Technology has shrunk our
world and made communication instant. The physical boundaries that separate nations
are not applicable to today’s cyber world filled with unlimited possibilities.
As a country aspiring for global leadership in every field, India too is moving
towards a new generation of skill sets and education platforms to meet global
requirements.
Learning and teaching methodologies therefore
need to gear up to meet challenges that require unconventional approaches and
out of the box thinking. ‘Next generation learning isn’t about educating the
next generation of students. It is about engaging with today’s students through
learning and designs that produce significantly higher achievements compared to
those under current methodologies. It requires a deeper understanding of student
engagement in newer learning environments.
Many Asian countries have
already started using technology to make learning fun, and ensure that concepts
are easy to understand. Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore are using tablet PCs
from the first grade for improved learning outcomes. South Korea in particular
needs mention as a nation that is moving towards digitisation with great speed
providing computer notebooks and wireless internet to all schools. Tablets and
PC’s with Keyboards are used by students as reference books, exercise books and
other resources and they are finding classes more engaging and interesting. Digital textbooks also cater to multi-media
and are used as dictionaries, encyclopaedias and browsers for all kinds of
knowledge sources. Learning methodologies in our country too are gradually moving
towards smart classrooms with the schooling segment in India poised to be
around US $ 44 billion by 2020
The real purpose of education
is to help students discover themselves and their true potential. Unfortunately
this is not possible within the narrow confines of modern day classrooms where
most children are literate but not ‘Educated’ in the real sense of the term.
Next generation schools will have technology supported roles for deeper learning
and encourage critical thinking. Multiple language options and tailored
pathways with secondary options for fast, selective and career specific goals
will enable a learner profile that is student centred. The learning in next generation
schools will cover knowledge of subjects as well as life skills tailored to
meet future needs as in vocational education. Use of technology will entail
changes in the overall ecosystem impacting school operations, varying roles of
teachers as stakeholders, changes in the manner and tools of learning for the
student and the methodologies of learning sciences. A combination of digital
media, communication and bandwidth in this scenario ensures that learning is
delivered at a fraction of traditional costs. Virtual classrooms will change
the educational ecosystem in unimaginable ways making interaction between
students and teachers across the globe simple and seamless. The availability of
text, audio, video and interactive resources will reduce large overheads and
infrastructure that account for a major share of expenditure on education.
Virtual classrooms can be accessed from any place that has an internet
connection and in the process reduce the time and cost involved in physically
commuting to schools. Institutions will have the opportunity to select high
quality faculty and students from smaller cities that lack infrastructure can
also have access to quality education provided they are connected to the
Internet. This means a student from a backward region of the country will have
the same advantage as a student living in the capital or any developed metro
city.
A three screen day for
consumption, production and sharing with broadband facilities at school and
home will provide 24x7 learning opportunities 365 days a year, where students
can have practical training and conceptual understanding in different roles as
journalist, scientist, historian, inventor and coach. They will also have access to flexible ways
of learning which will be personalized to suit their grasping abilities.
Alternately students will have greater options to choose from like blended
learning systems involving a formal education programme where they learn partly
online and the rest in brick and mortar classrooms away from home.
There will be a notable shift towards
competency based learning which changes the dynamic of time and rewards
students for skill acquired rather than the time spent in a seat in contrast to
the existing system of judging students by grades. The education system and
syllabi in the new scheme of things will be more relevant to job outcomes and
global requirements.
Next generation schools will
have greater emphasis on teacher training, where tested methodologies that encourage questioning
and problem solving are used in place of learning by rote. Educators will be
guided towards building a motivational profile of experiences that encourage
community based learning through a fine balance between innovation and
execution.
A deeper learning where adaptive assessments
and complementary dashboards visually show students and instructors their
individual progress is a likely possibility. This will encourage students to
take ownership of their learning and make them aware of where they require
additional support. Replacing the
present method of teaching and evaluation with a greater sensory environment,
next generation schools are all set to encourage critical thinking and problem
solving. They are essential in preparing global citizens take on the world.
By:- Gavin Dabreo, CEO, MLSL, NIIT Ltd.