There is little doubt that the covid pandemic has led to major disruptions in learning methods, tools and technology. Hence innovative educators turning to new disruptive technology and computers as new tools for corporate training and e-learning among educational institutions in the next normal.
THE NEED TO EMERGE
In the first quarter of 2020, Covid 19 engulfed majority of world populations impacting all corporates, manufacturing industries and education far most. The sudden wave of catastrophe put brakes on the ongoing learning in education institutions from junior schools to universities. There were no system of how to go online. The educators, students and the government all thrived to find solutions via online mode.
CHALLENGES
However there was a major lack of infrastructure within the institutions like Learning management systems, teacher’s training to deliver online, e-content. The students come from all kinds of social and economic backgrounds from weaker to stronger and affluent families. The poor lacked availability of smart devices to access the e-content as well as resources to buy huge data packs. The poor internet facility in tough geographical locations from far western desert areas to eastern mountain cladded cities of India is another challenge for uniform distribution of e-learning.
DISRUPTIVE E-LEARNING DEVELOPMENT
Initial Phase / Free Apps : Initially teachers used their own innovative ways to deliver e-content. Some used free available resources to conduct online classes. Some are :
- WhatsApp Classrooms via WhatsApp group chats
- YouTube Channel creation - for same experience as a blackboard teaching on campus followed by WhatsApp chats
- Email Campaigns to send across lessons, q&a, assessments
Paid Software/Apps: Corporate Companies were working to develop e-learning software that could be used for virtual training both in corporate as well as in education industry. Many tools that were developed by big companies became popular in the pandemic enforced innovation like Microsoft teams, Google classroom, Zoom meetings , webinars, Webex etc.
KEY DISRUPTIONS TRENDS
1. Virtual and hybrid Learning Models
Physical classrooms are converted into virtual e-learning using LMS and software that enables virtual classrooms. Later as covid wave is in its milder form, a strong trend that is emerging is hybrid learning model. This includes mixing of online and offline sessions as relevant to the curriculum.
2. Micro Learning
Today’s youth prefer spaced learning that means to use repetitive learning between lessons. It allows employees to learn a shorter lesson, take a quick assessment and repeat the lesson at a later time.
4. Learning in shorter packets
The employees or students want that knowledge be presented in short duration packets. It is easier to retain the knowledge of short durations curated using video and presentations.
5. Learning supported by Artificial Intelligence
Corporate learning is using Artificial Intelligence (AI ) extensively. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is widely used in corporate learning. Many people aren't tech-savvy and don't know how to code. Working users benefit from AI since it makes learning more comfortable and gives support.
Consider an AI-powered Virtual Learning assistant in the shape of a chatbot that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This intelligent learning assistant can: respond precisely to your complex performance queries, precisely refresh your knowledge on required topics when needed, quickly fetch accurate information from internal knowledge repositories, self-learn from the pattern of queries entered by all users to become more intelligent over time, auto-create/update knowledge graphs based on updates to internal knowledge repositories to better serve users, and so on.
6. Multi-device functionality
Making learning available on smaller devices, such as smartphones and tablets, allows you to move your learning with your students. Making learning available on users' personal devices is one method to personalise learning. Mobile devices are now being considered by corporate firms as a means of providing their employees/staff with an always-on learning experience.
7. Skill Based Courses
There is a boom in informal e-learning courses on different social media platforms. Reels on Instagram, Facebook videos, YouTube channels are serving many micro duration courses in the areas that are informal and are not included into structured curriculum of a degree or diploma course.
The education technology has emerged as a major booming industry yet there is long way to go. The blended learning models will be future of learning and digital learning infrastructure will be a significant parameter in deciding the success of an educational institute.
