Get All Access for $5/mo

How Digitization is Shaping the World of Early Education It allows children to complete tasks at their individual level, so no child is reading a level far above, or far below their proficiency level

By Rohan Parikh

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

graphicstock

Schools of the 21st century and quickly adapting to the use of technology in the classroom. While many parents are wary of the use of technology, and have the misconceptions that the overuse of technology will cause our children to be dependent on it, the truth is our children are growing up in a world where they are thinking differently, receiving and processing information faster due to technology. This means that our classrooms must also quickly adapt to newer methods of disseminating information to students and so technology must be when used wisely and thoughtfully in our classrooms. This does not mean that teachers will soon be obsolete. Teachers have and always will play a vital role in the classroom, and technology in fact is only meant to act as an assistant or a tool.

Gone are the days of rote learning, where students were made to memorize their alphabets in the early years. Now a days, teachers are using storytelling videos, and apps to provide a multisensorial and more engaging approach to the topic.

The Bull's Eye

The true advantage of digitization of the classroom comes in allowing personalized learning and differentiation. At the early years level, many schools use online based reading and literacy programs. Such programs allow teachers to give students assignments based on each student's individual reading level. These programs may in turn ask the kids to create a recording of them reading books out loud, which the teachers in turn can use to check the proficiency, fluency and pronunciation of each child. But more importantly, it allows children to complete tasks at their individual level, so no child is reading a level far above, or far below their proficiency level. Children may also be given a range of books to choose from, which allows them to engage in the topic which interests them, thus fostering their imagination as well as their decision-making skills, and thus teaching them to be masters of their own ship.

Information collected from such digitized classes allow teachers to differentiate students from diverse group of students with diverse learning needs, in the same course, classroom, or learning environment. Students with similar needs can be grouped together for specialized lessons, thus making sure that in a classroom as a whole, no student is too far ahead or far behind the others.

The Changed Scenario

While the traditional education methods do have their advantages, the one size fits all model may not be appropriate for all. Digitization is there for key in assisting the teachers in the classroom. E-learning and digital classrooms allow for customization tailored to each student's need, capability, interest and understanding therefore keeping them more engaged as they progress. As the 21st century work moves more and more towards digitization, it's only right that the classrooms do as well.

Rohan Parikh

Director

Rohan Parikh is the Director, The Green Acres Academy that aims to fill the gaps in their educational systems in a very pragmatic way - by keeping the parts that work, and adding a diverse range of extra-curriculars for holistic education, new teaching techniques that leverage proven ideas on how children learn, as well as new ideas on how to structure schools so they function like high-performing organisations.  
News and Trends

Multiples Private Equity Leads INR 1000 Cr Funding in Shubham Housing

With the raised funds, the Gurugram-based platform aims to propel its growth trajectory, diversifying its product offerings and strengthening its national footprint.

News and Trends

Amazon Enters India's Booming Quick Commerce Market with Tez

Amazon Tez will first launch as a pilot program, allowing the company to refine its operations before scaling up across the country.

News and Trends

Recur Club Announces Credit Offerings for Startups Beyond Series A and SMEs

In FY 24–25, the platform also plans to deploy an additional INR 2000 crores through its Recur Swift program for startups.

News and Trends

Amazon To Invest $120 Million in India, Create Jobs

This amount will be invested in startups that digitize consumer goods manufacturing in India and cater to domestic and global demand, creating thousands of jobs

Side Hustle

At Age 15, He Used Facebook Marketplace to Start a Side Hustle — Then It Became Something Much Bigger: 'Raised Over $1.6 Million'

Dylan Zajac, now a 21-year-old senior at Babson College, wanted to bridge the digital divide.

News and Trends

More Funding Needed for Startups, AI to be Significant in the Future

Significant resources and funding is needed to create a strong impact in the startup ecosystem artificial intelligence (AI) starts to play a more significant role, Vineet Rai, Founder and Chairman of Aavishkar said on the sidelines of the recently-concluded Sankalp Bharat Summit in Varanasi.