Journal of Global Resources
Volume 6 (01a)https://doi.org/10.46587/JGR.2020.v06si01.010

Special Issue June 2020
Page 73-78
ISSN: 2455-2445 (Online)

10A PATHWAY OF DIGITAL LEARNING IN CHANGING PARADIGM:THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19
Prashant Kumar
Assistant Professor (Business Administration). Government Lohia College, Churu (Raj.) India
Email: pkumar26r@gmail.com
Abstract: The COVID-19 virus has trapped the entire world under the lockdown situation. The
impact of this global pandemic on education is very crucial. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered
the teaching calendar and teaching-learning assignments. The Ministry of Human Resource
Development, Government of India is closely monitoring the COVID-19 effects on education andassessing future workforce requirements. This write-up reveals many dimensions of Digital
Learning in respect of changing paradigm of education due to COVID-19. This paper is based on
secondary sources supported by various Indian Government organizations. The main objective of
this paper is to create digital awareness among students, parents and academic fraternity about
digital pedagogy, pedagogical innovations and digital initiatives by the Ministry of Human Resource
Development (MHRD). Everyone can be benefitted from this paper by acquiring the necessary
information about digital educational practices in India.
Key words: COVID-19, Learning Management System (LMS), Pedagogical Innovations.
Introduction
Today, India is on a war footing and heading towards socio-economic crisis as well as education
reforms due to COVID 19. This has brought new challenges and new opportunities for the entire
world. As we all know that India has made significant socio-economic growth in the last few years.
In this regime, we need high quality and techno-friendly human resources for sustainableeducation experience and environment. Unfortunately, the existing traditional education system is
not much able to face the challenges in this COVID-19 context. The aim of this paper is to analyze
the relevance of pedagogical innovations and e-learning strategies in today's context. The major
focus is on quality education and adequate recognition. In this regime, India has no choice except
to compete and perform in a globalized economy. To play a constructive role in creating an
educational environment and knowledge-based society, we have online educational platforms. The
online or ICT based education will encourage the teachers as well as students of educational
institutions to adopt innovative virtual classroom teaching methods (P Jah, 2005). This will boost
teachers to exchange their knowledge and innovation in learning with their colleagues within andoutside the institution. ''A teacher had commitment and involvement to work for the cause ofuniversalization of education and imparting quality education, nothing could be turned substantially.
Any scheme that is adopted must be concretized. It would do well if every teacher takes a vow todo his might to make educational schemes envisaged by the effort of India, a successful one.''Objectives
The CORONA driven forces due to COVID-19 have presented immense challenges in front of us.
This paper will focus on the following issues:

Identifying and analyzing the significance of online education.
Analysing the dynamics of education and formulating new designs.
Promoting connection among academicians, students, professionals.
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Understanding students’ response to educational innovative reforms.
Inculcating values in this hazardous time.
Developing and encouraging the advanced pedagogical innovations.

Methodology
The nature of this paper is descriptive and it is based on various reports, policy papers,handbooks, journals, e-books of MHRD, Government of India, UGC, AICTE and other eminent
institutions of India. The analysis in this paper is presented through the information available on
various websites of educational institutions under MHRD, Government of India. It is hoped thatstakeholders concerned would find the consolidated paper useful in this pandemic situation.
Pedagogical Innovations
Pedagogical innovation is a new way of teaching contrasting with traditional teaching methods. It isconcerned with new and unique ideas. In this regard, Digital pedagogy enhances learning
opportunity for authentic assessment. The following examples of pedagogical innovations will
provide a better understanding:
Examples:(a) Tablets, laptops and mobile devices in form of e-books, e-contents(b) Flipped Classrooms- SWAYAM, Learning Management System-LMS, Moodle and Blackboard(c) Personal Learning Network- Twitter, Blogging and other Social Media platforms(d) Smart Class RoomThe following collaborative and communicative tools are being used in the shape of pedagogicalinnovations:*SKYPE- www.skype.com*G-suite (Google Drive, Google Forms, Google Maps, Hangouts)*Discussion Forum, Poll Everywhere, Podcasting and Webcasting, PADLET, WIKIS
E- Learning
India has great potential to empower and transform itself into a globalised knowledge economy. In
this regime a large pool of educational fraternity should further open knowledge space for Indian
citizens. We are living in information- knowledge driven world, expecting a new set of skills. Theterm E-learning is technology based tool to facilitate learning environment which covers (a)Computer Based Learning (b) Web Based Learning (c) Virtual Classroom (d) Digital Collaboration.
E-learning provides interactive learning experience, access to online tutors. The participants canbe trained to develop an ability to discuss the matter with others. Teacher educator uses manyfeatures like; interaction in between the pupil teacher, text messages and emails from learning
management system. In Web based system, teacher educator provides online assignment, accesswith classroom sessions, performance management and live lectures. Online assignments offered
by a teacher educator with authenticate personal interface provides collaborative learning (Saluja,2007). Learner can download, complete and submit the assignments online. The system tracks
every assignment and progress of individual learner. Application of E technologies in the area ofeducation provides global knowledge society and life long learning. India is one of the affected
countries with CORONA disease. To safeguard the present and future generations there is astrong need to develop online education system. Teachers should extend the supportive system tothe student community in the form of information, positive attitude and development of technicaladvancement for sustainable development. At present, the time has come to bring education
directly at home. In this regime, E learning is necessary to this goal. E learning is very important as
the nation faces the challenge of big disaster and to provide education to millions of learners. In thewords of Peter Drucker “Online education is creating a new and distinct educational realm. There is74

a global market that is potentially worth hundreds of billion of dollars." Today, there have beensignificant attempts in this direction by UGC, MHRD, DST and CSIR.
Video Program of IGNOUThe Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is providing online educational resources
through e- gyankosh, GYAN DARSHAN, an exclusive educational TV channel funded by Ministryof Human Resource Development (MHRD). Live educational programmes are available on
www.ignouonline.ac.in . India has a vast opportunity in this direction. Open learning resources areplaying prominent role in this regard. E learning is gaining popularity in academic and training
world for providing learner centric and quality education with inexpensive solutions. Teachers mustcare about the process and must be willing to devote time to explore new horizons. In other words,
they must think how a particular strategy is useful.
MoodleMoodle is an Online Learning Management System covering educators to make their self website
having courses. It gives specific features like course homepage, discussion forums, and content
sharing avenues. It gives a single robust, secure and integrated system for personalized andblended learning.It facilitates teaching learning process in shape of online teaching materials.
M-Learning
The use of mobile technology in education can be defined as "mobile education" or "Meducation".M- education provides opportunity to deliver educational materials efficiently in learnereducator interaction. Educational contents can be provided to students through mobile technology.
Students can interact with peers and educators in real time. Mobile education gives flexibility tostudent when the need arises, no matter where they are. It provides anytime and anywhere andanybody learning or education (Karan, 2003). Major applications of mobile phones like message
service (SMS-Text and Picture Messages), Organiser-Diary and Alarm, Calculator, currency
converter, temperature converter has great educational importance in practical sessions. Similarly
Radio, Video, TV, Voice Call, Print avenues of mobile phones can be utilised in teaching learning
process. Nowadays, the news papers are coming in e-paper under print media. Many facilities areavailable like Browsing, downloading, GPRS, sending and receiving emails, blogging, shareware,freeware through internet. Besides, stock market information, astrology, travel, entertainment,
sports, finance and results can be accessed. Through mobile teaching, we can prepare thestudents for the real world.
Lead and Rebuild India through ICT
In the words of Padamshree Vijay P. Bhatkar " A new paradigm in education is emerging. Thisparadigm will have transformational impact on our Universities. This century belongs to ICT andour young generation is going to build India as number one nation of the world." In 1980, Vikram
Sarabhai provided the Satellite Institutional Television Experiment and launched Televisionoriented education to Indian farmers. Today, it is a time of Education -To-Home through ICT. India
has performed well in ICT and now the challenge is to use this digital technology for enhancing andsustaning our traditional education system. It is necessary that not only government but all of us
should recognise the growing demand of online education. Furthermore, several problems are
faced by the teacher's and learners in the use of ICT like content quality, connectivity issues andlack of stuctured learning environment. But, we can't stop learning. Our planning and execution
should be according to practical aspects. In this regime, India has huge opportunity in online
education.(University News, October,2007)
Digital/ICT Initiatives in India
With this COVID-19 crisis, educational institutions have suspended campus learning. In the wakeof institute lockdown because of COVID-19 outbreak, many educational institutes have shifted to75

online mode for ensuring quality education in the country. In India, there are many ICT initiatives ofMHRD, UGC, Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) and Consortium for Educational
Communication (CEC) in the shape of online digital platforms. The following collaborative learning
platforms are presented in such a manner:
SWAYAM
SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Aspiring Minds) is an online education platformhaving online courses in school education (28 course modules in 12 subject areas Developed byNCERT), graduation and post graduation to be used by anyone, anywhere and anytime. Allcourses are prepared by academic fraternity of India and are available free of cost to any learner.
The courses available on SWAYAM provides: (1) Video Lectures (2) Reading material (3) Self
Assesment Test (4) Discussion Forum.
SWAYAM PRABHA
For acquiring new skills at home, SWAYAM PRABHA provides 32 channels telecasting quality
school and higher education contents 24×7. Through channel 'Kishore Manch' students can haveaccess of e contents approved by NCERT on a 24×7 for classes of X-XII in various subjects.Itprovides high quality curriculum based e-contents in various disciplines such as arts, science,commerce, humanities and social sciences, agriculture, medicine, law and engineering.
e-PG Pathshala
It is funded under NME-ICT and being executed through University Grants Commission. It is aneasily accessible online gateway to all post graduate courses. It covers high quality; curriculum
based e-content modules (Text and Video) in Post Graduate disciplines of social sciences, arts,
fine arts, humanities, natural and mathematical sciences.
UG and PG MOOC
It is a vertical of SWAYAM and a source of good quality learning material of the SWAYAM (Nontechnical) archived courses.
DIKSHAThe DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) is a digital platform having learningmaterial of school education for teachers, students and parents.
NPTEL
The NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) provides online learning inscience and engineering with no pre-qualification and no age limit.
Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC)
It is an inter university centre of University Grants Commission (UGC). Today, 18 media centers
are facilitating educational knowledge dissemination.It covers e- content in 87 undergraduate
courses having 24110 modules.
Shodhganga
It is a open access repository platform of Indian Electronic Dissertations for researchers to deposit
their Ph.D theses and make it available to academic fraternity as well as scholarly community.
NISHTHAThe NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement) is an
integrated teacher training digital platform for teachers of DIETs, DLEd. Institute having access ofvarious course modules, videos, audios and other educational material.

76VIDWAN
It is a database of experts. It provides information about experts to peers, collaborators, policy
makers and funding agencies.
NROER
The National Repository of Open Educational Resources (NROER) is a digital platform of goodquality informational content on various subjects in various languages.
National Digital Library
The National Digital Library is a repository of academic contents in various formats. It stores books,articles, videos, audios, thesis and other educational materials with single window search system.
It provides interface for leading Indian languages for all academic levels.
e-Shodh SindhuIt provides access to e-resources to universities, colleges and centrally funded technical institutionsin India. It is being executed by INFLIBNET centre. It is an archival access of peer reviewed
journals and bibliographic, citation databases in various disciplines from a large number ofpublishers under NME-ICT.
Conclusion
It is to ensure social distancing as prevention of spread of COVID-19. To combat and ensure
uninterrupted teaching and learning at home and minimize academic loss, the UGC has directed toacademicians to make productive use of time in this critical period. In this regard, the Ministry of
Human Resource Development has initiated "Bharat Padhe Online" campaign. (UGC letter no. F
No. 1-4/2020(CM) dated 11 April 2020). In this time, the selection of teaching modules and videos,
preparation of a roadmap for admissions, declaration of results and conduction of examination withproper timelines is also a very important aspect. In this situation, the role of teachers has emerged
as a COVID 19 warrior for preventive and precautionary measures. The working style has beenchanged in a manner like work from home. The Education Department of Himachal Pradesh ispreparing e-learning program for students of Class X and XII in the shape of study material fortelecasting on Himachal Pradesh Doordarshan. As per feedback received from various sources,
many students are not having smartphones and computers for accessing educational content.
Recently, it has been decided to telecast "Har Ghar Pathshala" by Department of Higher
Education, Himachal Pradesh. In this regard, we should use; Effective use of college and university
website for providing latest and relevant information to the learners; Sensitize the learners about
media services, focused course delivery for quality education. In recent times, with technologicaldevelopments, the learners of today's prefer electronic book(e-books), visit and watch webinars,
live videos on webcast or through YouTube, chatting and video conferencing with each other. But,
with proper planning and training, infrastructure development it can be easy. In this way, the roleof teachers, teaching institutions has been transformed. It is high time that academic fraternity
should come together for challenges along with quality education through digital platforms.
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