MAM
GUEST COLUMN: The future of ed-tech in India
Mumbai: Ed-tech is a trending buzzword today. It is simply a combination of education and technology, implying the augmenting of education using technology and digital tools. The canvas of Ed-tech is extremely vast and transcends learning across ages, grades, vocations, and skill enhancement.
I would like to specifically focus on the impetus Ed-tech is bringing into India for children in their formative, school-going years.
India has over 264 million school-going children, more than any other country in the world. We also have ~15.5 lakh schools in India. While digitisation was slowly seeping into our lives and how we do things, be it online vocation or coding classes; education delivery was largely traditional through the brick and mortar classroom format. However, the pandemic has led to sudden acceleration and even disruption in the way technology is integrated into education and leveraged to bring best-in-class learning direct to home!
The ecosystem is well poised to accept ed-tech. Today, 80 per cent of the school-going children are aware of ed-tech and there are over 500 million active internet users expected by 2022 (up from 350m in 2019) (Source: BLinC Insights 2021). The National Education Policy announced in 2020 acknowledges the importance of online interventions and outcome-based learning. By 2022, online education offerings across grades 1 to 12 are projected to increase 6.4 times. (Source: Omidyar Reedseer Report, 2019-20)
The benefits are multi-fold with students getting access to best-in-class academia, supplementary support, skill-building, application-based learning, and more sans boundaries. Educators will get their due with an opportunity to transcend geographical horizons, surpass barriers of formal structures and impart learning for the outcome. A few exciting things we can look forward to in the future are:
More Application, Less Instruction
While LIVE, online classes are a fantastic platform and will continue to unite educators and students alike, we will also see the application and outcome-based learning gaining traction. We are seeing a lot of game technology used for better engagement. These will be further used for core learning and even supplementing academics. For example, at BrainGymJr, we provide puzzles and challenges based on Math, English, and real-world skills in fun formats such as crosswords, digit cards, etc. Children can solve and learn the real application of what is being taught in school.
One Size will not fit All
We already know that every student in a given class has a varying level of proficiency. While we reward better performance and celebrate achievers, we have limited capacity to tailor learning based on proficiency and aptitude. However, technology can enable extremely detailed insight into the core proficiency of every child. Application of analytics and enabling machine learning will further help customise to the strength of every child and nudge them from there. AI and big data will help empower students to develop their competencies, critical thinking, and creative abilities.
Learning on the Go!
We will see more self-initiated and self-learning formats gaining precedence. These formats will provide flexibility of space and time while giving clear results on learning. This could be in the form of activities, puzzles, short courses, daily quizzes, video-based learning, and more. Over time, these will be acceptable outcome-based learning modules with due credit and consideration breaking away from scheduled or structured learning courses.
In summary, information will not be king, the intent to learn will rule. A couple of decades ago, Google brought about a huge change in how we perceive information and knowledge, with everything available at a click of a button. We now see this permeating education and learning. We already have and will continue to have an abundance of learning courses, material, and information. Peer-to-peer exchange of information will be encouraged and even facilitated. Educators and students will be seamlessly connected.
Ed-tech will evolve further wherein the value addition brought about by customised learning, analytics-based insights, deep engagement, and outcome-based programs will be what differentiates the learning experience for every student.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn” – Benjamin Franklin.
(Vidur Garg is the founder at BraingymJr. The views expressed in the column are personal and Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to them.)
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
