Experiential Learning Is The New Way Of Learning

The Indian education system went through enormous changes with the rolling out of NEP 2020. The policy will have a phenomenal effect on the future of teaching-learning pedagogies practised to date. With such a forward-thinking approach and progressive steps, it will lead to a new curve leading towards up-to-the-minute learning.

The trend of evolution in education is a continuous process with an innovative learning experience. The modern-day methodologies edifice our pathways with relevant propositions to revamp the learning landscape. Experience’s form an integral part of the education system and help in nurturing the learners with better information retention. The concept of ‘learning by doing’ is gaining traction owing to its primacy of deep learning over just the surface. The higher education sector should design an effective curriculum in order to emphasize on developing a better decision-maker. As India is set to see the rising of a new dawn in the education sector, we are hopeful to witness a see-through change in a 'learn and earn' pattern.

Initiate Design Thinking

Design thinking augments a solution-oriented perspective among the learners and is equipped with problem-solving skill-sets. A tailor-made approach needs to be practised across various industries to effectively design niche solutions by the learners. Design thinking will help one to enhance the user experience which will further fuel the overall framework competency. A human-centric approach is imperative to achieve global par excellence. New learning systems should encourage better-thinking capabilities, analytical skills and accentuate meta-cognitive abilities.

Bringing Global Education Home

India has witnessed students flocking towards foreign universities for pursuing degrees in lieu of excellent job competency. Today, with India being the fastest growing economy, an influx of foreign conglomerates setting up their businesses in the homeland is seen. This opens a floodgate of employment opportunities for the local workforce. In order to match the global benchmark competencies, raising Indian education from a globalization perspective is imperative.

Research, blended and experiential learning- three together will constitute to become the ‘new face’ of the Indian higher education system.  These new pedagogies will help hone the global mindset.

Real-world Experience Syllabi

Designing a syllabus is an evolutionary process as it involves renewing at regular intervals to keep the relevancy intact. A real-world experience-centric syllabus is the need of the hour which focuses on the dynamics of the economy. This will enable students to excel in real-life issues and equip themselves with reflective judgment and knowledge. The design process of the syllabi should encompass key concepts such as critical and analytical thinking, data mining, emotional plus intelligent quotients. It should lay enough emphasis on vocational and skill developmental activities.

Reverse Engineering curriculum

Reverse engineering uses the technique which enables students to learn a whole concept by breaking it down back to its fundamental roots. It enables us to build strong concepts of core learning and future application. It replaces the redundant rote learning and introduces students to re-think and re-imagine their learnings. This equips learners to cope with domain expertise and augments their problem-solving skills with a deeper knowledge base.

Practical Learning

The process of ‘learn and earn’ is the new path of progress for learners willing to grasp practical life knowledge. A hands-on experience provides learners with the industry domain expertise and skills. Internships and apprenticeships are imperative to gain a practical learning experience. An industry ready youth pool, armed with both theory and practical knowledge will be a favourable situation for both the employers and the employees. Behavioural science and effective communication along with experience will catapult the workforce of the nation into a new era of growth.

To conclude, the new-age education will be focused on personalised learning methods. The implementation of revolutionary education policy NEP 2020 will be of prime focus to facilitate swift transformation. This will uplift Indian education excellence at the global one-stop destination for learning and education.

Dr Niranjan Hiranandani

Guest Author The author is Provost of HSNC (Hyderabad Sind National Collegiate) University "Sincerity and commitment to consistent efforts is the recipe to achieve success and great heights." This quote very aptly sums up Dr Niranjan Hiranandani’s ‘Magic Mantra’. Best known as a visionary and Industry think-tank; achieved another milestone in his professional life - his thesis on real estate has resulted in the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management conferred on him. He recently had sworn in as National President for NAREDCO. A business leader with the desire to rewrite India’s real estate story, Niranjan Hiranandani is arguably, India’s ‘builder extraordinaire’, the person credited with changing Mumbai’s skyline. A qualified Chartered Accountant, he has virtually revolutionized the real estate industry in the country.