TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING THE SHIFT WE NEED

When it comes to sustainable development, transformative learning helps students think critically and understand complex issues. It teaches the skills needed to solve real-world problems and support a sustainable future

- ANINDITA ACHARYA

I 's your child sitting in the same kind of classroom you once did? Technology has reshaped education, and today's classrooms look very different.

Teachers are shifting from a teachercentered style to a more studentfocused, interactive approach.

Transformative learning is now the need of the hour as it encourages more meaningful understanding and critical thinking. Information, whether it's in the form of videos, podcasts, articles, or images, is instantly available on platforms like Google and YouTube. This easy access to knowledge is changing how we teach and learn. Online platforms support everything from school lessons to competitive exams and distance learning, making education more flexible. Virtual classrooms let students learn from anywhere, breaking down geographical barriers. Meanwhile, generative AI is transforming how we create content and how students learn, offering new ways to engage with information.

According to Prof Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, transformative learning emphasises the need for adaptation to changes within the educational system, a shift that became pronounced specifically during the Covid19 pandemic. "The process of transformation is inextricably linked to the integration of technology.

Recent technology in education has increasingly focused on fostering and promoting trending toward increased critical thinking skills and a more adaptive approach to personal and academic growth.