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The education ecosystem in the country has witnessed a digital makeover in recent times. Governments are looking forward to adopting technologies like VR, AR, AI, ICT, Gamification, etc. to make the education ecosystem future-ready. Shedding light on this, Hitesh K Arora, Deputy Secretary, Haryana State Board of Technical Education addressed the Digital Governance Summit 2022, Haryana Edition.

He commenced by giving a brief on the technology interventions that Haryana has adopted in the last two years. He said, “To enable remote learning in the state, we deployed tools like Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, YouTube, among others and set up online labs. We conducted online examinations and have awarded online certifications as well. As far as e-governance is concerned, the Government of Haryana has digitalised its offices and all the departments are using e-office, HMS, and other such tools.”

As technology is critical for the future of education and people, in the times to come, will prefer blended learning options. Therefore, there are a few things that are still needed to be done like the ‘Gamification’ of education technology. “Gamification has a lot of scope and opportunities in the education sector. The online mode of learning has become monotonous and students are losing interest, therefore, gamification can help to gain back students’ interest.” To support his take on gamification of education, Arora cited examples like Google Word Coach, Khan Academy, and more, which offer points, coins or stickers to the students when they complete tasks. This approach creates competition among students that push them to study and earn more points.

Also Read: Hybrid Education is Here to Stay

Another significant development is to introduce metaverse in the education sector. Such a move will give students a new way of pursuing education altogether. This will create interest among students and will lead to a tangible impact on the country’s education system.

Internships and training through online modes had been a learning experience for many students as they were remotely involved in real industry projects. As an example, he shared, “One of the IITs has made a WhatsApp group of students for the industry interaction. So those companies who are facing issues with their project execution, strategy, etc. and need a resource can table the requirement to the institution which is then posted on the WhatsApp group with the amount that a student willing to participate would get paid.” Such an approach provides opportunities to students for experiential learning while they pursue their higher education.

Haryana will be one of the first states to launch the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The NEP focuses on the extensive use of technology for learning, educating and holding practical classes. However, there is a need to strengthen the IT infrastructure and make education accessible to all. “We think that digital penetration has to be done to reach the last mile. Just having a smartphone is not enough. We’ve suggested the government to come up with e-libraries at a panchayat level where there are 8-10 computers set up to help students study better.”

NEP 2020 also talks about leveraging technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to not only improve learning abilities among students but knowledge delivery as well. Such technologies can come in handy to conduct practical classes and experiments. Also, students can participate virtually in the activity.

Some of the major challenges with online education is cybersecurity and cyberbullying. The government and institutions are dedicatedly working on enhancing cybersecurity measures and preventing data breaches. “Challenges will keep on surfacing but technology on education is something that cannot be denied. In the times to come, the hybrid model of education will possibly be the preferred one be it in the time of a pandemic or not. Haryana is constantly working on gearing up to tackle challenges and preparing for a technology-led future.

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