Karunn Kandoi, heads business operations for ApplyBoard- India and serves on its board along with other public limited Ed-tech companies. Karunn holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and an MBA from the University of Washington. Before beginning his stint with ApplyBoard, Karunn was associated with Extramarks Education India Private Limited as the Director- Whole Time & President Global Business. Karunn founded Shree Eduserve and created the largest brand for learning English in India. Karunn is skilled in creating and expanding businesses, operations management, creating technology-led products and driving growth from them. Throughout his inspiring journey, Karunn has participated in various panels on EdTech organized by the likes of Asian Development Bank, CNBC, News Nation, Education Department of the Govt of Kenya, FICCI-India etc.
The age-old proverb “change is the only constant” remains true in most, if not all, aspects of life, and the education industry is no exception. The pandemic has only increased the necessity for the speed of technological adoption in all sectors of society, including education. As the world and all of its processes came to a halt to meet the pandemic’s demands, a transition to digital methods became more of a necessity than an inventive endeavour. The pandemic nudged the education industry to embrace the concept of remote learning that was already brewing. This was crucial at the time, not only for the industry’s survival and expansion but also for educational institutions’ competitiveness in the market. Institutions, instructors, and students should all be commended for their willingness to adapt to the challenging new normal. As we approach the new year, let’s take a closer look at some of the notable trends of 2022 in the EdTech space:
Customized experience with Artificial Intelligence
Personalized learning with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more popular because of the personalization it offers. . Customized learning offers a tailored experience to match the needs and demands of each student. For instance, one student may excel in math, but then also struggle to learn new languages because he likes to learn visually. To best support every student’s learning, different approaches are required. This is what customized learning aims to do — offer each student the greatest educational experience possible. Speed of learning, material, series, technologies, quality, instructional style, instructional materials, and other aspects of personalized learning can all be adapted to match each child’s requirements and learning goals.
Personalization, nevertheless, may be improbable without artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Instructors can leverage platforms that are powered with AI to access individualized learning and training options at their own pace. AI aids in the prediction of learning outcomes, allowing content to be customized to each student’s knowledge levels and desired learning style. Unlike traditional learning environments, where students must wait for their educators to review their work, EdTech platforms leverage AI to provide basic feedback immediately, allowing students to make course corrections while also informing educators about areas where students need to improve. EdTech also allows students the freedom to take on their own independent learning journeys.
Everyone should embrace hybrid learning
Be it hybrid working or hybrid learning, ‘hybrid’ seems to be the future. According to a recent survey from QSthe majority of institutions and organizations reported that students and educators dislike online-only studies. In fact, only 30 per cent of survey respondents said that they had significant interest in online-only studies. This clearly indicates the promising future of a hybrid culture.
In this format, the instructor offers live instructions in the classroom as well as online in a hybrid learning environment. Asynchronous (non-live) teaching methods are being used to supplement synchronous, face-to-face instruction in the hybrid learning format. Some of the techniques that are helping students learn better are video-based learning, pre-recorded lectures, and online discussion forums. One of the major benefits of this model is that it allows for more flexibility and typically, can be much more cost-efficient. In the coming years, the ability to choose between face-to-face and online learning will be a valuable advantage for both students and teachers.
VR and AR offer an immersive experience
According to a new study by PwC, virtual reality technology allows students to learn more content faster. Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) requires active participation and this engaging method may make it much easier to absorb and learn. The primary benefit is active assistance. In contrast to passive methods of training, VR and AR tools can help a student stay inspired and offer them a new way to approach a problem. It’s possible to do it with printed replicas of the structures, but seeing it in 3D makes learning a lot easier. A science student would be able to view the periodic table or molecule ions with formulas in a form in front of them. This visual format will help students recall all the material and pay attention to specific details. All of this is feasible because of augmented reality.
The bottom line
EdTech has not only made studying easier and more enjoyable, but it has also saved and revolutionized the educational sector in many ways. EdTech solutions have aided in the holistic shaping of a student experience and have helped them realize their ambitions of obtaining a worldwide education. EdTech platforms have helped students apply to study abroad in the pandemic despite all the barriers they had to face. We’re proud to be part of this innovative and resilient industry and look forward to the many advances the EdTech sector continues to make in the industry.