Internet in 2025: Educational institutes may move from bricks to clicks

The changes in the Internet technology will lead to a revolution in the education system and will change the role of teachers by 2025, said speakers at a session, ‘Internet in 2025’, at the Indian Science Congress on Monday.

The changes in the Internet technology will lead to a revolution in the education system and will change the role of teachers by 2025, said speakers at a session, ‘Internet in 2025’, at the Indian Science Congress on Monday.

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Ashok Kolasker, former advisor, National Knowledge Commission, said there is an exponential growth in knowledge. “The fundamental structure of textbooks has not changed since the 17th century and the question we need to ask is whether we will move from bricks to clicks approach. Though sweeping changes have taken place, our universities have remained largely stagnated,” Kolaskar said.

He said experts are aspiring for a gross enrollment ratio of 30% from the current 19% by 2025, for which we will have to increase our capacity. “The best way to handle the increase in enrollment will be distance learning.”

Bijendra Jain, vice-chancellor of BITS-Pilani and one of the speakers at the session, said e-attendance could be a reality and is largely achievable. “Using automated attendance will digitise the entire process,” he said.

Jain said with time, Internet would achieve greater reach in developing and developed countries with wireless access beyond 3G, 4G or LTE. He also pointed out that education should be hybridised, which means it should be made available in both online and offline forms.

Other speakers at the session were Bharat Bhaskar from IIM Lucknow and Stephen Wolff, one of the fathers of the Internet.