As Inspire explores ‘change’ in a student’s everyday life, the magnum of it seems vast and almost infinite. We delve into the different facets of change through a series of articles. The first of this is on technology.
Today we focus on digital media and its repercussions on students. Educational CDs, online portals, computer games, the very popular PS3, specialised educational digital boards are all different avatars of digital media, that have become an integral part of a student’s life.
Gone are the days when getting to know the happenings in the school involved reading notes from the child’s School Diary or scheduling a meeting with the Class Teacher. Today, school portals have it all accessible for students and their parents within a few clicks, sitting in the comforts of their homes. The class lists, class schedules, events, competitions, breakthroughs, results, loads and loads of pictures- you name it and it is there. So schools are on an all-time communication high thanks to digital media. This at any rate does not seem to affect the student’s performance or level of interest in academics.
Specialised educational digital boards, on the other hand, are innovative teaching and learning tools. The blend of interesting visuals complemented with audio keeps students engaged. It facilitates the teacher to present otherwise mundane topics in interesting ways.
The amazing popularity received by ‘Hole in the Wall’ (where NIIT made breakthroughs in taking technology and education to the neglected strata of society) speaks volumes about the power of digital media.
The wow factor however takes a u-turn when we look at some other aspects of digital media. Take for example the PS3, Kinect or Nintendo games - that have half the current generation of children glued to them. Look at educational and interactive CDs that are marketed by the dozens to over indulgent parents for their ‘tech savvy’ children. The publishers of such ‘educational’ games and CDs have a limitless market. So they have enough reasons to smile.
The virtual world of social networking sites (with the likes of games like Farmville on Facebook) demands so much of a child’s attention that he forgets to connect with the real world outside. Infact, when did you last hear a child say – “The sky looks so beautiful today.” Or, “The rain feels so fragrant and cool.” At this rate, that day is not far when a cricket expert will mean someone who is an expert in digital cricket!
The proficiency of digital media is in fact gearing up to challenge the entire system of teaching.
At Inspire, we find this alarming - for the child, for the student, for the teacher and for the entire system of education. Imagine the epitome of a tech-savvy class for a four year old. A self sufficient specialised educational digital board backed by perfect audio, teaching the child a nursery rhyme; or perhaps the sound made by ‘b’. Sounds astonishing, but it is not very far into the future.
Teaching, however, is so much more than a pre-recorded flawless voice, attractive visuals and overload of information. For children in formative years, it is the compassion, affection and the human factor that brings the classroom to life. Teaching is reaching out to the child, knowing him and helping him learn and evolve; something that digital technology can not supplant. Like any other place, here too we cannot assume a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Different children may respond differently to this technology.
E-books, online education and projects are all very welcome, provided the teacher is there to mentor and scaffold a child’s learning. Digital media - as a stand-alone mode of education is an impersonal and soul-less style of education for our children, even though its opportunists may say otherwise.
After all tele-factor and online friends that are ‘soul-connects’ for children don’t have souls, do they?
Today we focus on digital media and its repercussions on students. Educational CDs, online portals, computer games, the very popular PS3, specialised educational digital boards are all different avatars of digital media, that have become an integral part of a student’s life.
Gone are the days when getting to know the happenings in the school involved reading notes from the child’s School Diary or scheduling a meeting with the Class Teacher. Today, school portals have it all accessible for students and their parents within a few clicks, sitting in the comforts of their homes. The class lists, class schedules, events, competitions, breakthroughs, results, loads and loads of pictures- you name it and it is there. So schools are on an all-time communication high thanks to digital media. This at any rate does not seem to affect the student’s performance or level of interest in academics.
Specialised educational digital boards, on the other hand, are innovative teaching and learning tools. The blend of interesting visuals complemented with audio keeps students engaged. It facilitates the teacher to present otherwise mundane topics in interesting ways.
The amazing popularity received by ‘Hole in the Wall’ (where NIIT made breakthroughs in taking technology and education to the neglected strata of society) speaks volumes about the power of digital media.
The wow factor however takes a u-turn when we look at some other aspects of digital media. Take for example the PS3, Kinect or Nintendo games - that have half the current generation of children glued to them. Look at educational and interactive CDs that are marketed by the dozens to over indulgent parents for their ‘tech savvy’ children. The publishers of such ‘educational’ games and CDs have a limitless market. So they have enough reasons to smile.
The virtual world of social networking sites (with the likes of games like Farmville on Facebook) demands so much of a child’s attention that he forgets to connect with the real world outside. Infact, when did you last hear a child say – “The sky looks so beautiful today.” Or, “The rain feels so fragrant and cool.” At this rate, that day is not far when a cricket expert will mean someone who is an expert in digital cricket!
The proficiency of digital media is in fact gearing up to challenge the entire system of teaching.
At Inspire, we find this alarming - for the child, for the student, for the teacher and for the entire system of education. Imagine the epitome of a tech-savvy class for a four year old. A self sufficient specialised educational digital board backed by perfect audio, teaching the child a nursery rhyme; or perhaps the sound made by ‘b’. Sounds astonishing, but it is not very far into the future.
Teaching, however, is so much more than a pre-recorded flawless voice, attractive visuals and overload of information. For children in formative years, it is the compassion, affection and the human factor that brings the classroom to life. Teaching is reaching out to the child, knowing him and helping him learn and evolve; something that digital technology can not supplant. Like any other place, here too we cannot assume a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Different children may respond differently to this technology.
E-books, online education and projects are all very welcome, provided the teacher is there to mentor and scaffold a child’s learning. Digital media - as a stand-alone mode of education is an impersonal and soul-less style of education for our children, even though its opportunists may say otherwise.
After all tele-factor and online friends that are ‘soul-connects’ for children don’t have souls, do they?
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