How EdTech businesses can enable digital learning in India’s classrooms.
India has one of the world’s biggest education systems, with 1.5 million schools and over 250 million pupils. The promise of individualized learning to enhance education in India has established a market for EdTech (educational technology) solutions even before the epidemic.
When schools throughout the nation closed last year, individuals were forced to use EdTech tools more quickly. In India, search interest for “online education” has increased by 2X since January 2020, while venture capital investment in the EdTech industry has grown by 4X to $2.3 billion.
Since January 2020, search interest for “online education” in India has increased twofold.
EdTech firms have an opportunity to assist schools and classrooms incorporate digital education technologies and high-quality content into schools and classrooms when schools reopen in hybrid offline and online formats. This will aid the whole educational system scale and reach out to disconnected students who would benefit from online learning.
But, at a school, district, or state level in India? To find out, the Boston Consulting Group and Schoolnet, a Google for Education partner, looked at the distribution of Google technologies to over 50,000 teachers in three Indian states. The schools served children from various socioeconomic backgrounds, all of whom had variable amounts of access to digital technologies and spoke a variety of languages. We discovered three recommended practices that EdTech firms may use to contact public and private schools due to our study.
1. Provide digital tools to schools.
If their pupils don’t have access to gadgets, an internet connection, or instructional material, teachers can’t fully use digital education tools. According to the report, around 75 per cent of instructors said they needed devices and internet access, while approximately 60 per cent said they needed a better curriculum.
Factors that must be considered to enhance the quality of education in India: Teachers in India believe that their schools are weak in digital infrastructure. Better internet access was mentioned by 75% of respondents, while improved content was cited by 60%.
The GIGA School Program in Japan may serve as a model for EdTech enterprises. It supplies each student with a digital gadget and high-speed internet to schools and additional instructional packages. One suggestion is to provide a range of bundles, such as one device per student or numerous devices to a single student (tablets, laptops, etc.).
To make it simpler for instructors to develop lesson plans using digital resources, include ready-to-use learning content in these packages, such as question banks, assignments, and prefabricated courses. Combine training with these items to help instructors get the most out of everything.
2. Enable the ecosystem by providing training and engagement opportunities.
School administrators may assist school leaders, instructors, guardians, and students who have never utilized digital resources for teaching and learning. It is possible to make a significant effect by providing state-led training.
Following state-led training, 66% of instructors felt more comfortable utilizing technology for day-to-day coursework.
EdTech firms may collaborate with school administrations to provide instructors with virtual introduction and in-depth training sessions. To demonstrate how digital technologies might be utilized in teaching, these meetings can involve sharing practice assignments and on-demand modules. Companies may also form a self-help network of qualified trainers to exchange knowledge and promote peer-to-peer assistance in resolving practical issues.
3. Experiment with different teaching approaches and learning models.
Teachers will benefit from becoming digital because they will have easier access to information and tools for more effective lesson preparation and classroom administration.
The survey found that instructors were using digital learning aids such as read-along sessions, 3D pictures, movies, and voice notes in their lessons, in addition to conventional teaching approaches. Around 75% of instructors stated they will continue to use digital resources in mixed models for revisions, assessments, additional courses, and virtual parent-teacher meetings in the future.
Many educational advantages may be gained by becoming digital.
Easy access to knowledge, more efficient lesson preparation, seamless classroom administration, and more student involvement are advantages of adopting digital in India’s education.
On the other hand, teachers must understand which teaching approaches work best with the resources available to them to get the most out of digital learning tools in the classroom. EdTech firms should take advantage of this opportunity. They can help teachers get the most out of their digital education tools by evaluating teaching methods such as class lectures, activity-based projects, and individual or group assignments, and they can work with school administrations to assess teaching methods such as class lectures, activity-based projects, and individual or group assignments. Companies may even host contests to highlight exemplary practices and recognize instructors leading the way in digital education innovation.
Experimentation may also be used by EdTech businesses to determine the optimum learning model at a local level. Setting up experiments to test the effect of digital education on student engagement and learning at the school, block, and district levels is one approach.
When developing your digital education approach, consider the following four questions:
- In terms of digital adoption, which schools and subjects should you prioritize?
- What connection or content solutions can assist them in gaining access to the internet?
- Who will need training and assistance?
- How can you try new things and learn new things to enhance your teaching methods?
Awanish
Digital & Growth Strategist, Awanish has over 14 years of rich experience in Marketing & Business Mangement. He has been instrumental in planning and executing both international & national level digital campaigns for reputed brands across categories – Information Technology, Tech Support, Education, Retail and more. He is a truly avid reader and preaches his learning in various education forums. You don’t have to set the bar high for him., he himself does that and take all required actions to ‘own’ the objective and deliver.