How online education is leveraging AI to offer greater benefits?
Online education has managed to reform classrooms and teaching methods.
Artificial Intelligence has proven its role in various industries including manufacturing, healthcare and education. AI can bring unimaginable transformation.
Online education has managed to reform classrooms and teaching methods. Yet expecting to see true disruption of education. Artificial Intelligence has proven its role in various industries including manufacturing, healthcare and education. AI can bring unimaginable transformation.
The online education model simply paved over the older methods with
technology, utilizing AI with advanced algorithms, provide adaptive
learning. CiOL spoke to Diwakar Chittora, CEO & Founder, Intellipat
to understand the education sector and how AI is helping students to
gain most knowledge possible.
How AI adoption can change online education?
AI has automated the industry to a great extent, helping both
students and teachers in gaining the most out the immense opportunity,
all while democratizing education amongst all. While they focus the
learning outcome of the student, helping students gain the most
knowledge possible, for teachers, they provide an in-depth analysis on
how to improve their learning delivery and ways, thereby empowering
educators to maximize their skill set.
What are the key security hurdles for online education Industry?
Online education was initially, in dire needs of security awareness
because of the very nature of its structure. Being entirely online
encompasses the administration process, making it liable to sensitive
information. Now, with the addition of AI into the system, the security
gaps are being bridged and the framework is being bolstered with quality
protection.
Which online certification has higher interest? And its future scope?
In the current job scenario where the value of a candidate depends
upon an impactful CV, a relevant certification can add the much required
USP into a lifeless resume. In our endless interaction with students,
we have seen the trio of Data Science, Machine Learning and Artificial
Intelligent being the high points of interest.
Also cloud certifications such as AWS, DevOps, Azure and for
programming languages, Python are high in demand by both learners and
recruiting organization. This interest is not unfounded- Data Science,
along with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, has become
crucial, owing to its role in improving business and decision makings,
while providing the biggest edge over the competitors.
Predictions for online education industry
The whole market is improving year by year, with a CAGR increase of
approximately 10-15 % boost and an upcoming boost 15-20% to be seen.
Now, the present year will see a further rise in the demand of Data
scientists, in integral positions of the business framework.
Apart from being the leading software producer of the world, India
has risen to become the leading generator and provider of IT- empowered
engineers, who creating an impact on how the world conducts business.
All this, coming together will empower the system creating ripples in
the framework of education.
India’s edtech ecosystem, ruled by the likes of BYJU’s, UpGrad,
Simplilearn, Toppr, Vedantu, Great Learning, and Unacademy, has raised
millions of dollars in VC funding over the past five years. But it’s not
only Indian startups that are keen to take a bite out of the $215 billion education pie in the country;
international platforms are also eyeing a slice. In fact, Poland-based
startup Brainly has quietly been making waves over the past two years.
Brainly was founded by Michal Borkowski, Lukasz Haluch, and Tomasz
Kraus in Krakow in 2009. The startup has raised $38.5 million (the most
recent round being Series B) from seven investors, including Naspers (it
also funded India’s first edtech unicorn BYJU’s).
Catching up with YourStory in Bengaluru, Co-founder and CEO
Michal recollects that it was a different world when Brainly was
launched, with not many global edtech companies, and little investment
from VCs. The entrepreneur trio, however, was willing to risk it all.
Michal, who has a degree in corporate finance, recounts, “My parents,
who were small-scale entrepreneurs, encouraged me to take risks.
Their motto was: if you are facing a tough decision, fast
forward five years. Even if you fail, would you prefer to fail and
learn, or never to take the risk?â€
The decision to take the risk seems to have paid off. Brainly is now present in over 35 countries, with more than 150 million active users. It claims to be the world’s largest social learning community for students.
In India, Brainly has more than 15 million active users, the same as India’s first and only edtech unicorn BYJU’s.
Brainly says it has witnessed 200 percent annual growth since it
entered India in 2016, and claims to be the number one education website
in India in terms of number of visits it gets. Indian students who use
the platform comprise 42 percent secondary and 39 percent higher
secondary grade students. However, Brainly is not monetising in India
right now. Michal stresses,
“We are in the growth stage; we want to reach every student in the world, and India specifically. We are not focusing on profit; we are still working on our business model.â€
In Asia, Brainly is also present in Indonesia and Philippines, two
countries that Michal claims have great push for education and a
sizeable population to scale up.
How Brainly works
Brainly aims to help students with curriculum-related, specific questions,
unlike most edtech startups in India that focus on test preparations
and personalised learning programmes. Students connect to their peers to
help strengthen their skills, from mathematics and science to history
and more.
Michal reminisces that as a teenager, he found essays hard to write,
but was too embarrassed to ask for help. “It was frustrating for me. In
the online world, the process is much easier.â€
Lukasz Haluch, Co-founder of Brainly, is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor.
A question from a student of Class 10 can be answered by another 10th grader or a 12th grader. Michal
claims students all over the world have one common trait – they help
each other in doing homework and answering each other’s doubts.
“By engaging students into that collaboration online, we take every
question and answer, and store it in our knowledge base. So in a way, we
are extracting the smartness of every child who uses Brainly. We make
it accessible to everyone, no matter where they are or how much money
they have,†he adds.
To ensure the quality of interactions and accuracy of answers,
Brainly moderates all the content with their own algorithm. Users can
also rate the answers.
In addition, experts also review the knowledge base to check the
quality. If they are not satisfied with the quality of the answer, they
ask the person who gave that answer to improve it (with explanation). If
there is still no improvement, Brainly removes that answer from the
database, Michal says.
India’s push for education
India focuses greatly on education in general, which means the rise
of edtech companies is not surprising. Michal says Brainly has been
looking at the India market since 2014.
“The market is huge in India. People here are more willing to pay for
education compared to most other markets; the highest spends from
parents’ salaries often go into their children’s education. There is
huge pressure on students to succeed. Using Brainly expands their
knowledge and reduces frustration,†he points out.
In Brainly’s survey of more than 10,000 users in India (in January
2019), more than 50 percent students said their schools were not helping
them enough to prepare for their careers and the real world, and hence
they needed additional resources. They were striving to attain a deeper
understanding of subjects, and more than 40 percent respondents started
using Brainly to go beyond homework assignments. Around 12 percent
students claimed that they started using Brainly because their grades
were suffering and they needed additional support.
Brainly is a peer-to-peer platform where students can help each other online. (Image: Shutterstock)
Brainly had also asked what sources of information are referred to by
teachers – digital or offline. Apparently, digital is picking up now.
“Our users in Bangalore are using us almost every day. The most popular
subject among Indian users is maths,†Michal tells YourStory.
Plan for India
Brainly’s strategy is to build the student community and work on the
content to ensure best quality. But India poses many challenges. For
instance, internet penetration is still poor in some areas outside metro cities. Michal
says their engineering team, comprising 65 people, is constantly
working to ensure that their app runs well and fast even in areas
without 4G.
On the other hand, Michal claims Brainly had to spend little on
marketing in India. “We did some digital marketing to gain visibility
initially. But our growth is mostly organic. Students often refer us to
each other; sometimes they search for information online and then they
find us. The bigger the knowledge base gets, more people come in,†he
says.
Since schools in India do not follow one unified syllabus, Brainly
does not follow a specific curriculum. The company wants to have the
highest coverage of all school subjects.
In a multi-lingual society like India, regional language content is
essential for the penetration of online education platforms. (Image:
Shutterstock)
Venturing beyond English speakers
The majority of Brainly’s current user base in India is English
speaking. As part of their expansion plan in India, they have launched
in Hindi, and will soon launch in Bengali and Kannada.
Michal explains the strategy. “Giving content in local
language is central in education. We take into account the size of that
particular language-speaking community, popularity of the language, and
internet penetration in the region of those language users, so that we
can scale up.â€
But home tutoring is the norm among school children in India. Can
Brainly beat this competition with local language content? Michal says
that for offline interactions (like home tutoring), the cost is higher
since the student or the teacher needs to travel. “With tech, you can
create a knowledge base, and give access to students free of cost,†he
remarks.
Even though they make tutoring jobs obsolete, Michal feels that tech
platforms like Brainly improve the quality of education. He elaborates,
“Students routinely have to attend home tutoring after school, then do
homework for school, and study on their own for understanding the topic.
We make that learning more efficient by helping them understand topics
faster.â€
Michal hopes that one day “Brainly†will replace the word “Brainyâ€. “When a student is smart, he is a Brainly one!†he says.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 2:00 PM on Thursday, March 14th, 2019
SPONSOR:Â Betteru Education Corp. Connecting global leading educators to the mass population of India. BetterU Education has ability to reach 100 MILLION potential learners each week. Click here for more information.
BTRU: TSX-V
————————
Online platforms a step towards democratizing the education sector
Govt is urging colleges to offer online courses in rural India so that education reaches all
Online programmes are set to grow and we will see lots of innovation in the coming years
From ordering vegetables online to ordering classes online, we have
travelled a long way! The Internet of Things and digital transformations
have given us shocks as well as pleasant surprises. Like any other
industry, the wave of digital technology and improving bandwidths has
affected the education sector as well. Both the demand and the supply
side are witnessing an impact. Online education in
India has seen active growth over the last decade. The factors that
have led to this growth are better telecom and internet bandwidths
across India leading to growth in the usage of smartphones and hand-held
devices, advancement in video conferencing technologies, advent of
technology platforms for seamless transfers, and an ever-increasing need
for skill certification remotely and at the convenience of the student.
The consumer centricity that we have observed in conventional
product/service marketing is now being seen in education through online
programmes offered by reputed institutes in India. Online programmes can
be paid or free (famously known as MOOC, as in massive open online courses).
Online programmes can be live mode where faculty and students are
online at the same time. There are also recorded versions where the
participants can watch the class on the go at their convenience. Both
these types have their merits and demerits. The biggest factors
contributing to the growth of online programmes are its deep
penetration, convenience of learning infrastructure, skill upgradation need, and career break gaps.
The government is encouraging colleges to offer online courses in
rural India to ensure that education reaches all. Online programmes give
an opportunity to all to learn from institutes of repute. For
autonomous institutes, the deep penetration and reach of online
programmes is a step towards democratization of education and equal
opportunities for all, irrespective of their geographical location. The
other factor contributing to the growth is the convenience that online
courses offer to the participants where they can learn from any
hand-held device at their time and without leaving their jobs. This is
only getting easier with the improvement in bandwidths and penetration
of smartphones and mobile services. The third factor that has led to the
growth of online programmes is the element of constant change. Working
professionals enrol in niche and domain-specific online programmes to
upgrade their skills, learn new skills, or relearn conceptual areas of
work. The most interesting segment that has emerged over the last few
years is the segment of mostly women and some men who have taken career
breaks. These are women who have taken a maternity break and after a few
years want to get back to their professional life. For these people,
online programmes are a blessing and help them fill the gap created and
help them prepare for second term of their careers.
One more emerging segment is that of startups. Many startup owners’
sign up for online programmes as they lack certain skill sets and these
courses are an easy and effective way to learn and get certification.
As we grow in this space, institutes are reinventing and upgrading
online programmes in course content, delivery platforms, pedagogies, and
innovation. In programmes that I offer, there is a lot of usage of
videos, TED talks, in-class group exercise, and live discussions.
Online programmes are set to grow and we will see lots of innovation
in the coming years. The biggest factor pushing the growth is technology
infrastructure, cost, flexibility, and convenience. The advantage of
this growth will be in reach of education and specialized skills reaching everywhere. Online programmes are here to stay!
Falguni Vasavada-Oza is a professor at MICA, Ahmedabad.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 9:03 AM on Monday, March 4th, 2019
Announced partnership with Pearson, a digital learning company
To help working professionals update their skills and progress in their careers, Pearson India offers Pearson Professional Programs (PPP) in partnership with leading higher education institutions, faculty and content providers from around the world
OTTAWA, March 04, 2019 — betterU Education Corp. (the “Company†or “betterUâ€) is pleased to announce our partnership with Pearson, a digital learning company.
To help working professionals update their skills and progress in their careers, Pearson India offers Pearson Professional Programs (PPP) in
partnership with leading higher education institutions, faculty and
content providers from around the world. This partnership will allow betterU to offer the courses by Pearson Professional Programs, on the education-to-employment platform.
Pearson Professional Programs has partnered with leading educational
institutions, faculty and content providers like Columbia University,
London School of Business and others from around the world to help
working professionals update their skills and progress in their careers.
The blended executive education programs offered by PPP span a variety
of functions and industries, for participants of varying seniority
levels (top, senior and middle management). It offers courses that are
relevant to the current needs of evolving workplaces like Artificial
Intelligence, Machine Learning etc.
“Pearson shares betterU’s vision of helping learners’ upskill for the needs of tomorrow,†said, Sameer Vatsa, Country Head of India, betterU.
Commenting on the partnership Varun Dhamija, Vice-President, Pearson Professional Programs, Pearson India said, “In
today’s fast-paced business climate, it is important to develop the
right skills among professionals to become tomorrow’s business leaders.
We are delighted to partner with betterU to offer our cutting-edge
programs that will help professionals sharpen skills to meet business
and industry-specific needs.â€
betterU, a global education-to-employment platform, aims to provide access to quality education from around the world to foster growth and opportunity to those who want to better their lives. The company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an integrated education-to-employment ecosystem. betterU’s offerings can be categorized into several broad functions: to complement school programs with flexible KG-12 programs preparing children for next stage of education, to provide access to global educational opportunities from leading educators, to foster an exceptional educational environment by providing befitting skills that lead to a better career, to bridge the gap between one’s existing education and prospective job requirement by training them and lastly, to connect the end user to various job opportunities.
Pearson Professional Programs offer custom learning opportunities
that focus on blended and applied learning. The programs are
learner-centric, scalable, cost-effective and most important aligned
with learner’s career goals. These programs use different learning
formats (Live online, Classroom, Self-Paced eLearning, Coaching etc.)
which are carefully designed, based on specific learning gaps &
objectives, participant profile, and other critical pedagogical
considerations. Pearson partners with leading universities, faculty and
content providers from around the world to curate content that supports
organizations and individuals to address their diverse learning
needs. For more information, please visit http://pearson-professional.com/.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements and
information, which may involve risks and uncertainties. The results or
events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual
results or events. Factors that might cause a difference include, but
are not limited to, competitive developments, risks associated with
betterU’s growth, the state of the financial markets, regulatory risks
and other factors. There can be no assurance or guarantees that any
statements of forward-looking information contained in this release will
prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all
subsequent written and oral statements containing forward-looking
information are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the
dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this
notice. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, betterU
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future
events or otherwise. Readers should not place undue reliance on any
statements of forward-looking information that speak only as of the date
of this release. Further information on betterU’s public filings,
including their most recent audited consolidated financial statements,
are available at www.sedar.com.
On behalf of the Board of Director, betterU Education Corp. Brad Loiselle, CEO
These universities include the Indian Institutes of Technology in Kharagpur and Madras and the Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing in Kancheepuram.
Also involved are the National Institute of Technology in Silchar and the National Institute of Technology in Bhopal.
Their centres will offer courses related
to AI, for example, in deep learning foundations and applications,
reinforcement learning, probabilistic reasoning, predictive and
prescriptive data analytics, system identification, physical
cybersecurity, and digital image processing.
India’s acts and statutes that govern
these institutions allow them to freely collaborate with institutions
and universities across the world for academic and research.
In this year’s interim budget (2019-20),
the government allocated IN ₹93,848 crores (approximately US $13.15
billion) to the education sector, which is 3.3 percent of the total
budget expenditure.
Although there is no clear budgetary
allocation plan, a part of the finance will go toward implementing AI
courses in schools. The Minister of Corporate Affairs
said that the government plans for a National Programme on Artificial
Intelligence, which will be catalysed by the establishment of the
National Centre on Artificial Intelligence as a hub, along with other
Centres of Excellence (CoE).
He said nine priority areas have been identified. Also, a national AI portal will be developed soon.
The potential use cases include
augmenting and enhancing the learning experience through personalised
learning, automating and expediting administrative tasks, and predicting
the need for student intervention to reduce dropouts or recommend
vocational training.
It said that an effective education
sector can transform a country through the development of human
resources and increased productivity.
Particularly in the context of emerging
countries, the level of education and literacy of the population plays
an important role in its development and the overall transition to an
advanced economy.
In India, this is amplified because of
its large youth population. Estimates indicate that currently over half
the population of the country is below the age of 25. As the adoption of
digital means of gathering data increases, it is important that these
methods are effectively leveraged to deliver improved education and
teaching, the document said.
Albeit slowly, the rate of adoption of
technology in education is improving. It is estimated that schools
globally spent nearly U $160 billion on education technology, or
‘EdTech’, in 2016, and forecast spending to grow 17 percent annually
through 2020.
Private investment in educational
technology, broadly defined as the use of computers or other technology
to enhance teaching, grew 32 percent annually from 2011 through 2015,
rising to US $4.5 billion globally.
The document said that the adoption of
new technologies is still lacking, however, often attributed to the
unwillingness of teachers and students.
A recent survey found that the lack of
technology adoption in schools can be largely attributed to the absence
of teacher training.
While 83 percent of the teachers
surveyed use computers, it was primarily limited to audio and visual
display or student practice. Only about 41 percent use technology for
tracking student data and only 27 percent for participating in forums.
Another study found that trained
teachers are more likely to use technology in the classroom. 88 percent
of trained teachers reported making use of available computers as
compared to only 53 percent of untrained teachers.
It said that AI has the potential to
bring about changes in the sector by supplementing pedagogy and
establishing systems to inform and support decision making across
stakeholders and administrative levels. However, the implementation of
AI must be preceded by efforts to digitise records of teacher
performance, student performance, and curriculum.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:31 AM on Wednesday, January 30th, 2019
betterU is pleased to be joined most recently by some of the world’s most recognized educators such as:
Rosetta Stone, a global language learning leader with innovative digital solutions;
HubSpot Academy, the learning arm of HubSpot Inc. and global leader in inbound marketing and sales education;
FutureLearn, Europe’s largest online learning platform with partnerships with over a quarter of the world’s top universities;  and
Simplilearn, a world leader in accredited professional certification training in 150+ countries.
OTTAWA, Jan. 30, 2019 – betterU Education Corp. (the “Company” or “betterU”) is pleased to provide an update on the Company’s global partnership growth.
Over the last several years, betterU has been focused on the
development of the Company’s global business and operational pillars
required to build the foundation that support Education for All
through a single education-to-employment ecosystem. The scope of
betterU’s vision is to address global complexities facing education and
create a system that overcomes barriers such as exclusiveness, poverty,
gender inequality, affordability, conflict, caste systems, and
technology limitations while striving towards the goal of open access to
education in all its forms across entire nations. “We believe it is
only through strong partnerships and collaboration that the barriers to
education can be overcome. The quality and diverse education of many
creates an opportunity that no other platform will be able deliver. We
are proud to be partnering with so many organizations who share this
same belief,†said Kate O’Neil, Director of Partnerships at betterU.
Snapshot of betterU’s Model
betterU is pleased to be joined most recently by some of the world’s
most recognized educators such as: Rosetta Stone, a global language
learning leader with innovative digital solutions; HubSpot Academy, the
learning arm of HubSpot Inc. and global leader in inbound marketing and
sales education; FutureLearn, Europe’s largest online learning platform
with partnerships with over a quarter of the world’s top universities;
and Simplilearn, a world leader in accredited professional
certification training in 150+ countries.
By the end of 2016 betterU was able to offer just 235 courses through
our global partnerships, by 2017 close to 12,000, by 2018 close to
30,000 and today the company is closing in on nearly 52,000 courses
offered through our global partners. Over the years our partnership base
has grown to include many prestigious organizations such as: Acadgild,
Adobe, Aspiring Minds, Babbel, BSE Varsity, ByDegrees, Career Academy,
CareerCo, Carleton University, Global Academy, CoachTube, Digital Vidya,
Ed4Training, Ed4Career, Ed4Credit, EdCast, eduCBA, Eduonix, Edureka,
edX, Eliquo, Expert Rating, Finsafe, Fullbridge, FutureLearn, Genext,
GetcertGo, GlobalExam, GoSkills , Henry Harvin, Hope Research &
Practice Institute, HubSpot Academy, IACT Global, ICI Distance Learning,
ICICI Direct Center for Financial Learning, IELTS Online, ISEL Global,
Intern Theory, IL&FS (Englishbolo & Geneo), Imarticus,
Imurgence, Internshala, John Academy, LabInApp, LawSkills, Meritnation,
Open Colleges, Paddle, Playablo, Pluralsight, Pointsbuild, PTT, Rosetta
Stone, Simplilearn, Simpliv, SKILLDOM, Skillshare, Skillsoft, Sound
Basics, Stone River E-Learning, Swift Elearning, TCYonline, Technology
Ed, Topper Learning, Toppr, TrakInvest, Transneuron/iTrack, Udemy,
VuBiz, Wall Street Prep, Whizlabs, WIISE, Wintellect with many more in
the pipeline.
The distribution of content across betterU’s platform continues to
advance as their global team focuses on areas that are required to
support the learning spectrum.
To drive significant revenue opportunities for a business model such
as betterU, the Company has had to put in place a foundation that can
support mass education and solve for the significant barriers preventing
access. The only way to be able to successfully educate and skill mass
populations such as India, while meeting the individual learning needs,
is to have enough partnerships providing quality and diverse
educational content incorporated into one platform.
While betterU continues to pioneer and innovate, the company
recognizes that what is needed to move the needle are groups like World
Economic Forum and UNESCO, and a focus on UNESCO’s Sustainable
Development Goals, particularly SDG4. The perceived impossibility of
solving Education for All is starting to take shape as a real possibility through the Company’s efforts and continued partnership growth.
About betterU
betterU, a global education to employment platform, aims to provide
access to quality education from around the world to foster growth and
opportunity to those who want to better their lives. The company plans
to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and
enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an
integrated education-to-employment ecosystem. betterU’s offerings can be
categorized into several broad functions: to compliment school programs
with flexible KG-12 programs preparing children for next stage of
education, to provide access to global educational opportunities from
leading educators, to foster an exceptional educational environment by
providing befitting skills that lead to a better career, to bridge the
gap between one’s existing education and prospective job requirement by
training them and lastly, to connect the end user to various job
opportunities.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements and
information, which may involve risks and uncertainties. The results or
events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual
results or events. Factors that might cause a difference include, but
are not limited to, competitive developments, risks associated with
betterU’s growth, the state of the financial markets, regulatory risks
and other factors. There can be no assurance or guarantees that any
statements of forward-looking information contained in this release will
prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all
subsequent written and oral statements containing forward-looking
information are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the
dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this
notice. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, betterU
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future
events or otherwise. Readers should not place undue reliance on any
statements of forward-looking information that speak only as of the date
of this release. Further information on betterU’s public filings,
including their most recent audited consolidated financial statements,
are available at www.sedar.com.
Technology has transformed the learning landscape. What can we look forward to this year? Video-based learning, microlearning, and AI-driven chatbots that function as teachers’ assistants.
Change is the only constant! And when I look around, I can see the
pace. Thanks to smartphones and internet penetration, sometimes the
change is so rapid that we don’t even realise it. For instance, Netflix/
Amazon Prime has so quickly become a part of our everyday lives that
they have replaced the cable television for a lot of us.
Similarly, in the past few years, the learning landscape across the
globe has also undergone significant disruption on the back of
technological advancements. The growth and proliferation of
communication technology, bolstered by deeper penetration of internet
connectivity and smart devices, made digital learning a household name
in 2018.
And, as we work our way through January 2019, it makes sense to look
back at what worked in 2018 and what would be the guiding principles for
2019. One thing is for sure; online learning is here to stay and grow!
The year that was: digital learning trends in 2018
In 2018, educational institutions and organisations truly embraced
virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR) to boost learning outcomes
among students. While the technology is still in its nascent stage in
India, several leading AR/VR startups are creating inventive educational
products for schools, colleges, and corporations.
AR/VR has resulted in the development of collaborative online
learning. Virtual collaborative learning environments have enabled
learners to work together as a group in technology-based learning
systems and benefit from shared knowledge.
Gamification, or game-based learning, is another trend that gained
momentum in the past year. Through the immersive learning technique of
gamification, learning new skills has become an engaging and a fun
activity. Gamification, powered by artificial intelligence and machine
learning, has witnessed stellar developments, with its global market set
to grow from $1.65 billion in 2015 to $11.1 billion by 2020, at a CAGR
of 46.3 percent.
Adaptive learning was another big advancement in 2018, with learning
platforms realizing the potential of programmes that are customised as
per the needs and capabilities of specific learners. As digital learning
continues to gain traction and attract learners who wish to upskill
themselves independently, leading digital learning platforms have
uniquely personalised the process.
Looking ahead: what 2019 has in store for digital learning
Video-based learning has emerged as the most scalable learning method
since it truly democratises education by making it accessible to
everyone. And it’s not only the reach; video-based learning has proven
to be more effective with our changing cognitive abilities. According to
an article published by Psychology Today, the human brain
processes videos 60,000 times faster than text. The method of explaining
and demonstrating a topic through videos boosts retention as it appeals
to more than just the sense of sight. In fact, a study on millennials
concluded that over 75 percent millennials turned to YouTube and other
channels for “How to†and explainer videos on various concepts. Leading
online learning platforms are eyeing this opportunity and investing more
in the video-based learning segment.
The rise in video-based learning is leading to a newer concept called
microlearning wherein bite-sized videos with succinct information are
shown to learners. When learners are exposed to information in short
bursts repeatedly, they grasp concepts quicker, leading to amazing
learning outcomes. Microlearning, also conceivable in the form of short
quizzes, info-graphics, or audio clips, has huge potential and could
possibly transform the education sector in 2019 and beyond.
The learning landscape in 2019 is also set to be revolutionised by
AI-driven chatbots, who can perform tasks from guiding to motivating
learners, while they move forward on their upskilling journey. In fact,
this method of aiding learners through chatbots was successfully
implemented when the Georgia Institute of Technology used IBM’s Watson
AI to facilitate student support. For online learning platforms,
chatbots can become teachers’ assistants and answer routine queries put
up by learners.
According to a study by KPMG, the Indian online education industry
will touch $1.96 billion by 2021, with an increasing number of learners
finding online learning more convenient and in tune with their learning
pace. Extrapolating for the current scenario and future projections, it
is evident that the online learning industry is going ahead full
throttle, fueled by innovative technologies and eager learners.
(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are
those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of
YourStory.)
Sequoia India Led $40 Mn Series C Funding Round In Edtech Company Eruditus
Existing investor Bertelsmann India Investments also participated in the round
The funding will be used to increase its course offerings in technical subjects
It also plans to expand its multilingual offerings
Edtech company the Eruditus group
which runs Eruditus Executive Education and its online division Emeritus
has raised $40Mn (INR 281 Cr) in a Series C funding round which was led
by Sequoia India. The round also saw participation from existing
investor Bertelsmann India Investments.
The company will use this funding to
increase its course offerings in technical subjects such as data
science, machine learning, blockchain and cybersecurity. It also plans
to expand its language offerings to include Portuguese and Mandarin, in
addition to English and Spanish.
“We will use the proceeds of this
latest fundraise to create a more immersive and adaptive learning
platform, to expand our multilingual capabilities, and to ensure that
our omnichannel offerings are readily available to our students
on-the-go,†said Ashwin Damera, cofounder of Eruditus and director at
Emeritus.
Eruditus: Targeting A 10X Hike In Student Enrollment
Eruditus, founded in 2010 by Chaitanya Kalipatnapu and Ashwin Damera,
provides executive education programmes in association with global
business schools such as MIT, Columbia, Harvard Business School, INSEAD,
Tuck at Dartmouth, Wharton, UC Berkeley and London Business School.
These programs are held for six to eight months and can be available via on campus, off campus and online modes.
The company is looking to enroll 30K
students from more than 80 countries in the current financial year. It
also aims to increase its enrollment by more than 10 times within the
next five years across certificate courses and online degrees.
Eruditus had earlier raised $8.16 Mn (INR 57.4 Cr) in a Series B funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments in 2017. Earlier in July, it had raised $2.2 Mn (INR 16 Cr) in a debt financing round from Innoven Capital.
Edtech Funding In India
The edtech sector has been recently
gaining popularity among the investors. In 2017, edtech witnessed a 30%
hike in terms of investments with international funding touching a new record of $9.52 Bn (INR 67,010 Cr).
Last month, Hyderabad-based edtech startup Toppr has raised funding
of $35 Mn (INR 246.13 Cr) from Kaizen Private Equity and existing
investors SAIF Partners, Helion Ventures, Kaizen PE and Eight Roads
Ventures.
Edtech unicorn BYJU’S raised $540 Mn
(INR 3,800 Cr) in Series F funding from Canada Pension board’s
investment arm CPPIB Investment Board Private Holdings, Naspers Ventures
BV and General Atlantic Singapore TL Pvt Ltd, boosting its valuation to
$4 Bn (INR 28,155 Cr).
According to a report
by the India Didactics Association, the online education industry in
India is projected to grow almost eight times to hit $1.96 Bn (INR
13,795 Cr) by 2021. It also added that the number of paid users in the
segment is expected to grow six-fold to reach 9.6 Bn by 2021.
A report
by Google-KPMG said that reskilling and online certification courses
accounted for about 38% of the total online education market as of 2017.
3 Reasons Why India Will Be A Leader in the EdTech Industry in the 21st Century
According to a joint report by KPMG and Google, the online education industry is expected to grow at a healthy rate of 8 times to become a $1.96B industry by 2021
Five categories of education in India have been cited as the ones with great potential for considerable online adoption
According to a joint report
by KPMG and Google, the online education industry is expected to grow
at a healthy rate of 8 times to become a $1.96B industry by 2021. Five
categories of education in India have been cited as the ones with great
potential for considerable online adoption. These include primary and
secondary supplemental education, test preparation, reskilling and
online certification, higher education, and language and casual
learning.
The important question here is – what’s driving the considerable
growth of education technology in India? Well, the following are the 3
key reasons why India will be a leader in EdTech in the 21st century:
E-learning Boost via the Digital India Initiative
With an aim to transform the country into a digitally empowered
society, the Indian government launched The Digital India Initiative.
This was a huge move that had a substantial impact on the country’s
technology industry, bringing a wave of revolution in every aspect. The education sector is one of the sectors that are benefiting from this initiative.
To boost e-education, all schools and universities are set to be
connected with broadband and free Wi-Fi. Also to be put in place is a
Digital Literacy Program, as well as the development of pilot Massive
Online Open Courses. Once the goals of the Digital India Initiative are
realized, India will certainly be ahead in the EdTech game.
Vast User Base of Mobile Device Use
There are more than 850 million mobile phone subscribers in India.
According to a report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India
(IAMAI), mobile internet is largely used by youngsters. With an increase
rate of over 10M users a month, there’s no doubt that mobile devices
are the classrooms of tomorrow. Current user base for e-learning
predominantly consists of school students and working professionals.
Not only are Indians realizing the potential for mobile learning, but
major technology and publishing companies are also increasingly
becoming aware of the potential of the education services delivered
through mobile services. So, it’s only a matter of time and there will
be a gold rush into the Indian mobile education market that will put the
country at the top as far as EdTech is concerned.
Low Cost Alternative to Offline Learning
Even though the average tuition for online courses varies from one
program to another, it’s clear like night and day that online courses
are much cheaper compared to the ones offered in classroom settings.
Online skill enhancement courses are estimated to be about 53% cheaper
compared to offline alternatives. Larger student base and lower
infrastructure cost help leverage on the economies of scale, thus the
reduced costs via the online channel.
It’s apparent that the EdTech industry in India is one of the
blooming sectors with a lot to offer to stakeholders. There’s no doubt
that edtech will undergo an evolution and set the stage for the
momentous growth that will be witnessed in the forthcoming years not
just in India, but all around the world.
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Google and KPMG estimates India’s online education industry to grow eight-fold to reach $1.96 billion by 2021
Growing EdTech Market in India: Key Catalyst
India is witnessing demographic dividends, implying more and more
people, students and professionals alike are undertaking smart courses
in order to improve knowledge base to gain a competitive edge in their
careers.
This phenomenon has convinced analysts of the immense growth prospects of the burgeoning EdTech industry in India.
Reducing internet costs and increasing internet penetration in the
country are other notable factors favoring the growth prospects of
EdTech industry.
In fact, a research report
from Google and KPMG estimates India’s online education industry to
grow eight-fold to reach $1.96 billion by 2021. Further, the study
projects paid users in EdTech to grow six times from 1.6 million in 2016
to 9.6 million in 2021.
MicrosoftMSFT has introduced Surface Go tablet in India exclusively through Bengaluru, India-based e-commerce company, Flipkart. Recently, the company commenced shipping of the device, with prices ranging from INR 38,599 to INR 50,999.
The different variants of the new tablet series come with storage
capacity of 64 GB and 128 GB, with 4 GB and 8 GB RAM, respectively.
Notably, Surface Go was introduced by Microsoft in a bid to explore
the low-priced tablet market to take on Apple’s budget iPads, and
Alphabet’s lower-priced Chromebook.
The company had unveiled Surface Go device around Jul 10, 2018 which
was made available in early August, with prices ranging from $399 to
$549 in the United States.
We believe that availability of Surface Go in India will position the
company well to capitalize on the emerging EdTech market. Furthermore,
the enhanced security and performance features hold promise in the
growing enterprise market in the country.
Microsoft is likely to benefit from the competitive pricing of its
Surface Go device. The latest Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 with 64 GB capacity
is priced approximately at INR 57,900.
In the words of Country General Manager, Consumer & Devices at
Microsoft India, Priyadarshi Mohapatra, “Globally and in India, it’s
encouraging to see the rapidly growing Surface community in both
consumer and enterprise.”
Enhanced Security & Performance Features Hold Key
The compact Surface Go features a 10-inch screen and weighs 522 grams
(or 1.15 pounds), lighter than its prevailing Surface counterparts.
Further, the latest series is equipped with Intel’s INTC processor and graphic chips.
Additionally, the device has a decent nine hour battery life and canfunction with optional keyboard, mouse and Surface Pen 2.
Surface Go’s Windows Hello facial recognition option feature for logging-in and Windows 10 S mode, makes it a compelling option.
In a bid to enhance security and performance, users can utilize Microsoft Store appsincluding Microsoft Edge to browse safely.
Enterprises may avail Windows 10 Proto safeguard business
infrastructure with robust security features. Windows Autopilot enables
users to configure Surface Go from the cloud, in turn simplifying the IT
processes a great deal.
Growing EdTech Market in India: Key Catalyst
India is witnessing demographic dividends, implying more and more
people, students and professionals alike are undertaking smart courses
in order to improve knowledge base to gain a competitive edge in their
careers. This phenomenon has convinced analysts of the immense growth
prospects of the burgeoning EdTech industry in India.
Reducing internet costs and increasing internet penetration in the
country are other notable factors favoring the growth prospects of
EdTech industry.
In fact, a research report from Google and KPMG estimates India’s
online education industry to grow eight-fold to reach $1.96 billion by
2021. Further, the study projects paid users in EdTech to grow six times
from 1.6 million in 2016 to 9.6 million in 2021.
Enemy’s Enemy an Ally?
One important point to note in this latest development is that
Microsoft selected Flipkart’s e-commerce platform to launch Surface Go
in India. Notably, Amazon AMZN and Flipkart are the two major players in Indian e-commerce market. Additionally, Walmart WMTacquired a 77% stake in Flipkart.
Microsoft Azure directly competes with Amazon’s cloud platform Amazon
Web Services (“AWS”) in the cloud market. Walmart which competes with
Amazon in the retail and e-commerce market has selected Azure cloud platform.
When we join the loose ends, it makes sense to say that “my enemy’s enemy is my friend.”
Our Take
Microsoft is well poised to benefit from robust adoption of Surface
Go on the back of improving EdTech and enterprise scenario in India.
We believe the availability of Surface Go will aid the company in
bolstering competitive strength in the direct consumer market, primarily
in EdTech market in India.
Notably, Surface revenues increased 14% (same at cc) in first-quarter
fiscal 2019 on a year-over-year basis on the back of strong performance
of the latest editions – Surface Book 2 and Surface Go.
Moreover, Microsoft Surface series of devices have registered
considerable double-digit growth in India in this year, as per
Priyadarshi Mohapatra’s statement to IANS. The incremental sales from
India will eventually benefit the top line.
