Impact of Digital disruption on Education sector

As Charles Darwin once said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change”.

The commercial industry is radically changed by the application of digital technologies like the Internet of Things, Big Data, Analytics, Blockchain, Microservices, and Cloud. Digital disruption means that companies can no longer be complacent. They can either seize the opportunity - like game-changers Netflix or Instagram - or see their business disappear - like Kodak or Blockbuster.

The education sector, capitalizing on innovative platforms and solutions that keep streaming into the market, is catching up on this disruption.

Today Universities are facing various challenges:

·      Heightened expectations from students – unrestricted 24 hours access to information

·      Anytime, anyplace, anywhere learning access on smartphones, tablets

·      Real-time performance assessments

·      Increase in students dropping out after the first year

As we as consumers are demanding more digital and personalized experience from service providers, students are demanding advancements in technology in campus and classrooms.  These millennials spend more than 24 hours, yes almost, in a day on their smartphones.

Today with digital, distant learning platforms have changed. Virtual learning environments have surfaced. Massive online open courses (MOOCs) are allowing students to take the courses as they want and at their pace.

Over the last decade, eLearning had picked up very much. However, it could not deliver the hands-on experience, which is now possible with VR technology. Technicians can actually learn real-life examples and do their bit to solve the problems on the shop floor. Medical students can actually perform surgeries allowing them to make mistakes without any impact on actual patients.

Khan Academy, Lynda.com, Udemy, Coursera are doing well in distant learning.

No longer, do students necessarily have to be in the classroom; instead, they can watch video streams of lectures whenever and wherever they happen to be. The platforms enable them to interact with other students and instructors, download extra materials, and upload completed assignments, and more. By recording the lecturer he or she does not have to redeliver that talk and his or her time can be better used doing something else.

Big Data Analytics will play a big role in education by analyzing data from attendance, grades, test scores, and social connections and use it for further insights. With online assessments now, schools and colleges can understand how students have learned throughout the semester than at the end of the exam.

The education sector has to be responsive to this digital disruption. Digital technologies will empower students to learn in their own way - investigating and solving real-world problems, rather than ingesting and rehearsing the same material.