The Rise Of Non-Academic Ed-Tech Platforms In India
Since the pandemic last year, education has shifted almost entirely online and is likely to stay that way in the near future. While many look forward to the in-person interactions, online education has opened up new vistas for youngsters looking to build their careers or mid-level professionals looking to make a change
Traditionally, college education followed a few specific routes. One studied the sciences, the arts or commerce and pursued a well-defined career path subsequently. There was little scope for hybrid education paths or for pursuing something vocational, such as acting or social work. Moreover, careers in the creative arts have long been discouraged in Indian society because of assumptions regarding the lack of lucrative opportunities as well as peer pressure to do something ‘respectable’ like medicine or engineering. As a result, young people who harboured dreams of being different were forced to put them aside or to keep as a weekend hobby.
Over the last few years, however, things have been changing. With the rise of edtech platforms and the ubiquity of smartphones and the internet, people can access tutorials and video courses on just about any topic. Creative practitioners, who earlier had no medium to share their expertise, have started creating online courses where they delve into music, dance, writing, painting, comedy, fashion design and other topics. Anyone anywhere in the country can simply log in to the platform and watch the courses as and when they please. Moreover, these courses tend to focus not only on the technical side of an art form but also on how to build a sellable portfolio and market oneself. Students thus know where to take their creative skills so that they need not struggle aimlessly to find opportunities. This also helps to combat parental resistance when it comes to non-traditional careers, as parents are more likely to accept what their children are doing if they see that their children have a clear plan of action.
Today, edtech platforms are designed to cater to courses of any length and on any subject. From full-scale degrees to quick tutorials, the platform can support them all. This is a boon for universities that have been forced to pause in-person classes as well as individual practitioners with a zeal to share but limited resources. Anyone can create an account on these platforms and upload course content of their choice after due verification. Thus, an expert on basket-weaving located in a remote part of India can now reach students from all over the country just as easily as a college professor in a big city. Moreover, these platforms are designed with both the student and the teacher in mind, with plenty of scope to share quizzes, hint boxes, summary paragraphs, downloadable resources and full-fledged assignments. Students looking for a structured introduction to their preferred subject, therefore, will not be disappointed.
Another important contribution that these edtech platforms have made is creating a sense of relatability. Many of today’s creative experts, particularly celebrities, were viewed as unapproachable and impossible to take guidance from. With online classes, students can see these experts as people like themselves, sharing not only craft-related tips but also personal wisdom and experiences. When Ruskin Bond talks about his stories getting rejected from magazines, for instance, it speaks directly to the young writer who is herself struggling to get published and who may have viewed Ruskin Bond as invincible. The experts too can feel a sense of community with their fans and admirers, something that has suffered greatly since the lockdown took away most physical interactions. As we brave out the months until the pandemic comes under control, keeping our minds healthy through learning and sharing is essential for both apprentice and practitioner.
Going forward, we can expect to see more young people moving away from mainstream career options and following their passion, bolstered by the many online learning options that they now have. Creative arts, long the domain of only a lucky few, have become democratised through edtech platforms that provide a welcoming space for all kinds of expertise. Dreams, therefore, need no longer be shelved - with the right support from online instructors, anyone at any age can be what they want to be.
The author is Vipul Agrawal, Co- Founder, Unluclass
