Nelson Mandela once said, “It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to a good education.” While the definition of a good education may have changed over the years, the importance of a conducive learning environment remains crucial. Unfortunately, millions of underprivileged children around the world do not have access to such an environment.
In India alone, there are over 250 million children in the K-12 age range, making the Indian education system one of the largest in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the issue by leaving millions of children without access to quality education when schools shut down. However, the adoption of educational technologies (EdTech) during this period has proven to be a game-changer.
Now that schools have reopened fully, it’s time to examine how EdTech can supplement school education and make up for pandemic-related learning loss. Here is how we can create a conducive learning environment for underprivileged children in India through access to relevant EdTech products, enabling the learning environment, and contextualized learning models.
Access to Relevant EdTech Products
First-generation digital learners need access to impactful and affordable EdTech solutions that adapt to their current knowledge state, are contextual to their region and culture, and leverage user data to analyze the child’s learning path. Asynchronous learning models and adaptive learning tools allow students to access course content at their convenience. When asynchronous products are available in regional languages, it promotes conceptual understanding through the use of familiar words and contextual settings in the content.
Enabling the Learning Environment
While access to digital devices and consistent internet connectivity are primary hurdles in improving digital literacy in rural students, parental engagement and a compassionate adult’s role are also crucial. The compassionate adult’s role is to instill values like discipline, hard work, and persistence when faced with difficult concepts and problems. They can help build a child’s learning habits, which is crucial to becoming an independent learner in the long term. Additionally, community calls to action and parental support will go a long way in changing mindsets and motivating more adults to take an active part in a child’s educational journey.
Contextualized Learning Models
Integrating technology into the educational landscape of rural India gives ample opportunity to move from conventional learning pathways to contextualized learning, where students connect their learning to the real world. Diverse EdTech deployment models on the ground ensure content is contextualized according to the student’s realities and learning profiles. Besides a school-driven model, an at-home learning model and a community-center model can ensure a more enabling environment.
Collaboration is Key
The government and other stakeholders can make a significant difference by connecting partners with diverse capabilities in the space of EdTech, philanthropy, and community engagement. Leveraging their expertise to create contextualized models can only enhance children’s learning.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a new era where technology is ubiquitous, and education is no exception. Even the remotest corners of our country can now leverage technology to complement classroom teaching with at-home learning, making it a permanent feature of education among the economically underprivileged.
When technology is adaptive, based on pedagogical research, and taught using familiar words, images, and languages, children learn at least four times more than a comparison group. It’s time to make a concerted effort to create a conducive learning environment for underprivileged children and pave the way for a brighter future.
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