>>> Covid-19 Brings Paradigm Shift In India’s Education System

Accentuated by the Pandemic, the paradigm shift in the learning and teaching methodologies has made and irreversible impact and has changed the education landscape forever.

Amidst uncertainty over the ever changing mutants of the Covid pandemic, it is certain that the future of teaching is going to be digital centric. Experts are confident and foresee that even though the pandemic would eventually be a thing of the past, the digitally aided learning is here to stay. Technology in education was there but never had it been used so extensively. The virtual classrooms have bridged the distance between the students and teachers as students can be taught and tutored from anywhere in the world to get the best of education from the best teachers. It has, however, very deep impact on the social fabric and interpersonal behaviour development. 

As educators and students grapple with collaboration and co-creation-based education, the focus now is on building a better future-forward. This is an ideal time to experiment and deploy new tools to make education delivery meaningful to students. It is a chance to be more efficient and productive while developing new and improved professional skills/knowledge through online learning and assessment.

Pedagogy in digital education is an important link between course content, educationists, technology and course-takers. Democratization of technology is now an important issue, comprising internet connectivity, telecom infrastructure, affordability of online system, availability of laptop/desktop, software, educational tools, online assessment tools, etc. But it is a fact that technology-based education is more transparent and does not make difference in front vs back benchers or girls vs boys.

Certain changes in education are visible and inevitable. The educator community need to be nimble in recognizing the change and adapt to the new ecosystem.

Flexibility in the Learning Ecosystem

The format of formal classrooms will be replaced by blended virtual learning with classroom training. A bridge between the uncertainties of present times and monumental future has to be built. Institutes will device a combination of various structures, strategies, and curriculum based approach.

Learning ecosystem would be personalised to deliver a competency-based, personalized learning outcome. The theme will result into an enhanced experiential learning which will be based on skills, abilities, experiences, and preferences unique to each student. This flexibility in learning will redesign the successful learning outcomes, in which the focus will move from engagement to be achievement oriented. 

Technology will be at the Core of Learning 

Virtual and blended learning will replace traditional classroom based education and will become the basis and core element of education. Teachers will have to use a combination of models and methods for more engaging, compelling and expanded learning like multimedia and interactive content.

Self-paced and self-monitored learning will prevail from primary schools to universities and vocational training. Digital competency will be a more crucial skill besides other basic skills like reading, writing, and mathematical skills. 

Education management will be completely focused on digital methods with education ERP, learning management systems Knowledge management systems enabled with work-from-home tools and technologies.

The use of technology in teaching will lead to a new era wherein the best of faculty will be available from across the globe to students.  Technology will provide the opportunity for the learners to be on the level-playing field which will have equal access and opportunities to quality education. 

Education quality will be gauged not just by the quality of faculty but will also have quality of IT infrastructure and familiarisation of the faculty will digital teaching technologies as important parameters.

Modified Role of Teachers

With the irreversible change in the education paradigm, the role of a teacher will also be substantially modified. It will change from being a revered hand-holder who dispensed knowledge to a facilitator guiding the learning process.  

With the needs of the new ecosystem role of teachers will also need to be nimble for the needs and demands of present-day education. The teachers will need to adapt to the digital methods of imparting education and the ecosystem. Staying ahead of the curve, the teachers will be required to play the role of the innovator, mentor, co-creator, and deliver teaching suited to meet a learner’s requirements. 

Collaborative Ecosystem

The education system which was shy to adopt emerging technologies, has to now compulsively redesign and redefine the very basic of teaching. Educators will be required to develop a collaborative and interactive learning environment that will help develop basic communication skills, core cognitive skills, problem-solving capabilities and digital methods of working.

This is a massive change and therefore will need a coordinated effort from the government, technologists, industry and thinkers.

Impact on the Learners

With the sudden change in the ecosystem, the learners will have to undergo a massive change in themselves, which is going to be neither easy nor simple. Since the present education system has been engrained in the molecular structure of the society since ages, to bring about a change, it will take time and gigantic combined and conscious effort by educators, government and social pillars.

The basic social skills, self-management approach, developing mental strength, will be the kind of requirements which will have to be re-institutionalised to adapt the new format of education.  

It will be essential to deliver personalised learning programs for specific learners by use of technology. Educators will be required to be enabled with a learning tools and materials to deliver by a result-specific teaching methodology. The new wave of education is likely to focus on overall development that includes academic growth as well as problem-solving, critical thinking, digital literacy, and communication skills necessary for the ever-evolving societal and economic landscape.

The physical infrastructure of academic institutions will have less impact on the quality of education and thus directly on the cost of education. Review meetings, parent-teacher meetings, subject conferences will be location agnostic. The real vision of the new education policy for liberal education will get executed.

For all this to be a reality, a drastic change in thought process is required in the mind- set of policy makers, authorities, students and specially educationists. Faculty selection should gradually be linked to technology friendliness and keenness for technology adoption.                               

I believe that 2021 is going to be a complete re-set for education. Institutes and universities should drive, and not just respond to technology, which is in some ways also echoed in the NEP-2020.

This is the time for brightest minds of our times to engage their time and energies to bring about a sustainable social and technological developments in the education ecosystem in which we all live.