By Dr.Guruprasad Khataniar*
In the context of present
scenario, the process of learning has become asynchronous. With the help of
resources available in internet anyone can learn anytime and anywhere. Earlier
being able to calculate fast manually was an important skill; but at present it
is more important how fast someone can apply the available resources in a new
context. Accordingly, nature of the demand of skills has changed over the time.
The evolution of learning may be divided into three stages - Farming age,
Industrial age and Knowledge age. During farming age, education was imparted by
the community using some craft and practical training. With the invention of
printing technology, the industrial age education started with reading, writing
and arithmetic. We are at the juncture of industrial age and the knowledge age
of education. In knowledge age, education is based on interaction, integration
and individualization. The education system is improving through interactive
methods for better engagement, for better learning and for better retention. The
inter-disciplinary subjects are blooming by the concept of integration.
Moreover, education system in modern age is more personalized so as to help an
individual to learn and acquire knowledge of their own interest. Education may
be of any form ranging from storytelling, discussion, teaching, training, and
directed research. In the knowledge age, technology plays a major role in taking
forward learning as a lifelong process. The learning and earning can continue
side by side. The age bar to obtain a degree is becoming blur. The methodology
of teaching is changing. The technology has disrupted the traditional thinking.
The concept of traditional degree may vanish where as continuous learning is
likely to prevail. Innovation through web-based learning has bought changes to
the schools, colleges and universities. Web-based learning techniques are
developed to focus on critical thinking with the most cost effective way. It is
seen that online study has many unparalleled advantages to the traditional way
of learning. It is observed that technology has led to radical developments in
many situations. For example, without having a single car, Uber has become
largest car rental company; without having a single hotel, OYO has become
largest hotel chain; without producing any product, Amazon has become the
largest seller in the market, and so on. Likewise, in education sector too, with
the adoption and adaptation of technology may lead to many positive
developments. Students will have an opportunity for free access to open content,
open knowledge and flexible technologies irrespective of traditional or distance
mode of learning. The online education has no physical boundaries and students
do not feel the burden of huge book lists in online education. The education
system will become student-centric where content will be delivered to the
students according to the choice of the students and this will be possible with
the application of proper artificial intelligence and machine learning in
digital learning technologies. Digital technologies will enable this in new and
better ways and create possibilities beyond the limits of our current
imagination. The digital education and technology-enabled education will change
the whole education system. The education in digital age is affordable and
accessible to the masses through the use of internet irrespective of the
location. The material required for teaching and learning are available in
integrated form such as video, audio and text. The education has been becoming
more interactive by the use of social media revolution and use of blended
learning technology. The online education has become an acceptable mode of
education for both regular and distance mode. The universities are moving from
traditional to the digital mode of delivery. The universities has been shifting
from conventional mode to integrated mode of delivery through different
innovative ways. Universities have to design programmes which will support
lifelong learners in achieving multiple career goals. In future, learning is
likely to move out from the schools, colleges or universities to home and
workplace. In such case the schools, colleges and universities will act as
facilitators for the learners; and the qualification of the degree will be
governed by the number of credits earned by the students irrespective of the
years and places where many universities will be bound to integrate their
courses and curriculum. Thus the maximal use of technology might lead to
personalized learning, thereby leading to a radical revolution in the education
sector.
*Academic Register, Gauhati University
Ex-Lecturer (SG) Computer Engineering Department. Assam Engineering Institute, Guwahati