Since the beginning of time, humans have endeavored to
ensure immortality by passing on learning to the next generation. It has always
been imperative to leave behind value systems, cultural & social mores,
religious doctrines, traditions and most importantly skills to the next
generation. With the advent of writing systems, around 3500 BC, education
underwent a metamorphosis. Instruction
could be more accurate and less constrained by geographical boundaries. Ironically, though, this period also
increased restrictions on education. Now, the changes in society were reflected in the access and the quality
of education. Social stratification
meant that a person’s class, gender or caste determined or limited the
occupation and therefore the education the person might receive. So, today, the
reality is that access to quality education for all is not integral and needs
legislation and strategy to be implemented.
Recognizing this need, UNESCO in 1990, had launched a global
movement, aiming to meet the education needs of all by 2015. With a six point goal sheet, 155 countries
had pledged to make Education for All a key priority. While UNESCO leads this
effort, globally, local support from NGOs, Governments, Development agencies,
Civil Societies and media is crucial.
Education in India is, undoubtedly, one of the imperatives
for the country and the investment made over the years has contributed hugely
in propelling India’s growth in the knowledge economy. The combination of
quality content, partnerships, training, and broad access—complemented with the
most appropriate technology to author, distribute, teach, and connect—can
transform education and the economy.
So, what is the role that technology must play in addressing
the challenges posed in providing EFA?
Access
Taking knowledge resources to the door step of the learner,
technology helps provide access to all.
This is where industry efforts to drive affordable computing will
support this key imperative. In a large
number of schools, in most developing nations, a single computer is shared by
multiple children, often with ratios of as many as 5-10 children to a PC.
MultiPoint is a paradigm in which individual access is provided to each child
around a shared computer. This results
in increased educational value and greater engagement, and also effectively
multiplies the value of each PC by providing simultaneous shared access.
E-learning also has a very key role to play as a powerful
tool to provide standardized quality and equality of access. E- Learning must be used as an effort
multiplier for providing access.
Social media is increasingly finding a place in the hallowed
corridors of formal education. Several examples of educators successfully using
micro-blogging in classrooms exist and all of them have the common thread of
creating classroom communities in which students can send questions or
observations to peers, while in the classroom. Additionally, students from
across the world can share knowledge and information beyond traditional
national boundaries. The essential charm of social media is that they enable
the growth and development of global communities which share knowledge,
learning and best practices. They offer colleges and higher education
institutions the benefits of intra and inter campus collaboration.
Peer Collaboration
The role of technology to support and
facilitate peer
collaboration is unique and impactful. Technology can provide for
connectivity and supply access devices. Most importantly, technology
can support
content generation. Tools like LCDs and
Semblio help faculty develop innovative material that can increase
education
effectiveness. Key to faculty success
lies in supporting peer-mentoring, once again, through the use of
technology. Using technology to provide
a platform to share ideas, build a community and pool knowledge
resources will
be the way forward in the future.
Digital Empowerment
The power of technology in education can be felt most when
it is used to bring about self-reliance through digital literacy. In other words, teaching students and teachers
to use technology effectively, helps them access online content and web-based
learning which in turn increases the quality of the education imparted and
finally implemented in the workplace.
The role of technology, therefore, in driving Education for
All is immutable.
All of us, as a nation need to put our minds and might to
this crucial imperative. We need to join
hands, to transform education through a grass root level change through
community partnerships and inclusion. We need to personalize the change agenda
for the benefit & development of local communities through vocational
programs.
Next, we need to use ICT to transform teachers in to
coaches. Technology can also be used to support migration of talent across
schools and colleges, promoting new ideas and fresh perspectives and best
practices.
Most importantly, we need to use technology to build the
best and standardized digital content and make this content repository
available for teachers on the cloud.
Using robust cloud platforms like Azure, we should help distribute this
content in a personalized manner and in scale across all schools.
In conclusion, therefore, I would like to reiterate the
indisputable role played by technology in ensuring access to quality education
for all.
Guest Author’s Profile: - Pratima Amonkar is the Director,
Academia for Developer and Platform Evangelism (DPE) at Microsoft India based
out of Bangalore. In this role, she is responsible for spearheading Microsoft
India’s efforts to foster the Indian software ecosystem through deep strategic
engagements with students, educators, institutions and academic thought
leaders. She is a core member of the Microsoft India Developer and Platform
group as well as being a member of the WW global academia team. Having been
educated extensively in the UK, Pratima has studied Electricity &
Electronics from the University of London.
She has post-graduate qualifications in Computer Science and Technology
and she pursued her passion for languages with an additional graduate degree in
French from the University of Mumbai.
She represents Microsoft at several Governments of India and industry
bodies. She is an honorary member of several University curriculum advisory
bodies. Pratima is also a core member of
industry special interest groups with bodies like CII, NASSCOM and MAIT.
