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India is a huge country with a massive population. However, the resources available to this population are not uniform. Due to this factor, there is a big gap between the lifestyle of those who belong to the developed and upscale areas and those who come from relatively underdeveloped cities. The lack of resources as such creates gaps in all areas of life between the two strata of society and the educational arena is no different.
The field of education is subject to constant change according to the dynamic needs of the work industry and the changing tactics of the world. However, not everyone is able to attend training at high-end institutes that teach revised and updated curricula. Indeed, the situation is such that these updates in teaching techniques and curricula rarely reach classrooms in rural areas. This gap in the transmission of knowledge and skills that begins in these classrooms, widens over time and leads to an even worse disparity in the employment scenarios and lifestyles of students later in life.
However, things have changed at this point as rapid technological advancements strive to change this unfortunate situation. The Internet is making a rapid introduction to even the most backward parts of the nation today. As Internet penetration increases, more and more people are able to take advantage of the many resources and wisdom of the Web. In this scenario, EdTech platforms have emerged as a growing trend.
Some ways that digitization and technology have transformed the rural education scenario are listed as follows:
Level the playing field: The Internet is indeed the most important and impactful invention of the decade. Being able to transmit hordes of data across borders in seconds was not even something one could imagine before the invention of the Internet. Internet education has therefore become a prospect of transformation. It allows people to easily access updated content even in the most remote areas. The increasing availability, accessibility and affordability of cellular data and smartphones have also helped make the availability of educational resources of the new era more streamlined and uniform across the country. Now, people from all economic strata are able to benefit from a first-rate and modernized education, thanks to the increasing digitization and technological adoption in the fields of education.
Help with awareness and career opportunities: Contrary to what one might think at first glance, EdTech platforms do much more than provide educational resources to rural areas. They also make students aware of the various career prospects that can arise from a given field of education and thus allow them to explore more than just traditional occupations. Knowing the market demands and patterns in a job scenario can be overwhelming for a student looking for a job in a competitive field. Thus, digital education platforms offer students an increased likelihood of getting a job by informing them of what to prepare and expect from a given field of work. They also help build the practical and soft skills of their students, which helps them stand out in the candidate pool.
Personalized courses: Technology of all kinds is bound to level up and advance with the times in this age of rapid technological innovation. With the improvement of technology, everything that is based on technology like EdTech platforms is also bound to improve. EdTech platforms continually improve their offerings and content to keep them up to date with today’s standards.
The latest trend that is gaining popularity right now is personalized content and hyperlocation. Hyperlocation is about adapting something to be in harmony with the local norms and culture of a given area. In an academic setting, hyperlocation can be of immense benefit. Making educational content available in regional languages ​​and using local examples can facilitate learning by making the program easier and more familiar to students. In addition, removing the knowledge of foreign languages ​​as a prerequisite for learning makes education more accessible and uniform.
Better government policies: The many benefits of using the Internet in education have not gone unnoticed by the government. State governments today are all in favor of adopting blended learning models. These models help the government meet the academic needs of the most underdeveloped regions. The data facilitated by these mixed models aid the political decisions of state governments.
In summary
The advent of technology has been revolutionary for all industries including the education industry. Technological improvements and EdTech platforms based on them are now taking education to the next level, not only in developed and urbanized states and cities, but also in rural areas. By enabling easy and affordable access to academic content available across the country, the Internet and its offerings have truly contributed to a better future. This article provides an overview of how digitization and the adoption of technology have revolutionized rural education.
(Maninder Singh Bajwa, CEO and Founder, iScuela – platform for learners.)
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Posted on: Monday January 10, 2022 3:28 PM IST
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