Learning Centric Education: Digital Opportunity

There is a fierce debate about the need and impact of digital classes, specifically on children. Due to the unique conditions of a never before medical emergency, all educational activities are reduced to long distance digital media. All the universities, colleges & even schools have started online classes. Many of the primary schools are also conducting daily online classes for almost 3-5 hours. Some have charged heavily for the specific software or app. This and the extent of digital exposure the child should be permitted to have is rightly the point of debate. The digital media as part of educational tools is growing on the sidelines for more than 3 decades. But the complementary role is suddenly threatening to become The primary mode of education. This has created a lot of insecurity, confusion and corporate competition in the concerned sectors.

 

This is an opportunity to look within and think more deeply about the real process of education. Is it teaching or learning or a combination of both? Education is defined as “Manifestation of Perfection already within” by Swami Vivekananda. He made it very clear when he added, “It is not the amount of information injected. The process is from within not the reverse. All knowledge is within you, education only helps in manifestation.” Even etymologically Education means to bring out. “The word education is derived from the Latin word ‘educare’ which means to bring up. Another Latin word 'educere’ means to bring forth. ... They say 'e' means out of and ‘duco’ means to lead i.e. to educate means to lead forth or 'to extract out’ the best in man”. (http://studylecturenotes.com/etymological-meaning-of-education/)

 

 

If we accept these definitions of education, then the whole process needs to be transformed. The present information-based education system is from without to within. It is completely teaching centric. Instructions method is used. All the educational methodologies are referred as teaching techniques. Even the department of education in a university is called Teachers’ Education. The whole aim of studying education has become producing teachers. But can anyone really manifest, lead forth or bring out the best in other by injecting lot of undigested information? Teaching syllabus is considered whole of education. Hence even the digital resources are teaching tools. This is basically against the nature of the medium. Digital media is completely personal, democratic and choice based. That’s why the technology platforms that facilitate digital or online education are called LMS - learning Management Systems. This mode is essentially learning centric. The onus of manifestation of inner knowledge, bringing out the best is on the student. This is much needed paradigm shift from the present teaching centric pedagogy.

 

Learning is the only method of knowledge realisation. Teaching is impossible. No one can teach anyone but oneself. In Sanskrit, there is no word for teacher that means one who teaches. Shikshak is not found in any text. Acharya – who is an ideal and model for the students to follow, they learn from his acharana (character); Adhyapak – one who guides adhyayana (learning) or Upadhyaya – one who helps in learning, are mostly used. Upadesh is a phrase in Sanskrit which approximately means teaching. One of the tasks of the Guru is to give Upadesh. But mostly these instructions are given at the end of educational process. The valedictory address in Taittiriya Upanishad is a series of teachings to be followed by him in his future life as a householder. The teachings are about life and not any domain or subject he has learnt in the Gurukula. Instructions are for application of knowledge and not for realising it. Process of learning comprising of various methods is explained earlier in the texts in details. The role of the guide is choosing the right method for the disciple according to his qualifications, inclination and capabilities. He is helped to follow the most natural and easiest path. But the toil, experimentation and rigour has to be undergone by the student. To follow the discipline is the responsibility of the learner. Thus the name ‘disciple’ – one who follows discipline. Ekalavya is not the only example of self-learning. His conditions accentuate the importance of Shraddha in self learning. But all the other disciples residing in Ashrama or day scholars or home tuition mode in case of Pandava and Kauravas were to undergo the same rigorous process of Tapa – self learning, whether in the actual presence of a living guide or witnessed by his statue. The process was similar. There is another example of Satyakam Jabala who was asked by the Guru to take 100 cows to the forest and return only after they are multiplied ten times to save him from the embarrassment of not knowing his father. His burning desire to learn converted the situation into a blessing and he learnt from the nature. All knowledge is within. Process of learning is the process of realising this knowledge.

 

Even in present system, a good teacher is one who does not ‘teach’, but makes students learn. Hence, the whole education system needs to be rebooted to make it complete learning centric. This is different from child centric or learner centric. That is not proper. Center of the educational activities should be Guide (Teacher) and orientation must be student’s centric and processes must be learning centric. Then only education will be effective and fruitful. Role of ‘Teacher’ is very important in the process of learning. Without a proper guide, the self-learning process can be a confusing maze in which the learner may get lost. The guide has to point out the steps, chronology and methodology. But ultimately, the student has to walk on the guided path.

 

The digital learning platforms and content available today is mostly replica of the teaching model followed by the institutions. Virtual classroom is mostly audio-visual recordings of the actual classroom. This needs a complete change of outlook. A learner centric approach will help develop a more diverse and creative content which will give choice to the learner to determine the pace and level of learning. Digitally it is easier. As said earlier, the media itself is democratic and not centrally governed. Only need is that the regulators allow this freedom. Use of technology is a must. COVID 19 has presented an opportunity to adopt technology and at the same time, achieve the much-needed paradigm shift in our education.

 

The author is National Organising Secretary at Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal

mukul@bsmbharat.org