Digital Learning : Replacing the B(L)ACK Boards and Bored Lecture(r )s !

Digital Learning : Replacing the B(L)ACK Boards and Bored Lecture(r )s ! A nurturing tool for generations now. . An evaluation by Dr. Dheeraj Mehrotra.

Digital Learning :

Replacing the B(L)ACK Boards and Bored Lecture(r )s !

Dr. Dheeraj Mehrotra *

The 21^st Century Education talks are incomplete if we do not refer to Smart Boards.  The interactive nature of the Smart Board provides many practical uses for the classroom. Using Smart Notebook software, teachers can record each step of a lesson activity for students to review at a later time.

 

The teacher if HE needs respect must be of the opinion of Excellence. Education is the pathway to it. It is reflected by the involvement of the Quality Infrastructure at the learning arena which otherwise is not of any use.

The TEACHERS, the knowledge facilitators need to harness the requirements to the best of their abilities and interest further. Hence, with no reason, the teachers need to have a balanced approach to policies and practices for children's use of the Internet. One must at the same time initiate conversations with teachers, administrators, and parents, rather than set and implement rules that may be perceived as too rigid. One must take note that all stakeholders have a chance to contribute to the decision-making process. There is no doubt in the fact that a computer and a great software can be fun and exciting learning tools, and can even provide practice of pre-academic and academic skills.

 

No wonder, we have e CLASSROOMS now in every school but does that solve the purpose? I doubt to my experience. It is the mindset of the teachers, the educators which needs to be functioned well. The Teacher ought to be a TRAINER/ LEARNER/ ALL ROUNDER, with his/ her presence in the CYBER SPACE mandatory. No longer having an EMAIL ID and an expertise of MS OFFICE but more and more…viz….having a WEBSITE, BLOG, WiKi, and more, apart from being SOCIALLY NETWORKED 24x7. GONE ARE THE DAYS OF POWERPOINTS. But at the same time it is indispensably true to keep in mind, however, that computer software cannot teach a child the concepts that he/she is not developmentally ready for. Computers should always be considered as a supplement to other, more concrete learning activities like completing puzzles, building with Lego and blocks, reading books, creating art projects and playing on the playground. It is universally true keeping the database analysis in view out of the day.

 

We believe that everyone should have access to technology. One way the software companies are   helping to transform education for teachers and students through   global partnerships.  The teachers need to share a commitment to digital inclusion in education―inclusive classrooms, personalized learning, and accessible technology. Various researchers and scholars have defined the need of Quality Education but no one has ever desired the need of “We” the teachers today to be interesting and “Informed” with the march of time or else we would be the only “Un-interested” thing (Identity) in the class, if we are not enriching and of any interest to the children to make them forget their Facebook Walls’ and the SMS which otherwise make their mind fertile of interest. As a matter of fact, the mainstream computers and other technology used in schools often include settings and features that enhance accessibility, yet many educators are not trained on accessibility, and do not know which features will help students with specific disabilities. Increasing awareness of available accessibility features and providing teacher training will help many students without requiring schools to acquire new technology.

 

As Facilitators, we must be upto date in our padagogical approaches. But most importantly, we must move towards Andragogy, enabling the students to assume responsibility for their learning.

Teacher training and support is critical. www.nexteducation.in  has paved the way for Indian Schools in a big way which includes ICT Hands on training for teachers and CCE implementation. For teachers to be able to help students personalize their PCs and adjust accessibility settings, teachers must first have the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources themselves.  Also, accessibility is a complex subject that requires an understanding of how learning style differences and disabilities impact computer use. Teachers need to know who to contact within the school or local community for information about accessibility.

Schools  as well need to recognize the cloud is a key component to their digital content platform strategy to storage options as it relates to security, identity, back-up, etc., It’s also a way to cost-effectively deliver more technology to more people quickly and so that they can focus their IT resources on projects that really drive improvements to learning.

With Independence of learning by own pace by the children today, paving way to the movement where schools will move beyond 1:1 computing and really focus on digital learning. It will transform from a device conversation to a learning conversation. There will be trends like “bring your own device” (BYOD) that support it, and the proliferation of multiple device types (laptops, slates, tablets, phones) that support the technology environment schools want and need. But then the conversation needs to turn to connecting the devices to curriculum and pedagogy and the assessment models. And all the content needs to be accessible on multiple devices and be available anytime and anywhere. E-learning is just the capsule or the umbrella to conquer the KAIZEN deponent of the same in a giant way. What is required is a WIN WIN Situation in classrooms today through e-learning.

Above all, the market size for digital classrooms is likely to touch almost 1,00,000 classrooms with a phenomenal growth rate of more than 100 percent in the recent years. This trend is expected to continue for the next several years.  While private schools and colleges are going for a digital classroom concept for each of their classrooms, in government schools, trend is to make atleast one classroom digital. However, it will still take few years to reach a high level of adoption as sheer number of schools itself is very high, with government school number touching 15 lacs while private schools are almost 1 lac.

 

The way education is delivered and the importance it has in developing modern India is driving the changes in the educational set up. Also, globalisation is effective in bringing the latest teaching methodologies and tools to Indian market. The latest teaching delivery mechanism includes  the student having a networked computer at his disposal, fully networked classrooms, multimedia method of delivery and study content in soft form. The class rooms are becoming connected in real time and interactive in nature.

 

Cheers ! for our Educators today who are learning to teach from the students today ! ! as far as the technology is concerned.

 

 

Best wishes and Cheers !

 

 

*(Author & National Awardee),  VP- Academics & Audits, Next Education India Pvt. Ltd. Hyderabad, India.

 www.nexteducation.in

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