Empowering Education To Full Stack Digital Solutions

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the global economy with pervasive impact on all sectors and the education sector is no exception. The move to temporarily close institutions in an attempt to restrain the spread of the virus has impacted plans of more than 60 per cent of the worldwide student population and derailed the academic calendar. However, the Indian education system has advanced and emerged stronger. Within a fortnight, almost all institutions shifted online with no additional or significant physical activity. Schools and colleges began organising online classes and examinations to reinvent digital conversion strategies for the education sector. For a considerable length of time, we’ve been discussing the digital revolution of the future. All things considered, that future is here!  

Full-stack digital solution 

COVID-19 and its aftermath has elevated the need to adopt inventive ways of education services online. But most importantly, it’s brought to the fore the need to look beyond online learning and leverage technology for full-stack digital solutions which will include online learning, exams, proctoring and assessment.   

Online learning 

The use of digital tools is inevitable to deliver educational content to students during the pandemic. As technology assumes a fundamental role, education service providers are reconsidering their plan of action to stay active. The advancement in technology and the significant rise in active Internet users - synchronised with the current pandemic - have generated a higher demand for online learning. As indicated by a survey by ed-tech enterprise Byju’s, 75% of guardians said they presently prefer their children to continue with online learning even after schools/colleges reopen. Online learning platforms are a quick and convenient solution for all learners, be it a lesson inside the classroom or training with participants networking ideas throughout the world. 

Online examination 

The last few months have kept teachers, students, and parents intensely occupied with classes and the examinations shifting online. Guaranteeing secure and timely examination is a critical challenge for education and examination bodies. With the introduction of technology, institutes now have the option to hold entrance and semester exams flawlessly, set exam plans, administer candidate validation, remotely invigilate, manage tests and screen candidates online. Online examination will without a doubt assume an active role in the coming years. 

Online proctoring 

Education is undergoing colossal change with emerging technologies. This is crucial for the education sector as institutions plan to conduct error-free entrance and semester examinations. Online proctoring is one of the most compelling advancements that allows a candidate to be remotely invigilated while taking an online examination. Features like obstructing virtual access, immobilizing Bluetooth devices, disabling toggling of browsers during the exam, screening consistency of face, eye movement, voice and background noise, audio-video analytics guarantee that the entire proctoring process is exact and secure. If the proctor suspects any doubtful activity, they can disable the test. Remote proctoring even empowers proctors to go past the constraints of geographical boundaries and invigilate from any location.  

Online assessment  

Online assessment (e-marking of answer scripts) comprises digitizing answer scripts and marking them on-screen to ameliorate the quality, accuracy, and speed of checking. To that end, answer scripts are scanned, digitized, encoded, and securely uploaded to the Cloud. The system also alerts the evaluator if any answer segment has been overlooked in error. Online assessment allows evaluators to check answer scripts even during peak periods and from any location. E-marking of answer scripts also decreases expenses, misuse or loss of answer scripts. 

Opportunities and challenges 

COVID-19 has allowed us the opportunity to re-think accessible education. The Internet penetration rate in India is rapidly increasing. The National Broadband Mission is anticipated to empower all distant and remote areas to have decent and impartial access to broadband services very soon. The government must consider providing essential smartphones or tablets and data plans in rural areas to bridge the digital divide. 

Furthermore, online classes demand educators to be tech-savvy for online classes. The new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 says that teachers who have already been recruited will be required to take part in at least 50 hours of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) every year which highlights the importance towards teacher training.  

A full digital education stack will allow end-to-end processes like learning, examinations, proctoring and evaluation to go online and be accessible despite geographical restrictions resulting in an improved learning experience, educated students with high employability quotient who can innovate and transform our world. 

Following NEP 2020 and Digital India Mission, it is critical to implement full-stack digital solutions. Emerging technologies can design, manage and bolster digital transformation for the education sector. The journey of empowering a full-scale digital transformation won’t be easy, but, if executed right, it very well may be a lesson in resilience. 

Ambrish Sinha

Guest Author The author is CEO, MeritTrac Services