The increased access to Online learning platforms has enabled the learners across the globe to get the necessary knowledge and skills for various job roles through Micro & Nano Degrees. On the other side, universities are putting their best efforts to ensure that the students get benefited through the formal learning approach. With the disruption caused due to pandemic, the focus should be more on bridging the gap between online learning and traditional classroom based learning through blended learning approaches in order to enhance the learning outcomes and take education closer to the learners. However, the penetration of learning technology to the nook and corner of the country is still a big challenge which is yet to be addressed as the country lacks in Educational Research for a long time.
Use of Educational Technologies for capacity building of faculty and students will be a key enabler for sustainability of educational institutes in the long run as the future demands a dynamic approach in educating our learners. Educational Research focuses on understanding the needs of the learners and designing the curriculum, delivery methods and more that suits their requirements. The derivation of the topics necessary for the same has to be identified based on the industry expectations. Then weightage for the different components of learning like theory, practical, skill levels etc. are to be determined in order to identify the contents suitable for catering the learners. Finally, it is the learner profile that should play a vital role in personalizing the contents for the learners in order to make it effective for them.
“Use of Educational Technologies for capacity building of faculty and students will be a key enabler for sustainability of educational institutes in the long run as the future demands a dynamic approach in educating our learners”
Learners having different learning styles, disabilities, etc. are inherent factors that greatly affects the outcome of learning. With teachers taking care of certain aspects in the traditional classroom learning, Learning Technologies play a vital role in relieving the learners from the ‘One Size Fits all’ approach towards learning and can make learning more interesting for them. The efforts of Ministry of Education in setting up a National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) under the NEP is appreciable as it creates an ideal platform for the teachers and policy makers of the country to share their best practices and discuss on bringing them into action through Learning Technologies for the greater benefit of students. Also, NETF can be the game changer to promote and integrate Educational Researchers across the country towards making learning accessible and enjoyable for the student community.
Dr Raghuveer VR, Addl. Dean Academics
Dr. Raghuveer VR, Addl. Dean Academics and Principal Academic Staff College at KL University, Vijayawada is holding a PhD inLearning Technologies and heading the “Education Research and Learning Technologies (ERLT)” lab at KL University.
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