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Digitization in Education - Indian Context

Change is the only constant. Human race has been constantly developing and we proceed to move forward always. Technology has no bound and many sectors have improved rapidly using latest innovations. Education sector has also seen so many changes in ways of teaching and learning through Technology. Digitization in education means the use of desktop computers and Internet, software applications, and other types of digital technology to teach students. The digitization has given a wrong notion that teacher will be replaced by technology which is not true. When we consider the whole gamut of education sector digitization has been used effectively to improve the quality as well as quantity education. Physical distance is no more a boundary and more scientific ways has been involved to impart knowledge from tutors to the students. The teacher will play the role of facilitator who helps students in validating the digital content and provide them with reliable knowledge. Technology is not for replacing teachers but to aid them in teaching. Student, teacher, learning material and learning environment can be considered as four pillars of education and they all are interconnected. The effect of digitization in education with respect to these context is discussed below.

Digitization Meaning

Digitization in simple words mean the conversion of text, pictures, or sound into a digital form that can be processed by a computer. Digitization in education means usage of digital forms in teaching the content. It can happen in a classroom or can happen online through internet. The world has become small and students are expected to become global citizens of the future. The ease of use has made it possible to all students use internet and do self learning as well. We are in 21st century where technology knows no bound. The education system is now evolving for betterment, as the millennial's are born in a world run by technology. Their curiosity is boundless and the earlier traditional systems will not cater to their need. If we keep on teaching the children the way we taught them yesterday, we would deprive them of their tomorrow. The traditional educational system lacks the capability to stand a chance in the 21st century. So we are compelled to use digitization in our educational system. “By converting the whole of the educational system to digitization, the use of various techniques like online courses, online exams, digital textbooks, quizzes, and e-notes are improving the quality of education for the students.” (Ainslee,2018). Thus the new phase of learning offers many advanced techniques like Online courses, Online exams, Digital textbooks and Animation in order to enhance the learning experience.

Online courses are becoming more popular as students can connect with like minded people globally and can learn at their convenience. Online Courses like MOOC(Massive Open Online courses ) and Coursera are gaining huge popularity and are in huge demand among students worldwide. The reasons for this are structured and paced learning with flexible timings. First reason is students can learn in their convenient timing and in their own pace .In classroom setup this is not possible as in a given stipulated time teachers teach using different pedagogy to cater to individual learners. Peer discussions are also possible in online learning and we can learn from any part of the world about any topic under universe. Another reason is the online exam that students take at the end of course which provides immediate feedback and help students in having assessment as learning. The traditional method of assessment of learning is not longer valid in current era as it concentrates only on rote learning and not on the application of knowledge.

Digital Textbooks

Digital textbook is a digital book or e-book that serves as a textbook for a class. The world is moving towards technology and it is important to embrace the digital format of traditionally printed material . The e-books are environment friendly and reduces the storage space and can be accessed on the go. The audio books helps the audio learners as well and it is interactive mode of learning. Most of the school books in India are available in digital format which helps students to learn on the go and anybody can access them online for reference. This makes things easier for an educator who can download or browse any book for reference rather than buying them. Currently it is e-learning and online test that are leading in digital market but in future years to come Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence is going to make an impact in the pedagogy.

Role of Student

The main stakeholder in the education system is the student and everything that happens in education is for the growth and development of students. Due to this digital revolution students have gained international exposure and can learn any topic under the universe at their finger tips.“The beauty of the media is that different resources that would have been accessible through different devices could be accessed through a single digital device. Influence of the new media cannot be underrated although use and output of the media could be assessed based on users’ behavior”.(Udoudo et.al.,2016).Based on this fact  the students of current generation tend to outsmart teachers with the knowledge gained from internet sources. The students learning varies from YouTube to learning apps like BYJU’s. The online learning specifically cater to individual needs and hence most of the learners prefer this type of learning. The digitized material has the power to involve students in methods that aren’t possible with stationary pages.

They can view the materials and learn in their own pace. This particularly helps the gifted children and slow learners whose learning ability differs so much from an average student of their own age. Gifted children can use advanced materials and practice on their own while slow learners can learn in their own speed rather than feeling lost, which they feel in regular classroom setup. The students can also learn subjects that interest them and that they feel important along with their regular syllabus and gain deeper knowledge. The disadvantages of using digital media includes learners spending time in insignificant sites instead of using proper content judiciously for academic purpose. It has also made some adolescents fall victims to the despicable activities of cyber criminals who exploit the ignorance of these learners. Teachers can help students in identifying reliable sources and information so that the digital content can be used effectively by them.

Role of Teacher

The role of teacher in classroom is changing gradually and we are slowly moving from pedagogy to andragogy with help of digitization. In the traditional method of teaching, teacher was considered the main component in system and they were seen as sage on the stage and was only source of knowledge. This method was a burden on teacher when classroom strength was huge. In modern era the knowledge sources are enormous and teacher can be as a facilitator and act as guide by the side. However these methods works only if teachers understand the advantages of it. “If teachers wish to use technology successfully in their classes, they need to have the quality of positive attitudes to the use of technology. Such attitudes are developed when teachers are sufficiently comfortable with technology and are knowledgeable about its use”(Parvin, 2013).So to teach effectively using digital methods  teachers should equip themselves with latest technology and should be willing to learn new things. Basic computer training can be given to all the teachers across institutions to achieve effective digital learning in classrooms.

In our country one of the main issue in education field is the student teacher ratio .As per Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) report All India Survey on Higher Education (ASIHE) 2011‐12 the Pupil Teacher ratio (PTR) is 24 which is lower than other countries like Brazil and china which has Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) as 19. The burden on teacher is more in traditional classroom. Through digitization the work is made easier for teachers. They can use animated videos for mathematics and science and explain difficult concepts with ease. Historical events and scientific processes can be taught using videos and documentaries which will help students to relate it better with real life. Teachers can themselves learn online courses relevant to their classroom teaching and get benefited. This is change the pedagogy of teaching. Digitization in classroom learning doesn’t mean teacher will be replaced. Teacher will still be a main component in teaching learning process  who can give guidance to students and validate the digital materials that are being used by students. The digital materials designed using instructional objectives are carefully designed by experts and can be used in any classroom environment directly. Teachers can use these materials and teach the respective subjects efficiently. All they need is well equipped classrooms and positive attitude towards technology.

Learning Environment

Learning environment plays a key role in digitization of education. In broader sense the location doesn’t matter as we can access any material in internet from the convenience of home. In a narrower sense we should consider the learning environment as the system of schools ,college and university is structured and improves the learning experience. Though we have all digital materials of latest versions it can not be used if the classroom is not equipped to use projector or any electronic devices. In urban areas most of the classrooms have this setup and lectures can be given digitally, but in rural areas the infrastructure is still not achievable. “The Government of India (2012) formulated a national policy on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enabled school education which aims at preparing youth to participate creatively in the establishment, sustenance and growth of a knowledge society, leading to all-round socioeconomic development of the nation and global competitiveness…the user experience with the first iteration of Aakash was disappointing, given its resistive touch screen, and the lack of apps, content and a good data plan(Madangopal et.al, 2018). To achieve digitization in rural area we have to work towards the goal of improving the infrastructure facilities there. A computer lab set up will benefit teachers and students to get acquainted with new technology. Training sessions can be planned for teachers to get hand on experience in using educational software. This will help in improving the user experience among teachers and students in rural parts. Few of higher education institutes in India have set up infrastructure to conduct online exams and submit internal assessments online and thus reducing time and effort spent in conducting written exams. Fully equipped computer centers are in function which students can utilize to gain more knowledge.  The administrative wing has also changed much and they maintain record of students and their attendance online which saves time and space.