How is the technology for schools acting as a gamechanger

The traditional model of education took a backseat when the ongoing pandemic put the entire industry in distress. Redundant practices and their loopholes got vivid as schools declared indefinite closure. To prevent the sector from plunging, it became imperative to deploy online learning at a larger scale. The online sector did save the industry from a total loss, but it was not enough to render 21st-century kids with the skills required to excel in a fast-paced world. The pandemic can’t be a reason for the skill gap in students’ lives. Technology for schools is important but having the right one is even more crucial. An integrated academic system for schools is much more than just a medium to connect teachers with the students. Learning gets streamlined with the right tools, and teachers get appropriate and adequate resources to teach from.

The role of technology

Earlier technology was considered a luxury where only a few schools had access to it—for the rest; it was just a matter of having an audio-visual room or a computer room. However, as the pandemic blew out of proportion, the industry's stakeholders got acquainted with its dainty structure. The pandemic has created one of the most significant disruptions in the education industry ever witnessed, leading to irreversible learning loss. Taking its lessons, the industry looked beyond mere online learning and adopted something resilient to withstand the future crisis. Digital classes in schools have bridged the divide between classrooms and homes and bring quality learning at home.

The future of online learning

According to a report by World Economic Forum, “Research suggests that online learning has been shown to increase retention of information, and take less time, meaning the changes coronavirus have caused might be here to stay.” The education industry has remained a low experiment sector since time immemorial. However, the pandemic prompted the sector to take risks. Nobody had expected the brilliant results that online learning supported by the integrated system has shown. With elearning:

·           Students are more engaged in their curriculum and develop 21st-century skills

·           Teachers provide personalised learning based on everyone's strengths and weaknesses

·           Parental involvement in their ward’s academic life increases

·           Students can learn at their own pace and become self-reliant

·           Despite disruptions, students’ learning curve will stay unhampered

Criticism of ICT based education is more about efficient deployment than anything else. Once a school effectively integrates technology across departments, the overall school functioning gets better. The use of ICT has been a game-changer. Long associated myths around online learning are finally coming to an end. Schools are becoming more flexible and open-minded in their approach and embracing technology like never before. The best aspect of an integrated academic system is that it can be deployed to every school irrespective of its location. Schools in Tier-3 or 4 cities can be as robust as schools in Tier-1 cities. Technology has also been able to mitigate the skill divide that exists in the country.

Though COVID-19 has been a stark reminder to the fraternity about the urgency of bringing a new model in to prevent the sector from severe loss, many schools are still dependent on mere online learning. The long-term implication/damage of online learning on the student academic curve can hamper their long-term growth. This can be filled by an integrated academic system where quality is ensured, students get various materials to study from, and a break from the monotony.