By Vanshika Mehra, 2nd year at NMIMS (Kirit P. Mehta Law University).
“If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow,”
-John Dewey.
INTRODUCTION
With the embracement of technology in the education institutions, the former has been realized as a paramount and inseparable part of the education process. It ameliorates the system by enabling teachers to share their ideas and resources online, facilitating access to quality information so that students can develop their valuable research skills, etc.[1]Without its usage, it would have become impossible to grapple with the crucial and wrecking times like Covid-19 Pandemic. It is only the technology which has protected the education sector from getting intensely affected by the current global health issue and has ensured its smooth functioning as compared to other sectors by making rules which enable real-time efforts of learning and teaching. The recognition of technology’s indispensableness has consequently led to emphatic incorporation of technology within Nation Education Policy, 2020. Extensive use of technology in teaching and learning, removing language barriers, increasing access for Divyang students, and educational planning and management has been made one of the fundamental guiding principles of education system and individual systems.[2]This articles aims at discussing the areas of education which NEP, 2020 has emphasized upon for integration with technology.
TECHNOLOGY AS A PART OF HOLISTIC EDUCATION
India, being a diverse country with various traditions, cultures, languages, etc, has always had a multidisciplinary education system. The country’s historical background depicts the diversity in terms of literature, artistic learning, mathematical concepts, science, soft skills and other disciplines. Gradually, many other disciplines have also emerged and gained popularity, such as psychology, technology, culinary art, etc. From time to time, efforts have been made to integrate these disciplines to ensure a holistic learning system in order to capacitate humans to develop an intellectual mind, which thinks across these fields. Integration of humanities and arts with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for assessing educational approaches at the undergraduate level is exemplary in this aspect. STEM has resulted in positive learning outcomes as it has shown critical and high order thinking, problem-solving abilities, innovation, deep learning and engagement and teamwork. NEP has emphasized upon promoting this kind of holistic educational pattern in other institutions as well. Towards the process of attaining this goal in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), HEIs will be focusing on innovation and research through establishing certain centres and one of them will be technology development centres.
A lot of research in technological sector is required in order to involve artificial intelligence, block chains, machine learning and other software and hardware tools for transforming the way children are taught and the way they learn things. National Educational Technological Forum (NETF), an autonomous body will be created for ensuring free exchange of ideas and enhancing processes of learning, administering, assessing, certifying, etc at both school and college level. Several functions of NETF have been mentioned in the policy, which include providing technological intervention related independent evidence-based advice to government at both state and center level, intellectually and institutionally capacitate in educational technology, articulate new directions in the domain of research and innovation, and envision strategic thrust areas. NETF and MHRD would also be working in coordination because former would be categorizing emergent technologies based on their estimated and potential timeframe of disruption and the latter would use these inputs to analyze technologies demanding education sector’s response. Based on MHRD’s response, National Research Foundation (NRF) would initiate to expand research work in terms of technology. Also, it would maintain regular updates and analysis of data. Teaching-learning e-content and technological-based platforms such as DIKSHA/SWAYAM will be rightly used in an integration assisting manner. Considering, technology’s and education’s role is bi-directional, education would raise awareness about the aspects or issues involving induction, deployment and use of technology.
SMART AND DIGITAL EDUCATION
Undoubtedly, technology helps in mitigating the disadvantages of emergency situations, such as pandemic, wartime etc, in the domain of education. Having the alternative i.e. virtual methods of education isn’t enough; it is important to bridge the digital divide, and make appropriate and safe use of technological tools. In order to ensure proper training of teachers, students and parents/caregivers, effective assessment and prevention of power glitch issues, the policy has laid down various initiatives. The initiatives entail conduction of pilot studies by appropriate agencies; creation of open, evolvable and digital infrastructure; provision of e-teaching tools by e-learning platforms; development of digital repository covering both academic and co-curricular content; addressing and eliminating digital divide; setting up of virtual labs and digital libraries; designing and implementing suitable frameworks for online examination and assessment; laying down the guidelines for maintaining standards of e-learning; and incorporating blended learning. A unit will be created within the Education Ministry which would be dedicated to building world-class infrastructure, facilitating e-education.
LANGUAGE AND TECHNOLOGY
Preservation of rich Indian languages has been stressed upon in the policy. Technological developments have exponentially improved the mechanisms through which languages are learnt. It has enabled the quick and accurate translation and hence no major language barriers exist anymore. It has ensured remote access to learning and hence students can learn from their favorite institution or teacher. Within an institution, technology aided language learning facilitates the instructor’s role, strengthens the learner’s engagement and provides a comprehensive and structured learning experience for everyone involved.[3] NEP provides for developing enjoyably inspirational books, having technology aided high-quality translations in all local and Indian languages, to be extensively provided at local schools and public libraries. Since being multilingual cognitively improves the students, exposure to different languages during the early stages of education has been planned. In order to make teaching and learning creatively engaging, technology would be integrated. This can include technological tools like e-learning modules, e-books, e-dictionaries, etc.
TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATING DISABLED STUDENTS
Where international organizations have been working diligently to ascertain the access to education for disabled students, the countries haven’t been able to attain quality and inclusive education for them in absolute terms.[4] With times, approaches for the education system have transformed towards eradicating the stigma, but still there is a long way to go. Realizing the need for investment and further change in this domain, the policy has planned to provide resources for the inclusion of these students, availability of special educators with cross- disability training, and setting up of resource centers for their requirements. Appropriate technology- based tools, along with other tools and methods will be used for assisting this process of integration within the classrooms for better engagement with teachers and fellows. Technology will also be required in teaching sign languages to these disabled children. The technological integration would allow flexible learning environment wherein they can work and learn things at their own comfortable pace. The government has planned to use technological tools for giving orientation to parents/caregivers as well as disseminating study materials which would let the parents/caregivers provide active support in their children’s learning needs.
ADULT EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING
Age is never a barrier if a person has the will to gain literacy and education. Being a non- literate or lacking knowledge makes one dependent and under-confident. Technological knowledge is very important in today’s digital era. The Integration of technology would be beneficial and smooth for adult education and lifelong learning. The curriculum of their education would also encompass technology as a program. The initiatives to strengthen adult education would be assisted by technology. Quality technology-based options for adult learning such as Apps, online courses/modules, and satellite-based TV channels, e-books, and ICT-equipped libraries and Adult Education Centers, etc. will be developed for quality technology-based adult learning system. The same would be ascertained through government and philanthropic initiatives as well as through crowd -sourcing.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, the success of the bi-directional integration of education and technology is important for the success of the New National Education Policy. The use of technology within education sector must be efficiently and transparently evaluated in relevant aspects. Where technology has mitigated the distances across the countries and continents, its consolidation with education has enhanced the research, communication skills, collectivism amongst individuals, innovation and so on. The adoption of the potential technology would further ameliorate and ease the workings of this sector and benefit everyone involved within it.
REFERENCES
[1]How Important is use of Technology in EducationEdTechReview,available at https://edtechreview.in/news/681-technology-in-education (last visited Aug 30, 2020) [2]NEP_Final_English.pdf, available at https://seshagun.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/NEP_Final_English.pdf (last visited Aug 28, 2020) [3]5 Key Benefits of Technology for Language LearningDexway, available at https://www.dexway.com/key-benefits-of-technology-for-language-learning/ (last visited Aug 30, 2020) [4]Education | Disabilities | UNICEF, available at https://www.unicef.org/disabilities/index_65316.html (last visited Aug 30, 2020)
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