New opportunities and challenges for India’s youth:
About 5 years ago, the former Director General of CSIR, Dr. RA Mashelkar had co-authored a book with the title “ From leapfrogging to pole vaulting : creating the magic of sustainable transformation”, exhorting its readers to shift from reactive leapfrogging to proactive pole-vaulting through radical transformation.
India has now embraced the two emerging technologies of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum in a big way. There is an AI mission with an initial commitment of 10,000 crores ( https://www.narendramodi.in/cabinet-approves-ambitious-indiaai-mission-to-strengthen-the-ai-innovation-ecosystem-580269 ) and a National Quantum mission with an initial commitment of Rs 6,000 crores ( https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1917888 ).
This gives rise to the need for an ‘AI fluent’ and a ‘Quantum ready’ workforce. A major challenge in preparing for these new technologies is the shortage of teachers. This is where the need for ‘ pole vaulting’ rather than ‘leap fogging’ comes in. To address this, I have created a set of WhatsApp ‘active learning’ ( https://mediatheque.lindau-nobel.org/recordings/38480/dont-lecture-me ) courses augmented with AI and chatGPT.
Neils Bohr had said “ If Quantum Mechanics hasn’t profoundly shocked you, you haven’t understood it yet”. And Richard Feynman who developed a new ‘ path integrals’ approach to Quantum Mechanics had said “ I think I can safely say that nobody understands Quantum Mechanics”. But he also emphasised that nature is Quantum and exhorted fellow Physićists to work on creating a quantum Comouter with the following words “ Nature isn’t classical, dammit, and if you want to make a simulation of nature, you’d better make it quantum mechanical.”
Galileo said about 400 years ago that the laws of nature are written in the language of Mathematics. For Newton, the new Mathematics was differential and integral calculus. In the Quantum age the new Mathematics is statistics , linear algebra and more. To understand Quantum, there is a mathematical barrier also, but modern neuroscience says that this barrier can be overcome by the motivated, with relevant strategies from the ‘ Science of Learning’.
To address these challenges, I have created a monthlong course on “ Becoming an AI fluent educator” for teachers ( https://mmpant.com/the-ai-fluent-smarteducator/ ) and another month-long course on “ AI powered self-learner ” for learners ( https://mmpant.com/ai-powered-self-learner/ )
And a set of 4 weeklong ( Monday to Friday) courses to promote “ Quantum Readiness”. They are QLW1: Demystifying Quantum ( https://mmpant.com/qlw1-demystifying-quantum/ ), QLW2: The 1st Quantum Revolution ( https://mmpant.com/qlw2-the-1st-quantum-revolution/ ), QLW3 : The 2nd Quantum Revolution ( https://mmpant.com/qlw3-the-2nd-quantum-revolution/ ) and QLW4 : Mathematics for Quantum ( https://mmpant.com/qlw4-mathematics-for-quantum/ ).
Like this:
Like Loading...
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.
