Paradigms in education are changing, and the last decade has seen a sea change in the way learning content is being developed and delivered to students across the world. Massive shifts have taken place in the ways in which students engage with courses and content, and this has completely disrupted the teaching-learning equation.  

The pandemic and the resulting need for social distancing have also necessitated new ways of learning since students could not travel to and attend face-to-face classes due to lockdowns in cities. Online learning became the default mode of education, with even tiny tots having to attend nursery school over live Zoom calls!  

The advent of online learning 

Largely due to the pandemic, traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms have given way to unconventional methods of learning, with online learning proving to be the need of the hour. Right from kindergarten to college levels, and even for corporate professionals, online learning platforms with digital learning have become the norm. 

Students can log in from any place and at any time, and they can access self-paced or instructor-led live virtual classes that will help them to upskill and reskill themselves in order to get industry-accredited certifications or diplomas. Virtual learning dissolves geographical barriers and allows global educators to share their knowledge with students in even the most remote villages. 

Skill-based learning as opposed to generic curriculums 

Employers now recognise that the degrees meted out by colleges are not adequate to equip students to face workplace challenges. For example, graduates who are armed with engineering degrees often do not know how to apply their theoretical knowledge to start work in the industry and are forced to unlearn and relearn skills at their workplace. Virtual short-term professional development courses help to address this skill gap and make students job ready. 

Integrating new technologies in education 

As digital technologies become embedded into the very fabric of everyday life, commonplace activities become impossible without some form of technology or the other. So is the case with education. New-age learning platforms run the gamut of pre-learning and post-learning assessments, video and activity-based learning modules and instructor-led forums for networking. 

Visualization tools in education 

Visualization tools like augmented reality and virtual reality help learners to virtually experience situations, engaging with the experience in real-time to enhance comprehension. Educators can choose from an array of digital tools and resources to help students to view, analyse and manipulate information. For example in the world of medical education, students can take part in a virtual surgery that allows them to get hands-on experience without endangering the lives of real patients. 

Gamification as a learning tool 

Games are not meant just for the very young, and a gamification is a learning tool that is popular among all ages. Video game elements add engagement and motivation to learn, and concepts are easily assimilated as the learner moves through the levels of the game. Many corporates have been experimenting with the use of gamification to upskill their teams and get them on the same page. 

New approach to testing 

Mass testing of students, as is the norm today, has been found to give skewed results. Students who are high scorers on tests are often found to have only theoretical knowledge and not practical skills. In contrast, many a time, students who have scored only average marks are found to excel at the workplace.  

New approaches to testing include regular assessments that check the actual learning retention levels, rather than one single test that will only check the memorisation capabilities of the students. Learners are tested not only on their academic prowess but also on their application of the skills learnt to real-life scenarios. 

Conclusion 

When learning can be achieved virtually in any location, using new-age technologies and tools, there will be new practices, educational arrangements and human interactions that can be developed to best support skill-based learning. Information can be accessed at the click of a button and simulations and experiments can be run anywhere.  

No longer will we have to rely upon a physical repository of people and material resources, but we can draw upon the expertise of advisors and mentors from any geography. Interaction with the digital world will be seamless and we will be able to tap into resources from anywhere in the world to advance our learning. 

If you require support with new-age learning tools and technologies, do connect with MWT Technologies, one of the best IT companies in Kochi! We use the most sophisticated UI UX products to design your virtual learning platforms and apps, and our teams have over two decades of experience working with corporates for their training needs. Whether you’re looking for a software company in Kochi or a Web designing company, MWT Tech is the one-stop shop for all your needs.