K12 Digest – April 2022 – India Edition – Best Practices and Trends in K12 Education Special by Connecta Innovation

JANUARY BEST PRACTICES SPECIALIN K12 EDUCATION

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K12 Digest April 2022

APRIL 2022

K12 Digest April 2022

April - 2022

Vol - 3 Issue - 4

Best Practices in K12 Education Head of Advisory Board Dr. Manoj Varghese, Ph.D

Managing Editor Sarath Shyam

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K12 Digest April May-June March 2022 2019 2020

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MANAGING EDITOR’S NOTE

A Few Thoughts for the Next Academic Year

he months of April and May have been a joyous time for us as students. We don’t wake up thinking about putting on our uniforms and going to school on those days. We play all day and go to sleep without worrying about the homework. But, this is the best time for academicians and school admins to contemplate their next steps, especially when the education world is going through a massive transformation. School education has changed so drastically in the last decade. Thanks to the virtual world’s advent, we now need more engaging teaching aids than just an instructorled classroom. In a country like India, where school closure due to the pandemic had extended over 82 weeks, online classes were a boon for many kids. Though there was a significant digital divide among rural and urban students in the country, the pandemic did help us discuss the importance of adopting innovative methodologies in teaching and learning.

Now, we see more teachers on social media platforms who did not sign up to catch up with their old classmates but to use it as effective mediums to collaborate and interact. According to a study, 41% of teens admittedly spend too much time on social media. Hence, K-12 institutes slowly include social media features into their eBooks to increase collaborative learning. That’s what innovation is all about. A technology we thought would kill our kids’ time is now being utilized as a social platform to develop a supportive and positive student-teacher relationship. To help our readers know more about such innovative teaching-learning practices, we asked academicians, school administrators, and industry leaders to share their ideas that would transform the education sector in the coming years. The result is this special issue, where we have included experts’ insights and ideas that would help aspiring teachers around the world to conduct classes in a better way. Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

K12 Digest April 2022

INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Chris Wright

Maarit Rossi

Former International School Principal, Former Group Project Director at a World Class Learning Group, Education Consultant - Wright Solutions, United Kingdom

Founder & CEO - Paths to Math Ltd, Former Mathematics Teacher and Principal, Global Teacher Prize Finalist, Finland

Dr. Stuart Grant Colesky Principal, Rundle College, South Africa

Zeljana Radojicic Lukic Exceptional Educator from Serbia, Founder of Association of the Best Teachers of the Former Yugoslavia, Founder of Magical Intercultural Friendship Network, Founder of Creative Magic - Children’s International Festival, Founder of Magic Village, Serbia

Asst. Prof. Dr. Poonsri Vate-U-Lan Assistant Professor in Education, Ph.D. Supervisor and Researcher, Thailand

Stephen Cox

Elena Shramkova

Chief Education Officer, New Nordic School, Finland

Liljana Luani

Senior Teacher ‘Pashko Vasa’ school Shkodra, Exceptional Volunteer, Albania

English and Literature teacher, Owner of “The Smart Teens Studio of English” in Belgorod, Russia

Ralph Valenzisi Chief of Digital Learning and Development, Norwalk Public Schools, Connecticut, United States

Hatem Slimane

Servatius (Servee) Palmans Former Director School Administration & Business Operations (Large Education Group), Chief Operating Officer - BBD Education, Dr. Lilian Bacich Netherlands & UAE Senior Educationist, Author, Keynote Speaker, Co-founder Tríade Educacional, Brazil

K12 Digest April 2022

Founder & National President - ATAST, General director of IFEST² the international projects competition in Tunisia, General secretary of MILSET Africa, BRISECC member, Tunisia

Dr. Varughese K.John, PhD Former Program Director, MS in Management Program, GSATM - AU, Thailand & India

Hidekazu Shoto

Dr. Venus M. Alboruto

Angus Duthie

Master Teacher, Researcher, Innovator, Trainer, Philippines

Former Vice President Security (Large Education Group), Former British Army Officer (Airborne Forces), Senior Advisor – Resilience and Crisis Management (Emerald Solutions Group), United Kingdom & UAE

Innovative English and ICT Teacher, Author, Japan

Ian Deakin

Deputy Head and Dean of Faculty, Dalton Academy, Beijing, China

Shady Elkassas Rania Lampou

Global Teacher Prize Finalist 2019, 15 International Awards on STEM, STEM Instructor, Educator, Neuroscience Researcher, Trainer & Author, Greece

Director of Innovation Al Ittihad National Private School-Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Fethy Letaief Distinguished Senior EFL Teacher, ISA Coordinator with the British Council, Motivational Speaker, Tunisia

Herwin Hamid

Ha Nga

Revolutionary English Educator, Globally Connected English Studio - Hanoi, Vietnam

EdTech Specialist, Speaker and Teacher Trainer, Innovative ICT Educator, ICT learning multimedia developer, Indonesia

Juan Manuel Pico Co-founder & Managing Partner, Education Soul, Colombia

Dr. Leonilo Basas Capulso Master Teacher, Speaker and Researcher, Philippines

Kihyun Park Innovative Educator of Online Classroom, Pungsaeng Middle School, South Korea

Dr. Manoj Varghese, Ph.D Mr. Ngô Thành Nam

Technology Academy Manager, Microsoft Learning Consultant, Global Trainer, Vietnam

Senior Director – Global Partnerships, Advisory & Consulting – Connecta® | Head of Advisory Board – Higher Education Digest® & K12 Digest® | Adjunct Faculty – Assumption University | Former CIO – Athena Education | Former Global Director Technology – GEMS Education

K12 Digest April 2022

C O N

C O N T E N T S

ADMIN PERSPECTIVE

COMPETENCIES TO ACQUIRE BEFORE APPLYING IN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES Aman Mittal, Vice President, Lovely Professional University

HOW TO MAINTAIN TEACHING PEDAGOGY AMIDST A CRISIS? Sushma Raturi, Member Secretary, Academic Council, Saamarthya Teachers Training Academy of Research (STTAR)

BEST PRACTICE

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K12 Digest April 2022

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE UNKNOWN FUTURE – WHAT SKILLS CAN MUSIC DEVELOP? Bindu Subramaniam, Singer-Songwriter, Author, Founder & CEO of SaPa – Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts

T E N T S

MENTOR’S OPINION

LESS SCROLLING BETTER LIVING SOCIAL MEDIA DETOX DURING EXAMS Sakina Qasim Zaidi, Senior Principal, Orchids The International School, Panathur Branch, Bangalore

44 DO STUDENTS HAVE FEAR OF MISSING OUT (FOMO) IN EDUCATION AS WELL IF YES, THEN HOW TO TACKLE IT? Nasir Shaikh, CEO, Lexicon Group of Institutes & MultiFit

12 K12 Digest April 2022

C O N

C O N T E N T S

INDUSTRY VIEW

THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF STEM EDUCATION IN INDIA Charu Noheria, Co-Founder and COO, Practically

THE NEW ERA OF EDUCATION WOULD BE HIGH-TECH AND HIGH-TOUCH Kiran Dham, CEO, Globus Infocom Ltd.

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K12 Digest April 2022

EMERGING PLAGIARISM TRENDS AND UPHOLDING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Chaitali Moitra, Regional Director - South Asia, Turnitin

T E N T S INDUSTRY VIEW

IMPLICIT LEARNING FROM EXPLICIT LEARNING Jitesh Jariwala, Game Producer, Unleash Games (A Venture from K12 Techno Services)

A SPARK THAT’LL TURN INTO WILD-FIRE OR SIMPLY LINGER AS A FLAME? Lavin Mirchandani, Co-founder, ConnectEd Technologies

MAKE LEARNING FASTER AND BETTER FOR STUDENTS WITH VARIOUS PLATFORMS & TOOLS Yuvraj Krishan Sharma, Co-Founder & CPO, KOMPANIONS

K12 Digest April 2022

MENTOR’S OPINION

Less Scrolling Better Living - Social Media Detox During Exams Sakina Qasim Zaidi, Senior Principal, Orchids The International School, Panathur Branch, Bangalore

Sakina Qasim Zaidi is a multi-talented personality working as a Principal of Orchids- The International School- Panathur. She has more than 20 years of experience in the field of education in India and Botswana, Africa. She is a recipient of my rewards and accolades.

K12 Digest April 2022

xamination times are the most stressful days for any student and also for family members. Social media addiction makes it even difficult for students to resist and concentrate on academics leading to poor grades. Giving a child a mobile phone leads to grave dangers like cyberbullying, screen time addiction, and going to irrelevant and inappropriate content. Social media is highly addictive in nature and that is why it comes in the way of examination preparation. To break this addiction, it is advisable to go for a complete social media detox. Social media detoxification means limiting the time spent on social media and finally refraining from using it. Some of its benefits are: ● Reduces procrastination ● Decreased anxiety and tension during the examination ● Provides better clarity in thinking ● Students have more time to do things related to academics ● Increased focus and longer retention of concepts. Parents can do a lot in terms of protecting and helping them to detox during examination time.

● Set limits, not only for your kids but also for yourself. Decide when everyone can use their devices each day and for how long. You can set blocks of time when the child is in the thick of examination preparation. Taking away the phone during the examination period will be less helpful, instead of putting a cap on the usage will enable the habit of self-control. Let the child be more mindful of the time spent online and limit social media usage.

● Use the same apps your child is on to learn what kind of content is consuming their time. Using the same app like the one used by your child will help a parent in tracking their social media activities. Educate and guide your child to check on how much time they are spending on the social media apps during examination days.

● Give your phone a break. Set rules for your child when after a certain hour (like 8 pm), the phone is beyond his/ her reach. Keep the phone out of the child’s bedroom. Move the charging station from their bedside table to an area that is beyond their reach. The less access they have to it, the less likely they are to explore social media for long hours.

● Detox with a buddy. Be a buddy to your child whether the objective is to lose weight, or spend less time on social media. Having someone to hold the child accountable can make all the difference. Practice what you preach. If a parent frequently uses the phone in the presence of the child, it would be difficult to expect the same from them. ● Get a real alarm clock. Discourage your child from using the phone as an alarm clock, instead, buy one for them. The setting alarm on the phone would give reasons for them to check the phone more frequently. Move to the traditional way of having an alarm clock as a timekeeper!

Educate and guide your child to check on how much time they are spending on the social media apps during examination days

K12 Digest April 2022

Social media detox and absolutely limiting the use of social media will help any student from getting better focus and concentration in their examination preparations

K12 Digest April 2022

● Phone-free day. Believe it or not, we use our phones maximum for checking our social media accounts. If you can go without checking your social media accounts all day, you can live without your phone all day! Let the family and close ones know in advance that you will be off your phone today to limit the calls and messages. Social media detox and absolutely limiting the use of social media will help any student from getting better focus and concentration in their examination preparations. It is important for parents to respect their child’s privacy. However, giving your child access to a device and not monitoring their activity is something that parents should never do. It amounts to leaving a child on edge without any safety net. Being with your child during the stressful process of examination preparation will lead to building a stronger bond with them. Let’s not lose this opportunity to gain their trust and confidence. Happy Learning!

12 Digest Higher EducationKDigest 2022 OctoberApril 2020

INDUSTRY VIEW

The Growing Importance of STEM Education in India Charu Noheria, Co-Founder and COO, Practically

In 2018, Charu Noheria co-founded Practically, an experiential learning app for STEM and has been working to revolutionize the education landscape for the last seven years. Practically’s constant innovation to improve the rate of retention of concepts among students has helped the platform raise $9M so far. Charu has a bachelor’s degree in engineering (Computer Science) from R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore, and an MBA from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. She has over 12 years of corporate experience in operations, technology, strategy and managing global teams.

K12 Digest April 2022

STEM learning is not just technical but extremely creative in its own way. It also accelerates entrepreneurship and the global start up culture bears testimony to it

cience has always been an integral part of human existence that has contributed to progress and new discoveries. From entertainment to education, science and tech have made remarkable strides to grow various sectors through digitization. At present, the world is massively dependent on technology, and creating a skilled and well-educated talent pool is important for a nation’s progress. Education specific to this discipline is called STEM education. The four disciplines of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) are the four pillars of our economy and will play a crucial role in preventing any future crisis. At a primary and secondary level through STEM education, students learn facts and a method of thinking that can be applied to solve real world problems. STEM learning is not just technical but extremely creative in its own way. It also accelerates entrepreneurship and the global start up culture bears testimony to it. Smart gadgets have created a world of apps and each app is a solution provider as well as an organization that is creating

more employment and contributing to the growth of the country, many of them have turned into listed companies and successful ventures. In India, students and parents have always relied on STEM given the high chances of employment and growth. This, however, has been usually limited to university learning, and at most times, many students opt for these subjects without understanding their aptitude for the right discipline and most have had weaker foundations making the entrance exams and even the course curriculum difficult to cope with. It is a necessity to introduce children to STEM early on and not wait until college or university to have them familiarized with terms like coding, websites etc. Our children are exposed to mobile devices and voice assistants from an early age, so it is only natural for them to have many questions regarding this technology. Subjects such as Robotics, Coding, Artificial Intelligence etc. that were unheard of many years ago are now being introduced early on and the edtech industry has been a great enabler in doing so.

K12 Digest April 2022

The important thing is democratization of STEM, especially in nations like India

K12 Digest April 2022

Bringing STEM to every classroom is the first step toward enabling science and tech literacy. Select edtech platforms have worked on creating AI led models that breathe life into STEM learning for students. Through these mediums, every student, despite their academic history, can create a positive relationship with STEM. The new National Education Policy of India (2020-21) has made coding an important part of the curriculum. This makes it all the more important for schools and teachers to introduce the right tech infrastructure and school solutions that will equip the faculty and the students with necessary tools. Deploying AI and AR for STEM education will play a very important role. Digitization in schools shouldn’t be perceived as an expenditure but an investment that is bound to yield stronger results than expected. The important thing is democratization of STEM, especially in nations like India. The vision is to have every child irrespective of their economic background gain accessibility to STEM. We are aware that several schools in metros and towns, may not have the required manpower or the technical support for carrying out research and there are schools where access to STEM education remains a challenge. It is noteworthy that corporate giants such as Maruti Suzuki and Ford have come forward to fund STEM education and adopt schools as part of their CSR initiatives that have helped over 500,000 students and 15,000 academicians across 20,000 schools with funds raised worth over Rs 20 crores. The Indian Government has also been extremely supportive of this initiative. Early this year, the Government launched a national portal called I-STEM that hosts a gamut of scientific activities and programmes. The initiative was also a part of the ‘Swayam’ initiative of the government to help guide skill-building and developing modules in academic institutions in utilizing a range of technological equipment. The portal also helps build an ecosystem that can foster R&D. India has already seen a tectonic shift with a range of homegrown solutions, businesses and startups through the ‘Make In India’ initiative and now this will further help positively shape our economy in years to come. For discerning parents, who are wondering how they can help children adapt to STEM faster. They can definitely look at the right apps and even the ongoing summer or extracurricular. workshops that will help children learn these subjects while having fun. The key is to help them enjoy these subjects and not pressurize them to learn via the rote method. Eventually children will pick up these subjects when they are having fun while learning.

K12 Digest April 2022

ADMIN PERSPECTIVE

Competencies to Acquire before Applying in International Universities Aman Mittal, Vice President, Lovely Professional University

nternational universities are a dream when it comes to any student living in India. Every student in their hearts wants to study abroad, especially in the developed countries. It is an opportunity where one can interact with people belonging to different nationalities, races, ethnicities, cultures and religions. At the same time receiving world class education and exposure to highly advanced life where you can do anything at a click away is what every student wants to experience. It is the place where you can blend into any academic and vocational course of your choice. It’s an experience of a lifetime where one can get the opportunity to be taught by leading academics and experts who can tailor your skills and interest. According to an international student survey, high quality teaching and availability of scholarships were the two most important parameters of what students wanted in an international institute. Studying in any international university will expose you to the world, you can experience the country and its people and their standard of life and how different it is from your own country. You can learn the new changes; you can incorporate those changes into your wellbeing. Changes can encompass new customs, activities and values. At the

K12 Digest April 2022

One of the defining experiences that you will encounter in international universities while applying, is that you won’t see people getting admission based on caste, class and race

Mr. Aman Mittal is the Vice President at Lovely Professional University (LPU), one of the leading educational institutes recognized globally for its innovative, collaborative, and consistent transformative approach. He is a multi-faceted personality spearheading various verticals such as International Education, Information Technology, Growth, Marketing, Public Relations, and Entrepreneurship along with overlooking the overall affairs at the university. Adding to it, he is also responsible for roles such as Program Design and Implementation, Team Development and Facilitation along with Crisis Management and Prevention as well as Communication Planning at the university.

K12 Digest April 2022

Language diversity, excellent communication skills and apt vocabulary is what you need before applying to any university

same the exposure to world class education, quality teaching and highly advanced classroom experience will shape your persona and will inspire your growth. One of the defining experiences that you will encounter in international universities while applying, is that you won’t see people getting admission based on caste, class and race. In these universities, there are no castebased reservations. Though there are certain meritbased scholarships available to those students who are competent and deserving can apply for them once they have been accepted.

K12 Digest April 2022

Before applying to any international university, one must be prepared to appear and conduct himself/herself in foreign setup. These are the points one must acquire before applying to any International university: 1. Excellent academic record ensures and enhances the possibility of your admission in any top international institute. 2. Research abilities, one must have good researching abilities that will help the student to thrive in a university. 3. A strong interest in the course’s topic: Students must show enthusiasm for the subject they are studying. A personal achievement, extracurricular activities, and an independent extended interest in a subject that goes beyond what is necessary in the classroom can all help to demonstrate this. Students should demonstrate how learning in and out of the classroom relates to their chosen course. 4. You need to have an inquisitive mind. A questioning mind. In student applications, almost all university admissions authorities (91%) search for evidence of a curious mind. Also a positive approach toward studying, an interest in your topic, and the capacity to think and operate independently. 5. A strong and powerful statement of purpose that will invoke why you want this particular university and what inspired you to move beyond your native country. You will have to share your experiences and events that played a role in the development of your personality. 6. Language diversity, excellent communication skills and apt vocabulary is what you need before applying to any university. One must learn them beforehand because they play an instrumental role in the successful application. 7. An optimistic outlook towards learning: Students must show that they are willing to put in the effort – which they aren’t only applying to university for the social scene, but that they will be able to handle the demands of their chosen degree and thrive at a higher level of study. Summing Up! You’re ready to embrace your exciting new reality, with a little time set aside to explore, make friends, and rack up a lot of interesting experiences, now that you have an arsenal of important skills for undergrads in your pocket. Even if it may be the major reason for your migration, studying abroad is about much more than the education you will acquire. Whether you visit Germany, Italy, Spain, or any of a number of other culturally diverse nations, you will be able to extend your horizons in ways you never imagined.

Amazing Opportunity for Teachers and School Leaders to enhance their knowledge through FREE Teachers Academy masterclasses from international education experts !!! For more details and registration www.teachersacademy.com

K12 Digest Higher Education Digest April 2022 November 2021

INDUSTRY VIEW

The New Era of Education Would Be High-Tech and High-Touch Kiran Dham, CEO, Globus Infocom Ltd.

Kiran Dham, CEO, Globus Infocom Limited, has been leading Globus Infocom Limited for the past 10 years and has successfully turned the organization into a well-established, trusted, Make in India brand in the technology industry. Globus Infocom Limited is an industry leader for past 20 years in the field of Education technology. Today, Kiran has been the guiding force behind establishing a loyal and diverse client base including esteemed Government organizations, Educational Institutes, Universities, PSUs, Defence establishments, and many more.

K12 Digest April 2022

Not only the educational methodologies but even the attendance, examinations, assignment submission, and evaluation, all are conducted in the digital space whilst leveraging the power of technology

he education sector has witnessed various disruptions. Due to the pandemic-induced digital adoption, ed-tech platforms enabled educational institutions to continue the learning process in the online space without compromising on the studies of the students. While the educators struggled to use digital tools, the shift from physical learning to virtual classrooms was challenging for the students to cope with. This was also the time when ed-tech platforms emerged as a blessing in disguise and enabled remote learning. Technology revamping the education sector A year and a half later, online learning has witnessed a surge and hybrid learning has become the new fad. Technology has now become synonymous with the education sector. It has ushered in a new era of the

segment and has made it all the more engaging and interactive. Not only the educational methodologies but even the attendance, examinations, assignment submission, and evaluation, all are conducted in the digital space whilst leveraging the power of technology. Education has also become flexible as students can learn at their pace and convenience. Now, they can also indulge in interactive and immersive educational experiences by learning through a variety of content formats. Owing to technological advancements, education has also become collaborative. On the online forums, subject matter experts can discuss and debate with students on specific topics, review syllabus, and plan assessments to enhance the process of teaching. Digital transformation has given a new dimension to the education industry and has reduced the limitations

K12 Digest April 2022

of time and geographical locations. The students and teachers can be a part of virtual classrooms even while being miles apart! The future of education sector: High-tech and high-touch As digital transformation continues to disrupt the sector, it is anticipated that technology will contribute in driving the growth of the sector in the times to come! The use of targeted digital solutions will surge all the more in the times ahead. What is also noteworthy is that the future of the education sector is not just high-tech but high-touch as well. High-tech high-touch learning is a new-age method that combines adaptive technology with personalized technology. This will further pave the way for offering personalized learning experiences to the students, boost their socio-emotional growth as well as will ensure that they are able to cultivate high-order skills. This methodology will enable students to first understand and remember the content while adapting to the pace of each student. Teachers would then be able to leverage the data from the adaptive system to personalize their educational support for the learners. This way the educators will be able to help students in gathering the must-have skills of problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, management as well as hands-on learning. Summing up! To recover smoothly from the damage inflicted by the pandemic and seamlessly transition into the postCOVID era, we can benefit from the best of both worlds. This approach of high-tech high-touch that combines the power of technology with the social aspect of the classroom will help high-tech working to amalgamate with high-touch aspect. The education sector gained momentum during the global pandemic crisis and the credit for this can solely be attributed to technology especially the edtech platforms. Digital solutions enabled the segment to deal with unforeseen challenges and helped it survive the turbulent times. Tech-hesitant teachers eventually became tech-savvy. Students that used to run away from studying were now enjoying the learning experiences due to the engaging tools and interactive methods. While technology revamped the education sector at unimaginable levels, its integration will be such that the future of the education segment will not be just hightech but high-touch as well!

K12 Digest April 2022

BEST PRACTICE

Preparing Students for the Unknown Future – What Skills can Music Develop? Bindu Subramaniam, Singer-Songwriter, Author, Founder & CEO of SaPa – Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts

Bindu Subramaniam is a singer, songwriter, Founding Director of SaPa in Schools and Dean at SaPa - Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts. She is passionate about using intercultural perspectives and trans disciplinary education to create a systemic change, and develop social equality, cultural democracy and 21st century skills in children. With that in mind, she co-founded the SaPa in Schools program with her brother Ambi Subramaniam in 2014.

K12 Digest April 2022

With music comes timelines; right from learning the piece and practising it, to staying aware of time spent on stage. Children get hands-on experience in planning, coordinating, and optimising

ven before the pandemic, it wasn’t easy to predict the future of work. A 2018 report discussed how we don’t fully know what we’re preparing children for; with many jobs becoming automated, what skills will we really need from the workforce? Post 2020, it is safe to say that the uncertainty has grown exponentially. As we keep going back and forth between in-person and hybrid learning, we can’t confidently say that we know what workplace culture or migration opportunities will look like even a few months from now - never mind the next couple of decades. However, it is clear that there will always be a demand for 21st century skills in our leaders of the future. Empathy, teamwork, communication, and appreciation for diversity will always be valued above everything else. That is where the role of music comes in. For educators, school leaders, and parents looking to add music and the arts more meaningfully into children’s daily lives, here are some parallel skills that develop as a result of learning music: Communication and collaboration: Group musical activities encourage children to work with each other towards a larger goal. Additionally, it is a good idea to encourage children to form bands and ensembles that practise regularly, as it is a lesson in working with each other’s strengths as well as navigating limitations.

Time management: With music comes timelines; right from learning the piece and practising it, to staying aware of time spent on stage. Children get hands-on experience in planning, coordinating, and optimising. Entrepreneurship: A lot of the qualities we see in successful entrepreneurs can be developed via music. Panos Panay, founding managing director of Berklee ICE (Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship), shared an article with his insights about the connection between music and entrepreneurship. “Learning how to play a musical instrument and becoming a musician,” he says, “is an exercise in developing good listening skills, experimenting, overcoming repeated failure, selfdiscipline, and successful collaboration.” Consistency: Good music is not made overnight. It takes years and years of patience, hard work, and sticking it out. Not every practice session will be fun and satisfying - sometimes, you will be frustrated. Sometimes, it will take repeated tweaks to get a single note right. But at the end of the day, it is consistent efforts that bring in sustained success. This is true for music, as well as for life as a whole. And it is a lesson worth teaching as early as possible. Focus: Research has now proved that the concept of multitasking is a myth. The brain can only switch rapidly between two tasks; not do them both together. As a result, we make more mistakes and tend to take longer to complete

K12 Digest April 2022

tasks. It can also be frustrating and lead to burnout. A great alternative to multitasking is the ability to focus on one task at a time, work towards completing it fully, and then move on to the next. With time, you can finish tasks faster and get more done every day - while doing the work thoroughly. Music is a great way to build focus, whether it’s learning to sing or play an instrument or listening to background music. Quick decision-making: Music keeps you on your toes, requiring you to make split-second decisions many times. Whether it’s small mistakes on stage, technical difficulties, or other glitches in the event venue, you will have to find a way to make the most of the situation (with no time to prepare). This is a great life skill, too. No matter what career path you choose, you can be sure that you will have to deal with unexpected blips every now and then. Learning to navigate them and think on your feet (while remaining calm) is a wonderful quality to learn as early as possible.

K12 Digest April 2022

Self-expression: Disciplines like songwriting are a great way to help you get in touch with your emotions and learn to express them in healthy ways. Take, for example, the daily object writing exercise (an integral part of the songwriting process). As part of this routine, you write about one object for 10 minutes - describing it with all the five senses as well as how you feel about the object. This can be daunting at first (we don’t really have deep feelings about a piece of chalk, for example) but can open up the doors to better selfexpression, particularly in pre-teen and teenage children. Since we’re not aware of what “hard skills” children will need decades from now, we can only focus on 21st century skills like patience, problem solving, and perseverance. And music is a great gateway to building all these skills. One thing to keep in mind: Learning music doesn’t necessarily have to mean singing or playing an instrument. Children stand to gain a lot from pursuing music production, songwriting, composing, sound engineering, and other non-performing musical paths. All that matters is that they follow what they’re passionate about and give their best work each day.

K12 Digest April 2022

INDUSTRY VIEW

Emerging Plagiarism Trends and Upholding Academic Integrity Chaitali Moitra, Regional Director - South Asia, Turnitin

With over two decades of experience across varied industry segments, Chaitali Moitra has served at the helm of various organizations and steered institutions to excellence in key success metrics - in both a financial and strategic growth capacity. Chaitali is well recognized as a leader in Business Development, Marketing and Learning. She has served in leadership positions at Genpact, The Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Global University Systems, and Macmillan Education. As the Managing Director of Collins Learning, a division of Harper Collins India, she has worked extensively with the education sector in South Asia. She has mentored students of leading management institutes and is often invited by leading institutes to share her knowledge and experience.

K12 Digest April 2022

The mounting pressure to be accepted in competitive higher learning institutions can force students to attempt shortcuts in their exams

ver the past two years, the education community in India has been navigating through uncertainties caused by the pandemic and challenges posed by the rapid transitioning of learning towards digital platforms. Students and teachers are steadily getting accustomed to remote and hybrid learning environments while relying on technology to resolve core challenges such as delivery of teaching methods and assessments. Educators have limited interaction with students in the current situation making it difficult for them to consistently keep tabs on how students are getting work done, in turn, creating challenges to determine if academic integrity was compromised and, if so, whether it was done deliberately or inadvertently. Academic integrity is crucial to develop students with critical thinking skills that are essential to their academic performance, and overall development as professionals in their future careers. Prominent causes of academic dishonesty There are a handful of factors that drive students to subvert the system. Firstly, the mounting pressure to be accepted in competitive higher learning institutions can force students to attempt shortcuts in their exams. Also, peer and family pressure can create fear of failure and influence students to deviate from the learning process while blinding them to the consequences this could have on their personal and

professional growth. A lack of confidence or guidance in fulfilling the work required to obtain relevant grades is also a major cause for students attempting to take the easy way out. Emerging plagiarism trends With schools, colleges and universities transitioning towards either fully online or hybrid learning modules, there are numerous challenges to maintaining integrity in the work delivered by students. One of the biggest concerns is plagiarism, which has evolved beyond just copying ideas and pasting them from another source. While many are often unaware of their actions being an act of plagiarism, there are a minority that knowingly do it for any number of reasons. These are some of the new methods of academic misconduct that education professionals need to look out for in the coming year: Contract cheating – roping in a third party’s service to complete tasks and submitting them as one’s own. Artificial Intelligence - using AI based tools to complete assignments. Text manipulation – running third party content through specific software to manipulate text and attempt to mislead plagiarism detection tools.

K12 Digest April 2022

It is crucial to build a culture of academic integrity to equip educators maximise learning opportunities while developing students towards becoming integritydriven professionals

Source Code plagiarism – the act of copying a source code with no attribution to the creator of the code. Spyware usage – deploying devices such as earpieces and smartphones, and screen capture software when taking tests. Additional tutors – discreetly employing an additional tutor to communicate answers during assessments. Impersonation – engaging someone else to pretend to be themselves to take exams. Technology is transforming the education landscape like never before, therefore, it is important for educators to establish integrity standards, teach students about what constitutes dishonesty and constantly be vigilant of changing trends to take the necessary steps towards minimising dishonesty. Cultivate a culture of academic integrity It is crucial to build a culture of academic integrity to equip educators maximise learning opportunities while developing students towards becoming integrity-driven professionals. For this to work, educators need to assess the landscape of remote learning, the pitfalls that could derail student development, and leverage the right technology based on these gaps.

K12 Digest April 2022

Advanced tools such as plagiarism detection software, AI enabled assessment platforms to grade assignments and provide feedback, are secure and user-friendly solutions to assist students in avoiding plagiarism in their assignments while enabling educators in detecting content similarity matches, code plagiarism in programming assignments, text manipulations and verifying the originality of work produced by students. These tools also enable educators to gauge and monitor student behavioural patterns, and empower them to mitigate risks effectively. While learning remotely, establishing a shared definition of academic integrity that cuts across educators, students, administrators and families is beneficial. To have a collectively agreed upon definition will create a path for meaningful steps to be taken to ensure all parties understand the importance and expectations of honesty, fairness and originality from the work produced by students. Once these are achieved, educators can look forward to establishing an institution-wide policy that defines academic integrity and ethics, as well as the type of action that will be taken when misconduct arises. Enlightening students on the importance of academic integrity and the consequences of dishonesty can significantly help reduce cases of plagiarism. It is important for them to realise that upon graduation from university, they have to bring with them the right values and ethics into their professional work and social lives to become valuable citizens in the community.

K12 Digest April 2022

ADMIN PERSPECTIVE

How to Maintain Teaching Pedagogy Amidst a Crisis? Sushma Raturi, Member Secretary, Academic Council, Saamarthya Teachers Training Academy of Research (STTAR)

ducators across the world have time and again proven their mettle by facing the toughest crisis in imparting education to the most distressed students while being affected by similar situation themselves. Conflicts, natural calamities, and pandemics have disrupted education across the world. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, teachers were thrown off gear while adapting to teaching in the distance learning mode. Such a rapid transition was very challenging and stressful as they had to figure out the way to use the digital tools competently and also revamp the curricula and pedagogies that would keep the students engaged. In some cases, teachers had to device different strategies and create customized lessons to assist their students in navigating the world of distance learning. Amid crisis, the responsibility of making the classroom environment conducive to learning falls on the teachers. To this end, both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation plays an important role in shaping a teacher’s attitude towards their profession. A plethora of case studies have shown that it is the intrinsic motivation that helps teachers to optimize their own practice. In turn, they device ways to keep their students motivated by using diverse innovative approaches which results not only in improved learning but also better teacher satisfaction.

K12 Digest April 2022

The mental, emotional and physical toll that a crisis takes on students has a direct bearing on their learning outcomes

Sushma Raturi is an enthusiastic professional educator with over 25 years of varied work experience in the field of education. She is an alumna of St. Mary’s, Shillong, who after obtaining a gold medal in her post-graduate course in Public Administration, decided to do her Bachelors in Education to pursue her childhood dream of being an educator. Currently, she is working with Seth Anandram Jaipuria Group of Schools as Head of Teaching, Learning and Training. She is also Member Secretary of Saamarthya Teachers Training Academy of Research (STTAR), a premier teachers’ training institute that aims to develop teaching competencies based on extensive research on all aspects of education.

K12 Digest April 2022

With rapid changes in the education ecosystem, the profiles of both learners and teachers have undergone a sea change and more so during a crisis, be it of any nature. The mental, emotional and physical toll that a crisis takes on students has a direct bearing on their learning outcomes. Teachers have to themselves tide over the strain of the crisis and continue teaching by adopting cognitive and active learning approaches.

Teachers have to themselves tide over the strain of the crisis and continue teaching by adopting cognitive and active learning approaches

They need to be cognizant of certain factors like psychosocial environment of the class, student readiness, teacher-student rapport and student engagement for a successful curriculum delivery. In times of crisis, a proactive teacher will strive to: ● Decongest the curriculum, clarify and simplify the lesson that is easily comprehensible.

K12 Digest April 2022

● Plan lesson segmenting for better retention as it is easier to grasp smaller portions of the concepts. ● Communicate learning objectives/goals that will keep students on track. ● Align assessments with the learning objectives, which will help teachers fathom whether their objectives were met or not. ● Be flexible and design learning experiences that tap into a variety of modes of learning. ● Keep abreast of latest and innovative teaching practices that will be conducive to the situation they are in. ● Align instruction with relevant resources and strategies including psychosocial elements in their teaching learning process. ● Model meta cognition. ● Design innovative assessment tools to assess student learning and plan instruction accordingly. ● Offer timely and constructive feedback to students and be mindful that it does not discourage their learning. ● Incorporate Socio-emotional learning domains in the curriculum for improved student behaviour and academic outcomes ● Cater to emotional well-being of the students by giving them emotional support as and when needed after class or school. ● Strive to create a life space of quality and comforting environment by establishing a friendly rapport that will enhance learning. In an ever diversifying world, the role of teachers has become even more crucial as they need to develop their own SEL skills before making an attempt to equip their students with the core competencies of Socio Emotional Learning. They need to have the right measure of knowledge, skills and attitude to guide and monitor their students by selecting appropriate strategies so that they are able to deal with the coping mechanism of the children. However, teachers are not supernatural beings. They need support so as to enhance their capacities to cope with professional burden and their personal traumatic experiences. Therefore, a holistic approach in education within the context of school will not only safeguard mental and emotional well-being of the children but also help build resilience in them which is both therapeutic for learners as well as the teachers. To ensure that “Every child succeeds”, the committed, talented and caring educators need to provide their learners with experiences for self-exploration, creativity, communication and collaboration regardless of the situation they are in so that they grow up to be lifelong learners.

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K12 Digest April 2022

INDUSTRY VIEW

Implicit Learning from Explicit Learning Jitesh Jariwala, Game Producer, Unleash Games (A Venture from K12 Techno Services)

Mr Jitesh Jariwala has been playing video games and card games since his childhood. He learned Game Development & Game Designing with child-like curiosity and started working as a professional without any degree like most game developers across the country. He has been constantly learning about how to make an enjoyable experience, especially through digital mediums. Mr Jitesh wants to bring a positive impact on education with the help of digital games.

K12 Digest April 2022

Gaming is an evolutionary step in education especially as you learn better when the concepts become more enjoyable and the reward system involved in gaming helps you to push through any challenges

he previous generation has mostly grown up with a stigma towards digital games. In an age where affordable technology was rare and playing in an open space like playgrounds and parks were more preferred, all of us grew up thinking that being glued to the screen will not be productive which in turn will affect the future. Aren’t we all used to thinking that an achiever always has to be someone with an ability to sacrifice screen time, playgrounds, or time with friends as it will make us intelligent and successful? Now, so many years down the line with the benefits of technology as clear as it can be, don’t you think that our judgments were short-sighted and perhaps blind to the other side of the coin? Gaming is no longer a distraction as we previously thought it to be. You, your child, or any player, gaming gives the opportunity to interact with circumstances, other players

and work towards a specific goal or mission. Impressive visuals and background music also contribute to increasing the level of concentration that our otherwise seemingly boring surroundings often fail to provide. This virtual platform over time has proven to be a more engaging environment. Even failing a task or completing a level is fun when playing a game, plus we enjoy it more when our siblings or friends fail and the truth is the feeling is mutual. This is because in such an involving space even mistakes are fun and overcoming them is enticing. We are not scared to fail when we learn through gaming. Gaming is an evolutionary step in education especially as you learn better when the concepts become more enjoyable and the reward system involved in gaming helps you to push through any challenges. When children learn through books, notes, and blackboards, they often struggle with a lack of purpose.

K12 Digest April 2022

In India, with the booming Ed-tech industry, gaming is increasingly coming to the forefront as a serious learning tool

K12 Digest April 2022

Though not always consciously, our instincts keep on asking us – ‘why are we doing this?’, ‘moving ahead, where is it going to take us?’. Losing enthusiasm and focus often become unavoidable. Educational games on the contrary often use concepts like math, science, general knowledge, etc to take the story of the game forward. So, even before your children are doing a subtraction problem on screen, they already know why they are solving it. Gaming, thus, is a practical way of learning. It is a problem-solving technique that you as a player practice in your game world. A boy on a road has to sort different geometrical shapes that are blocking his way in order to progress forward. This is a practical problem. We in our daily lives are often met with such humble troubles. Centuries ago in gurukuls, a child learned how to bring down edible fruits from the tree by using a bow and arrow; today in an educational game a child can learn how the transfer of heat takes place while boiling water. As Gurukulas taught them to find pragmatic solutions, gaming in a similar way provides clarity on processes that are a part of everyday life. In India, with the booming Ed-tech industry, gaming is increasingly coming to the forefront as a serious learning tool. While the perception of gaming as a distraction hasn’t been completely wiped out yet, the inclusion of educational games as a mandatory part of the curriculum by reputed schools clearly shows the change in mindset that has taken place and the positive route that lies ahead.

K12 Digest April 2022

MENTOR’S OPINION

Do Students Have Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) In Education As Well - If Yes, Then How To Tackle It? Nasir Shaikh, CEO, Lexicon Group of Institutes & MultiFit

Nasir Shaikh brings experience, compassion and leadership together, to create a better learning and growing experience, for himself and others. Before taking on as the CEO, The Lexicon Group of Institutes (2020), Mr. Shaikh was a name to reckon with in the hospitality industry where he received many accolades and recognitions. He has won Debbie Marriott Harrison Take Care Award of Excellence 2017, Asia Pacific Take Care Award 2019 – Marriott International, BW Hotelier- General Manager (2017) and Best Business Council of the World Marriott International 2019 amongst many others.

K12 Digest April 2022

here are events and there are ‘life events’ – Covid-19 has been that life event for students, where in close to two years of their lives have had a dramatic change. These two years have shown the adult world the agility and adaptability of younger minds. Prior to March 2020 the only learning form they knew was in physical presence of their teachers. Between 2020-2022, they have experienced various modes of learning i.e., Virtual Classrooms, Hybrid Classrooms and Physical Classrooms and to each the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Through this article we will try to briefly address what I feel has transpired through the minds of students from both personal interactions and referencing studies about the topic. Here we will look at two aspects of FOMO – 1) related to the absence of physical classes for a duration of 12 to 18 months and 2) the want to do more. Across the country schools have reported less than 50% students or their parents opting to attend classes in person. Whilst the teachers and faculty have been positively reinforcing the need to come back, across age groups the students (in some cases, because of the parents) there has been a resistance. Reasons range from the comfort zone that has developed, the ability to multi-task, fear or simply

the lack of intent. Interestingly the age group that has been vaccinated has shown the lesser intent on immediate return to classes and in person exams vs. the age group of 4 years to 12 years where the response is more forthcoming. What I am getting at is that I do not think there was a high percentage of FOMO in respect to learning and education at large by the students due to the pandemic. Many feel that they have even got more due to the pandemic due to the accessibility to faculty and trainers from across the globe. Saying that there would be a percentage of students who would have experienced the fear of missing out and from the perspective of Leaders in Education, I think the key was connections, staying connected and the faculty at large should be given credit for what they were able to achieve considering all the stress that surrounded them in the personal zones. The faculty and teachers are the unheralded ‘Covid Heroes’ who through their sheer passion to make a difference have defined and saved the future of the world. Let’s now look at the side where there is the want to do more and abundance of choice that is available to the students of today and their awareness around it. As a student, from time to time one may find the opportunities available to explore overwhelming. The choice available today is vast and may cause more confusion and lead to FOMO because

The inability or the unsaid absence of second chances is something that leads to FOMO and it all starts by comparisons

K12 Digest April 2022

you may find a fellow student doing something that seems very interesting from the outside and there is a want to do it. I will stay short of calling it a crazy desire of wanting to do everything moves students towards developing a form of social anxiety which we also call the ‘fear of missing out’. This primarily develops due to the social settings, peer pressure, the need to want more and do more or because of something that they have created in their own minds. This may cause a deep sense of envy and affect one’s self-esteem. There is the fear of wanting to avoid regret of not doing something. The more choices one has the less satisfied they may be with the choice that they have made. Unfortunately, at a societal level, the message is that if one makes an incorrect choice, it really is their own fault, and they should have researched more or thought it over better. The inability or the unsaid absence of second chances is something that leads to FOMO and it all starts by comparisons. Comparisons are a definite pitfall and should be avoided, one needs to find their own space. Everything we do has consequences and the consequences of trying to do everything because of the fear of missing out can be severe. It starts with one not caring enough for oneself, which impacts the mental health, sleep patterns, emotional stability or the lack of it, food diets, personal life… and the

K12 Digest April 2022

list goes on! This in the end severely impacts their ability to function effectively and has a deteriorating impact on their overall health. Over time, one realises that their hunger for new opportunities may be disproportional to the benefits that arise out of it and what you have done is not necessarily the most productive or efficient use of one’s time and energies. One of the simplest ways of tackling this concern is by setting milestones and goals. This will orient you correctly towards the steps and opportunities one need to take to grab the opportunities that are available/desire more scientifically vs. that of impulse or FOMO. One needs to stop trying to be an expert at everything in their field of interest. Instead find out what you are passionate about and pursue the same. Additionally, I also feel that faculty need to support students by helping them create learning maps/journeys which will give a relatively comprehensive roadmap which is aligned to the goals of the students. There are times when things get too hectic, this is the time you need to step back and review what you are doing. Review if this is aligned to your goals, is this what you want. Do this both unapologetically and without judging yourself or wondering what others will think of you. Learn to say no, this is a fantastic skill and ability to have, this will allow you to do only things that align with your personal and professional goals. This is very similar to your food habits, if you don’t know when to stop or say no – you will over eat thereby impacting your weight and overall wellness. The way to tackle it is to apply the KISS principle – “Keep it simple, stupid”. The few things that work for me are: 1. Keeping it Simple, uncomplicating the uncomplicated. Being honest and saying no when I need to. 2. Listening to my inner voice. When your inner voice is telling you something, listen to it. 3.Don’t procrastinate, take a call. If aligned to your goals and milestones – time map it and go for it. 4. Avoid Aping, find your individual space 5. Find happiness in others success, envy can kill 6. At times – smile and let go 7. Don’t let anything impact your peace of mind 8. Contentment – Be content, sometimes ‘Dil Maange More’ is not good 9. Meditation really helps me define my choices as my mind is in the desires state for it to make the right choices 10. Getting a great night’s sleep every night is my priority and should be yours. In the words of Andrew Yang ‘Fear of Missing Out is the enemy of valuing your own time’ and sometimes FOMO may lead you to miss out on everything in entirety as your are neither here nor there. Remember everything in hindsight has 20/20 vision as one’s past is always ready and waiting to entangle and deflect you.

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K12 Digest April 2022

INDUSTRY VIEW

A Spark That’ll Turn into WildFire or Simply Linger as A Flame? Lavin Mirchandani, Co-founder, ConnectEd Technologies

Mr. Lavin Mirchandani is the Co-founder of ConnectEd Technologies, which is an edtech social enterprise that specializes in creating tailor-made technologies and deploying large-scale developmental programs that make quality education accessible to government schools and the children studying therein. For the company, he leads Content Development and Finance, which are two critical functions that lead any edtech enterprise towards a sustainable business model. In a situation where the edtech industry in India is plagued by companies that have raised immense capital to achieve scale, but remain largely unviable, Mr. Lavin Mirchandani has been able to leverage his past experience in the finance industry to build a commercially viable business model for the company from the first year of business itself.

K12 Digest April 2022

EdTech organizations in India raised USD 2.2 billion last year and went on a shopping spree unlike ever seen before

ver the last 10 years, enterprises in India’s EdTech industry transitioned from developing technologybased physical infrastructure that improved in-class education, to organizations that took advantage of the growing penetration of personal computers, smartphones and internet connectivity to serve quality learning to students in classrooms as well as at home. By making this transition, EdTech organizations evolved from complementing age-old educational setups to pushing them towards new practices, and even competing with them. While institutions improved their teaching practices by integrating EdTech solutions, alternative sources of education such as tuition providers and publishers of educational guidebooks felt the heat of competition as EdTech enterprises were serving quality education to a large number of students with a lot more effectiveness and efficiency. Decision-making among Indian consumers – with regards to educational services & products – is fiercely driven by past results and positive word-of-mouth, which take time to develop for any organization. As a result, even though EdTech organizations were able to exert pressure

on age-old secondary sources of education, they could not make Indian parents and students entirely flip the switch on online education. However, while they waited for noteworthy academic results and positive word-of-mouth to develop, they strategically used a significant part of the USD 4.1 billion that was invested in this industry between 2010 and 2020 towards brand building and marketing. From roping-in Bollywood actors as brand ambassadors, to capturing advertisement spots between cricket matches, and purchasing sponsorship rights to the national cricket team’s jersey, EdTech organizations did everything possible to become household names, even in the country’s hinterland, and succeeded. Covid-19 pandemic led the Indian government to announce closure of educational institutions across the country. What originally seemed like a small break from inclass lectures, quickly translated into a total breakdown of the traditional approach to education. As regulators, institutions & educators across the country struggled to use technology to revive educational processes, EdTech organizations – which were already household names, thanks to all the marketing and brand-building activities in previous years – found

K12 Digest April 2022

themselves in the limelight. Covid-19 had pressured Indian students and their parents to take to online education almost overnight, and the heat was now on EdTech organizations to not only serve these audiences effectively, but to also take advantage this opportunity and capture market share in other segments of Indian learners. To leverage this opportunity, EdTech organizations in India raised USD 2.2 billion last year and went on a shopping spree unlike ever seen before. Byju’s and Unacademy, India’s top two EdTech companies, valued at USD 16.5 and USD 3.4 billion respectively, secured more than 70% of funds raised. Initial signs of consolidation started to show in the second half of 2020, as EdTech organizations – led by Byju’s and Unacademy – started acquiring smaller peers to increase userbase, grow product offerings, and capture audiences in newer segments. Most notable amongst these were the acquisitions of coding tutorial startup WhiteHat Jr., offline coaching chain Aakash Institute, higher education startup Great Learning, K-12 player Toppr, networking platform TapChief, competitive programming startups CodeChef and Mastree, and exam prep platforms Kreatryx, PrepLader, Coursavy, HandaKaFunda and NeoStencil. Following the above purchases, Byju’s and Unacademy, which originally dominated the K-12 and exam prep space respectively, found themselves operating across a sizeable number of other verticals, with each one experiencing an unparalleled surge in demand from Indian students and their parents. The situation is an organization’s dream as well as nightmare, and only time will tell whether these companies have been able to effectively consolidate, manage and leverage their acquisitions to occupy a bigger chunk of the market than before. While they’re pursuing their missions, other Indian EdTech unicorns such as UpGrad, Eruditus and Vedantu are slowly expanding their presence across verticals, with focus on providing a better educational experience to students and their parents, whilst waiting for the giants

of India’s EdTech industry to make a slip-up so they can swoop-in to grab some market share. The sudden emergence of India’s vernacular segment across every vertical of the EdTech industry is a matter of concern for all EdTech unicorns due to the sheer size of this segment, peculiarities associated with the audience, their own of lack of experience in serving this segment and the absence of sizeable EdTech players catering to this segment. The emergence of new-age technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in EdTech, as well as the recent popularity of short-length explainer videos is yet another aspect of concern for EdTech unicorns as one wouldn’t want to lose market share due to change in consumer preference for content. Even though consolidation in India’s EdTech industry started in 2020; with undercurrents as deep and wide as those mentioned above, it is safe to say that many more mergers and acquisitions are likely to happen during the coming 3 years. On its end, the Centre has made it amply clear through its latest Union Budget that the government is keen on bridging the digital divide that has prohibited students reliant on India’s public education system from accessing supplementary tools of quality education during the Covid-19 pandemic. The government is taking a well-rounded approach to addressing this problem by facilitating development of physical infrastructure, platforms and regional-language educational content that will enable Bharat and India to walk together in the country’s path to progress. Even though the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the need for supplementary modes of education - particularly those using technology - the government’s approach indicates technology playing a big role in public education even beyond Covid-19. Bearing in mind the above developments, and the most recent spike in Covid-19 cases worldwide, we expect the continued rise of India’s EdTech industry in 2022. Only time will tell if the growth will match or exceed performance during the pandemic, however, one can be sure that it will certainly surpass pre-Covid levels.

Even though consolidation in India’s EdTech industry started in 2020, it is safe to say that many more mergers and acquisitions are likely to happen during the coming 3 years

K12 Digest April 2022

The whole sTudenT view Our assessments provide a deeper insight into your students’ capability, struggles, learning barriers, current and comparative performance and rate of progress. With this information you are better able to personalise learning according to each individual student’s need. our assessments provide robust, standardised external data for: • Supporting decision-making across teaching, learning and pastoral needs • Identifying areas for school improvement • Preparation for inspections and accreditations. • Benchmarking and value-added • Informing staff professional development requirements • Showing prospective parents what the school has to offer and he effectiveness of teaching

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K12 Digest April 2022

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INDUSTRY VIEW

Make Learning Faster and Better for Students with Various Platforms & Tools Yuvraj Krishan Sharma, Co-Founder & CPO, KOMPANIONS

Mr. Yuvraj Krishan Sharma spearheads Kompanions as a Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer (CPO). He is a spirited and creative person at heart fuelled with a flair for innovation and technology, who continuously excited about the creation of ‘NEW Technologies’. As an entrepreneur, he firmly believes that given today’s volatile status-quo and rapidly changing scenario, students need an advanced technological skill-set to sustain growth to meet the demands of the knowledge-based economy, concepts and businesses.

K12 Digest April 2022

AR/VR Education promotes self-learning and provides secure places for students to discover new skills and apply them without risk to themselves or others

ver the past five years, immersive learning technologies and tools like AR, VR and MR have created a considerable shift in the methodologies used in the education sector. As a result, India’s Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Market was valued at $1.83 billion in FY2020 and is predicted to rise at a CAGR of 38.29 per cent through FY2027, owing to India’s rapid growth in digital transformation in the Ed-tech sector. These new-age ed-tech tools have caused a storm of activity in the Ed-Tech industry since VR and AR have become appealing to learners due to their interactivity and detailed visualization. This shift in the education sector is due to the myriad qualities of the immersive experiences of learners that mirror the actual world with remarkable steadfastness offered by these new-age technologies to help replace or extend our perspective of reality. In addition, the use of AR and VR in Education allows students to get close and personal with the objects, subjects and locations. AR/VR Education promotes self-learning and provides secure places for students to discover new skills and apply them without risk to themselves or others. As a result, it gives students an immersive experience making it far more exciting, successful in imparting knowledge and increases the retention quotient, unlike a traditional classroom setup.

E-learning tools and platforms have been catering to diverse audiences, including students, working professionals, and others. As a result, there has been a growth in the demand for AR/VR and 3D e-learning platforms and study modules that provide an interactive learning experience for students to engage better and become self-learners. In addition, a rising number of STEM academic instructors and educational technology professionals are experimenting with AR/VR tools to teach complicated and often abstract ideas. AR/ VR and Mixed Reality integration into e-learning platforms do not necessitate a significant investment or expensive equipment. Instead, students and working professionals only need a functional mobile device to access learning resources anywhere. Therefore, in a realistic approach, it is not difficult to claim that AR is less expensive and has a better position in the education sector right now. In contrast, VR, which is more immersive in learning, will be difficult to deploy soon. Virtual Reality (VR) has immense potential to improve Education by giving students memorable and engaging experiences that would not be possible otherwise. Furthermore, it can all take place within the confines of the classroom, making it accessible and can be readily monitored by teachers. The use of virtual reality acts as

K12 Digest April 2022

Interactive e-learning will help students push their boundaries to comprehend complex subjects and concepts. Perhaps it will also make them fearless

K12 Digest April 2022

an intermediary between instructors and students. For example, distance learning tools that use VR can place instructors and students in the same room with digital representations of themselves – teachers can teleport into the VR reality and help students through their experiences. The human memory is complex and does not easily forget visuals. Students can understand and memorise information more quickly due to this. Augmented Reality (VR) enables teachers to present virtual illustrations of topics and incorporate game features to provide textbook material assistance, making classroom teaching more spectacular and interactive. In addition, students can explore the location where they are learning in virtual three dimensions using Virtual Reality (VR). This new-age e-learning tool offers students an advantage as it makes learning more exciting and engaging by using 3D modelling of historical monuments, scientific instruments, and other complex concepts. Learning through AR and VR has immense potential in the future. This interactive e-learning will help students push their boundaries to comprehend complex subjects and concepts. Perhaps it will also make them fearless. By incorporating an interactive audio-visual component, augmented and virtual reality ed-tech platforms can make explaining complex topics less difficult. In India, selective academic institutions have even introduced dedicated labs in schools and colleges that allow students and academic instructors to access AR/VR devices to develop their study modules and content. These dedicated labs create further opportunities for students and educators to experiment with immersive learning. As a result, AR/VR has shown an improvement in learning in youngsters since they may experience a new method to learn. A lot of what students learn today is through the human senses. So, while learners and teachers experience something, and more human senses get used, the stronger the chances of the learning to stay preserved in their memory and makes it easy to recall. One of the essential stages in a child’s life is cognitive development. However, traditional classrooms focused on ideas, augmented reality, and virtual reality shifts the focus to learning via visualization rather than theory. This shift in the Indian and global education ecosystems with AR, VR and 3D learning has proven to boost students’ attention more than ever before. The future of e-learning looks promising when we view it with the current use of AR, VR and MR study modules. These technological e-learning tools will keep students exhilarated and engaged, making them more curious about learning to respond to and comprehend complex situations and subjects.

K12 Digest April 2022

K12 Digest Higher Education Digest April 2022 2020 October