Digital Education is a technique or method of learning which involves technology and digital devices. This is a new and broad technical sphere that shall help any student attain knowledge and gain information from any corner across the country. Digital Education in India is the way forward to learning and gaining knowledge through the means of technology and digital devices. COVID-19 pandemic had briefly disrupted the school education system in India. Since the 1st lockdown in March 2020, all the states have responded to the COVID-19 situation with speed and innovation.
The existing digital resources were leveraged to maintain continuity in students’ education. It is believed that Digital Education in India is the future of education and learning. Various channels have been defined by the Government of India for a widespread of sources and means to provide education to different corners of the country. Discussed further in this article are the channels and initiatives taken up by the Government for Digital Education in India.
Digital Education can be understood as any type of learning or instructional practice that makes effective use of technology and tools throughout the learning process. These could range from the use of smartphones, tablets, and smart boards in classrooms to sophisticated AI-led tools for adaptive learning. Online learning or e-learning is practiced under digital education, however, the concept of digital education encompasses the entire range of teaching and learning pedagogy from a blended learning environment to a personalized learning approach.
Digital education is the innovative use of digital tools and technologies during teaching and learning and is often referred to as Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) or e-Learning. Exploring the use of digital technologies gives educators the opportunity to design engaging learning opportunities in the courses they teach, and these can take the form of blended or fully online courses and programmes.
Where we stand in the world in terms digital education?
A total of 320 million learners in India have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and have transitioned to e-learning; With huge regional and household disparities in access to the internet and technology, this transition has not been possible for all students and educators; The rapid shift to e-learning prompted by the pandemic has resurfaced long-standing issues of inequality and a digital divide in India that must be addressed by future economic, education and digitalization policies. The education system in India is facing a new crisis thanks to COVID-19. Besides the effect on short-term learning outcomes, extended school closures will result in a loss in human capital and diminished economic opportunities in the long run.
India has the world’s second-largest school system, after China. Shutting schools to maintain social distancing amidst the COVID-19 crisis was the most logical solution to avoid community transmission. Digital Education as the name suggests, relies on the availability and accessibility of technology, but little or no availability of electricity is a significant challenge to taking advantage of education online. In a recent 2017-18 survey, the Ministry of Rural Development found that only 47% of Indian households receive more than 12 hours of electricity and more than 36% of schools in India operate without electricity.
This suggests that while students from families with better means of living can easily bridge the transition to remote learning, students from underprivileged backgrounds are likely to succumb to inefficiency and a lack of adaptation, either because of the inaccessibility of the technology or the low education of their parents to guide them through tech-savvy applications.
Why we need digital education in India?
To be successful in the workplace of the future, people will need to have the right digital education. Whether in school, at university or on the job – the digital transformation that is underway is making IT skills more important every day. Digital media are also creating new opportunities for digital learning. I am confident that our company will be able to meet the challenges of digitalization and take advantage of the opportunities it presents, but we will need a comprehensive approach.
Easy access to information that is customized and suited to the learning needs of students. Increased mobility and flexibility give learners the opportunity to choose their time and place of learning. Digital education will allow people to continue to participate in social life in a self-determined manner in the future. In addition, digital education will ensure that companies remain competitive. Simply put: Industry 4.0 needs education 4.0. With the digital transformation, we must radically alter both how we learn and what we learn.
DIGITAL LEARNING OVER TRADITIONAL EDUCATION METHODS
Digital learning is replacing traditional educational methods more and more each day. With how rapidly classrooms are changing, it is best to forget methods you may remember from when you were in school and start thinking about newer teaching and learning techniques based on digital learning tools and technologies. The inclusion of digital learning in the classrooms can vary from simply using tablets instead of paper to using elaborate software programs and equipment as opposed to the simple pen. Here is how digital learning is a step up from traditional education methods: –
- Digital Learning Makes Students Smarter- Interactive social skill games are excellent learning tools that teach children discipline because playing games require children to follow rules and guidelines to participate.
- Digital Learning Is Making Students Self-Motivated and More Accountable- Students using digital learning tools and technology become more engaged in the process and more interested in growing their knowledge base, they may not even realize that they are actively learning since they are learning through engaging methods such as peer education, teamwork, problem-solving, reverse teaching, concept maps, gamification, staging, role-playing, and storytelling.
- Digital Learning Tools Involve Educators and Parents to a Deeper Extent- Digital education tools and technology provide enjoyment for kids as well as numerous benefits in terms of developing a child’s well-being.
- Traditional Education Methods Have to Be Replace- Traditional lectures may still exist along with the new-age learning tools and technology, but the lecture materials should be provided as a supplement to classroom activities and moved online for students to reference outside of the classroom. Digital learning tools and technology fill the gaps where traditional classroom teaching falls behind.
- Digital Learning Tools and Technology Is Rapidly Increasing Information Sharing- By embracing digital devices and connected learning, classrooms around the country and around the globe can not only coordinate with one another to share insights but also boost learning, experience, and communications skills.
Ankita Shetty
(Volunteer)
