Personalisation of Learning

Personalized Learning through Edu-Technology:
1: As a young physicist studying condensed matter using Quantum Physics, I was often asked “How does such fundamental scientific knowledge help Mr TC MITS, the celebrated man in the street?”. At that stage I did not have a ready answer although I could expand on the importance of Basic Scientific research, as has been done by Alex Flexner in “ The usefulness of useless knowledge “ ( https://youtu.be/zN0Aps_iJdw)
Today this question has a very compelling and visible answer. The ubiquitous GPS helps Mr TC MITS be on the right street because of atomic clocks and Einstein’s theory of General Relativity.
In the educational context, we have two very ambitious targets before us : aspirations of the NEP 2020 and targets of SDG Goal 4, and they require the personalisation of learning accessible to billions of people, perhaps through a mobile learning device much like the GPS of physical space, helps a learner navigate the journey through ‘learning space’ from their initial position to the desired position.

2: Benjamin Bloom, the well known educationist had in a 1984 research paper, ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom’s_2_sigma_problem?wprov=sfti1 ) formulated the 2 sigma problem. Clayton Christensen had clarified that the disruption in education will be the personalisation of the learning experience. Broadcast technologies such as MOOCs do not personalise learning. Personalized learning has long been a “holy grail” in education. Ideally, we would love to be able to work with each student to achieve a more personalized level of learning that taps into individual interests, skills and desires. M.M. Pant, “Experiment with self–paced instruction in undergraduate Physics”, J. of Phys. Education, 3, 1 (1975).

3: We may soon be witnessing predigital educational technology, from Sidney Pressey’s mechanized positive-reinforcement provider to B. F. Skinner’s behaviorist bell-ringing box ( https://www.nea.orgstrategiesadvocating-for-change/new-from-nea/far-reaching-legacy-first-teaching-machines ) evolve to a new teacherless personalised learning environment ” mobile first, wearable next” with wireless Internet and personalised flipped, blended and other ‘active learning’ strategies espoused by the Physics Nobel Laureate and the Stanford educationist Carl Weiman (https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-019-00339-6).

4: But technology alone does not lead to personalisation. The uniqueness of each learner, the neurodiversity ( Review: neurodiversity in education in 2022 – Ayoa Blog ) , neuroplasticity (What is Neuroplasticity & How Does It Impact Education? (Infographic) and neurogenesis ( IBE — Science of learning portal — Neurogenesis, learning, and memory ) coherently deployed will help in achieving the goal of a personalised learning experience for everyone. Neuroscience and AI are the future of education : https://youtu.be/_cYIvfS-knA . The drivers of the 5th education revolution.

About mmpant

Prof. M.M.Pant has a Ph.D in Computational Physics, along with a Professional Law Degree, and has been a practitioner in the fields of Law, IT enabled education and IT implementation. Drawing upon his experience in world class international institutions and having taught in various modes of Face-to-Face, Distance Learning and Technology Enhanced Training, Prof. Pant is now exploring the nature of institutions which will be successors to the IITs, which represented the 1960s, IIMs, which represented the 1970 and Open Universities which were the rage of 1980s & 90s. He believes that the convergence between various media and technologies would fundamentally alter the way learning would be created, packaged, and delivered to learners. His current activities are all directed toward actual implementation of these new age educational initiatives that transform education in the post Internet post WTO era.. Prof. Pant, has been a Former Pro-Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and has been on the faculty of IIT – Kanpur (the premier Engineering institution in India), MLNR Engineering College and Faculty & Visiting Professor - University of Western Ontario-Canada. He has been visiting scientist to research centers in Italy, England, Germany & Sweden and has delivered international lectures with about 80 papers published. During his association of almost 15 years with the IGNOU, Prof. Pant has served as the Director Computing and has been the Member of All Bodies (i.e. School boards, Academic council, Planning board, Finance committee and the Board of management). With his interest in Law, backed with practice of Law in a High Court, and his basic training in Science and IT, Prof. Pant has been particularly interested in the Cyber Law, Patent & trade mark issues, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues etc. and has been involved with many activities, conferences on “Law & IT” Prof. Pant is presently; • Advisor to Media Lab Asia - Chairman of working group on ICT for Education, chairman of PRSG handling projects on ICT for education. • Lead Consultant for an ADB funded project for ICT in Basic Education in Uzbekistan • Member of the drafting Group for India’s National Policy on ICT in education • Chairman of the group creating books for class 11 and 12 students on ‘Computers and Communication Technology’ appointed by the NCERT • Preparing a ‘Theme Paper” for the NCTE in the area of ICT and Teacher Training • Advisor and mentor to several leading Indian and Multi-national Companies in the area of education. Prof. Pant has in the recent past been ; • Member – Board of Management – I I T, Delhi for 6 years (two consecutive terms) • One-man committee to create the Project Report & Legislation for Delhi IT-enabled Open University • Advisor to the Delhi Government on Asian Network of Major Cities Project (ANMC-21) distance learning project in association with Tokyo Metropolitan Government. • Chairman Board of Studies, All India Management Association With his mission to create and implement new business opportunities in the area of e-learning & learning facilitation, Prof. Pant has promoted Planet EDU Pvt. Ltd., as its Founder & Chairman, along with a team of highly experienced and skilled professionals from Education & Training, Operations, IT and Finance.

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