From Blackboards to Zoom Whiteboards: Experts explore changing paradigms of school education

From Blackboards to Zoom Whiteboards: Experts explore changing paradigms of school education

Aditya Vikram Singh/New Delhi:

In view of changing dynamics of teaching and learning post Covid-19, experts from across the globe stressed the need for exploring ways and means to shift to technology driven education ecosystem.

At the Eighth Oswaal Books Education Conclave, experts from education, technology, pedagogy and social sciences said that Covid has thrown open new challenges and it was imperative for all stakeholders to revisit strategies and processes to ensure quality of education delivery and design was not compromised.

Experts from across India, Mexico, Chicago, United Kingdom participated virtually in this conference. on Saturday.

Talking about the impact the pandemic had on education globally, Dr Yukteswar Kumar, Deputy Mayor, Bath, United Kingdom, and an educationist, said, “The pandemic proved catastrophic for the education sector. This pandemic not only affected academic learning but also social skills, physical education. But we are quite overwhelmed how the community worked together and provided all the resources for learning.”

A host of issues including learning environment, digital exposure, role of parents and teachers in the new milieu, reforms in curriculum, reorienting text books to accommodate changing external environment, and better integration of technology tools in learning for better outcomes were discussed and pondered over by the education experts and stakeholders in the conference.

“Education system in India underwent a metamorphosis after COVID19 outbreak. We have to adapt to the changing times and prepare for whatever the future beholds,” said Avatans Kumar, Trustee Indic Academy, USA.

Stressing on the need to incorporate latest technologies in the education system, Hari Saravanabhavan, VP, Global Analytics and Research at Concentrix, spoke about the usage of data analytics to provide tailored and personalized education for each student.

Jadav Balaji Rao, Google Innovator Teacher, shared his experiences during Covid. ”I created a model of education for children hailing from rural parts of India. I used storytelling as a tool of education. It has done wonders,” he said

While discussing the future of education post-pandemic, Rishabh Shekhar, a young entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Pepper Content, said, “Post COVID classes for creative problem solving should be made compulsory in every school. This will prepare students for turbulent times like Covid.”

Swaati Jain, Editorial Director of Oswaal Books said that digital education is the future. “Covid helped us adapt to e-learning and new modes of imparting education,” she said.

As many as 20 teachers from across India who used innovative methods to ensure that teaching and learning continued during Covid-19 were also felicitated during the event.