CXO Bytes

The role of technology in propelling edtech to new heights of success

Online learning has come a long way since its inception. In its earliest years, the edtech ecosystem had to contend with a whole host of problems – from winning over a sceptical public to grappling with infrastructure that couldn’t handle its ambition, nothing about the journey was easy. But the perseverance and dedication of this early band of pioneers won in the end. This hard work was complemented by the convergence of several other factors, including the proliferation of smart devices, improved nationwide connectivity, and the affordability of data. Taken together, this resulted in edtech platforms becoming a viable educational alternative. This was only strengthened by the COVID-19 pandemic when online learning became the only option available.

Today, the Indian edtech sector is booming and amongst the world’s largest. This number is only set to explode in the future, driven by a massive untapped user base and a steady flow of private investment. By 2025, it is estimated that the sector will be worth USD 10.4 billion, with 37 million paid users. Within ten years, that number is projected to triple to USD 30 billion, driven by burgeoning demand and emerging business models. One of the key drivers of this is the increasing affordability of online education. Edtech once existed as a walled garden – its monthly fees of a few thousand rupees still put it beyond the reach of vast segments of the population, especially in India’s many small towns and cities. But as the sector has evolved, improved efficiencies and streamlined economics have made edtech platforms financially viable for more households. This has further been helped by factors such as variable pricing bands and flexible payment options.

For the edtech space to achieve its full potential and truly become a viable mainstream alternative to traditional educational models, there are a number of other issues it must overcome in addition to affordability. The implementation of new technologies will be critical in achieving this goal and transforming online learning into an integral part of the end-user’s daily routine. This will include:

Personalised Learning Resources

Traditional learning systems have always struggled with improving learning results at scale. Every class and group of learners will exhibit a wide range of competence in any given subject – that’s inevitable, a simple fact of human nature. We all have our strengths and weaknesses in various fields. Even though personal learning is the gold standard in pedagogy, it simply isn’t feasible for any system to create a personalised learning system that caters to every individual student’s unique aptitude and learning journey.

The integration of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in edtech platforms offers a solution to this conundrum. Working in conjunction, they can create customised curriculums for every learner, deliver uniquely competent solutions that bridge gaps, and provide specialised training or assessment in weaker areas. This can result in improved performances across the board, with every student given the same chance of success; something that’s especially important for learners from tier II and III backgrounds.

Interpretation and application of gathered data

The successful gathering and interpretation of data play a tremendous role in determining an organisation’s success. This is especially true in the educational space, where the enormous amount of information produced can showcase the strengths, weaknesses, and areas of concern for every student. New data analytics tools allow educators to track the progress of learners and help identify gaps in methodology or understanding. This data-driven analysis of learning patterns empowers educators to refine teaching methods and better anticipate the needs of their students.

 

How technology can enable regional languages

With urban India now fully online, the next driver for the internet’s growth in the country will be its rural population. Per a report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), this segment of the population will propel the number of active internet users in India from the current 692 million to 900 million by 2025. While English predominates amongst urban internet users, this new user base comes from regional language markets across the nation. For edtech companies to cater to this market, they must recognise their unique linguistic preferences and provide an end-to-end learning model that is equal to its other language offerings. The process of creating course material and content in vernacular languages through AI and machine translation (MT) tools gives edtech companies an efficient and cost-effective means to tap into this market. By removing the language barrier and offering an affordable and accessible educational model to this massive, untapped user base, edtech platforms will be one step closer to achieving true nationwide coverage and acceptance.

Removing intangible barriers to learning

New technologies are especially critical in helping rural students gain an education and overcome social and geographical barriers. Edtech platforms with tools such as AR and VR programmes and AI-powered conversational bots help learners in remote locations overcome their on-the-ground challenges, from a lack of adequate infrastructure to a low teacher-student ratio. This helps bridge the gap between urban and rural learners, allowing the latter to reach their full potential. As the push for India’s digitisation gains pace, this process will only accelerate, with improved data connectivity and affordability making online learning a viable prospect across the entire country.

Cutting-edge technologies and immersive learning tools can also assist women in reskilling and upskilling, preparing them for improved job opportunities and fostering financial independence.

(The author is Anil Nagar, Founder & CEO, Adda247, and the views expressed in this article are his own)

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