Control Shift: Tech To Play A Bigger Role In Education

It seems clear that more technology will be melded into teaching and learning; online courseware and teaching aids will be more popular

- Amulya Gopalakrishnan

In no realm of life has the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked as much visible upheaval as education. Lectures quickly shifted to online platforms, posing challenges to teachers and students. Exams were postponed. The use of education apps exploded. Online education, which was a misty prospect on the horizon before the pandemic, has now become the mainstay. Many universities and schools are planning to continue with a blend of in-person and virtual learning. But will remote learning become the norm? What are its upsides and challenges?

“To imagine the future, we have to think of the background of students, their learning level, the kind of education they’re currently getting,” says Venu Narayanan, an education expert at Azim Premji University. “For older students, for postgraduate or professional courses or coaching classes where content is king and the students are self-motivated, it will be easier and better to move online. At school and undergraduate levels, the shift is likely to be more moderate.” At the higher levels, courses and credentials could become more modular, and even targeted to lifelong learners as they adjust to a fast-changing market. The recent National Education Policy also stressed on new flexibility in courses, as well as on digital infrastructure.