Noida: The 3rd APAC Global Educational and Skill Conclave included an interactive panel session on December 1st comprising senior higher education and industry leaders. The panel attempted to identify the best practices and initiatives they are following in tomorrow’s virtual learning roadmap.
The focus was to identify and assess what form of virtual learning will prevail in a hybrid education model 2022 onwards –computer-based, Internet-based, remote teacher online, blended learning or facilitated virtual learning. Also as more learning is done virtually and collaboration is happening across boundaries, how can this accumulated knowledge and best practices be shared better.
According to Dr Mantha, the context and characteristics are changing to address most of the issues in a hybrid learning environment. “Whatever be the vertical now we need text, data, and business skills,” he added. There can be a debate on the percentage of online and offline teaching, but Dr Mantha believes in dividing the system into 70-30 percentage, where 70% of teaching would be face to face, while the rest would take place virtually. A lot of social distancing methods need to be practiced within the labs and some of the batches may even be divided into two halves. “We are moving towards a concept called virtual universities”, he added.
“Continuous assessment must become a part of the evaluation system”, emphasized Dr Mantha. Continuous assessment must be appropriately created and evaluated because that is the best way to evaluate a student. As the recent learning processes are online, the same must be applied to the virtual mode of teaching as well. “The mode is different, but the competency-based skills are the same”, he concluded.
“Both blended and non-blended education are not possible without investment. Some core infrastructure is needed to be made accessible from the government for better educational reach,” reiterated Varma. He appreciated the efforts of the faculty for adapting to the new digital normal and emphasized on the fact that peer learning is important but, under the prevailing circumstance, Varma accepted that digital dependency is the best way forward.
Added Dr Sancheti,“ Technology is definitely a differentiator when it comes to communication, finance and transport. Therefore, let’s expect it will be in education as well. Technology is flexible in every sense.” Mentioning Marwadi University’s partnership with Coursera, he mentioned these students will benefit from the doorstep access and learning exposure in their specialized areas offered by top universities.
“With this partnership, we take another step forward in addressing emerging skill needs in the workforce and prepare students for the future of work. As one of the pioneering Universities to offer varied options for supplementary learning along with coursework on campus, it will ensure aptitude enhancement and promote holistic development, reconfirmed Dr Sancheti.
Dr Sharma informed about Ganpat University acquiring the millimetre wave technology of 5G from the US and has also got the spectrum from DoT for carrying out experiments in cutting-edge technology. “Our primary task would be to check its efficacy, range and data speed in Indian conditions,” he added. “The 5G technology will revolutionize the entire digital ecosystem,” asserted Dr Sharma.
Vishwakarma University has its own in-house learning platform Vishwakarma Online Learning Platform (VOLP), for academic sessions. “Biometric attendance for students and staff will be replaced by iris scans and intranet-based attendance through login credentials. Students will be seated in such a way that everyone has a safety zone with a three-foot radius. Academic activities will be conducted in a phased manner so that only 40-50% staff and students are on campus at a time. Manual paper handling will be minimized and group activities will be conducted through participative online learning platforms,” informed Dr Jabade.
While everything blended learning was going on successfully, Sushant University faced hurdles in the form of network issue, due to which 5-7% of the students were not able to attend classes. Dr Kumar ensured they received the contents of the class through audio and video recordings by publishing them on the websites, making them accessible to students at all times. “Currently we are working on continuing education, establishing initiative centres, and creating ownership for those centres among the faculty members,” asserted Dr Kumar.
“In the era of technology, education has blended effectively with tech-learning and it is vital to accept this transformation from black-board learning to e-learning. Technology has brought a phenomenal change and we must adjust to it in a positive way.Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, said Dr Jauhari.
“Hybrid Learning is relevant in the Indian context because businesses and educational institutions are all embracing digital technology to maintain continuity and the NEP opened up an unprecedented opportunity to drive Student Learning outcome. The focus is on skilling, making Students Future Ready, opening doors in learning multiple Languages, bringing in equity, Accessibility and also Modularity in progression in higher Education,” she concluded.
The 3rd APAC Global Educational and Skill Conclave was supported by the Education Departments of Government of Gujarat, Government of Telangana, and Government of Uttarakhand, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Department of Science and Technology, AICTE, and the Quality Council of India. Dell Technologies, Intel Innovation, Microsoft, Samsung,ViewSonic, Fortinet, Crestron, FinancePeer, MapMyindia and JanaMarga Technologies supported from the industry.
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