As digital technology transforms the education landscape, the National Educational Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasises the importance of integrating AI into education to support skill-based learning and prepare students for the AI economy

Digital technology has had a significant influence on education in the 21st century. The ultimate result of this influence has been the revolution of pedagogy and education through the adoption of digital technology in the social, political, and economic spheres of society. Nowadays, learning is more strategic, focusing on virtual collaboration and learner-centric approaches. As a result, teachers no longer serve solely as sources of knowledge but rather as facilitators of learning. Traditional classroom lectures are no longer the only way to learn. Emerging technologies have made knowledge instantly available and are being disseminated on an exponential scale. As a whole, schools have not only included technology as a crisis management tool but have also incorporated it into their existing curricula. Teachers can therefore use online learning as a potent teaching tool.

In the 21st century, India has witnessed a transformative shift in its educational landscape with the advent of digital education. This paradigm shift from traditional chalk-and-talk methods to digital learning platforms has brought forth both promising opportunities and daunting challenges. The National Educational Policy (NEP) 2020 advocates investment in digital infrastructure, online teaching platforms and tools, virtual digital repositories, online assessment, technology pedagogy for online teaching and learning, and other related areas. It also supports multilingualism and highlights the power of language in teaching and learning through creative and hands-on approaches, such as gamification and apps, and by incorporating cultural aspects of languages through films, theater, storytelling, poetry, and music.

With a compounded annual growth rate of 20.2%, the AI market in India is predicted to reach USD 7.8 billion by 2025. In order to prepare students for the AI economy and to bring India’s curriculum in line with contemporary requirements, the NEP 2020 places a strong emphasis on the need to impart the requisite technical skills at all educational levels. It stresses the importance of integrating AI into education to support high-quality, skill-based learning. The UNESCO State Education Report India (2022) proposes 10 concrete recommendations that, when implemented, could accelerate India’s transformational journey toward technological education and sophisticated tech-driven solutions in educational processes. These recommendations align with the national vision of Digital India. The 10 recommendations are:

Consider the ethics of artificial intelligence in education as an utmost priority.

Rapidly provide an overall regulatory framework for artificial intelligence in education.

Create effective public–private partnerships.

Ensure that all students and teachers have access to the latest technologies.

Expand AI literacy efforts.

Attempt to correct algorithmic biases and the resulting discrimination.

Improve public trust in AI.

Encourage the private sector to involve students and educationists in developing AI products.

Place ownership of data with the students.

Embrace the versatility of AI in education systems.

Positive Outlook

Technology will revolutionize education, offering students real-world experiences and an audio-visual learning environment that makes studying more enjoyable. It provides a virtual library of knowledge, more tools for teachers, and a more interactive learning environment. The benefits envisaged for digital education are as follows:

A greater number of people can now access high-quality educational resources thanks to digital education, which has democratized learning.

Students’ inventiveness and originality are encouraged by digital education. Immersive learning opportunities that foster critical thinking and problem-solving abilities are offered by interactive simulations, multimedia information, and virtual laboratories.

Digital platforms also make personalized learning sessions possible.

Challenges

When we enable billions of Indians to realize their full capacity for learning and cooperation, we will be able to make rapid progress in education. Learning is the core of education, and it should not happen only in classrooms. Learning for all, learning by all, and learning with all should be the goal. However, there are many obstacles in the way of fully utilizing digital education in India.

First of all, there is still a digital divide. The uneven distribution of ICT access and a lack of digital literacy, particularly in the community, impede the growth of digital learning nationwide and present additional monitoring challenges. Underprivileged groups are still unable to obtain dependable internet access and gadgets. This discrepancy exacerbates educational inequities and prevents digital learning initiatives from reaching a wider audience.

Secondly, there is still effort needed to ensure the reliability and quality of online instructional materials. It is vital to select and validate trustworthy sources due to the deluge of information available on the internet. To maintain educational standards, educators and policymakers need to implement strong procedures for quality control and content monitoring.

Finally, there are concerns that students’ interpersonal skills may decline and social isolation may be reinforced by digital education. For overall development, screen time must be balanced with offline interactions and extracurricular activities. On the whole, we must design education policies aimed at developing students’ digital competencies, going beyond the operational capabilities of using apps or the internet and including cognitive skills linked to critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving in digital contexts.

Luqman Ahmad Wani is a research scholar in Commerce, and Suheela Majeed is pursuing an MA in Psychology

Luqman Ahmad Wani and Suheela Majeed