By Anuradha Uboweja
The first use of the technology dates back around 3.5 million years, when tools such as hammers and anvils were used by our genetic ancestors, the Australopithecines, discovered in Lake Turkana in Kenya. Homo Sapiens then invented fire about a million years ago.
Technological inventions and innovations have defined human evolution – from hammers and anvils to fire, from the Neolithic invention of the wheel to the modern Internet; so human progress simply cannot be divorced from technological advances. On the contrary, technological advances define human progress.
The pace of technological progress has accelerated since the late 18th century with Graham Bell’s inventions of the telephone, the internal combustion engine, automobiles, electric light, radio, and airplanes, allowing instant communication between n Anyone and location has become an irrelevant factor in communicating and sharing ideas. Advances in technology have had a profound impact on education.
Throughout modern history, the classroom has remained at the heart of education. The source of information was limited to books available at the local library or bookstore. Higher education was possible for the lucky and deserving. But then the first personal computer in the early 1970s and later the World Wide Web in the early 1990s brought about a paradigm shift. What was possible but never implemented was forced upon us all as a result of the global Covid pandemic of 2020. The rest, as they say, is history.
As the world came to an unprecedented halt, tectonic shifts occurred in the world of education. Adjustments were made, but technology took over to ensure that no child was left behind.
Traditional classrooms have given way to online courses. There has been a proliferation of platforms and products aimed at the education sector overnight. Access to education remained open only due to earlier technological advancements that were readily available to solve an unexpected problem.
However, much remains to be done. To date, technology has only addressed the superficial issue of access – access to unlimited resources online and access to an expert on any subject from anywhere in the world. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Technology must become the catalyst for redefining education, moving from rote learning and memorization to an education system that develops the art of thinking critically and reasoning logically.
Technology and education will have to progress together now; it therefore becomes crucial for the education system to keep up with the progress made in the technology sector. Today, a high school student from a small town in Himachal Pradesh can take an online course from Harvard University – it’s the new benchmark for access.
With a willingness to learn, he has every opportunity to train from anywhere in the world. In the very near future, Harvard may begin offering college degrees in many subjects to anyone with a fast internet connection.
Information on the Internet is much more interesting and fun to learn than the way it is taught in classrooms. In addition, distance learning has reduced education costs and enabled all prestigious educational institutions to offer distance certification programs. With no capacity limit, access will no longer remain the privilege of a few.
With all these opportunities available, India’s education sector is now at high risk of losing its audience of 250 million students to homeschooling, self-study or innovative and inclusive schools. that allow students to personalize and personalize their educational experience.
“More is lost through indecision than through bad decisions. Indecision is a thief of opportunity,” said Marcus Tullius Cicero, the famous Roman lawyer, writer and orator.
Indecisiveness not to challenge the current protocols and practices of our education system will harm our future generations – 19th century curricula cannot meet 21st century needs. The demands of the 21st century are far more alarming than we think. We can no longer teach our children the tools unless we have shown the applications of the devices.
We need to leverage technology to fundamentally change our teaching protocols.
With access to the Metaverse, for example, any student can learn hands-on skills like carpentry and machine design without having to enter a workshop or design lab. Education is no longer constrained by the need for physical infrastructure and physical facilities. Tectonic shifts are happening all around us, but our education system remains the proverbial dinosaur.
Bad decisions can be rectified and corrected, but indecisiveness in redefining education will rob our children of future career opportunities where organizations do not seek test scores and grade cards. They won’t look at certifications or where you got your degree from, but instead they’ll look at one thing – how problems are solved.
Because the future belongs to problem solvers.
Technology must redefine the way we educate our children, where the focus is on educating them to think critically, reason logically, and most importantly, have their own voice. Nrichminds.com works towards this vision of empowering children and enriching young minds through a portfolio of online tools and apps, helping school children think critically and solve problems. Vexors is a word-based puzzle that promotes the art of problem solving and develops cognitive skills in inductive and deductive reasoning, which are ignored by traditional programs.
The author is Country Manager for Nrichminds.com. Views are personal.
