Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Online Education – More than a Content Library

Online Education – More than a Content Library

30 November 2016

It is well known that online education brings many things to the table, giving it a significant advantage over offline modes or traditional campus learning. However, most of us still have to cross many perception-related hurdles before we can be completely comfortable with the idea of online education.

Access and flexibility are major positives in favour of the concept. Those who do not have the means to travel across national or international borders to acquire degrees from reputed institutions require only a workable internet connection, even in remote parts, to avail of some of the best learning experiences. This gives the medium an advantage of scale too. Taking into account where India stands today and our goals for GDP growth, we need an investment of more than $100 billion to create the additional offline higher education capacity necessary to train our future workforce. That target is impossible for a country like India to afford. And in that context, online education will play a very important role in capacity building for the future of India.

However, like for any new technology or concept, online education faces many obstacles. In the space, there are some key challenges that edtech companies are up against: (a) online lacks the gravitas of offline, walking into a campus or class room; (b) it’s very anonymous – no one will know when I join or when I drop out; (c) online education is monotonous; (d) logging on to a platform that has an array of aggregated lectures and courses that do not for deep learning is its “out there”; (e) the notion that if it’s online, it’s free; (f) how does a potential customer get his employer and family to respect and recognise online learning as the future, given its ability to make him more productive without the need of time being taken out for an offline study break?

One of the most important challenges to contend with is the perception that online education is nothing more than a content library. Thanks to the rise of MOOCs (with a question mark on their impact), this is where the merits of online education seem to end in the eyes of most, doing a huge disservice to the disruptions this phenomenon is capable of.

We have all been to a university/institution, and we did not go there to visit only the library, but for a full university experience. In most cases, the primary problem facing online education has been thought to be that of access or affordability. But to me, it is a problem of experience. Experience cannot be addressed simply through content; a holistic, end-to-end approach has to be adopted. Following a full stack approach of developing quality and relevant content through the syncing of industry and academia, encouraging more innovative pedagogical models, and servicing each individual consumer in a manner that ensures value creation, could help one achieve a high completion rate of more than 90 percent, as opposed to the low rate seen by MOOCs today (below 10 percent).

Forming a community is critical to the success of online education. While we could build a rapidly growing business by just providing content, we would miss out on building a sustainable differentiation. Part of building the community is to remove the anonymity from online education. When you are taking an online programme, it is unlikely that your friends and family would know about it. Compare that to enrolling for an offline programme, where everyone from your friends to your distant relatives would be in the know. Therefore, when it comes to online, it is very easy for people to enroll and equally easy for them to drop out. Ideas like taking anonymity out of online education are small steps towards building a holistic experience.

I will end this article by summarising that the perception of online education has to move beyond that of a content library, and the focus needs to shift towards building a great learning experience and a strong community. And for that, there is a need for a lot of innovation and out of the box ideas. Each and every edtech provider needs to contribute towards building a great experience, and thereby building up the credibility of online education!

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)


Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co                                                                    


Extracting Big Knowledge from Big Data

Extracting Big Knowledge from Big Data: Lessons from the Front Lines (Community Call)

For APQC’s October 2016 KM Community Call, Scott Leeb, engagement director at Iknow LLC, discussed the power and allure of Big Data and how it enables organizations to leverage unconventional data points and turn large quantities of structured and unstructured information into better business decisions and impact. The discussion focused on tactics that leading-edge organizations are employing, such as:

  • integrating data and insights from multiple sources (including internal, external, structured, and unstructured);
  • using data democracy to create an enabling culture and mindset for the application of data into core business activities; and
  • building flexible platforms and processes for rapidly sharing the insights.



Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co                                                                    


BRICS & Emerging Economies University Rankings 2017: results announced - IISc (India) breaks into top 15

BRICS & Emerging Economies University Rankings 2017: results announced - IISc (India) breaks into top 15

India and China are the main winners in our list of the best universities in emerging economies

India has increased its share of the top universities in the Times Higher Education BRICS & Emerging Economies University Rankings 2017, but China still has the highest density of leading institutions in the developing world.

The Indian Institute of Science breaks into the top 15 for the first time this year, in 14th place, thanks to an improved teaching environment and greater research influence. The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has also reached its highest position after climbing three places to 26th, boosted by improved scores across all the five pillars underlying the methodology.

Overall, the country has 27 universities in the top 300 ranking, 19 of which make the top 200 (up from 16 last year), making it the second most-represented nation in the table.
Despite India’s gains, however, China still dominates the list, taking 52 – or more than one in six – places in the top 300. Six of these make the elite top 10, including Fudan University, which rose 11 places to reach sixth place this year, and Peking and Tsinghua universities, which hold on to the top two spots for the fourth year running.

Link | BRICS & Emerging Economies University Rankings 2017

Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co                                                                    


Gen Z in the classroom: Creating the Future

Gen Z in the classroom: Creating the Future

Study finds next generation of college students eager to use tech in innovative ways


Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co                                                                    


Library of Congress to become ‘content hub partner’ with the Digital Public Library of America

Library of Congress to become ‘content hub partner’ with the Digital Public Library of America

The first batch of records will include 5,000 items from three major Library of Congress maps collections

Washington, DC – November 29, 2016 — The Library of Congress today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Digital Public Library of America to become a “content hub partner” and will ultimately share a significant portion of its rich digital resources with DPLA’s database of digital content records.

The first batch of records will include 5,000 items from three major Library of Congress maps collections—the Revolutionary War, Civil War  and panoramic maps collections.
“We are pleased to make the Digital Public Library of America a new door through which the public can access the digital riches of the Library of Congress,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “We will be sharing some beautiful, one-of-a-kind historic maps that I think people will really love. They are available online and I hope even more people discover them through DPLA.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to collaborate closely with the Library of Congress, to work with them on the important mission of maximizing access to our nation’s shared cultural heritage,” said DPLA’s Executive Director Dan Cohen, “and we deeply appreciate not only the Library’s incredible collections, but also the great efforts of the Librarian and her staff.”

The Digital Public Library of America is a portal—effectively, a searchable catalog—that aggregates existing digitized content from major sources such as libraries, archives, museums and cultural institutions. It provides users with links back to the original content-provider site where the material can be viewed, read or, in some cases, downloaded.

The Digital Public Library of America, the product of a widely shared vision of a national digital library dating back to the 1990s, was launched with a planning process bringing together 40 leaders from libraries, foundations, academia and technology projects in October, 2010 followed by an intense community planning effort that culminated in 2013. Its aim was to supersede the silo effect many digitization efforts were subject to. Based in Boston, the board of directors includes leading public and research librarians, technologists, intellectual property scholars, and business experts from across the nation. Its goal is to create “an open, distributed network of comprehensive online resources that would draw on the nation’s living heritage from libraries, universities, archives, and museums in order to educate, inform, and empower everyone in current and future ­generations.”

The Library of Congress expects to add a significant portion of its digital items to the original trio of collections over time, covering other collections such as photos, maps and sheet music.

Library of Congress items already appear in the DPLA database. Earlier in this decade, the Library digitized more than 100,000 books in its collections as part of its membership in the Hathi Trust and the Biodiversity Heritage Library, both current partners with the DPLA. As a result, those books are already in the DPLA’s collections through those partners.
The Digital Public Library of America strives to contain the full breadth of human expression, from the written word, to works of art and culture, to records of America’s heritage, to the efforts and data of science. Since launching in April 2013, it has aggregated more than 14 million items from more than 2,000 institutions. The DPLA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States—and extensive materials from around the world—both on site and online. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov, and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.


Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co                                                                    


Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Finmin invites suggestions for Budget 2017-18

Finmin invites suggestions for Budget 2017-18

People can submit suggestions either directly in the comments box or attach a PDF document

In order to encourage public participation and bring in greater transparency, the Finance Ministry has invited suggestions from public for Budget 2017-18.

People can submit their suggestions by December 15.

To promote Jan Bhagidari, citizens from all walks of life are welcome to be a part of the budget making process, said a post on myGov portal.

People can submit suggestions either directly in the comments box or attach a PDF document, it said, adding that this has been a regular feature on the portal for the last two years.

"Last year we had an overwhelming response with over 40,000+ suggestions for Union/ Railway budget. Several of the suggestions received on myGov were incorporated in the last year's budget," it said.

Citing various suggestion incorporated in the current year Budget, myGov portal said, these included announcement about Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) on fertilisers, creation of separate irrigation fund, Price Stabilisation Fund for pulses and introduction of special agricultural cess.

"We seek your valuable ideas to continue the tradition of the Union Budget incorporating the citizens' aspirations," it said.

The Budget is expected to unveiled on February 1.

Meanwhile, Finance Ministry also informed that media entry will be restricted from December 1 as work for preparation of General Budget 2017-18 has already commenced.

Source | Business Standard | 30 November 2016

Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co                                                                    


Augmented reality gains ground in education

Augmented reality gains ground in education

Augmented reality (AR) in education seems to be catching up fast. The augmented reality platform enables students and teachers to visualise three-dimensional models in the real environment, in real time, and at scale.

As part of efforts to widen its reach among the education community, the MBD Group, the leading educational group in India and pioneer of augmented reality in education, will showcase a new line of virtual reality-based content and device at the International Book Fair, scheduled here in January.

The group, which has diversified into sectors like e-learning, capacity building, m-learning, skill development and ICT infrastructure, had launched a augmented reality app Nytra in 2014 to provide quality contents for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 of the formal education system.

Augmented reality, bridges the gap between the virtual and physical worlds and changes the way we see, imagine, and learn about the world around us. The group plans to deliver high quality VR content for vocational courses/ skill courses in the informal education sector as well.

“Virtual reality and augmented reality are the new frontiers of education and present an exciting opportunity for the sector. We will be investing over Rs 50 crore in three-five years towards development and expansion of our AR and VR educational contents portfolio.” said Monica Malhotra Kandhari, managing director of MBD Group.

The group would also be looking at the overseas market like the US, the UK, Singapore and China, where the market for such products has already been developed, she added.

Source | Financial Chronicle | 30 November 2016

Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co                                                                    


Website | https://sites.google.com/site/pralhadjadhavlib/home

Parinam Manjusha - Digital Lockers for Student Documents

Parinam Manjusha - Digital Lockers for Student Documents

Documents of Std X, XII CBSE students now a click away

Now, students of classes X and XII of schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) can access their academic documents online through its digital repository. The board recently launched Parinam Manjusha--digital lockers for student documents.

The initiative has been developed by the CBSE along with DigiLocker, which is the central government's online repository. Students passing the secondary or higher secondary examinations will be able to access mark sheets, passing certificates and migration certificates.

The certificates which are downloaded through the repository can be verified using the DigiLocker mobile app by scanning a QR code printed on it.  This form of verification can be used by educational institutions and employers to verify an applicant's academic records by registering on the website with the CBSE.

For the CBSE, the online repository will help store student information. “CBSE and its regional offices can store, access and update academic records of students in a central repository, “said the programme's website. Earlier this year, the CBSE issued digital mark sheets to its students when the results were announced.

Teachers in the city have welcomed the ideas but are skeptical about its use. “Unless educational institutes or employers sign up, it is not likely to serve the purpose. There needs to be awareness to ease out the processes because currently, getting a duplicate certificate is cumbersome, “said Nalini Garg, a former teacher.

Last year, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education and the Mumbai University too had launched their online repository where students can get a digital copy of their mark sheets. The state board is also in the process of digitalizing the data of students who have passed out over the past 10 years and make it available through an online portal.

Source | Times of India | 30 November 2016

Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co                                                                    

Technology tricks to help kids think reading is fun

Technology tricks to help kids think reading is fun

More than a quarter of American adults did not read a single book in the last year. That stunning statistic from a recent report from the Pew Research Center made me sad.
I am an admitted bibliophile. At all times, I have one or two audiobooks downloaded on my phone to listen to in the car, three or four print books on my nightstand, and more e-books on my phone for when I have a few quick moments to read.

I’m not expecting others to be as obsessive as I am about the written word, but I would hope all of us could at least read one book in an entire year.

While adults aren’t required to read as most children are in school, it made me wonder if parents are simply raising kids who are uninterested in reading, and allowing them to become non-reading adults. If that is the case, what can moms and dads do to inspire a love of reading in their children?

Get techie — While the majority of people prefer to read print books, the biggest age group reading electronic books are — unsurprisingly — millennials. So, it would be logical to think even younger readers may also be drawn to e-books. Take advantage of the apps most public libraries use that allow readers to download books and audiobooks on their phones and tablets.

My local library — as well 30,000 others around the country — uses the Overdrive app. Depending on the limitations of each library, users can have several books and audiobooks downloaded at the same time, with others on hold to wait for their availability. You need an active library account, but the app automatically returns books on their due date, so no late fees, ever. My kids have loved listening to audiobooks as they fall asleep, or listening as a family on road trips. Hint: the Harry Potter audiobook series is fantastic.
Give them an incentive — The main reason my kids agreed to listen to the Harry Potter audiobooks is that is was a prerequisite for our trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida. Sure, we could have just watched the movies and headed on our merry way, but our amazing theme park experience was much richer because of the details we absorbed listening to the books in their entirety.

The incentive doesn’t have to be as grand as a trip to Orlando. One easy way to nudge your kids into more literature is to read books before they show up in theaters. Check the lists of upcoming movies based on books and make a plan. It’s great to have all your kids read the same book, if possible. Then, it turns into a friendly competition with each child pushing the others to read, instead of parents having to nag.

Use apps — Tons of reading apps are just waiting for kids of all ages to try them out. For younger readers, try MeeGenius, which has more than 700 interactive e-books for $5 per month. Kids can read along with the narration while the words are highlighted, or read it by themselves. Disney Storytime is similar, but parents purchase credits — there are three free titles — and then kids choose which books to buy individually. It will likely end up being more expensive with many of the same features, but kids can also record themselves reading the book. And don’t forget about that pre-loaded iBooks app on your Apple device. It has lots of free titles for when kids are desperate for something to read, but are out of money.

For older children who can read but need a fun way to brush up on grammar skills, it’s Mad Libs to the rescue. We all loved this word game as kids, and now the free app comes with dozens of stories just waiting for your children to fill in the crazy nouns, adjectives and adverbs.

Buy them a gift — Sometimes the simplest thing can give kids just enough motivation to keep turning the page. The Mark My Time digital bookmark is around $10 and keeps track of reading time for kids. They push a button to start a timer that goes off when their required reading time is up. The bookmark can also add up all their reading time over months until it hits 100 hours in case a child is shooting for a bigger goal.

Research has shown us time and time again that reading benefits children in everything from language skills to emotional stability. Use these tricks and tips to give your children — and yourself — an extra incentive to dive into a good book today.


Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co                                                                    


Mobile Tools for Managers or any professional to Enhance Productivity

Mobile Tools for Managers or any professional to Enhance Productivity

The ability to manage different tasks all at once, is a prerequisite to success as a manager, whatever the field you are in. Right from managing stakeholders to planning tasks, scheduling meetings, brainstorming for new ideas or troubleshooting—multi-tasking is the way to go. Yet, this does not allow you any leeway with accuracy and exactness. The solutions you propose or implement must be flawless! So, how do you manage the onslaught of multiple tasks as a manager? Use technology and your best buddy the mobile phone, to your advantage and sail through your workday!

Managers also need to be ready with answers—a key aspect in relationship building. Be it an internal stakeholder, or an external client, “always on” is the bare basic expectation. Expect to work remotely, even at odd hours, to deliver what is desired. Sounds intimidating? Worry not, for mobile phones today come with a slew of organizing and management applications. Let’s dig into some of those!

Manage To-Dos smoothly: Professional life is more often than not a long list of to-dos. Give your to-dos shape and character by installing list-making applications on your smartphone. Track the progress of that latest project, or remember to call your boss on his/her birthday with inbuilt reminders and deadline features. Many listing applications allow lists to be shared with colleagues and teams. Now, never miss out on communicating an agenda, just share notes with your team virtually and stay updated! Evernote, Google Keep and Wunderlist, are some interesting ones to consider.

Make Knowledge, share knowledge, secure knowledge: As the subject matter expert, you may find hordes of colleagues flocking to you for advice or experience-sharing. It is a great idea to initiate a knowledge management initiative that allows you a wider reach with streamlined efforts. Be sure to secure the system with proper backup mechanisms, because in case of an outage, all the efforts may go in vain. Choose a secure online backup mechanism or solution provider in adherence with domain compliances. Look for easy and quick data restoration options, cloud-based flexible storage and security layers. Leveraging knowledge for advancement also entails managing the knowledge well.

Be productive with Office 365: Making and delivering presentations, speech scripts, analyzing the latest balance sheet on Excel—the list of enterprise software-dependent tasks is endless. Imagine if you have to work while you are not at your desktop. How do you access all those latest versions remotely? Thankfully, Office 365 comes with Cloud backup capabilities, allowing you access from any device, from anywhere. Cloud-based productivity suites are a must, especially for flexible work environments such as, telecommuting, flexi-working and geographically spread virtual teams. Conduct a long-distance interview using Skype for Business, or collaborate for the latest idea real-time, with IM. One person or multiple-person interfaces must be taken advantage of, to get work done as you want.

Streamline the logistics and operations: Believe it or not, a significant part of our time at work is spent in transactional or operational tasks, which though not value-adding, are equally important. Even the basics for the administration department, such as, ordering of food during working lunches can be greatly simplified by using ready apps. Rev up the efficiency on the mundane and allocate more time to the value-adding work. Try out applications such as Uber (for transport), taskRabbit (for couriers) and ZeroCater (for food delivery).

One stop shop for all tasks: Do you feel overwhelmed trying to juggle various tasks and staying updated on what needs to be done next? Managed services solution suites are for you. A centralised dashboard that provides real-time visibility into progress statuses, are now available as a mobile app. Right from vendor management to pushing the right communication, get the right enterprise product from the market and forget your woes of multi-management.

Being an effective manager, is an art as well as science. Knowing what to use and how to use to get things done, is a critical competency that few possess. Yet, you can fortify this skill by relying on the wonderful world of mobile! Learn to use your smartphone to your professional advantage and be “always on” with a smile!


Regards

Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co