E-EDUCATION – POLITY
News:
E-education platforms, their Generative AI chapter
What is in the news?
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Recently, a research
report said that digital technology had impacted many people’s education
especially in the low income countries.
Advantages of digital technologies in education:
1. Cost-Effective:
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Digital education has
revolutionized access to quality education. It has made education affordable
and accessible to all, including economically disadvantaged students. Many
government initiatives in digital education are available free of cost.
2. Flexibility:
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Digital education
provides flexible study hours. It allows students to balance their studies with
other responsibilities. This flexibility helps in reducing dropouts caused by
economic activities or household work.
3. A Wide Range of Courses:
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In a space as vast and
wide as the internet, infinite skills and subjects are there to teach and
learn.
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A growing number of
universities and higher education schools are coming forward to offer online
versions of their programs for various levels and disciplines.
4. Accessibility:
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The most important benefit
of online education is that it can be accessed by anyone who owns an
internet-supported smartphone.
5. Personalized Learning:
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Adaptive learning
platforms can tailor content and pace to suit individual students' needs,
fostering personalized learning journeys.
6. Global Collaboration:
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Students and educators
can connect with peers and experts worldwide, facilitating cross-cultural
learning and collaboration.
Concerns:
1. Issue of privacy:
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A young student may not
know how to protect his/her personal data. Given the issue of digital
illiteracy in India, online education might actually lead to more harm than
good.
2. Limited Practical Attachment to Learning:
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Subjects of Science and
technology include hands-on laboratory sessions, dissertation projects and
field trips to complement theoretical studies.
3. Lack of Digital Infrastructure:
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While India enjoys a wide
geographic and cultural diversity, it also suffers from a huge socio-economic
divide, including non-uniformity of digital infrastructure facilities.
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Interrupted power supply
and weak or non-existent internet connectivity are major challenges hindering
the percolation of online education at the grassroot.
4. Gender disparity:
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Online education may lead
to a wider gender gap.
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In a recent survey of 733 students studying in government schools in Bihar,
only 28% of the girls had smartphones in their homes, in contrast to 36% of the
boys.
5. Digital Divide:
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Not all students have
equal access to technology and the internet, creating a digital divide that can
lead to disparities in educational opportunities.
6. Isolation and Lack of Social Skills:
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Extensive use of digital
technologies may lead to decreased face-to-face interaction, potentially
impacting students' social skills and emotional development.
Government initiatives:
1. PRAGYATA:
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The Ministry of Education
released guidelines on digital education titled PRAGYATA.
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Under the PRAGYATA
guidelines, only 30 minutes of screen time per day for interacting with parents
is recommended for kindergarten, nursery and pre-school.
2. E-PG Pathshala:
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An initiative of the
Ministry of education to provide e-content for studies.
3. SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for
Young Aspiring Minds):
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It is an online platform
offering free courses from elementary to postgraduate levels. It provides
access to high-quality study material, video lectures, and interactive quizzes.
4. National Digital Library (NDL):
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The NDL is a digital
repository of educational resources. This includes textbooks, articles,
audiobooks, videos, and lectures. It offers a vast collection of learning
materials for students and teachers.
5. DIKSHA:
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DIKSHA is a national
digital platform. It hosts e-learning
content for school students, teachers, and parents. It offers interactive
lessons, worksheets, and assessments aligned with the school curriculum.
6. NEAT:
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It aims to use Artificial Intelligence to make
learning more personalized and customized as per the requirements of the
learner.
7. National Knowledge Network (NKN):
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The NKN was established
as a high bandwidth, low latency network to connect all knowledge-creating organizations comprising IITs, IIMs,
universities, research labs and other e-governance institutions up to the
district level.
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It was aimed at
encouraging collaborative development
and building a repository of knowledge in all fields.
WAY FORWARD:
1. Effective online education:
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Shorter but quality
discussions rather than long hours of monotonous sitting and one-way
communication, should be preferred.
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The teacher’s role has to
go beyond just being in control of the class to being a facilitator for the
transfer of knowledge.
2. Bridging the Digital Divide:
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It is essential to bridge
the existing digital divide in India in order to expand online learning.
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The
Government School Transformation Programme Odisha under the 5T initiative (Transparency,
Teamwork, Technology, and Timeliness leading to Transformation) of the Odisha
government is a good step in this direction.
3. Hybrid Mode of Learning:
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Digital education is not
a magic wand that can solve the learning crisis in India. Neither is it a
replacement for teachers in schools, both online and offline learning should be
balanced.
4. Address Privacy and Security Concerns:
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Implement robust data
protection measures and adhere to privacy regulations to safeguard students'
information and ensure secure online learning environments.