Innovation in Education: Metamorphosis from Blackboards to Screens

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Design in Design Innovation | 0 Comments

Traditional classrooms were all about blackboards and chalks, the education landscape is molding itself to work more on screens now. The landscape of education is transforming with the advent of technology. Innovations are breaking the glass ceiling and bringing the new-age approach of teaching and learning. To talk more about the topic, Dr. Anant Chakradeo, Pro-Vice Chancellor – MIT Art Design and Technology University, Dean, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Chairman, International Relations interacted with Sheeba Chauhan of Elets News Netwrok. Edited excerpts:

What is your vision for innovation in education?

My vision for innovation in education would be an era soon, where India’s 900+ universities, 40,000+ colleges and 1.5 million schools are virtually accessible at a single click on our screens. This source of verified information would help you to design a robust educational path for yourself or your young ones. Life would be simpler for each one aspiring to learn at a choice of locations and evolve in the streams of natural leaning. One usually excels with what one is naturally gifted. India will then truly become a center / hub of excellence, and a land of eminent scholars, coming a full circle, repeating it’s rich history.

What can be the best technology to surpass innovation in the field of education?

Technology combined with creativity, is a must-have for innovation in any sphere.

Innovation, as a thought process keeps evolving generation to generation, therefore it is still thriving across centuries.

All innovative technology is surpassable, which is why we are witnessing the metamorphosis of blackboards to screens. Having said that, in current times, Immersive Media or Human centered Interaction or User Experience could be the best techno-creative bets we have, to aid Innovation in the field of education.

Courtesy technology, it is now easier to bring creative, imaginative minds and ideas closer and nurture those ideas for further impact. This mingling of technology and creativity has brought innovative new ideas and mediums through which people can express themselves. Connectivity has further enabled creative people to work together, diminishing boundaries and distances. To this effect, the AIC-MIT ADT Incubator Forum has been established in the Loni campus, in accordance with the guidelines by Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Government of India. The Centre for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Young Aspirants (CRIEYA), established in year 2021, aims to build a vibrant innovation ecosystem across university by establishing prototype & innovation labs and a network between innovators, academia, mentors, Industry, incubators and foundations. MIT ADT University is ranked Excellent for ARIIA 2021 by the Ministry of Education, Government of India for Innovation & Entrepreneurship initiatives.

NEP, experiential learning and a new paradigm of education is talk of the town. According to you, what are the perils and promises of NEP and the paradigm shift?

2020 – 2040: The next 20 years are a transition period for implementation of this strategically transformative policy – NEP 2020.

The aim is to have an education system by 2040 that is second to none, with equitable access to the highest-quality education for all learners regardless of social or economic background.

Given the scale of educational institutions mentioned at the start, the implementation of NEP requires industry, academia and policymakers to work together, for these 2 decades relentlessly to make it a reality.

The perils if I were to envisage across next 2 decades could be four-fold: change in government, citizen-level (industry, academia and policymakers ) lack of pro activity & clarity ,dilution in implementation, and possibly, world dynamics.

NEP proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education, including SDG4, while building upon India’s traditions and value systems. The promise that NEP shows of collective action making India a global knowledge superpower is worth working towards, to witness eventually, the paradigm shift created in our lifetimes.

What are the steps you are taking for your institutions to bring innovation?

MIT Art Design and Technology University, as the name suggests, is a multi-disciplinary university. It is amongst the leading Government recognised Private Universities, within the ambit of the renowned 4 decades young MIT Group of Institutions, Pune.

To nurture an innovation-focussed outlook, MIT provides technology-enabled learner-driven curriculum, value added courses, simulated learning environments, state-of-the-art infrastructure and opportunities for community engagement.

MIT nurtures learners to be intellectually curious, technologically equipped, mentally sound, physically fit, spiritually elevated, socio-culturally sensitive, environmentally conscious through continuous holistic education for the everevolving world.

MIT empowers learners to become adaptive and agile global professionals through unique specialized programs building academia-industrial partnership.

MIT provides impetus to faculty, learners, and staff by developing their innate intellectual capabilities, creative abilities and entrepreneurial mind-set for the socio-economic development of the nation.

What are the segments of the education landscape that still need revision?

Having spent 25 years in the Design Education industry, I am very keen to play my part in the successful implementation of NEP 2020. Majority segments of the education landscape are covered extensively in it, for ongoing reforms. There is enough on our hands to work towards for revising the same. E.g. Rote learning, Evaluation system, Equal respect to all the subjects, More Accountability, Periodic Assessments, Education Partnerships, Single regulator for higher education institutions, Multiple entry and exit options in degree courses ,Common entrance exams for universities, Curriculum Revision and Pedagogy in Schools, Better training of educators,Efficient Resourcing and Effective Governance through School Complexes/Clusters, Standard-setting and Accreditation for School Education, Institutional Restructuring and Consolidation, Optimal Learning Environments and Support for Students ,Re-imagining Vocational Education, Catalyzing Quality Academic Research in all Fields through a New National Research Foundation, Transforming the Regulatory System of Higher Education, Adult Education and Life Long Learning, Promotion of Indian Languages, Arts and Culture, Technology Use and Integration, Online & Digital Education, Strengthening the Central Advisory Board of Education, Financing and more.

Do you think digital disruption in the education space will bridge the employment gap between colleges and cubicles?

50% of the country’s population is below the age of 25. 74% of the 18-23 age group are not getting access to higher education or simply cannot afford it.

As per the World Economic Forum, of the 13 million people who join India’s workforce each year, only 1 in 4 management professionals, 1 in 5 engineers, and 1 in 10 graduates are employable.

As per a NASSCOM report, there could be a shortage of 14- 18 lakh digitally skilled professionals by 2026. And the youth of India are facing a roadblock both in achieving the degrees on paper that they want and the vocational skills that they need.

Given these statistics, it seems that Digitization and Upskilling need further ramping up to help bridge the employment gap between colleges to cubicles, i.e. from a learning environment to an earning environment.

Multi-disciplinary, techno-creative and innovation-driven universities like MIT ADT play an important role at the grass root levels, offering relevant Degree Programs, placements as well as opportunities to get incubated on campus.

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