The Indian Education sector has been adopting new trends in Information Technology in a number of ways. Through these fast-emerging education trends our education technological landscape has made significant headway with new models like online schools and hybrid learning models. Other than these popular innovative solutions/alternatives, technology has also influenced our education sector in many more ways. This influence can be clearly seen across the entire education sector. Besides, the growth of the Ed Tech industry also proves this influence across our education system.
The Indian EdTech industry valued over 750 million U.S Dollars in 2020 (across India). This value is likely to increase to over 4 billion U.S Dollars by the year 2025. The graph below depicts the growth of India’s EdTech Industry with values.
Here’s more about the Emerging Trends in Information Technology & and its Impact on our Education System:
Digital Transformation of Institutions
Digital transformation in education is not confined to the teaching and learning processes alone. This emerging trend has simplified the entire process of institution management. And has proved to be effective in creating seamless online teaching and learning experience.
The key areas of digital transformation cover processes like enrollment, conducting online classes, monitoring student performance, and creating interactive learning experiences in an institution. In other words, this transformation has reduced the burden of institution management by simplifying overall educational processes. For students, these digital solutions have improved possibilities within the system. They can make a hassle-free entry into an institution. And benefit through personalized learning opportunities to make their educational journey highly convenient.
Content Pedagogy and Micro-learning
Bite-sized learning or micro-learning is another trend that has influenced the teaching and learning processes. Research has proved that this pedagogical approach existed for a long time. But with the integration of technology in education, it has picked up pace like never before. Short learning content, activities, mini-courses, create a highly effective micro-learning environment. In fact, studies prove that the students who learned through technique took 28% less time and performed 20% better.
Lengthy lectures, information overload, and too much classroom learning have already proved to be ineffective for students. However, techniques like micro-learning support better knowledge acquisition as well as retention of information.
Artificial Intelligence
A combination of artificial intelligence and machine learning has also influenced the Indian education sector largely. In fact, Artificial Intelligence and its use in education are also included in the recent Educational Policy (NPE 2020). The Indian government envisions the use of AI in achieving the goals of multilingualism and holistic education. Presently, AI is also used in tracking and record keeping to gauge the effectiveness and alter instructional delivery according to the gathered feedback.
The use of Artificial intelligence and machine learning is also a way to enhance deep learning. It is a great tool to provide insights into the learning needs, gaps, and is equally beneficial in altering ways of delivering education as per the identified patterns.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Government of India) shares some findings of a report published by Stanford University’s Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (in February’22). The report highlights the impact of AI in in education three broad headers namely:
• Personalized and adaptive learning
• Augmented teaching
• Learning sciences and infrastructures
It states that AI in education has the potential to shape up the future of education by imparting high-quality personalized learning. Other than these benefits AI has also improved the educational processes by creating a grading system that will further improve teaching and assessments.
Learning Analytics/Big Data Analytics
The core concept of learning analytics is to record, measure, and analyze data to understand the effectiveness of instructional delivery. And the benefits of learning analytics have been utilized by many institutions in India to improve the teaching and learning processes. Presently, Big Data Analytics is also one of the emerging trends to analyze the actual learning post the completion of a course/program (ELearning mode).
This data is a powerful tool to know the minutest details of the acquired knowledge. It is used as a flexible solution to improve learning outcomes. And supports the realization of broad educational goals. In the coming days, India will have better tracking systems. The Indian government has already launched a Big Data initiative to build a sustainable analytics ecosystem through collaboration with top industry players. Other than driving business outcomes, Learning Analytics and Big Data Analytics (mostly unstructured) help in deriving valuable insights in the education industry. India is catching up speed to make the most of this emerging trend in information technology. And in the years to come, this trend is likely to pick up even more.
Immersive Classrooms
In this era of digital explosion, immersive classrooms have also influenced the Indian education system. Immersive technology in a classroom gives the students an opportunity to enjoy their learning through hands-on experiences, group work, and interaction with their peers. As students get memorable experiences, they also grasp and retain the content/information better. These experiences improve their overall understanding of concepts. Besides, immersive learning experiences also simplify the most complex topics into easily understandable bits of information.
Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality encourage learning by making it more exciting and enjoyable for learners. These components of an immersive classroom are not just a highlight of the top online schools. In fact, it is also a growing trend that has transformed traditional classrooms into interactive and immersive centers of learning (smart classrooms).
Other than the regular students, information technology has also proved beneficial for the ones with disabilities. They can now gain knowledge and develop skills without the need of travelling to any location or attending classes with regular students.
Online Resources
In the year 2019, Forbes India shared a detailed article on Educational Technology in Indian schools. It highlighted an unsung advantage of technology in eliminating the challenge of teacher quality. Information Technology is a perfect tool to deliver lessons/instructions to thousands of students at the same time with the same quality. This advantage can extend better learning opportunities in areas where students face issues because of poorly trained teachers or mundane teaching methods.
High-quality online resources such as recorded videos, podcasts, lectures, and slides, etc. can be shared with millions of users without adding too much financial burden on them. In fact, all these resources can be highly cost-effective and can be accessed through devices like mobile phones or tablets (other than laptops).
A study in the U.S proves that technology can improve a student’s motivation and participation. 87% of students were more likely to attend classes and 78% were more likely to participate in the class with the introduction of technology. This positive impact of technology is also helping our Indian students to be active participants in their own learning process.
Summing Up
The emerging trends of information technology have certainly created a remarkable impact on the teaching and learning processes in India. Educational technology has not just made education more engaging and accessible. It has also improved opportunities for developing intercultural understanding in Indian students through collaborative learning and peer tutoring.
In a country like India where the pupil-teacher ratio goes as high as 33, information technology has promised numerous solutions. All we need is the optimum use of resources and a zeal to bring the change we desire!
