In the video, the speaker addresses whether the current education system is effectively preparing students for the rapidly changing future. The unpredictability of the world, exemplified by events like COVID-19, challenges the traditional education system's relevance and its ability to adapt and equip students with the necessary skills for the future. The introduction of technology, specifically in education, has significantly altered how knowledge and skills are imparted, yet many aspects of education remain antiquated.

The shift to virtual education and the rise in educational technology investments highlight the increasing reliance on tools and platforms to enhance learning experiences, such as AI in personalized education and virtual reality for immersive experiences. Despite these advances, there are critical challenges that need addressing, including the digital divide, teaching preparedness, and data privacy. The speaker suggests that addressing these challenges and incorporating collaborative methodologies among policymakers, educators, and technologists is essential for a sustainable and effective education system.

Main takeaways from the video:

Please remember to turn on the CC button to view the subtitles.

Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. dilemma [dɪˈlɛmə] - (noun) - A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives. - Synonyms: (quandary, predicament, problem)

Sounds interesting, but this is a huge dilemma.

2. turbulence [ˈtɜːrbjələns] - (noun) - A state of confusion, disorder, or agitation. - Synonyms: (commotion, unrest, disturbance)

Someone wise has always said that in times of turbulence, the problem is not the turbulence, but acting with yesterday's logic.

3. revolutionized [ˌrɛvəˈluːʃənaɪzd] - (verb) - To change (something) radically or fundamentally. - Synonyms: (transformed, altered, changed)

But before discussing that, let's discuss about how technology has revolutionized the whole education space.

4. projection [prəˈdʒɛkʃən] - (noun) - An estimate or forecast of a future situation based on a study of present trends. - Synonyms: (forecast, prediction, estimate)

And if I have to talk about the future, the projection is even better.

5. augmented reality [ɔːɡˈmɛntɪd riˈæləti] - (noun) - A technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view. - Synonyms: (AR, enhanced reality)

Companies deal with augmented reality and virtual reality, which we know are part of the Metaverse and they are enhancing the educational experience.

6. terminating [ˈtɜːrmɪneɪtɪŋ] - (verb) - To bring something to an end; to discontinue. - Synonyms: (ending, ceasing, stopping)

Every other now and then we are hearing news that okay, this XYZ company is terminating XYZ people.

7. digital divide [ˈdɪdʒɪtəl dɪˈvaɪd] - (noun) - The gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the internet, and those who do not. - Synonyms: (technological gap, access inequality)

Number one is the digital divide.

8. preparedness [prɪˈpɛərədnəs] - (noun) - A state of readiness, especially for war or disaster. - Synonyms: (readiness, alertness, preparation)

Number two is teaching preparedness.

9. monotonous [məˈnɒtənəs] - (adjective) - Dull and repetitive, lacking in variety and interest. - Synonyms: (tedious, boring, dull)

Now data privacy sounds monotonous, it might sound boring.

10. ethical guidelines [ˈɛθɪkəl ˈɡaɪdlaɪnz] - (noun) - A system of principles governing morality and acceptable conduct. - Synonyms: (moral code, ethics, principles)

Therefore, having certain ethical guidelines also becomes extremely important.

Rethinking Education - Saakshar Duggal - TEDxSISTec Bhopal

I have a question. I'm quite confused and I want your help in that. Are we truly preparing our students for the world of tomorrow? Or are we simply helping them to navigate the world of yesterday? Sounds interesting, but this is a huge dilemma. And this is a huge problem as well. Ladies and gentlemen, in today's times, we all know that the world is unpredictable. It's changing every single second. I'll repeat that every single second, not every single day. Right? And we've seen that in the last four years. COVID 19. Right. It happened suddenly and a lot of sectors were impacted. But specifically one sector which was hugely impacted, and it lies at the cornerstone of all industries, is the education sector.

Suddenly, overnight, classrooms were shifted virtually. Teachers had to embrace this technology and students, on one side, they were happy of online classes, but on the other side, their skills, their learning went for six. Someone wise has always said that in times of turbulence, the problem is not the turbulence, but acting with yesterday's logic. And that is what our education system lacks and is here for today. Different times are changing. AI has come up, new technologies have come up. But yet again, we all talk about it, but we don't know what to do. Education sector again and again. Yes, we think that we are preparing our students for the future. But I don't think we are preparing. I think it's a mere joke. We think that we are preparing them, but we are only preparing them to struggle every single day.

We talked about COVID Right? Let's take COVID 19 as an example. Everything changed. Virtual classes were coming up, students were there, teachers were also there. But yet again, some new trends were also coming up. And there are two by products of this so called technological revolution. Before discussing that, let's discuss about how technology has revolutionized the whole education space. Yes, on one side we are seeing new virtual classrooms, edtech platforms and whatnot. According to Statista, in 2020 alone, the overall spending on edtech apps was US$37.3 billion. This was in the past. And if I have to talk about the future, the projection is even better. According to Gitnax, by 2025 the global market for edtech space is about to reach US$404 billion. Just imagine, these numbers are massive. Technology is everywhere. It's impacting us. It's, it's. I think it's easing our lives as well.

On one side, there are a lot of companies which are using this famous technology. We all know artificial intelligence, right? It is everywhere. Companies are using it to aiding teachers as well as students. In the education setup, for example Neopod or Alchemy VR. So these two companies deal with augmented reality and virtual reality, which we know are part of the Metaverse and they are enhancing the educational experience. How? Well, you can wear VR sets and you can have live experience of, let's say, of all historical events, science phenomena and whatnot. On the other hand, there are some companies such as Smart Sparrow, who are actually working closely with students, providing them real time feedback, personalized education and customized approach to every student. Because we know that every student is different. People have different weaknesses and strengths as well. So Smart Sparrow is dealing with that. Another famous AI tool is Dreambox Learning, which is doing the same as well.

But one specific tool that I would like you all to know about. It's Great Spot. Great Spot actually looks at how it can help teachers in this education space. All the time we are talking about how we can help students. No one is there for teachers, right? They are also facing huge problems in embracing AI. Therefore, this respective AI solution helps teachers in a lot of ways. Like what? Like checking assignments, planning projects, personalized assessments and whatnot. No doubt technology is creating a huge positive impact. But on one side, on the other side, it has some huge significant impacts as well. On one side we have seen, yes, that AI is taking over jobs. It is now we used to listen to that before COVID that this might happen in the near future. But guess what? Every other now and then we are hearing news that okay, this XYZ company is terminating XYZ people.

Why? Because they have AI. People are getting replaced every single day. And on the second thing, which is even more interesting is that a lot of studies say that there are more than million jobs which do not even exist today, which will exist in the next 15 to 20 years. But guess what? We don't know. Now my two questions. Number one, how are we preparing our students right now, now to face this job market where they're getting replaced every single day without even proper intention? And on the other hand, how can we prepare students for such jobs which do not even exist today? These are some questions that we have to clearly think upon Again and again.

We have to rethink our education. And that can only happen when we have quality of design at its core. And quality of design doesn't mean that it will just happen accidentally. A government will come, it will bring up its policies and everything will be sorted. No, that is never going to happen. It is a perfect balance of applying specific methodology, having processes in place, innovation, creativity and collaboration. There are a Lot of challenges as I mentioned. But okay, for the time being let's leave these two challenges. There are three challenges which are at present right now before the job market which at educational institutions is a huge problem. You just name it whether it's a school or a college. I'm again saying forget the job market. If you look at the education in colleges and schools, there are three things, three major challenges which can be dealt with. The solution which I'll be discussing further.

So what are these three challenges? Number one is the digital divide. What is a digital divide? It's the gap between those haves and have nots. Those students who have technology, access to technology and those who do not have technology. This has a lot of factors to it, specifically socio economic factors through which one has access to it and not. But guess what, it is impacting the net result. digital divide is a huge factor in assessing a nation's growth. If we talk about India, yes, we say that we have youth. But guess what? The youth which has access to technology is not much. It's not much. So that was digital divide.

Number two is teaching preparedness. Now coming to the teachers angle. As I mentioned earlier, it's not easy to embrace technology just like that. Unless you are a professional who belongs to that respective sector. But I'm sure teachers will relate to this. It's not easy to embrace and not just with one technology, but again and again, right? You have to learn, unlearn. And it has become the process for everyone. Let's say Prompt Command engineering for example. Prompt command engineering till the last year was seen as a replacement for coding. Right? Before prompt command engineering, parents used to just teach their children coding. Why? Because they didn't have any logic. But yes, it has a future now. Prompt command engineering took that place. But guess what? In 2024 a huge question mark came in that if generative AI companies are putting specific prompts, already ready made prompts in their respective technologies, then what's the use of prompt command engineering? And the answer to this is learning unlearning.

Irrespective of whether you are a teacher or you are a student. If you are embracing a technology today, let's say an app on which you are teaching, guess what? After two months that app or technology might be redundant. The second is teaching preparedness. And third, again a pivotal point is data privacy. Now data privacy sounds monotonous, it might sound boring. But as a nation we have to understand that today India is the most populous nation in the world, right? We say we have youth. Yes. We also Say that In the next 10 to 15 years it belongs to India. The growth trajectory is huge. But the fourth factor which is extremely crucial is we are a data generating economy.

Internet is cheap and we are just creating data every single day. But we don't know the value of data. Every single student today has no clue how much valuable their data is. That's why the concept of data privacy comes in place. Educating and knowing where is your data going? Why is it going? What's the value of it? Becomes extremely crucial. Now you might be thinking, I have listed all these problems, I'm not giving any solution. Guess what? There is a solution. I feel it's a simple solution. But if you're able to adapt that practically, it will be a game changer. And the solution is pet. How many of you have a pet? Please raise your hands. Okay, I'm not talking about the little pet. We don't need cats and dogs for this.

But PET is an abbreviation. PET is an abbreviation which signifies three parties. These three parties are crucial in becoming a game changer, specifically for the education setup. If we are rethinking education and we want a quality design, then these three parties have to collaborate with each other. So as the abbreviation suggests, pet, P stands for policy makers, E stands for education educationists, and T stands for technologists. Leave students aside, these three parties are the core pillars if we have to revolutionize the education space. How? Well, when we talk about P, which is the policy makers, they have to be student oriented. There are a lot of policies in today's times. Yes, we are bringing new policies which are student friendly, but are they friendly enough to help them in the future? I don't think so. That might be a huge question mark.

So being student friendly with respect to seeing the future, not just talking about it, that yes, AI is important, but bringing certain guidelines, certain policies which can help educationists to implement it. Problems such as digital divide and data privacy are specifically in the hands of these policymakers. To define a line, to define certain processes which can be followed further in the society. Coming to number two, educationists. Yes, number one, we have talked about teaching preparedness. It's a lifelong learning right. We have to learn, unlearn again and again as human beings. I can understand it's not easy to adapt to change every single day or every single year.

But just like our phones which get updated and new models come up every single year, it's hard time that our teaching faculties have to prepare themselves with this mindset that yes, learning unlearning is the only Mantra that they can have. Why? Because as a lot of speakers have said, students of today, they are smart. They're extremely smart. So to being at par, and not just being at par, sometimes being ahead of them, if you have to teach them, then definitely learning at least the basics about these new trends is pivotal. Last but not the least, comes technologists. Well, we never talk about technologists as such, but technologists have to be student friendly. Again, what do I mean by student friendly? Technology is not here to replace us. It should not be here to complicate things.

A lot of times I've heard from students and teachers that technology is complicated things. It was much better beforehand. Therefore, having certain technologies which are student friendly, no doubt work is in progress, there are a lot of products that are out. But having a standardized process, standardized technology which can help students to adapt and teachers actually teach. And more importantly, having certain ethical guidelines. Because whenever we talk about technology, cybercrime is a huge negative byproduct of it. We have seen right online classes, they were actually used to bring education in the virtual format. But some mischievous makers have started to perform different cyber acts, cyber criminal acts, in these kind of virtual classes as well. Therefore, having certain ethical guidelines also becomes extremely important.

Now, after all this discussion, challenges, solutions, aspects, you might be having a last question. Why are we talking about this today? This was important yesterday as well. This will be important in the future as well. Then why today? Because now is the time to act proactively. If you are serious enough for the future generations to actually leverage in the future your proactive action. And when I say your these three parties pet the Golden Trio. If this golden trio is able to work, is able to be at the same page, have a quality design which can be practically implemented in our respective educational setup, then I'm definitely sure the upcoming generations will be thanking you all. Thank you so much.

Education, Technology, Innovation, Digital Divide, Teaching Preparedness, Data Privacy, Tedx Talks