The shift to remote learning during the pandemic was unplanned and immediate, which raises concerns regarding the sufficiency, performance, and sustainability of EdTech products and platforms. As the rise of EdTech unicorns gives rise to a hybrid learning model, it is important to weigh the advantages of the technological transformation of the formal education system against the challenges that it poses for teachers and students.
The sudden shift to online learning was characterized by a lack of training and bandwidth, which may have impacted the user experience. However, the benefits of EdTech tools during a time of uncertainty and chaos were undeniable. For one, communication was fluid and clear. Teachers used features like video calls, live polls, chat groups, document sharing, etc. to engage students who has access to technology. Research has shown that online learning allows students to retain significantly more material at a faster pace, compared to classroom learning. They can pause, skip, or replay through the lesson, and thus learn at a personalised pace, if the educational environment is well-structured.
In terms of accessibility, EdTech fares well. India has cheap internet data, high internet penetration, and affordable smartphones, all of which aid the delivery of learning resources, courses, and curriculum without the barriers of time restrictions, strict eligibility criteria, geographical location or academic institutions. Online platforms allow for more participants, which enriches the learning environment.
Also, short-term online courses allow professionals and students to shift their career trajectory and broaden career options to include subjects or fields that are of interest to them. Placing learners are at the core has increased the quality and convenience of education in this new format.
Additionally, one of the most potent advantages of EdTech is that it simplifies complex tasks, and adds a level of engagement to mundane tasks. For instance, manual grading test papers and sorting assignments is time-consuming, while automated grading shows prompt results with no scope for human error. So, it is evident that EdTech tools and platforms present accessible, flexible, and customisable learning solutions.
On the other hand, the most glaring challenge for education during the pandemic, especially in countries that have widespread disparities, has been the digital divide. Those who lack access to the internet and technological devices have inevitably been disconnected from the education system, or have been able to participate only in a limited capacity. For those who did have access, it is difficult to measure the educational outcomes of EdTech tools, as these often do not undergo quality checks based on pedagogical validity or contextual relevance, such as vernacular specificity.
Besides, the most essential element of education is meaningful teacher-student interaction revolving around educational material and mediated by parents, which forms the base for instructional learning. EdTech platforms can be used as a tool to complement the job of a teacher, but not as a substitute. They are best used for up-scaling quality instruction, offering personalized instruction, broadening the practice of such instruction, and improving the engagement of learners. For teachers and parents, these platforms should provide support for developing skills or strategies that improve the remote learning experience. In the current landscape, EdTech platforms alone cannot replace formal education, as evidenced by the inability of these tools and products to address learning losses among students during the pandemic.
If the learning ecosystem is not inclusive, certain sections of students will be isolated from receiving the benefits of EdTech platforms. As schools reopen and return to the pre-pandemic model of education, it remains to be seen whether institutions and the government administration will use this opportunity to initiate technological transformations for improving the overall quality of education, or simply return to the traditional system that was characterized by unresolved inadequacies.
