lockdown. Students were spread across geographies and were forced to learn from their homes. Various remote learning tools, features and solutions helped institutions and students to carry on with their education uninterruptedly. Online modes of learning and teaching traverse brick-and-mortar walls to reach the fingertips of individual learners.

What are the challenges being faced by the EdTech companies in India?

India is an EdTech hub with over 9000 EdTech start-ups and many unicorns. As the country has a massive youth population and aspiring students, the potential of education technology is huge. The surge in internet penetration and adoption of digital innovations further intensifies its expansion. The EdTech space is facing various challenges. Firstly, the lack of high bandwidth networks in many parts of the country has become a hindrance for EdTech expansion, especially in the rural areas. Though companies are developing low-bandwidth compatible platforms, they are fully successful. Secondly, the GST slab for education services is at 18%, while conventional education is tax-free. High tax becomes a challenge in offering affordable EdTech services. Finally, regulatory interference is a concern for EdTech entities, especially for those in the higher education sector.

Also Read: “Edtech solutions support career route for students”

What is the biggest strength of the Edtech industry in making a paradigm shift in the education ecosystem?

The greatest strengths of the EdTech industry are the aspiring learners and ever-evolving user-centric innovations that make learning effortless. These two aspects are the backbone in attracting investors and the main reason for the growth of the sector. Customer behaviour is changing with the advent of new technologies. The education sector cannot remain impassive to these changes. EdTech companies, with their innovations, transform the education system based on users’ behaviour. By adopting niche technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, IoT and others, the EdTech innovators are ensuring immersive and adaptive learning experiences

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin says his government will follow Delhi’s education model

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digitalLEARNING Network

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April 2, 2022

New Delhi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday said that his government will create a model school in the southern state on the lines of Delhi and invited Arvind Kejriwal to visit it. Stalin, along with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, visited Rajkiya Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya at Vinod Nagar, where the officials briefed the Tamil Nadu chief minister on the change in the education system in the city under the AAP government.

Stalin was informed that the Delhi government has been spending around 25 per cent of its budget on education consistently for the last six to seven years. “In 2014-15, government schools had a pass percentage of 88 in class 12, which was less than private schools. It increased to 98 per cent in 2019-20 as compared to 92 per cent in private schools,” the Delhi government officials stated. .

Also Read: Delhi government to organise Investment summit for student entrepreneurs

According to an official statement by the Delhi government, Stalin said, “I heard about Delhi government schools and Mohalla clinics from my Cabinet and newspapers. I contacted Arvindji a few months ago and told him about my interest in visiting them. He accepted my request and showed me the schools and mohalla clinics today. “What he has built is excellent. I’m planning to build a model school like this in Tamil Nadu very soon,” he said.

The Tamil Nadu chief minister also interacted with the patients and doctors at one of the mohalla clinics. Kejriwal told Stalin that principals of government schools are sent for training abroad and teachers are trained in Indian Institutes of Management. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told Stalin that the Delhi government is moving children away from rote learning to mindful learning.

When Stalin asked about improvement in terms of English, Kejriwal told him that they have tied up with the British Council and the US Embassy to train teachers in the language.

Officials said that more than 500 students from Delhi government schools qualify for JEE Mains every year. Around 3.5 lakh children have shifted from private schools to Delhi government schools this year, they said.

Uttar Pradesh government enforces strict regulatory system to prevent paper leak

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April 2, 2022

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh Education Department has enforced a strict regulatory regime for strong rooms stocking papers across the state. The move has been taken to ensure that no question papers of the state’s school examination board are leaked. The regulatory regime includes surprise physical checks of strong rooms to limit visitors to them and putting a complete ban on the use of mobile phones by staff manning or visiting them.

The additional measures were implemented following the recent leaks of class 12 board exam papers that led to the cancellation of examinations in 24 districts across the state. While the investigation of the incident is underway and over 34 suspects have been arrested so far, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered invoking the National Security Act (NSA) against those involved in the leakage.

“Concerned officials in the districts have been asked to strictly monitor strong rooms where the board exam papers are kept. At exam centres, the officers have been asked to ensure that the entry into the strong rooms is strictly regulated and details of everyone entering it are registered in a log book,” a senior official of the education department said.

The Secondary Education Department, on the instructions of Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra, has directed district officials across Uttar Pradesh to exercise strict vigilance to prevent the leakage of board exam papers.

A total of 27,81,654 class 10 students, including 15,53,198 boys and 12,28,456 girls, are taking exams this year. Similarly a total of 24,11,035 students, including 13,24,200 males and 10,86,835 females are writing the examination for class 12.

The state government has set up 8,373 exam centres across the state. Of these, 6,398 centres are in rural areas and 1,975 in urban areas. The state government has declared 861 exam centres as “sensitive”, 254 “very sensitive” and 7,258 as “general”.

Also Read: UP Higher Education department bags two Awards for Digital Library & NOC Affiliation Portal

All these exam centres are being monitored closely with help of staff and a total of 2,97,124 CCTV cameras, an official said, adding the feed of these cameras is being monitored at the state-level examination command centre, 75 district-level command centres and 8,373 centre-level command centres.

IIM Jammu’s placement packages see 31% increase

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digitalLEARNING Network

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April 2, 2022

Jammu

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu has released its final placement reports for the fifth batch of the Post Graduate Programme in Management (MBA 2020-22). A total 119 companies participated in the final placement process. The entire process was conducted virtually, the institute stated.

A total of 217 MBA students appeared for the final placements. The highest CTC stood at Rs 32 lakh per annum, the top quartile CTC at Rs 29. 80 lakh per annum, while the average and median CTC stood at Rs 13.53 lakh per annum and 11.4 lakh per annum respectively. A total of 222 offers were received in comparison to 104 offers last year, IIM Jammu said in an official statement.

Prof BS Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu said, “Better placements over the last year indicate an optimistic placement scenario despite fears about the new variant of virus omicron surfacing and posing to affect the business economy throughout the globe. From the very beginning, IIM Jammu has set high standards for outstanding value-based quality education, high-quality research, executive education, consultancy, and strong corporate as well as international linkages.”

“Despite the considerable increase in the batch size from the previous year, we are proud to announce this year’s placement season to be a resounding success. Despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic, IIM Jammu was able to adapt to the new normal and was able to conduct the entire process smoothly online,” he added.

Also Read: IIM-Ahmedabad to release a new logo in June

IIM-Ahmedabad to release a new logo in June

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April 2, 2022

Ahmedabad, Gujarat

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has announced on Friday that it will unveil its new logo in June. IIM-A’s new logo, according to a statement by the institute’s communications team, will retain the Sanskrit shloka on its existing one, as well as the latticework of the city’s Siddi Saiyyed Mosque. The move however comes amidst opposition by a section of its faculty,

“Evaluation, exploration, development of wordmark, development of brand mark were all kept in mind while coming up with the final design recommendations,” the official statement said.

The IIM-A said the institute found the need to refresh its logo while revamping its website. The new logo would be out when the annual vacation ends in June. While the logo carries the original Sanskrit shloka – Vidya Viniyogat Vikasa – in its original form, the colour rendition has been improved and the fonts modernised.

“The jaali-inspired brand mark has been made more amenable to communication in digital media and the brand name made more distinct,” the statement said.

Yogi Adityanath to flag off ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ from Shravasti on April 4

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digitalLEARNING Network

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April 1, 2022

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will launch the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ across the state from district Shravasti on April 4. The Chief Minister, in a meeting with the higher officials on Thursday, issued directions that the districts with low literacy rates should get more focus in this round of the campaign.

The primary schools in the state should be equipped with better facilities, he said. “From April 4, the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ would begin from Shravasti, the district with the lowest literacy rate. The education department should complete all the preparations in time. All the teachers should go on a door-to-door visit and meet the parents, motivate the children to come to school,” the CM instructed. .

The Chief Minister further instructed the officials that along with all the public representatives that will be associated with the campaign, the members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) must adopt one school each. In addition to this, the officials should also adopt the schools for their holistic development.

The Chief Minister directed the officers to pay special attention to the districts with low literacy rate and run an extensive campaign in their schools. ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ is being started from Shravasti, where literacy rate is the lowest in the state followed by Bahraich, Balrampur, Badaun and Rampur.

Yogi Aditynath further gave instructions to transform all the schools of the Basic Education Council under Operation Kayakalp. He said that every primary school in the state must be equipped with all basic facilities. For this, private institutions, alumni of the schools should be contacted. CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) should be also approached for the transformation of schools.

Avoid panicking during exams, PM Modi tells students in Pariksha Pe Charcha

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digitalLEARNING Network

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April 1, 2022

New Delhi

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked students to celebrate exams as festivals and not get stressed. Interacting with students during the fifth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha, the prime minister said, “You are not giving exams for the first time. In a way, you are exam-proof. Thus, do not be stressed. Remember that you have successfully overcome exams before.”

The PM also urged the parents and teachers to not force their unfulfilled dreams and aspirations upon children. “Students should not feel they are under pressure from teachers and parents to score good marks. Parents should not inject their dreams into their children. They should be allowed to decide their future freely,” he told students present for the event in the Talkatora stadium in New Delhi.

PM Modi answered the queries of the students who participated in the event. When students asked him how they can stay away from distractions when attending online classes, PM Modi laughed and asked whether they are truly studying or watching reels. “Students should introspect themselves while studying online, whether they actually study or spend time watching reels on social media,” he said. He explained that the material being taught in online and offline classes is the same so “the medium is not the problem. Irrespective of the medium, if our mind is delved into the subject, then it won’t make a difference in grasping things”.

A few students also asked him about how to stay away from exam stress, especially at a time when competition is so fierce. “I want students to stay away from a panic environment during exams. No need to copy friends, just keep doing whatever you do with full confidence and I believe all of you will be able to give your exam in a festive mood,” PM said.

He also suggested students to follow an interesting practice this exam season of writing a letter for the exam they will be appearing for next. “Write a letter and address it to the exam. Explain how preparedness and share the hard work that you’ve done. You will be in a more confident state afterwards,” PM Modi said.

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