digitalLEARNING-Jan-2011-[58-59]-Improving on the Learning Outcomes-Yukti Pahwa

corporate diary

Improving on the Learning Outcomes In conversation with Shameema Parveen, the Co-Founder and CEO of Edutech, Yukti Pahwa, finds out about the learning solutions and services across the learning life-cycle in schools, universities and corporations that is provided by the company.

Please share the initiatives undertaken by Edutech in 2010 and what are your plans for the future?

We undertook many challenging initiatives in 2010. We built an integrated, mobile science laboratory that conforms to the CBSE and IB syllabi. Our product – iGNITE – integrates classroom theory with hands-on learning and helps students learn science better and faster.

Edutech is uniquely positioned to help colleges under the TEQIP 2 scheme with their objectives of improving learning outcomes and the quantity of research, through our solutions that span all aspects of learning; from within the class room to the library to the laboratory.

Additionally, Edutech’s engineering lab solutions comprise industry-standard

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vocational and technical training aids like dynamic simulation systems, demonstration kits and instrumentation equipment that help towards industrial skill building. Also, Edutech has developed a solution called TechMentor that delivers technical online courses remotely by combining the power of digital broadcasting, and syllabi- aligned, vernacularbased technical content. Edutech will continue to identify trends, needs and opportunities to evolve new generation learning solutions that will improve learning outcomes and efficiency.

How is Edutech unique or different from the other companies in the same field?

Edutech is a leading provider of learning

solutions and services across the learning life-cycle to schools, universities and corporations. We bring together the products, services, consulting and technical expertise that provide an answer to the customer’s problem and provide a measurable improvement at the customer’s end.

Edutech has been the pioneer in bringing in educational technologies like Blackboard, that goes beyond being a learning management system. We have been the first to introduce the SmartClass family of computer classroom management systems to meet the pedagogical needs of instructors in schools, colleges, universities and defence institutions. We can say with confidence that we are the only company that touches the lives of students across their learning lifecycle

on the campus – in the classroom, in the laboratory and the library.

What were some of the highlights that the year 2010 witnessed?

Firstly, the Right to Education Act, came into existence in April of 2010 and paved the way for innovative and low-cost use of ICT to provide eight years of good quality education to every child. Secondly, more government and private schools were brought under the ICT ambit with changes ranging from addition of basic computer infrastructure, broadband connectivity and computer aided education in government schools to setting up of interactive classrooms and labs and use of learning management systems and e-content in private schools. Thirdly, education reforms continued with the introduction of CCE in schools with the objective of not only obtaining actionable feedback on a student’s academic abilities but also of inculcating lifelong and social skills through co-scholastic activities.

Fourthly, the continued support being provided by the National Skill Development Corporation to promote skill development to fulfill the need for skilled manpower, through PPP models, will definitely go a long way in preparing a future workforce for India. And finally, ICT started impacting Higher education in a big way. Whether it is reaching lakhs more students than before through distance learning with delivery through internet, satellite and other media, providing digital content repositories on technology, engineering and humanities to students on campus as well as off campus, and so on.

The achievements are many; but so are the challenges. With the right policies, adequate ICT infrastructure and funding, India can improve its educational and economic competitiveness multifold.

What is the future of the education industry in context of ICT? Because of the social, economic and linguistic diversity of our country, there cannot be a uniform one-size-fits-all ICT policy for education. But India has the technology and the means to imple-

ment both small and large ICT interventions in education. Some general trends about the effective use of ICT are already emerging that are creating positive education outcomes.

Individualised learning for the “iGeneration”: Children of the 90’s and 00’s belong to what Prof. Larry D Rosen, Psychology scholar calls the “iGeneration”.

These children not only grow up with portable ‘i’ technologies but also expect individualised experiences both inside and outside education.

Interactive learning in a connected classroom: Interactive learning will get more ubiquitous and more innovative and will include 3-D content and real-time images of the sky, oceans, mountains, forests etc. beamed into the classroom for a better understanding of science and nature.

STEM education: We must provide our children with an education that includes a solid foundation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. To obtain success in this area, the government and other stakeholders will have to ensure that schools, colleges and universities integrate STEM into their curriculum, expose students to STEM careers, provide professional development for teachers, promote research in STEM-based areas and create an ecosystem where STEM education thrives.

What kind of support should government provide to education sector in future? What do you think about PPP module in education sector?

The 12th Five Year plan for education will be the pivotal plan of this century as it will need to take the successes of the 11th plan forward, fill the gaps where the plan has not achieved 100% success and lay out a road map for education for 2020 and beyond. The government has to truly universalise elementary education in the country and increase access to secondary and higher secondary schools. On the higher education front, it has to continue with its quality improvement programs for technical and non-technical education, grant autonomy to institutes of higher education,

“We can say with confidence that we are the only company that touches the lives of students across their learning lifecycle on the campus – in the classroom, in the laboratory and the library” and work towards restructuring and reorienting the higher education system to impart competitive skills and capabilities of global standards. Another area that the government needs to continue giving attention to is in providing job and industry-oriented vocational training to school drop-outs.

To do all this, the government needs resources, all of which it cannot generate on its own. The government can only do this by encouraging private sector participation by promoting CSR educational initiatives/ funding, inviting pure for-profit private sector funding and allowing FDI in higher education. Greater private participation with concomitant accountability is the only solution. \\

digital LEARNING

JANUARY 2011

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