The world came to a halt to satisfy the demands of 2020. The global health crisis, Covid-19, prompted educational institutions to adopt online education by leveraging the power of technology. In 2020, the shift to online mode was sudden, but now students and teachers have had adequate time to embrace virtual classrooms and digital learning. In such a scenario, undoubtedly, the Indian edtech sector has been making tremendous progress. Why?
There are 71 million school-aged children and 22 million white-collar workers in India. With educational institutions putting excessive emphasis on high scores and hundreds of competitive exams conducted across the country, online schooling and technical skilling are the two fastest-growing segments. Further, the Indian government intends to increase the current Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in schools to 50 per cent by 2030, as well. Edtech apps enjoy the Covid windfall.
What was once a viable choice has now become a critical requirement. During the pandemic, edtech platforms supported students in completing their education. They have not only made learning convenient and fun but also saved the educational sector from collapsing. Edtech solutions have aided in the holistic moulding of students to better prepare them for the outside world.
Flexible, hybrid learning
The future appears to be hybrid for both learning and working. There will be a shift towards mixed learning models attempting to strike the perfect balance between physical and online learning. When teachers and students physically meet in schools, it will be fascinating to see what they do with the edtech tools in their hands. Many intriguing models will emerge, blurring the lines between school and home learning. In a hybrid learning setting, asynchronous (non-live) teaching methods can be utilised to supplement synchronous, face-to-face training.
One of the most significant advantages is that it provides for greater flexibility which is not possible in traditional classes. The flexibility to choose between face-to-face and online learning will be a great advantage for both students and teachers in the coming years.
Personalised education
In the personalised learning arena, 2022 will offer even more innovation. A customised experience is one that is tailored to each student’s specific needs and desires. One child, for example, may excel in math but struggle to learn new languages because he prefers visual learning, which may not be the case for another student. Different techniques are required to best assist both students’ learning. This is what personalised learning tries to achieve: providing each student with the best possible educational experience.
Learning speed, material, series, technologies, quality, instructional style, instructional materials, and other components of individualised learning can all be adjusted to meet the needs and goals of each child. Customisation, in general, however, may be impossible to achieve without artificial intelligence.
Assessment and analysis based on AI and data will be a key element of delivering the tailored experience. Learners can utilise AI to get personalised training alternatives at their own speed and convenience. It can also help forecast learning outcomes by tailoring content to each student’s knowledge level and preferred learning style, which would also help learners keep track of what they need to focus on more.
Government impetus
The government’s rising contribution to technological advancements aided in the usage of technology in education. The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) programme was created by the Indian government to encourage colleges to offer online courses in rural areas.
Several state governments will also use edtech platforms to augment learning that takes place in government schools next year. Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and others have already expressed interest. Kids in public schools will increasingly use online learning resources, which will be a significant step toward closing the gap between students in cities and those in semi-urban or rural areas.