New Delhi, January 08, 2018: Recently, many researchers have highlighted the potential of emerging technologies to develop our teaching and learning methodologies. Technological giants like Microsoft and the likes are keen on studying and listening to experts’ suggestions on to what extent they can play a role in digital learning.
How far can we go?
The indirect impact of the internet on our education has been a huge one. Many online podiums like apps and cloud storage have changed the way we were receiving books, software or services just a decade ago. It has been a massive development, especially for research students and teachers.
From 100-year-old gazettes to around 800-year-old copyright-free documents, it all can be downloaded for endless timesand that too, for free. It has not just provided a lot of materials for free but has also dramatically improved and accelerated all sorts of research globally. Whether it is a formal or informal learning, the students can get access to the digital content, e-Books or apps both from a phone as well as a PC.
Although digital India is the right push, we still have a long distance to cover in terms of leveraging technology in our classroom-teaching methodology. There are various digital learning platforms online which are helping to drive this.
With some exceptions, it is said that our education system has not still adopted the advances that have been replicated in cars, planes or even smartphones. If you compare the classrooms of 100 years ago and compare its photo with modern classrooms, both are almost identical. In classrooms, the same student is isolated who, outside the classroom, uses a wide variety of devices to stay in touch and communicate in a better way.
Beyond Digitized Classrooms
A traditional classroom seems like a world that has been cut off from the outside world for a limited duration. There is a stern‘no’ to the aid of mobile phone or the internet. And where there is a yes to it, it is only in relation to the usage of automating or just digitizing the same traditional ways of learning in the form of e-Books etc.
Our classrooms need to go beyond automation and digitizing, in order to leverage the latest technology in education. And without any doubt, the web services and digital platforms can play a key role in achieving a great change in our teaching methodologies.
The coming of a Smart Teacher cum Guide
Many people often ask that if the students will come to classes prepared with content from the web services, what role would be left for a teacher. In this case, he will be playing the all-important role of a guide helping students to build an emotional connection with their learning materials. The technology just serves the journey of a teacher and his/her students. Further, with the aid of good technology, good teachers can guide students in achieving their full potential.
The Essential Role of Digital Learning Platforms
There are numerous online digital learning platforms or Ed-Tech firms that act as a bridge between learners and providers (teachers). Their sole aim is to complement the classroom with e-Learning than directly providing learning to replace the classroom. One of the major advantages of such platforms is that a student can acquire knowledge anywhere, anytime, just by slipping his finger on his laptop. These ‘one-stops’ possess the potential to improve the entire educational ecosystem, in the times to come.
Last Word
The ambitious projects like digital India and the spread of digital learning platforms are aimed to digitize our education systemwith the latest technology. This leaves a tremendous scope to raise the level of education, literacy and economic development in our country.
