Until recently, many students in India grew up rummaging through books in libraries or seeking out the neighbourhood tuition teacher. However, for current and future generations, things may well be very different thanks to the rapid evolution of digital technologies such as cloud computing, mobile innovations, and more wide-spread Internet connectivity. These are the crucial building blocks for education innovation in India.
By: HT Brand Studio
Source: Pexels
Educational technology, or edtech, is the pedagogy of the future, and the potential for its growth in India is colossal. The country is already on a path of great development, and while progress is on the horizon, there are a few obstacles along the way too. One is the lack of a personalised approach for educating the millions of students, who will shape the future of the country in years to come. Instead, too often, there is an insistence on a one-size-fits-all approach. Yet, edtech can bring forth different models and styles of education to provide a variety of advantages for different students and schools, and other learning environments.
India's booming edtech start-up scene
The rise of tech start-ups in India over the past few years has been well documented, and education is a sector that has garnered considerable attention in this space. GyanLab, for instance, is a new organisation that provides a personalised online platform, acting as an individual tutor for school children and supporting them on a one-on-one basis. A monthly fee paid by the parents gives the child access to the platform, with their strengths and weaknesses being assessed in real-time, which helps the child better prepare for the future.
XPrep, from Delhi, is another exciting education start-up. It is a tutor enablement platform providing a transparent link between parents and tutors through an app. It aims to bring new type of structure to the teaching and learning process, with an ongoing analysis and review of the students' progress. EduDharma, on the other hand, tackles the financial constraints that affect countless students, especially those pursuing higher education, but often younger students too. It acts as an online crowdfunding platform, where individuals can raise funds for their tuition.
Source: Hindustan Times
Byju's is another very successful learning app that provides students with a supplemental school curriculum, in addition to training and test preparation for higher education. The company hasn't gone unnoticed by the rest of the world. It recently raised $50 million of investment from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan), helping to cement the company's position at the forefront of the Indian edtech industry.
Outside of the start-up space, Tata ClassEdge entered edtech in 2011 with the aim of innovatively using technology to improve learning outcomes for children through interactive learning. More than 1,200 schools and 70,000 teachers across the country have already adopted the Tata ClassEdge way of teaching.
Internet, mobile and cloud – critical foundations of edtech
Today worth around $2.5 billion, edtech is a rapidly growing market in India. Its growth is set to continue – not just because of a bourgeoning start-up ecosystem, but also because reliable, faster Internet connectivity is starting to become more commonplace across the country, especially given the way in which different mobile devices and other digital technologies are starting to permeate all aspects of people's lives. This digitisation is lowering the barriers for developers to come up with new compelling edtech applications, and enabling more Indians to reap the benefits.
Source: Hindustan Times
David Eden, Future Technologist and Product Innovator at Tata Communications, comments: "More wide-spread access to reliable Internet connectivity, advancements in cloud computing, and a whole host of low-cost mobile connected technologies, will pave the way for growth opportunities not just in edtech, but across all industries and society as a whole. The World Bank estimates that just a 10% increase in mobile and broadband penetration increases GDP by 0.81% and 1.38% respectively in emerging markets. This means that if we see a 50% increase in broadband penetration, and a 30% increase in mobile penetration in the next couple of years, this would increase India's GDP by 9% – or $180 billion. Numbers like this highlight the huge role that digital technologies play in boosting the prospects of individuals and entire communities, ultimately accelerating India's growth in the global market."
Propelled by digitisation, the education market is ripe for innovation, with augmented reality and virtual reality the next technologies that are set to lead to the next big advancements in this space. Edtech innovations will transform the learning experience for children, young people, their families as well as teachers – driving positive changes in the entire economy.
One of the chief highlights at the Mint Digital Decoded Conference was the exclusive view into the upcoming innovations being developed and hosted by...
Technology
Digital transformation is no longer a choice for most companies, as the emergence of new technologies continues to disrupt established business...
Technology
It's time for Indian companies to embrace unified communications if they want to stay abreast with the increasing needs of employees, customers, and their own business.
Cloud Computing
: It's time for Indian companies to embrace unified communications if they want to stay abreast with the increasing needs of employees...
Unified Communications
Data is growing at an unfathomable speed. Managing such massive volumes and variety of data is a huge challenge for any organisation..
Cloud Computing
With an estimated economic impact of $400bn in 2016, it's no wonder that cyber security continues to be a core concern across the world.
cyber security
As we get exceedingly reliant on digital information, our vulnerability to cyber attacks increases.
cyber security
Until recently, many students in India grew up rummaging through books in libraries or seeking out the neighbourhood tuition teacher.
technology
Our transition into a robust digital ecosystem can only be envisioned on the back of a solid telecommunications network.
Internet of Things
The concept of smart city is experiencing a major revival in the country these days, with the government of India working towards creating 100 smart cities across the nation.
Internet of Things
Enormous technological forces are radically altering the way we work. Disruptive innovations are creating new kinds of companies and business models every day...
technology
The new face of the consumer is here. There is an excess of mass media and an array of platforms on which to experience it, leading to radical shifts in the consumption of entertainment.
Entertainment
India is experiencing a digital revolution. The telecom sector is redefining technological transformation in India, with greater reach and penetration...
Cloud Computing
The inherent drive for innovation that the people of India possess could be the key to rapidly develop the nation using the latest technology in 'machine conversation': the Internet of Things.
Internet of Things
With the Government of India starting work on Digital India 2.0 project, we talk of how technology and the private sector will be leveraged in pulling...
E-Governance
As pressure on consistent data services grows with LTE, operators need to look at better integration within local circles and overseas travel.
Data Roaming
Tata Communications' and Skype for Business Unified Communication package helps businesses optimise as they spread geographically
Unified Communications
Did you know that there are around 1 billion WhatsApp users and more than 80 million Netflix users in the world, and that an average person spends around 4 hours on their mobile device every day? Figures...
Internet of Things
Some of you may have read UCLA Professor Jared Diamond's 1997 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Guns, Germs, and Steel. In it, Diamond answers a question from Yali, his aboriginal New Guinean...
Cloud Computing
The digital, borderless economy is levelling the playing field between emerging and developed markets, accelerating innovation across industries and businesses of all sizes. The numbers speak for...
Digital Economy