Explained: Edtech Trends That Could Impact The Indian Education System In 2023

Technology and digitalisation have brought a paradigm shift across major industries, including the educational sector. In 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit us, learning became virtual and subsequently, classrooms became 'phygital' - a learning approach using a blend of traditional methods and technological intervention.

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Currently, educational technologies (Edtech) are redefining the educational space. As per media reports, edech players entered the market around 2012 and the period between 2012 and 2019 came to be known as the era of edtech revolution. A 2021 report by the consulting firm, PriceWaterCoopers, along with the Confederation of Indian Industry notes,

"Edtech is expected to play a vital role in the Indian education system and grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 30% to reach a market size of USD 10.4 billion by 2025." Market Research and strategy consulting firm Global Market Insights has also predicted that the e-learning market by 2028 will exceed $1 trillion.

Experts feel edtech can help streamline the administrative process, teacher-parent-and-student communication, simplify curricula planning and bring about more transparency in the examination process.

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How could edtech change the Indian education system? Let us find out.

Customised learning experience

Each child has different learning needs and customised or personalised teaching is a non-linear student-centric educational approach that is administered as per each child¡¯s capabilities. With the aid of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Big Data and Augmented Learning (AL), teachers can provide customised teaching material to students. These technologies enhance the student¡¯s creativity, provide an immersive experience, and promote critical thinking. These methods bridge gaps in the educational system and enable students to learn at their own pace.

Cloud-based infrastructure

Many educational institutions across the world are shifting to cloud-based infrastructure, especially after the advent of post-pandemic, online teaching. This infrastructure enables teachers to teach from anywhere and the student can access the class virtually. In India, where the absence of adequate infrastructure in rural areas often inhibits girls from enrolling into schools, digital equity and cloud-based infrastructure can fill a huge gap. Cloud-based initiatives that operate in a virtual mode, reduce the infrastructural cost of classrooms and also help students to access learning materials easily.

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Virtual labs to enhance lab skills

The pandemic clearly laid bare the extent of educational disparity in India and it may be some time before we can think of accessible virtual labs for all students but this trend will hopefully become normative in all institutes. This type of learning enhances the student¡¯s laboratory skills in a virtual environment and is devoid of any constraint that real labs face. Virtual labs allow students to perform experiments in a risk-free and interactive learning environment and follow a pedagogical method that simplifies theoretical concepts. These AI-powered laboratories offer a flexible learning space where the student gets a chance to redo experiments without any stress.

Blockchain for streamlined administration

Blockchain technology has made the education sector more transparent and accountable. The ledger technology in blockchain helps in keeping a record of events in a chronological manner and also streamlines the fee payment process. Through blockchain, teachers can keep track of attendance, and also update parents about the children¡¯s progress. Blockchain also helps to keep a record of the student's performance easily with digital copies of certificates and marksheets.

AI-based remote proctoring technology

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Through remote proctoring technology, students can appear for exams from anywhere using a stable internet connection and device. This technology, using face detectors, voice detectors, and ID verification method helps in monitoring the activities of the student who is appearing for the exams and malpractices can be detected through AI and ML.

This technology helps save infrastructure and administrative costs of holding exams and also eliminates the necessity of a physical proctor. Live online proctoring, recorded proctoring and advanced auto proctoring are the three types of remote proctoring categories, where you can monitor the exams in a live environment or monitor the recorded videos and further check for malpractices. These automated technologies prepare students for the future employment market which will seek specific skill sets, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and digital proficiency.

About the author: Rajesh Bhatia is an educationist, entrepreneur, and founder of TreeHouse Education. All views/opinions expressed in the article are of the author.