The Evolution of Teaching in the Indian Education Sector

There has been a sea change in the Indian education sector following the COVID-19 outbreak. Needless to say, digital technology has been reshaping student-teacher interactions like never before.

Let’s face it - Generation Z cannot envisage a world without technology and they want information to be readily available at their fingertips. They process information faster than millennials or the previous generations, and are also said to have shorter attention spans.

How Teaching is Changing in India

Gen Z, also known as Zoomers, are not ready to study passively. Period. They do not just want to be bombarded with lectures, take notes and memorize these for exams later. They expect to be fully engaged and actively involved in the learning process. Gen Z prefers interactive teaching techniques.

India has one of the world's largest populations of young people, making the education field even more complex and interesting. The education system is seeing unprecedented investment. Policymakers are also tasked with putting innovation into action through curriculum creation and capacity-building.

In such an evolving scenario, teachers must rethink their responsibilities - they need to become co-learners and collaborators. The success of educational technology is primarily determined by the quality of the curriculum and the extent of teachers' collaboration.

Generation Z expects digital learning tools to be thoroughly integrated into their education system. Technology has always been a completely integrated experience in all aspects of their lives. For them, the same technologies should be able to connect both academic and personal experiences smoothly.

Changing Role of Technology in the Indian Education Sector

Today, technology has influenced every area of our lives. Education is no different. Thankfully, the government has emphasized the value of technology in education through digital solutions. As a result, to get the most out of classroom sessions, most educational establishments in India have invested in technologically advanced instruments such as smart classrooms, language labs, digital boards and so on.

Technology has made information more accessible to both teachers and students. They don't have to rely just on books to process information. It has also brought down the cost of education because many reputable Indian educational institutes are now using smart classroom solutions. Individuals do not need to travel to educational institutions to receive degrees or diplomas. Similarly, teachers can reach out to a larger number of students in less time.

Students can get to the heart of a subject they are being taught with the help of a teacher's new-age teaching methods. The possibilities are indeed limitless.

Here’s how technology is reshaping the learning experience:

• Lessons Simplified

  Teachers' hectic workloads have been made lighter by technology. It provides a significant amount of assistance in the preparation of lessons. Teachers can use technological solutions to deliver lessons in a multimedia format. Assignments and exams can also be given to students via the internet.

• Improved Evaluation

  Teachers can better assess how students are responding to classes using technology. They can use the online feedback option to gain real-time feedback on how their student understands a lesson.

• No Physical Limits

  Gone are the days when learning was restricted to the confines of a classroom. Teachers can teach from any location. They can communicate with their students remotely via virtual classrooms. It also benefits students who live in locations where access to education is limited.

• Increase in Attention

  Learning has undoubtedly become more fascinating and enjoyable as a result of technological advancements. Students are more willing to learn and pay attention to lessons as a result of this. This in turn boosts student attendance.

• Improvement in Understanding

  While textbooks only provide written information in a predetermined format, multimedia content can further help students understand a concept. Learning from a textbook has several drawbacks and might be tedious for some people. Interactive methods can be used to make assignments an enjoyable experience.

Changing Role of Teachers

Teachers remain an essential resource while institutions take on the task of preparing students for their working lives.

Holistic approaches are crucial, and they cannot be overestimated. Soft skills are being integrated into various educational strategies. Teachers should ensure the following:

• Project-based learning: Students tackling difficult and/or real-world problems

• Soft skills: Communication, teamwork, self-awareness, and so on

• Personalized learning: Altered to meet each students' needs and interests

• Cognitive activation: Encouraging students to concentrate on the process of arriving at a solution rather than on the end result itself

• Active learning: Students participating in activities such as reading, writing, discussing, etc.

Being a teacher in today's world is a difficult task, to say the least. At the same time, it has never been more exciting, thanks to the digital transformation.

Today's generation cannot simply be told what they must do. Rather, they must be inspired by teachers’ wisdom. They make their own decisions and utilize education as a tool for progress. A teacher's responsibility is to evolve and ensure that he/she adapts to the changing needs of education.