Twenty years back if I were to tell my dad that I was studying for a course online using my phone, he would most likely reprimand me for lying and not taking my studies seriously. What we have today in terms of educational technology (ed-tech) was a far-fetched scenario for our parents. Am I right in saying that the days of rote- learning science and math formulae that our generation went through are now behind us? The next generation is set to receive education using path breaking methodologies. The ed-tech sector is evolving and creating the right channel of learning for children. Plus recent rounds of funding show that the faith investors have in the capacity of startups in this sector is growing.
Here is a list of some of the funded startups that are creating a buzz in this sector:
Replacing the blackboards
The potential that technology has in making an impact on young minds is noteworthy. Byju’s, Unacademy are a few great examples of how a little help from technology is making the learning process engaging and fun. Both the online e-learning platforms are growing massively by on-boarding teachers and curating topics every day.
Unacademy co-founder and CEO Gaurav Munjal believes that once people realize that they can increase their skills by taking certifications online, change from traditional learning methods is bound to happen. “With internet now being accessible to the masses, content for the best educational material is being available to the masses” he says.
Bangalore based start-up Curiositi creates tools that are integrated into the learning syllabus of school children. With more emphasis on STEM and related subjects, their product guarantees to change the way education is perceived by both teacher and students. Experifun, another start-up based on similar theme focuses on play and learn methodology. They believe that the best way to teach a child is the play-way. One of their core products is Integrated Computer Curriculum which takes students on a journey aboard the Computer Express. The children learn through exploratory activities, board games and innovative lab sessions – all built around a train theme.
Teachers- the most valuable resource
A common lament of teachers is that they feel restricted in their capacity to bring about a change. Often they find themselves squeezed between the complaints of parents and expectations of school authorities. Startups like GuruG are now solving grass-root level problems of our education providers. GuruG provides a teacher assistance and training platform that makes life slightly easier for them. It has an online mentor that provides teachers guidance at every step. Teachers can also generate their own customized lesson plans and analyse the students’ learning curve using their app.
Photo credit – Getty images
“The general trend is for teachers to teach an average audience and be available only during school hours. The future is about learning at your own pace, anytime access and collaboration both locally and globally.” Says Aparna Thakker, co-founder at KoolKampus. KoolKampus provides teachers a platform to communicate with parents/students on the syllabus. It also provides digitized curriculum and videos that can be accessed any time.
Tushar Vadera of Innolat, a startup that trains graduates from Tier 2 and 3 cities and makes them employable through self-paced courses- has a slightly different viewpoint. “The traditional education system which still follows mass-production style is on the verge of becoming obsolete. Personalized learning, focusing on individual weak areas is going to take its place soon” he says.
Long road ahead
Ed-tech startups have to face a lot of hurdles to make an entry into the robust walls of our education system. Some of the challenges they face are
- Long sales cycle- Schools have an annual sales cycle which means that the waiting period to sell your product or service is of one academic year
- Multiple stakeholders- To make a sale there are trustees, principals, administrative staff, teachers to convince. Next in line are students and parents who’s feedback matters a lot
- Hesitation- Slight reluctance in adopting technology and digitization in lieu of traditional teaching methods
- Payment options- Uncertainty over who will pay for the service or product. Will it be the school or the parents?
Takeaway
Last year ASSOCHAM released a report that states that India’s education system is 126 years (six generations) behind developed nations. I believe that if the ed-tech start-ups along with the administration takes a unified approach in bridging the gap between available resources and students, these numbers can change. Gaurav adds “The way ed-tech start-ups are bringing hi tech education to the masses, it won’t take 126 years. The change will be visible in the next 20 years”
One cannot help but wonder what the future holds? We have already explored and implemented gamification as a methodology of learning. Can VR be the way forward for education? From the pace at which things are moving, the day is not far when children explore India’s geography using a VR device instead of on a map.