While technological progressions continue to transform business models and industry trends in India, New Age Learning will certainly play an important role in the future of education and future generations. With constant evolutions demanding us to adapt at a relentless pace, the face of education needs a gigantic reform to arrive at a point of perfection. The actual call of the hour is a comprehensible transformation in the education ecosystem with a future led approach. While modern ways of teaching have now replaced the traditional blackboard and chalk method of learning, we still have to precede a change that re-orients our pathway from the conventional state of learning.
Technological advancements are widely catching up in teaching methodologies across the education industry. Educators are bringing essential elements of experience, discovery, engagement, and interaction to the classroom by applying several technological tools. However, new-age learning needs to be backed by practical learning to develop innovative ways of transforming the education system. The modern age teacher understands that students are frequently exposed and are relatively more comfortable with various communication devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, and the internet. Therefore, they integrate these technologies into their teaching methodologies, along with using the traditional forms of learning.
These continuous advances in technology have changed the way Indian institutions are imparting knowledge. Institutions have adopted various philosophies that could help students in building a meaningful career path. Some methods in which institutions are reforming education are Interactive learning, Blended learning, and Self-learning.
"New-age learning provides students the ability to learn at their pace while honing the right skill sets required to meet the industry challenges"
Interactive Learning
Interactive learning focuses on a more hands-on, experiential, and real-world process of imparting information in classrooms. While passive learning depends on listening to teachers or rote memorization of knowledge, interactive learning involves a more practical approach. It includes encouraging students to participate in conversations, using simulating questions that require discussions, set up a workgroup environment, and conducting role-playing sessions in classrooms. Carefully designed and structured to facilitate learning in groups, interactive learning fosters a challenging yet encouraging space for students that help them in developing practical skills.
Additionally, interactive learning processes sharpen critical thinking skills, which are fundamental to the growth of analytical reasoning. It teaches students to collaborate and work successfully in teams, thereby nurturing interpersonal skills that last for a lifetime. Interactive learning, therefore, is a well established educational method that aims at involving students in practical lessons using modern technologies.
Blended Learning
A rapidly-growing model of instruction, blended learning combines both online and face-to-face pedagogy. It merges e-learning with traditional classroom methods to create a new, hybrid teaching process. Often confused as simply adding computers or projectors in classrooms, blended learning represents a significant shift in the way teachers and students approach the educational experience. It has already produced a branch called the flipped classroom, which has become a distinct program in no time. Blended learning usually comprises of inpersonal classroom activities facilitated by a trained instructor, providing online materials such as pre-recorded lectures by instructors and structured independent study time to nurture skills developed during classroom lectures.
Blended learning models are undoubtedly an excellent way to enhance the learner's experience, but its benefits go beyond just that. It offers convenience and flexibility to students and enables them to control their learning pace effectively. It also aids learners to gain a more extensive understanding of the course content since it empowers students to interact with the instructor and fellow learners.
Self Learning
A learning method where learners can direct their studying and can take control of what they are learning. It involves education outside the classroom and without direct supervision. Self-learning enables students to go beyond the traditional way of acquiring knowledge by exploring topics that interest them. This results in developing more effective study skills. It induces learning that happens from within and is not forced due to any external circumstances, thereby giving students the liberty to pick up topics at their own pace. In other words, self-learning is motivated by a will from within that makes it beneficial for students to actualize their drive towards a subject and makes learning an enriching experience. It also gives students the ability to identify issues and quickly look for efficient solutions on their own.
New-age learning provides students the ability to learn at their pace while honing the right skill sets required to meet the industry challenges. It promotes teamwork and discussions amongst students, thereby helping them to build relationship skills, amicable conflict resolutions, and emotional management. Since new-age learning breaks down the traditional walls of education, it tailors the learning experience for each student. It engages more students, motivates them to reach newer goals, and creates more opportunities for collaborations and personal development. Learners are expected to become self-driven and responsible since they can track their individual achievements.
Dr. Asmita Chitnis, Director
Currently, serving as Director of Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB), Pune, Dr. Asmita Chitnis is a postgraduate in Statistics and holds a Ph.D. degree in the field of Operations Management. She started her career with the National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM) as a researcher and worked on different projects of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) during this tenure. Then, she moved into the teaching domain and ever since has more than 29 years of academic and corporate training experience to her credit.
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