Embracing Smart Education for Innovation and Success in India’s Higher Education

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July 31, 2023

In today’s rapidly evolving world, where technological advancements have permeated every aspect of our lives, the realm of education is no exception. According to the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) projections, India will continue to have one of the youngest populations in the world until 2030, boasting nearly 140 million college-aged individuals. This demographic shift, accompanied by the growing comfort of the youth with technology, presents a window of opportunities for the popularisation of educational technologies. In fact, recent research by McKinsey reveals that more than 60 per cent of students prefer using new classroom learning technologies. Embracing smart education is poised to be game-changing in this regard as it makes education enjoyable, engaging, efficient, effective, and ethical. It holds immense potential to revolutionise the way we learn and thrive in India’s higher education landscape.

With increasing internet speeds, cloud computing advancements, and the availability of information anytime and anywhere, traditional teaching approaches are being replaced by new learning models, including distance learning, mobile learning, personalised learning, flipped and blended learning, social collaborative learning, and game-based learning. Embracing these changes, smart education or smart learning environments have emerged, integrating pedagogy, technology, and novel teaching approaches to enhance learning. Smart education, which encompasses not only technology but also innovative approaches to teaching and learning has emerged as one of the top global trends of 2023.

Smart education has gained significant traction worldwide, as evidenced by the implementation of smart learning environments in various education systems. Various studies across the globe have evidenced the importance of incorporating smart education into our curriculum, as it offers significant advantages in student performance, engagement, and knowledge retention. A study conducted at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens, Greece, revealed that challenge-based gamification, which is a great example of a smart learning environment, improved student performance by an impressive 89.45% compared to lecture-based education, resulting in an overall performance increase of 34.75%. Another study by the Federation of American Scientists demonstrated that students recall only 20% of what they hear, but when gamification is used, enabling students to perform tasks themselves, an astounding 90% retention rate is achieved.

Moreover, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes the importance of innovative pedagogy and smart learning environments. Educational institutes in India should focus on incorporating smart education to stay ahead in the global learning landscape. This incorporation demands a focus on five crucial aspects: making education enjoyable, engaging, efficient, effective, and ethical. Enjoyable and engaging smart education can leverage augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to create immersive learning experiences, enabling students to explore complex concepts and virtual environments. Collaboration tools, discussion forums, and social learning networks should be considered to foster peer interaction and collaborative problem-solving, boosting student engagement and motivation.

Efficiency and accessibility are key considerations in smart education. Integrating learning management systems (LMS) and digital tools can automate administrative tasks, improve communication, and expedite processes. The LMS market in India is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.58% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026, which would help Indian universities to make eLearning sustainable in the long run. This would help in providing online evaluations and personalized feedback to enable targeted coaching while providing instructional content in regional languages ensuring accessibility for diverse linguistic backgrounds. Embracing efficiency and accessibility in smart education empowers institutions to optimize resources and provide equitable learning opportunities for all students.

The goal of smart education in India should be to deliver successful educational outcomes. Data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) can track student progress, identify learning gaps, and provide personalized interventions. According to a study by UNICEF, AI-driven personalized feedback can help reduce India’s dropout rates, which are 4% at the primary level and 20% in higher education. Moreover, adaptive learning algorithms can adjust the difficulty and pace of education to cater to individual needs. Learning analytics assist educators in refining teaching methods and improving overall effectiveness.

Ethical considerations should be integral to smart education, where stricter measures need to be introduced to ensure data privacy and security, safeguarding students’ personal information. Educational institutions should take precautions to manage students’ online actions and development appropriately and with integrity. Smart education platforms should also aim to promote inclusivity and diversity by providing equal learning opportunities to all students, regardless of their backgrounds or geographical locations.

Embracing smart education is crucial for India’s educational institutions to keep pace with global advancements. By creating enjoyable, engaging, efficient, effective, and ethical learning environments, India can foster innovation, cater to diverse needs, and deliver successful educational outcomes for all learners.

Views expressed by Raj Mruthyunjayappa, Chief Digital Officer and President- India, Anthology Inc.

Technology in Early Education: Shaping the Success of Next Generation – Dewan Siraj Munir, Sublime Academy

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digitalLEARNING Network

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July 31, 2023

Technology guides the modern world – Educational Technology can prepare the students for real world.

The use of technology in education is the need of the hour. In today’s technology-led world, learning how to use technology is very important for a child. Technology enables a child to engage with the learning process and plays a positive role in the child’s learning and development.

Using technology makes learning more entertaining for toddlers and preschoolers. Some children naturally don’t love to go to school. Digital classrooms create an entertaining space and make them fall in love with the school.

It is important for students to learn technology skills to become future-ready and compete globally. Children can now use technology to write and illustrate. Educational Technology familiarises students with modern technology. It familiarises a child with software and apps like presentation tools, spreadsheets, word processors, etc. Educational games can help children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision making skills.

National Education Policy (NEP 2020) has laid great emphasis on the use of technology in education. National Educational Technology Forum (NEFT) has been created to integrate technology into different aspects of school & higher education. At Sublime Academy, we have transformed into a Digital-Tech school. We have powered our curriculum with Lead, a school Edtech company. We are the first school in the Barpeta district to do so. Transformation into Digital-Tech has benefitted our students. Learning has become more engaging with our multimodal learning process. Our Audio-visual content and grade-wise activity kits don’t just make learning fun for students but also help in a better understanding of concepts. Our QR code-enabled books facilitate digital visualization. Blended learning at Sublime, is making our students future ready.

Views expressed by Dewan Siraj Munir, Executive Director, Sublime Academy

Prof. Ganesan Kannabiran appointed as NAAC’s new Director

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July 29, 2023

Prof. Ganesan Kannabiran, an educationist, has been chosen to serve as the National Assessment and Accreditation Council’s (NAAC) new director.

NAAC announced stating that Prof. Kannabiran has taken charge as director from 28 July onwards.

He has more than 30 years of expertise in teaching, research, and administration. He is a graduate of the National Institute of Technology in Tiruchy and a senior professor of information systems there. He places a particular emphasis on skill development and entrepreneurship.

Along with serving as Director-in-Charge of NIT Trichy and NIT Puducherry, he was also the Dean of Research and Consultancy.

Along with three master’s degrees in computer science & engineering, business administration (MBA), and mathematics, he has a PhD in management information systems.

From 2018 to 2023, Prof. Kannabiran served as the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Andhra Pradesh’s founding director. He had made important contributions to the National Education Policy’s execution at the institute and encouraged the adoption of nearby communities during his tenure as director.

Prof. Kannabiran has received three fellowships: a British Council Study Fellowship (Huddersfield University, UK, 1997), a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship (Edinburgh Napier University, UK, 2015), and two Fulbright Fellowships (Education Administrators Programme, 2011; Fulbright Visiting Lecturer at Oklahoma State University, 2015). He served as the National Expert for a global research project on measuring productivity in higher education that the Asian Productivity Organisation funded.

Additionally, he has worked on numerous projects for the Department of Science and Technology, the Government of India, UNESCO, the All India Council for Technical Education, and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

His areas of interest include business analytics, IT consulting, IT project management, and software engineering, among others. His enthusiasm in entrepreneurship led him to start two businesses that encourage aspiring businesspeople, the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Incubation (CEDI) at NIT Trichy and Gyan Circle Ventures at IIIT Sri City.

IIT Kharagpur announces to launch MBBS Course

Higher Education

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July 28, 2023

IIT Kharagpur announces to start an MBBS programme in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The MBBS programme in medicine will begin at the IIT Kharagpur’s BC Roy Institute of Medical Science and Technology, according to VK Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur.

Additionally, the institute will launch a dual degree programme that will allow students to take both BTech and MTech courses at the same time. At IIT Kharagpur, a four-year bachelor’s degree curriculum in science will also begin. The whole undergraduate and graduate curricula of the institute will be available for students to select from. The selection of electives in the UG and PG curriculum has expanded. Interdisciplinary dual-degree programmes have also been introduced, according to Tewari.

The eight-week summer internship that was once a requirement for UG courses can now be changed to an eight-month research internship. There will also be an option for an internship for PG programmes in addition to this. IIT-Kharagpur has also set up an international student office, and is making efforts to increase the admission of international students, Tewari added.

In the meantime, directors from various Andhra Pradesh institutions and universities gathered in the SV University Senate Hall in Tirupati to talk about the status and upcoming plans for implementing NEP 2020 at the varsities. A number of universities declared their adoption of transdisciplinary course frameworks and an open curriculum. According to media reports, Satyanarayana, the director of IIT-Tirupati, emphasised the importance of value-based education, enhanced internship opportunities, and multidisciplinary education. He added that the community-focused projects and emphasis on skill development secured the urgently needed nation-building. While Vice-Chancellors Raja Reddy and D Bharathi stressed the policy’s connections between academia and industry as well as community involvement.

National credit framework set to bridge the gap between education and employment: Pravesh Dudani, Medhavi Skills University (Sikkim)

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July 28, 2023

Amongst the policy reforms introduced under the new National Education Policy (NEP 2020), the National Credit Framework is ground-breaking. When fully implemented, it will revolutionise the Indian education system. This policy has the potential to bridge the gap between education and employment, shared Pravesh Dudani, Founder and Chancellor, Medhavi Skills University (Sikkim), in an exclusive interaction with Sheeba Chauhan of Elets News Network. Edited excerpts:

Please let us know about Medhavi Foundation and what is your vision behind starting this foundation and more exciting facts.

Medhavi Foundation is a Section 25 not-for-profit organisation working in skilling, education and livelihood domain for the past 10 years and has impacted the lives of 1.5 Lakh+ beneficiaries through various short-term and long-term training initiatives. The Foundation is led by a group of IIT Alumni working with a vision to empower the youths of our country who are deprived of access to quality education due to financial constraints. The Foundation became a partner for National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and opened Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs) across 6 East and North East states, implementing various government sponsored skill training programmes (Star Scheme, PMKVY, NULM, State Skill Missions).

The Foundation also received CSR projects from TCS, Emami, NHPC, Whirlpool, Teamlease, etc. From 2019 onwards, the Foundation became an Empanelled TPA for National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) with the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE)/ Ministry of Education, and tied up with 120+ establishments/industries for NAPS/NATS implementation. It rapidly expanded operations to 11 states with 40+ vocational centres. In 2020, the National Education Policy (NEP) was announced for a major overhaul of the education and skilling ecosystem. In line with NEP 2020, the Sikkim Government paved the way for the formation of Medhavi Skills University (MSU) in 2021.

What is your take on industry-academia collaboration for building a better ecosystem of learning at higher education institutes?

In the recent decade, the industry and academia have found common cause – in order to remain relevant and to preserve the nation’s competitiveness and economic opportunity in response to rapid technological change and increasing global competition, a highly skilled workforce is required. This is an economic imperative. The integration of vocation and employment oriented goals in academic educational programs is perhaps the only way forward. In the true sense, an Industry-Academia partnership for skill development might perhaps provide alternate pathways to academic credentials that have market value for individuals.

Amongst the policy reforms introduced under the new National Education Policy (NEP 2020), the National Credit Framework is ground-breaking. When fully implemented, it will revolutionise the Indian education system. This policy has the potential to bridge the gap between education and employment. By doing so, the NCrF seeks to empower a generation of skilled and adaptable learners prepared to confront the challenges of a rapidly evolving global economy.

What is your vision of the future workforce?

I envision a future Indian workforce, that is young, knowledgeable – not only in theory but has hands-on practice. The workforce will be technologically advanced. The technology driven world in which we live is a world filled with promise but also challenges. Digital platforms and technology will enable those with winning ideas and allow for specialist and niche profit markers to flourish.

What are the various programmes your university is introducing to tackle the volatility of the future workforce?

Medhavi Skills University is dedicated to providing the youth with the training they need to handle the future workplace’s dynamism and volatility. Our top focus in carrying out this purpose is collaborating with eminent industry partners both inside and outside of India to design and implement demand driven programmes that incorporate on-the-job training and learning into the industry.

MSU has tied-up with IHG Hotels and Resorts for apprenticeship embedded degree programmes (AEDP) – B. Sc n Hospitality and Hotel Management. MSU has tied-up with Reliance Retail, as well as, Aditya Birla Group. In the Gems & Jewelry Sector, we have a tie-up with the Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IGJ)to jointly launch Work Integrated Degree/Diploma/ Certificate Programmes in association with various jewellery retail and manufacturing industry partners. MSU has tied up with CICU – Chamber of Industrial & Commercial Undertaking for the manufacturing sector. We also have a strategic tie-up with B4M Brothers 4 Musics Entertainments, for both AEDP programs as well as for short-term skilling programmes related to the Music & Entertainment Sector.

Recently, your university signed an MOU with Critical Care Hospital & Research Institute. Let us know about this collaboration and how it can help students.

Critical Care Group of Hospitals shall provide industry-relevant on-the-job skill training, or in other words, practical training, to select students of MSU, where they will work as interns or apprentices. The intent and focus of the practical training shall be to provide practical exposure to and teaching of industry relevant on-the-job skills to the students of MSU, rather than only providing a broad, knowledge-based education. It is to be noted that the practical training imparted to the students will be in accordance to the curriculum approved by the Academic Council of MSU. The curriculum is standardised as per UGC and B.Voc. Guidelines and AEDP Guidelines. MSU shall oversee the practical training being imparted and also oversee the development of technology-based content, curriculum and pedagogy for the practical training programs.

For students. selected for the training will have a distinct advantage. Every hospital or healthcare facility is looking for applicants who have a hands-on understanding of how things operate and can use it to their advantage to streamline hospital care processes. The students would gain these professional abilities from on-the-job training, which would be a fantastic addition to their resume.

The World Education Summit has been igniting transformation in the education industry since its initial edition. What are your thoughts on being a part of this global platform on 4-5 July in New Delhi?

It is really exciting. Participating in such forums and conferences makes one learn a lot from the level of expertise and knowledge of the speakers and participants. It also accords an opportunity to build networks with other academics and experts in the same or similar field of studies all around the world and to share thoughts on recent advances and technological breakthroughs. Meeting new people with different cultures and dispositions enlightens the way of thinking. On can witness some of the many different aspects and solutions which exist on the same issues.

IIM Kozhikode to establish ‘India-Japan Study and Research Centre’

Higher Education

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July 27, 2023

‘India-Japan Study and Research Centre’ will shortly be established at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode. This center’s mission is to advance management education and research capabilities in the particular fields that both nations find of mutual interest.

A number of Japanese higher education institutions will participate in student exchange programmes thanks to this agreement. To advise IIMK on Centre operations from Japan, Prof. Rajib Shaw of Keio University in Japan has been hired as a visiting professor.

“We built this study and research institute in light of the current interests of both countries in a variety of fields. With the help of this project, research collaborations and student exchange programmes with various Japanese institutes of higher learning will be made possible. This initiative will provide for the transfer of information and abilities in the areas of shared interest. Through research, training, and other management development initiatives, this will help foster an awareness of Japan in India and India in Japan”, said Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director IIMK.

Fintech’s Role in Transforming Traditional Modes of Payment in Education: Raman Thiagarajan, zenda

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July 25, 2023

Fintechs, like us, have a unique advantage (vs conventional players) as they understand their customer context very sharply given their depth of expertise in the vertical and access to realtime insights via live transactional data, shared Raman Thiagarajan, CEO and Founder, zenda in an exclusive conversation with Sheeba Chauhan of Elets News Network. Edited excerpts:

Tell us briefly about the inception of zenda, and the journey so far.

zenda is a fintech app for families. It enables families to pay school fees with pay-now, pay-later and multiple payment plan options, unlocking rewards for paying on time.

We started in June 2021 in the UAE. We are very grateful for the trust and affection that parents and schools have shown and for their fabulous support in helping zenda scale. Within 24 months of launch, we are now the largest player in the UAE with close to 20% market share in the K-12 segment.

We launched in India a little over a year ago and have also seen very exciting traction. More than 300 schools are already actively using zenda within this period, including some of the highly prestigious and marquee brands in the country. India is a very important market for us and we are doubling down on our traction and are continuing to grow actively.

We also recently launched a pilot school in a third market and early results are encouraging.

What do you believe are the biggest challenges for schools today?

One of the biggest challenges schools face is the predictability of their cash flows. Whilst schools are usually able to recover their monies by the end of the academic year, the majority of parents do not pay by the due date. Expenses for schools, on the other hand, are fixed and monthly in nature. This mismatch in timing usually causes significant stress for schools.

zenda aims to smoothen payments in the education ecosystem by providing flexible payment plans for schools & parents. Please elaborate on the same.

Before we get to discussing some of zenda’s innovative approaches, it may be helpful to understand in a bit more detail the complexity of the challenge at hand and the position of schools and parents in this context.

On the one hand, as we were discussing above, schools face challenges with being able to predict their cash flows, and any mismatch in the timing of outgoing flows/expenses with incoming collections can be a point of stress.

Additionally, current methods of collections involve significant manual efforts whether a) in following up with parents and chasing for overdue balances, b) in reconciling collections vs dues, or c) in the manual effort involved in processing non-digital payments such as cash, cheques etc.

On the other hand, parents usually prefer to pay fees in 10- 12 payments, because education expenses can account for a sizable portion of their disposable income and their expectation would be to match these expenses with their income cycles – i.e. in monthly installments.

This becomes even more challenging when family sizes are larger. Every parent deeply cares about their children’s future and the last thing they would want to default on is their children’s education. The majority of parents have every intention of paying – they are just seeking more flexibility.

As we can see, both parties are at differing ends of the same spectrum, which causes the underlying challenge.

This is where zenda has introduced a very innovative solution with flexible payment plans, that has simultaneously solved the problem for both parties. Parents can continue to pay in monthly installments (and that too without taking a loan) – and the school gets its money upfront.

Our approach has helped dramatically improve the predictability of cash flows for schools (whilst also driving digitization) and at the same time given convenience and flexibility to parents.

Feedback from schools and parents has been very positive. We are excited about the traction and are looking to take this to more schools in India.

Despite the rise of digital payment adoption globally, education still relies on traditional modes of payment. Please shed some light on how fintech can solve this problem.

When we think of other sectors – for example, ride-hailing, food ordering, or e-commerce, they have come a very long way in the last 5-10 years. The expectation of customers as well as the last mile experience is nothing less than fabulous. It is entirely app-based (as its digital native users expect) and free of any friction.

However, the same payment or transaction experience in a school’s context remains to be one of high friction for the parent and the school. Payment modes still continue to be outdated with cash, cheques, and bank transfers accounting for major portions. Schools spend an enormous time and effort reconciling payments, and parents face a lot of last-mile friction for something as simple as making a school fee payment. And as you work towards budget schools or schools in less urban locations, these challenge becomes larger.

However, I am very confident that all of this will change, and for good. Fintech is getting verticalized as we see in other sectors. And fintech can play a very meaningful and important role in enabling this transformation also in education.

Most financial services are commodities at their core – whether payments, credit, insurance, or investment. What would be the difference is the ability of fintech to contextualize these services to the specific use cases in education and to solve the unique needs of schools and parents.

Fintechs, like us, have a unique advantage (vs conventional players) as they understand their customer context very sharply given their depth of expertise in the vertical and access to real-time insights via live transactional data. Their focus on customer-centric UX will help them deliver a user wow in a manner that traditional/generic providers would not be able to.

The education sector is massive in size and in the value of payments it processes, and interestingly our experience is that the problem is similar across economic segments and cultures. zenda’s approach and our long-term aspiration are to contextualize financial services to solve specific use cases for schools and parents, in a manner that has not been solved so far.

Lastly, how does zenda add long-term value to schools & parents

zenda is a fintech app for families. Our mission is to help families thrive.

We aim to make it easier for families to manage money and enable their financial wellness. Finance runs deeply through the family. From paying for school fees to planning for shortterm expenses such as family trips to saving for longer-term expenses – all decisions are usually done in a collaborative and collective fashion. However, the supporting financial services are stuck in a single-player paradigm. We are looking to change this.

Equally, we are a fintech partner to the school and in this role, we aim to reimagine financial services for schools and educational institutions, built from the ground up and in a modern context.

Generative AI Transforming Education: Priti Agarwal, Billabong High International School

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July 24, 2023

The moot question here is how do we advance humanity with Artificial Intelligence (AI) the biggest tech platform for this generation and in the process develop AI with values that are around principled human society. This Generative AI technology will reshape every software category and promises to innovate and provide a co-pilot to every application platform.

The largest influence category to undergo transformation is Energy, Education, Intelligence, and Life sciences. Our endeavour should be to self-improve – how can we automate our jobs and routines to find meaning in this bigger picture of innovation?

Take Education for example, AI tools can help make an aseismic shift to deeper understanding as opposed to rote memorisation. By approaching AI as a tool in the classroom, it could compel the students to think about both the possibilities as well as the limitations of the AI-generated response to a given prompt. It would then enable students to think critically about these tools.

Edtech startups like Kaoullah, which generates short stories to get young kids excited about reading, or Pressto, a tool to help teachers with AI-generated lesson prompts to make the lessons more exciting and motivate the students to write more. In short, AI technology will influence and percolate education all the way from Kindergarten to higher education. The adaptive learning features will personalise learning tools which would then help the student’s learning process.

Furthermore, the incubation of smart content by robots can create digital content with the same degree of grammatical prowess as teachers. Currently, One such system called Cram101 uses AI to condense the curriculum content into more digestible chapter summaries, practice sheets, and flashcards. Likewise, Netex Learning allows professors and lecturers to design a digital curriculum and content across a variety of devices like digital, video, and audio assistants. Virtual content like digital lectures and virtual conferencing are all well embedded in multiple platforms.

AI has created a novel opportunity for students to resolve their academic difficulties through AI. There are smart tutoring systems like Carnegie Learning that work with the student directly to bridge the gap in their learning. The learning styles of an individual, whether it is visual, auditory, read-only, or kinaesthetic are easily adaptable through AI.

A more digital learning environment seems to be the order of the day. Taking a lead in this direction is the University of Southern California (USC) Institute of Creative Technologies, developing smart learning platforms and environments to name a few.

Thus, education is slowly but surely set to move towards AI in the classrooms, hoping to make education transformative and empowering for the students – challenging, competitive, and meet international benchmarks.

The biggest benefit I feel would be quality education being imparted to students through intelligent content. Innovating the space of education like never before and making them world ready – where they are looking beyond careers and jobs to limitless possibilities!

Views expressed by Priti Agarwal, Founder & CEO, Billabong High International School, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

CBSE students can now learn in 22 regional languages: Dharmendra Pradhan

Schools News

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July 24, 2023

22 regional languages, including Odia, are going to be taught at Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools across the nation, according to an announcement made by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In addition, he stated that the board had issued a circular on Friday allowing regional languages to be taught in local schools.

22 regional languages will be taught

According to Pradhan, 22 regional languages, including Odia, would be taught from standard I to XII in CBSE schools, while Hindi and English have hitherto served as the primary teaching languages. According to the New Education Policy’s provision, the students will now be able to study in regional languages.

NCERT has been asked to prepare books

He asserted that students will comprehend the material more effectively than in Hindi or English if they read in their own tongue. Schools will accommodate kids who want to study in Odia or any other language, he claimed. According to him, the NCERT has also been ordered to create textbooks that reflect this. He stated that plans will be developed to deliver instruction and hold exams in regional languages.

On Twitter, Pradhan stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) places focus on knowing all Indian languages because doing so will help students understand any subject better.

Navigating the terrain: The pivotal role of LMS & E-Tools in contemporary education

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Srajan Agarwal | ENN

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July 24, 2023

From navigating digital landscapes to fostering engagement, this in-depth exploration reveals how Learning Management Systems and innovative e-tools are revolutionising contemporary education. Discover the transformative role of digital technologies, AI’s exciting potentials, and the pivotal trends to watch as we prepare future generations for the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.

The Learning Management System (LMS) Market is expected to experience significant growth during the forecast period due to several key factors. The demand for smart and interactive learning platforms is coupled with a growing preference for training and learning sessions. Educational institutions are adopting tools to support and enhance the learning process and teaching effectiveness.

The growth of the learning management systems market is further driven by the widespread use of smartphones and the availability of fast internet connectivity with 48% of students using desktop computers, 42% using smartphones, 33% using interactive whiteboards, and 20% using tablet devices, according to the latest Global Education Census Report (New Global Survey, 2019). In addition, trends such as mobile learning are signaling a shift towards more technologically advanced teaching paradigms.

The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents significant opportunities for companies in the learning management systems industry. It enables the automation of human-involved operations, leading to expanded offerings and improved efficiency for learning management systems companies.

The Significance of LMS in the Current Educational Landscape

NEP 2020 emphasises the importance of a robust digital infrastructure. Considering the extent, diversity, and intricacy of technology implementation in India, it’s vital to invest in creating interoperable, evolving digital infrastructure within the educational sphere. This will ensure that despite rapid technology advancements, school systems remain relevant and updated. The policy also promotes the utilisation of digital repositories and online examinations. As the world evolves at a fast pace, adaptation becomes the necessary next step, consequently amplifying the relevance of LMS.

Modern technology is harnessed in an integrated school platform to seamlessly amalgamate and facilitate all managerial and administrative tasks. With the aid of an integrated school platform, schools can regulate every facet of their operations with a single click. It simplifies the process for all stakeholders to monitor all activities within the school. A significant benefit of an integrated school platform is that it brings all stakeholders together under one umbrella. They are kept informed about data relevant to them and stay updated with the platform’s assistance.

But what’s driving this digital revolution in education? The answer lies in two critical components: LMS and a myriad of digital tools. But how important are they?

Why Opt for a Learning Management System?

LMS is beneficial for all educators and school administrators eager to digitalise their curriculum. Here are a few additional advantages of utilising an LMS for e-learning:

Elevated Engagement Levels: An LMS allows instructors to design course content in a variety of formats. The fundamental curriculum, enriched with visual and audio content, makes the course more appealing to students. Using an LMS, you can also compile materials from diverse sources to construct e-courses in multiple formats.

As traditional classroom lectures can become monotonous, students exposed to a range of learning materials show increased engagement in class and enhanced performance.

Flexibility: An LMS grants access to e-learning content anytime and anywhere. You need not worry about generating distinct content for virtual teaching. Regardless of whether your students choose in-person or distance learning, they are given access to identical content.

The flexibility offered by the LMS permits the student to learn at their own pace. Whether it involves rewatching a video lecture or accessing new content, a student can formulate their personal learning plan.

Diverse Assessment Alternatives: You can leverage an LMS to track student performance and develop a comprehensive assessment system. Beyond tests and quizzes, the system also lets you track student progress based on the completion of course material. Well-structured student data facilitates a straightforward approach to monitoring students’ academic performance.

The assessment system is bidirectional when using an LMS. Students can also evaluate the course and provide feedback on the e-learning content. For instance, if the majority of the students vote for a different learning approach for a chapter, you can modify the course content accordingly.

Integrated and Scalable Solutions: The purpose of an LMS in an educational institution is to enhance efficiency and time management. E-learning curriculum management is a multistep process that requires a range of features to function effectively. A robust LMS integrates features like calendars, student forums, and communication channels to build a comprehensive solution for e-learning.

Furthermore, promoting your courses on social media platforms is possible through an LMS. Since all the lectures, notes, and other learning materials are available on a single platform, adding students to the course is not challenging.

LMS Trends to Watch-Out for:

1. Customisable Configurations: First and foremost, top-tier LMS platforms provide options for customisation. Tailoring your LMS ensures that you maximise your training experience. Some LMS solutions allow you to create groups and arrange learning content based on department, job role, or more specific training requirements.

Here are some areas you can customise to align with your exact needs:

• Onboarding
• Product and systems training
• Sales enablement
• Coaching and leadership training
• Upskilling
• Industry and company language

Having an LMS that can be adapted to your organisation’s needs guarantees that your employees always receive pertinent training content.

2. Microlearning: According to a Microsoft study, the average attention span now stands at eight seconds – even less than a goldfish, which registers at nine seconds. Microlearning delivers information in small, easily absorbable chunks and is another rising trend in the future of learning management systems.

Learning management statistics reveal that microlearning is the ideal solution to today’s shrinking attention spans, facilitating improved engagement, absorption, and retention of information. Since the lessons are shorter, microlearning is perfect for individuals on the move who don’t have an hour or more to commit to a single training module. It’s significantly easier to allocate 3-5 minutes at a time to watch a video, play a game, collaborate with team members, or acquire a new skill.

3. Gamification: Gamification incorporates gaming elements such as leaderboards, point systems, and well-defined goals into everyday learning and training scenarios.

By making training more engaging and entertaining, your company and employees will reap substantial benefits, such as:

• Improved retention rates
• Increased employee confidence
• Enhanced team engagement and collaboration
• Heightened enthusiasm about new learning opportunities

Gamification motivates employees through friendly competition, even against themselves, and encourages them to take charge of their learning and upskilling.

4. Real-Time Analytics: Forecasts about the future of education need to be grounded in practical analytics. Data gathering and learning metrics assist you in evaluating the efficacy of your company’s training programs. Here are some aspects you can monitor with the right LMS:

• Employee activity, progress, and evaluation
• Completion rates and learning scores
• Engagement and overall satisfaction

Each LMS will have distinct reporting capabilities ahead, and determine what’s crucial for your company’s objectives before selecting your learning management system.

The Role of Virtual Reality in LMS

LMS for higher education has been integrating immersive technologies like VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality) to meet the diverse needs of learners and keep them captivated in the learning process. Virtual Reality involves the use of a head-mounted display, which entirely alters an individual’s vision, while Augmented Reality projects images onto a tablet or a computer screen.

Both VR and AR facilitate in-depth learning. With the incorporation of these advanced learning tools into an LMS system, students can build knowledge and remember course content by utilising their sensory skills. They play a crucial role in equipping educators to prepare the next generation to face the challenges of a 21st-century world and are fundamental to the evolution of learning in the digital age.

For instance, colleges and universities have established research facilities to study VR and AR topics (Schaffhauser, 2019). Academic conferences have been conducted using virtual reality, like at Lethbridge College in Alberta and Centennial College in Toronto for the past two years. It’s evident that immersive technologies in the classroom have a substantial impact on course design and delivery. These learning platforms assist students in interacting with the world around them and contribute to the development of students’ critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Conclusion

The integration of LMS and digital tools in the educational landscape has brought about significant transformations in teaching and learning experiences. LMS platforms have become crucial for educators, administrators, and students alike, revolutionising the way education is delivered.

The utilisation of LMS and digital tools in education has become indispensable, offering elevated engagement levels, flexibility, diverse assessment options, integrated solutions, and opportunities for immersive learning experiences. As technology continues to advance, embracing LMS platforms will be crucial in preparing the next generation for the challenges of the digital age.

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