Old Wine - Computer Education in India

The world is different place now then at the time when I attended school.  Today, social networks and mainstream media are an integral part of all communication that takes place – whether it is Business, Politics, or Social Life.  However, the state department of education has participated just a little.

Teachers, Educators, Parents and Students do understand how learning is changing.   However, I am of the opinion that the involvement is just not so large enough, for our schools in India.

Many students are immersed in social networks and cellular technology outside of school life, and there are not enough adults in their lives who can guide them as to how they can use those connections to learn.  Our access to information, people and ideas is exploding on the net.  However, the education system in India has had this inability to recognize the paradigm shift.  The Education Boards do not fully understand the learning process that are needed for learners who want to share their knowledge and interests. 

The syllabus and course material does attempt to integrate the net and media with the way we learn, BUT, the examinations and their formats, together with state education board politics ensure that such 21st century skills do not amount to much.

My stay in USA had me interacting on the UNiX software by AT&T.  There was no graphic user interface.  Communicating was cumbersome (If you wanted to chat with somebody at a site - say school.com, you had to use for a command a word that was rather inappropriate - “finger xyz@school.com”!!!)

The net is now easy.  However, this ease does not necessarily guarantee education and growth.    The content on the net is much, but essentially that work reflects what we were doing with pen and paper.  The medium of publication has changed and nothing else.

21-century skills are just not possible for schools that are run by archaic school education boards which in turn are controlled by politicians and antediluvian academic dinosaurs.

Here are some thoughts:

- Mathematics is taught beautifully on the internet, free of charge, by the Khan academy (www.khanacademy.org).  I wish I had learnt to tame this monster this way.  Why cannot school children “officially” learn their material from websites such as these?

- I have downloaded dance numbers and videos that explain economic theories!  It is fun!

- School going children and schools must publish their own teaching skills at their own websites.  All school going children must have their own blogs at the school website where they are encouraged not only to share know but to also develop their own content.  The school webmaster can surely monitor the content.

Our ability to easily publish content online will force us to rethink the way we communicate with students, the way we deliver our curriculum and the expectations from the next generation.  Likewise, Teachers and Professors must publish their own content on blogs and encourage participation from students.

- Blogging on school websites allow children to have an audience and thus the children may grow to be more confident.

- Publishing self-content will force the children to have better critical, writing and analytical skills.

It is understood that the above model suggests a school which has funds and has children whose parents can afford the higher expenditure.  This is ok.

© Nitesh Kotecha