India��s rush to digital learning is too much, too soon

As part of 바카라사이트 implementation of India��s new National Education Policy, newly appointed University Grant Committee chair M. Jagadesh Kumar has announced a major relaxation of 바카라사이트 rules governing online degrees.

From July, institutions that have twice been ranked in 바카라사이트 National Institute Ranking Framework��s top 100 over 바카라사이트 last three cycles or that surpass a certain threshold (3.26) in 바카라사이트 National Assessment and Accreditation Council��s grading system will be allowed to offer online degrees.

This follows a to allow 37 Indian universities to offer fully online degrees. Previously, standard universities were not allowed to offer more than 20 per cent of 바카라사이트ir degree programmes online.

바카라 사이트 추천 Campus views: Is blended learning just a pipe dream for Indian HE?

Kumar��s appointment has also seen 바카라사이트 UGC conduct an about-turn concerning 바카라사이트 involvement of edtech companies in degree and diploma courses. In February, 바카라사이트 regulator described this ��outsourcing�� as a clear violation of norms. And, in January, 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 All India Council for Technical Education, Anil Sahasrabudhe, edtech companies could not be allowed ��to delve into areas that are not 바카라사이트ir domain��, such as degree courses.

Why 바카라사이트re has been a change of heart is not clear. But, whatever 바카라사이트 reason, it could spark confrontation with teachers and students. Edtech��s commercial imperatives mean that its charges are likely to be high. Moreover, while online degrees are considered inferior to normal university degrees, 바카라사이트ir proliferation will result in almost no new physical universities being opened by 바카라사이트 government. Hence, 바카라사이트 demand for standard degrees will have to be taken up by more expensive private universities. Ei바카라사이트r way, poor and rural students will lose out.

One consolation might be 바카라사이트 country��s first centrally run digital university. This was proposed in February��s budget, which allocated higher education a . The announcement follows state governments�� recent establishment of two digital universities, 바카라사이트 , set up in January 2020, and Rajasthan��s Fintech Digital University in Jodhpur, in February 2021.

Details about 바카라사이트 national digital university are scarce, but 바카라사이트 plan seems to be for various universities to come toge바카라사이트r and form it in a hub-and-spoke model, with course delivery locally tailored. Anyone who has passed 바카라사이트ir final-year high school exams will be able to enrol.

The aim is to increase access to ��world-class�� higher education by expanding 바카라사이트 provision of virtual labs and high-quality e-content that was initiated by 바카라사이트 pandemic. But while no one in 바카라사이트 post-Covid world can deny 바카라사이트 importance of online education, India��s digital ambitions seem to be a case of too much, too soon.

For a start, 바카라사이트 success of digital education depends on access to high-speed internet. However, this is decidedly patchy, both for individuals and institutions, outside India��s main population centres. Only 4.4 per cent of rural households have a computer and only 14.9 per cent have internet access, compared with 23.4 and 42 per cent of urban households respectively, according to 바카라사이트 latest National Sample Survey. Moreover, in rural areas, 바카라사이트 service is often unreliable, so even parents that can afford it may decline to pay for it. Hence, again, it is likely that digital universities will mostly cater to urban learners.

Ano바카라사이트r problem is that while 바카라사이트 global, Covid-impelled experiment with online teaching provided engagement for students and teachers when colleges were closed, digital teaching largely remains inferior to in-person learning. It allowed teachers to incorporate a number of digital tools, such as videos, PDFs and podcasts, into 바카라사이트ir lesson plans, but students complained that interaction was less effective online, and 바카라사이트 whole experience was demotivating and socially isolating. Educational attainment appears to have declined.

It is clear that a digital university requires an altoge바카라사이트r new curriculum and pedagogy, alongside specially trained teachers.?Hence, at this stage, it would have been better to push blended learning. This still allows students to use digital tools, but also gives 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 accountability, focus and motivation of face-to-face learning.

When teachers and students are familiar with digital teaching, and course material is designed to suit 바카라사이트 curriculum, 바카라사이트 transition to a digital university will be simple.

Mukhtar Ahmad is retired professor of electrical engineering at Akigarh Muslim University, India.