Distance Learning Centres: The New Wave of Ed-Tech!
Distance learning centres are becoming an all-day every-day affair for learners. If you are someone who has been fascinated by this windfall too – then this blog is for you. (Okay, that rhymed!)
Addressing the elephant in the room, the pandemic was an unprecedented change that shook all countries and industries worldwide. A usual work day turned to figuring out stable signal connection at home, weekend outings to Netflix parties and education? Well, let’s just say it was hit the hardest but the sector remained dormant while brewing useful resolutions. It came back stronger with Edtech, from physical grounds being turned to screens and digitsed attendance and in-person guidance expanding to online platforms, offering 24×7 assistance to the students.
This paradigm shift in the education industry has had everyone gawking at the contemporary scenario overriding the conventional structure of learning. With the majority of the population being dominated by young minds and curious learners, it is only wise for the country to opt to help students learn skills online. This endeavour is further supported by the help of distance learning centres. Although these centres were initially established in specific locations, the online culture has refashioned them too. The centres are debuting on virtual platforms for people to pursue full-time or part-time courses as per their availability and convenience.
Breaking The Mould
Traditional learning has been the talk of the country since maiden eras. However, the advent of technology and the integration of advanced tools on the internet are breaking the taboo of a classroom consisting of four walls and a physical bench for one to sit. Changing the conventional definition of learning in educational institutions “on-ground”, this contemporary-aged tool to educate learners is breaking the stigma around in-class structure and reinforcing a new normal across the country.
Now that education is available at the comfort of one’s home and at a time convenient to them, the pool of opportunities only seems to be growing by the day. From housewives to stay-at-home dads, from our grandparents to the domestic help and cook at our homes, everyone can get easy access to education, helping them in crafting a skill-set that will support their dreams. Ambitions that were too far to be seen are now becoming floating opportunities at one’s palm for them to grab. Taking this thought forward, we will also observe how this system is mitigating the risk of bias. Using a name on Zoom that’s representing you, does not necessarily have to be your birth certificate’s name and allows limited access to only the institution’s authority to glance through your documents. This prevents elitism, classism and sexism, any sorts of bias, ill behaviour and overall unpleasantness due to any preconceived notions or thoughts that trigger people to judge you. Distance learning centres are hopping on the digital ride free of judgements and disparity. Inspiring people to learn skills online, it is paving a new road to imbibing knowledge.
Nurturing The Tree Of Knowledge To Bloom Virtually
The tree of knowledge, roots back to vedas and granths in our culture. However, the definition is now being re-altered to level with the contemporary outlook and match new-day expectations and requirements of knowledge. Having an on-site gurukul is not enough anymore, the need of the hour is to create touchless gurukul across digitalised screens and offer knowledge segregated in modules, worksheets and comprehensive lessons. Helping students learn through a structured pedagogy will help in developing their critical and logical thinking and serve as a distributor of essentials and basics in knowledge to help them sustain themselves post education. Well-designed portals with easy-to-use interfaces are now making their way to the Indian market to offer that and more.
Helping learners learn at their own pace through virtual classes, mentoring sessions and insightful workshops, distance learning centres are becoming the facilitators that water the tree of knowledge, helping it bloom digitally. This further includes two types of internet-based learning centres – curriculum-based learning centres (that lean on specific curriculum and subjects) and theme-based learning centres (that lean on particular themes rather than a variety of subjects and syllabi). Talking of learning centres, it is important to understand if they are offering theoretical information solely or practical programs with internships and other such opportunities that are inspired by skill-based learning. Let’s delve deeper into it –
Skill-based education & learning on the cards
With India driving initiatives to support the local businesses and artisans across the country, Vocal for Local amongst other policies has garnered traction. However, to equip people, it is imperative to rope in other initiatives that help in building that skill they need to drive their local businesses to the point of success. The Skill India campaign along with Digital India initiative indicate the significance of proffering people with skill sets that they can leverage to monetise their talent from and eventually have the financial stability they need. It is also helping the population in being self-reliant, further aligning with the mission of our honourable Prime Minister. Creating a blend of learning across varied portals with buckets of content at immediate disposal is one way to go about it.
Skill-based based education will be the foundational stone that crafts an architectural masterpiece. Offering students the ownership of their learning, this step will convey a message that says, “you create your own destiny”. Remote learning is anchoring the dynamics of the online ecosystem to create a (partially automated) conversationally active (with interactive UI) metaverse of learning. Offering flexibility and aiding learners to manage their time while taking responsibility for their education and prioritising it accordingly to reach the best outcome, online skill-based education and learning is growing multi fold every day.
With the budget announcement of 2022 by the respected Finance Minister, the road to education and developing skills is only going to get easier, especially with the plans of the Indian government focusing on creating greener jobs henceforth.
Technology to play Avengers Assemble?
Without a second thought, we can observe how future-forward technology is disrupting the sector with ed-tech leading the battalion and the education space is evolving at a high pace. Tech-enabled services and features are none less than Marvel Productions setting a perfect scene in a perfect frame driven by different saviour-elements being AI (Artificial Intelligence), ML (Machine Learning) and Virtual Reality (VR) under one roof – imagine an amalgamation of all these elements and services by a call-phrase Avengers Assemble! That is exactly what technology does, trigger the call-phrase for different verticals to play their role and escalate the stature of online education. Providing students with HD-conferencing, minimal glitches and lags, learning chips for timely assessments, noise-cancellation and conversational bots along with an easy-to-navigate interface.
Helping students with the access of real-time data and providing them longitudinal information in seconds, the learning platforms are improving one tech-revolution at a time. From interactive whiteboards to podcasts, education is going multidimensional with its development in the country and assisting with their skills. Catalysing online learning, technology is envisioning a 5G future that teems with economic stability and skilled professionals.
Technology to play Avengers Assemble?
Without a second thought, we can observe how future-forward technology is disrupting the sector with ed-tech leading the battalion and the education space is evolving at a high pace. Tech-enabled services and features are none less than Marvel Productions setting a perfect scene in a perfect frame driven by different saviour-elements being AI (Artificial Intelligence), ML (Machine Learning) and Virtual Reality (VR) under one roof – imagine an amalgamation of all these elements and services by a call-phrase Avengers Assemble! That is exactly what technology does, trigger the call-phrase for different verticals to play their role and escalate the stature of online education. Providing students with HD-conferencing, minimal glitches and lags, learning chips for timely assessments, noise-cancellation and conversational bots along with an easy-to-navigate interface.
Helping students with the access of real-time data and providing them longitudinal information in seconds, the learning platforms are improving one tech-revolution at a time. From interactive whiteboards to podcasts, education is going multidimensional with its development in the country and assisting with their skills. Catalysing online learning, technology is envisioning a 5G future that teems with economic stability and skilled professionals.
Psycho-social support and impact of learning skills online
The pandemic, as we all know, has been a catastrophe obstructing not only our lives but our education and most of all our mental well-being and inner peace. It became nearly impossible for us to maintain our sanity through these times and with internet-based distance learning centres alongside virtual learning platforms and services, it got a little better to sail the boat towards the shore. However, the online learning portals did bring in some optimistic features that have now become the USP of online education. It is helping learners with round the clock assistance for their educational needs and queries but they are also offering intensive help as they provide their students with psychosocial support.
Acknowledging and validating learners’ emotional, spiritual and social needs, the psychosocial support by internet-based learning centres has been a great supporter keeping everyone on their feet. Furthermore, the education centres also launched 24×7 helpline numbers and social media support groups on portals including WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram to help their students through the tides of the pandemic.
Becoming a windfall for students, distance learning centres in the COVID era, have become the driver of the evolution of this sector.
