Artificial intelligence and other technical technologies are being used by most educational institutions to improve student learning.
Among the myriad events of the past ten years, the progress made in technical developments has been immensely satisfying. The power of technologies like cloud storage, IoT, and artificial intelligence has been unleashed in nearly every industry worldwide. Every societal stratum is advancing and using technology, from governance to education.
In terms of education, the majority of schools have implemented smart classrooms to enable learning for pupils from an early age. Some educational institutions use what are known as “smart tools” in their classrooms, such as projector learning for multiple topics and smart boards.
Following the pandemic in 2020, the whole education industry underwent a profound transformation, with a quick shift toward digital learning.
“Commits to supporting member states to harness the potential of AI technologies for achieving the Education 2030 Agenda while ensuring that its application in educational contexts is guided by the core principles of inclusion and equity,” even states the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In order to “address current inequalities regarding access to knowledge, research, and the diversity of cultural expressions and ensure AI does not widen the technological divides within and between countries,” the international organizations support a human-centered approach to artificial intelligence.
For practitioners and professionals in the policy-making and education communities, UNESCO has also produced a publication titled “Artificial Intelligence and Education: Guidance for Policy-makers” that covers, among other topics, the opportunities and problems that AI presents for education.
In addition to this, the Government of India has launched the enormous Digital India initiative, which aims to change e-learning beyond the classroom and create a more equal learning environment. The GoI has launched several programs such PM eVidya, SWAYAM Prabha, and E-Pathshala with the goal of promoting digital literacy.
Now, the Hindustan Times team interacted with educators and developers who create learning platforms for students to gain an understanding of how essential and pertinent technological tools are in today’s schools and other educational institutions. What they had to say is below.
Increased student engagement: There is no question that classroom learning is significantly more conducive now than it was twenty years ago. Students can now learn a subject more actively thanks to the development of technologies like interactive whiteboards and smartphone apps with educational themes. These technologies are being used by numerous schools around India to help students learn in a way that improves their knowledge and abilities, which in turn improves their performance as a whole. For example, Piya Sarma, a teacher at the Royal Global School in Guwahati, regards technology-assisted learning as a boon. It’s incredible how technology has integrated itself into education in the modern era. With just a touch of a button, students can now access education. The installation of smart boards has, among many other benefits, increased student engagement throughout the course of the lesson and made courses more dynamic.
Fostering relationships between instructors and students: The sacred bond that exists between teachers and students is one of the most crucial elements in education. Teachers are the only adults who can teach kids important lessons and prepare them to be responsible adults in the future, after parents.
“While there are many things that need to be looked at differently when leveraging technology in education, there are still many things that will remain the same,” stated Fahd Hazarika, Head of Business Development at online institute management software aulas. For example, the “teacher-student relationship” will always be crucial, just as it was decades ago. My teachers who showed me that they valued and cared about me were the ones that motivated me to put in more effort both inside and outside of the classroom. Therefore, it would only make sensible to use technology when it doesn’t weaken this bond and instead strengthens in-person relationships.
It’s better the more secure it is: Any technology tool used in the education industry must be scalable, flexible, integrable, and most importantly, secure, according to Hazarika. He declared,
“Educational institutions were compelled to adopt unfamiliar technologies and realign operations on the fly, with limited or no time to examine risks and meaningfully integrate all stakeholders, due to the rapid breakdown of physical infrastructure worldwide after 2020. It is not enough to just make an app on your phone and declare that you will sell it to a teacher, a student, or the owner of an institution. For these apps to completely serve the intended user base, they must adhere to certain requirements, like security and adaptability.
Ensuring pupils’ mental health: The fact that technology tools protect students’ mental health both at home and in the classroom is a major issue they address. The emergence of mobile learning applications has made it easier and more pleasurable to master complex chapters. In topics like science, math, and even social science, there are now course-specific learning systems that are greatly assisting students in expanding their knowledge base on relatively complicated chapters. Dr. Mayuri Pathak, a former USTM assistant professor, stated that mental health is essential for all students and should be prioritized. We’ve found in the past that the majority of students experienced mental health issues when they had trouble understanding chapters. Fortunately, learning applications are now available and are greatly resolving the problem.
Preparing pupils for the digital future: Lastly, technology use in the classroom is greatly influencing how young people think and how they will react to the digital world. Students who are exposed to the newest technical tools are not only studying the fundamentals of society, but they are also developing the abilities necessary to survive in a digitally native society. “The introduction of technical tools especially helps students gives them the first-hand experience of the digital future, which of course is an extremely crucial component of modern-day education,” stated Namita Goswami, a senior teacher at a Government Higher Secondary School.
