Navigating Digital Transition & Crucial Role Of Hybrid Learning
The landscape of education is undergoing substantial transition in today’s digital age and Indian higher education institutions are at the forefront of this revolution. Colleges and institutions around the country are redefining learning experiences and setting the path for a more accessible and engaging educational journey by integrating technology and creative pedagogical practices.
Addressing a panel discussion on Digital Transformation and Impact – The Future of Learning at the 7th Higher Education Summit of BW Education, PJ Narayanan, Director of the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-H) said that these digital contents became big and useful resources but still the outcome and intensity of learning are based on the individual’s passion. We have easily available resources but until students don't have motivation, it will not be helpful and effective, Narayanan added.
On the other hand, S Sreenivasa Murthy, Director at the Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE) showed concern about the way we use it. Murthy said that it is a hybrid mode of learning now and if you are not accepting that you are falling behind.
“There is a need to mix up both physical and virtual classes with a focus on outcomes as the industry says we are getting more and more graduates but not employable graduates. We need to provide students not only education but values which are ready to serve the industry without talking any extra training and time,” he said.
VP Singh Director - PGDM and Professor, Great Lakes Institute of Management, also observed that there is concern about the outcomes of online learning and said that there is a large supply of online resources but we always face the problem of students’ attention and outcomes.
“There are differences between listening to a recorded lecture and having a teacher in front of you. In the classroom, students talk to each other and learn from each other, we started today to understand how physical classrooms are important,” said S Ramakrishna Velamuri, Professor and Dean, of the School of Management of Mahindra University.
We should leverage online resources but never think that it is a substitute for the physical classroom and online lectures can replace a teacher in the classroom, Velamuri said.
