A paradigm shift in the online education segment

Schools and colleges, until recently, were associated with classrooms filled with students, playgrounds, kids enjoying their breaks, sharing food and stories. Fast forward to 2021, and online education has caught on in our daily lives. Although it is a global trend, the Indian education market has undergone a dramatic change. There is certainly an opportunity with online learning, both financially and in terms of the possible impact. The industry covers age groups starting from early learners in kindergarten through lifelong learning for senior executives.

The main reason for the rapid adoption and paradigm shift among learners is that online learning is significantly more scalable, flexible, and convenient than offline learning. EdTech platforms allow content to reach billions at the click of a button. According to the Ministry of Education, India faced a shortage of one million teachers in 2020, a serious bottleneck for quality education. Virtual classrooms allow quality teachers to access more students, thereby bridging the gap. New age classrooms, apps that enable personalized learning and conferencing tools like Zoom engage multiple learners at once. The flexibility and convenience for learners and teachers, as long as they are proficient in the technology, make it a anytime, anywhere solution with tremendous potential.

Second, in many cases e-learning comes with lower costs, making e-learning a viable solution in countries like India. Nonprofit solutions like Khan Academy have made video content accessible to those in need, giving students free access to amazing teachers.

It also helps e-learning shift from watching boring videos to active learning. New technologies, artificial intelligence, experiential learning, games and other technological advancements have created engaging and interactive educational experiences. While students can repeatedly access content as many times as they want; new-age content formats make it easier for them to understand concepts and retain them over time. They can access their course anytime, anywhere and study at their own pace.

In conclusion, the paradigm has changed – not just temporarily but for years to come. Many teachers have had to learn to use a computer or smartphone from scratch, and many more are learning new skills on their own to keep their online lessons interesting, all for the sake of their students. Parents and those in further training, corporate HR teams and recruiters have also adapted. As a result, despite the reopening of schools and the physical return of people to work, we still see a hybrid future in the education sector. It seems very likely that further learning and employability training for students in grade 8 and above will remain largely online. And for those who are in remote areas, maybe all aspects of their education will be transferred to the online platform, so that they can access not only basic education, but classroom education. world in one click!

(By Shveta Raina, Founder and CEO, Talerang)