Authored by Mr. Girish Singhania, CEO, EduBridge
Introduction
Venture Capitalists saw promise in the EdTech sphere, pumping considerable sums accounting for growth. With 1633 deals siphoned in the first half of 2022 and 54 EdTech startups crossing the $1 Billion mark, bagging the title of the Unicorns of India, the future of EdTechs shows promise. We need to understand what the future of EdTechs looks like in 2023. Before we get to that, let us take stalk of the changes that have strengthen the functioning of EdTechs in India
The Aftermath of the Pandemic
EdTechs surfaced in the Indian subcontinent a little over a decade ago. But it took a well-organized effort to promote the merits of online education. The pandemic made the advantages even more apparent, giving rise to a sustainable learning ecosystem that leverages the promotion of skilling, resulting in an economy that aligns with the growing requirement of the new-age workforce.
Overcoming issues
The pandemic has given India a reason to overcome the digital divide.
· The government has worked towards strengthening the telecom and internet infrastructure by ensuring that mobile data reaches the remote pockets of India. EdTech companies use the internet to skill the youth, delivering them to the future of a prosperous economy.
· Simultaneously the government is employing other channels of communication such as television, radio, and print to improve the outreach on the importance of education and skilling.
· The NEP revisited the academic curriculum in 2020 from the grass-root level to ensure that the education aligned with the future requirements of the advancing workforce.
· Efforts to educate the masses about the importance of skilling have made a difference among learners and professionals. Thanks to the internet; learners and professionals can go back to educating themselves at any age without going through a formal academic institution.
EdTech bodies are making an effort to skill learners and put them on a sustainable career path and also making sure that the attrition between the employer and the employee is reduced, propelling the growth of the organization and the employee in a positive direction.
Looking forward to 2023
5G is one of the most important factors that has helped overcome the digital divide. The new internet wave has given rise to a sea of possibilities to catalyse the growth of EdTech companies.
1. Gamification
The use of mechanics has gone on the rise in the EdTech space. This has given rise to a term called gamification, where academic content is turned into games, making it easy for people of any age group to comprehend even the most difficult concepts. On the other hand, EdTechs conducting live classes encourage the incorporation of gaming activities to improve the learning process and make it more sustainable.
2. When Learning becomes a Journey
Classroom lectures will positively transform with the introduction of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). Imagine simply reading about the Savannah in East Africa, verses, going on a virtual trip, and experiencing the strapping visuals in conjunction with the sounds. A voice-over accompanies the visuals. The experience is immersive and controlled by the learner, giving them the opportunity to interact with the trainer. AI and VR will emerge as essentials of new-age education.
3. Survey Tools
The Learning Management System or L.M.S. is one of the most comely used tools in the EdTech space. L.M.S. is software that helps manage and implement the learning process.
Apart from this, we have other cloud-based applications such as:
a. Google Docs
b. QuestionLens (A question bank management system)
c. Loom (A recording system whereby the instructor can record the lessons giving learners access to the lesson at any given point in time.
d. Moodle (An interface that can help trainers track their learners' performance)
e. SmallSEOTools (A plagiarism checker)
f. Canva (A tool to make education visually strapping)
Survey tools are instrumental in making education more inclusive by enabling the trainer to increase or decrease the difficulty level in an assessment according to the learners' IQ.
4. Personalisation using a Data-Driven Approach
EdTechs have made cross-subject learning easier. This means learners opting math can now opt for psychology simply because it is a subject of interest. This also means learners can explore untapped genres and topics, opening them to a sea of knowledge. The Learning space is heavily going to rely on Data Analytics to tap into the interest levels of the learner. Data Analytics clubbed with AI, will enable EdTech to emerge as the ‘Netflix’ in the academic space.
The future of EdTechs is rife with opportunities. With the introduction of improved mechanics, we are slowly but surely giving rise to academic institutions that are not defined by classrooms but will come alive with interactive and inclusive learning amenities.
