Education blog by Pearson India

For most of us, classroom education was limited to the traditional blackboard and chalk. The stark contrast of black on white (coloured for special subjects or topics) was the mode of learning and through which generations of stu-dents have  gained an education. With the arrival of a new, technological age, several schools and educational institutions started the shift to white-boards. Now, instead of coating the entire class in a fine layer of chalk dust, teachers could easily use markers to teach their students important concepts. Shortly, smart boards were introduced. These technologically advanced learning systems allowed lessons to be taught with colourful 3D diagrams, videos and other immersive learning methods. But is old still gold? How does a traditional blackboard compare with an interactive smart board? Let’s find out!

Improved interaction and collaboration: Unlike chalk boards, where learning was a one-way interaction (where the teacher taught, and students learned,) interactive smartboard solutions such as MyPedia, increase and simplify the levels of collaboration between students and teachers. The use of a black-board is limited to a single user at any given time, which makes it difficult for the content to be modified or annotated without wiping off the old lessons. In comparison, interactive smart boards allow the content to be annotated, ma-nipulated, made available through an app and so much more. This makes learning a collaborative effort and increases the student’s curiosity and urge to learn, resulting in more effective learning outcomes.

Enhanced visualisation for teachers and students: Research shows that humans respond to and process visual data better than any other type of da-ta. In fact, the human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, and 90 per cent of information transmitted to the brain is visual (https://bit.ly/1oUKT4R). humans are visual creatures who are more likely to learn better with visual cues. This means that students are more likely to en-joy and retain lessons where videos and quality images are used to teach. Instead of stark black and white 2D images on a chalkboard, interactive smart learning tools have made it possible for teachers to incorporate high definition images, video and graphics into their lessons. This has not only made learning more visually attractive and engaging, but it has also made it easier to explain difficult concepts in class.

Helps parents keep up with their child’s learning: With chalkboards, a par-ent’s knowledge of what was taught in class was limited to what their child has told them or through direct conversations with the teacher. Blended learning means that lessons are stored online and available on apps. This ensures that parents stay up to date with their child’s progress and educa-tion.

Encourages learning: Anyone who has studied with a chalkboard under-stands the feeling when the teacher wiped away the lesson for the day be-fore one had a chance to fully note down what was taught. With the advent of interactive smart boards, students no longer have to face this fear. All les-sons are stored on the cloud and available for learning whenever a student wishes to access it. This is also helpful for students who have learning disa-bilities or have missed classes.

The nostalgia of a chalkboard is undoubtedly a hard one to shake off, but that doesn’t mean that present students should have to learn the same way. Smartboards are a huge improvement in the field of teaching and can make learning and teaching fun for everyone involved.

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Humans are visual creatures. What we learn from being taught visually is retained better than something that is read out to us. This why the technology of smart classes is such a boon for the students of the 21st century. Let’s take a look at what students and teachers can expect from a digital classroom.

A more interactive way of learning: Instead of staring at chalk drawn diagrams on a blackboard, students can now experience the subject in high-definition on smart screens, making the learning interactive and fun. Teachers can use interactive modules and visually appealing methods of teaching like videos, virtual reality and presentations to help their students better grasp the subject. Immersing the students in the subjects help them learn and retain the subject matter better. After all, textbooks can be fun to read, but nothing can compare seeing the jungles of the Amazon in high definition video to seeing a picture of it in a book!
Help for those who struggle with traditional learning methods: Not all students enjoy the chalk and board teaching methodology and it can be difficult to capture their attention and make them learn. The videos and other interactive modules of a smart classroom work better at capturing their imagination and their attention. Smart classes are also beneficial for students with learning disabilities as they can easily grasp what is being taught through the medium of video and interactive modules.
Saved time: The immersive/blended learning of a smart class is also a time-saving boon for teachers. Instead of wasting time drawing complicated diagrams on the board they can simply pull up richly detailed and accurate diagrams from the smartboard’s memory and use the time saved to pay more attention to the students.
A safer option for teachers and students: Inhaling chalk dust day after day can be detrimental to the health of both teachers and students. Smart classes are easier to teach and have no such associated problems.An easier way for students to catch up: Unlike a chalk and blackboard classroom, where a swipe of the duster can erase the teachings of the day, smart classroom stores the lessons of the day on an accessible platform. Thus, students who were absent or those who wish to review what was taught in the classroom can easily do so from the comfort of their homes. Parents also benefit from this as they can keep an eye on their child’s education at any given time.
Increased student-teacher interaction: The medium of smart classes ignites the sense of curiosity in students. This, in turn, encourages them to ask questions and interact with the teacher allowing for a more holistic and interactive learning process with participation from both sides.

With the proliferation of screens in our daily lives, students of today are exposed to a more visual medium from early childhood. Schools must look toward classroom solutions for better learning outcomes in the form of smart classes.

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We have all read about the risks in entrepreneurship, heard about them, seen people take them (or at least closely observed a dear friend who took several risks in his entrepreneurial journey). We have all seen the elusive successes and also heard the stories of crashed-and-burned. For those of us who harbour entrepreneurial ambitions, what does this mean? That Zero Moment of Truth (Z.M.O.T.) when one has to take a call of leaving his job, breaking his bank or making a crucial decision on whether to invest money in product or marketing – is overwhelming to many. This essay addresses the concept of risk in this context.

Often the job of an entrepreneur is described to be that of risk-seeking. After all, in the game of disruption and displacement of an existing market or the creation of a new market/segment, there is bound to be some risk. There are many articles that provide advice on the risks which entrepreneurs need to take – get used to life without a paycheck, sacrifice personal time, risk personal savings, etc. And then there are family and friends guiding one to either take the jump or be cautious enough to save ample capital and think of the downsides before going down the route. What is the balanced view between the sail and stay ashore recommendations? The real answer is none. A generalised view doesn’t fit the situation of an average individual wanting to take the entrepreneurial route; it does not provide for the context of the individual taking the call. Risk appetite is a personal decision, and it’s much like the running stamina (or love/hate for running) for any individual.

ALSO READ: How to live life without a paycheck, and should you?

In this essay, we bring the views both in and against the notion of risk by quoting popular reads.

The ‘Ayes’ point out various notions including:

1. The future what-if question: What if I had tried this when I was XX years old?
2. It’s tough to disrupt the status quo without taking risks; lack of risk appetite is what’s stopping the incumbent from innovation.
   
3. You learn by taking risks.
   
4. By being ready to seize the opportunity, you will likely be a trailblazer.
   
   

ALSO READ: The various stages of an early entrepreneur’s journey. Where to focus?

And the ‘Nays’,

1. Protect your downside than thinking of the upside (same as the bird-in-hand logic).
   
2. Entrepreneurship is a sustained journey, and you would lose patience along the way, so it’s not worth starting if you are going to fade 6-12 months later.
   
3. It’s a toll not just on you but also on your family and loved ones.
   
4. Displacing heavy giants is not easy and involves a great idea, execution, timing and in some cases, luck. Are you ready for taking the chance of all of these going right for you together?
   

So when one goes through the opinions of the ayes and nays, he is left struggling for the right choice. After all, in some sense, it’s the appeal of the mind vs the heart. So how does one really make a choice? We bring reference to an alternate perspective provided by Adam Grant in his book Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World. The book provides many examples and perspectives, but two of them particularly stand out in reference to the context of this essay.

First, Adam Grant talks about his decision to not invest in a startup where the founders were still in school and looking for internships/jobs to cut risk in case the startup didn’t take off. In Adam’s thinking, they didn’t have enough skin in the game or risk appetite for him to back them up using his personal capital. The startup went to become Warby Parker – an American online retailer of prescription glasses and sunglasses valued above a billion dollars and has raised $300 MM to date. Adam talks a lot about Warby Parker in his book to explain how the founders cut risk at various stages including the risk of carrying inventory.

Second, Adam talks about risk in internal enterprises. This is highly relevant as many readers of this essay may be seeking intrapreneurial ambitions (or want to help reinvent things where they work). In this example, he talks about Carmen Medina at CIA and how her plans to reinvent collaboration around intelligence gathering were considered too risky. She failed only to come back many years later and revive the project to be a big success.

The interesting view that Adam provides is that the role of an entrepreneur is perhaps not to not take risks but instead avoid it – systematically. If one chooses to ascribe to this view, then the key is to identify that risk.

If you wish to become a successful entrepreneur, have an idea in mind or are looking for one, it would be a good idea to learn from a professional course meant to help budding or early-stage entrepreneurs. For more information about the London Business School Entrepreneurial Edge programme, visit us.

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With the emerging technological advancements and fundamental shifts in supply chain activities, it is safe to say that the supply chain landscape is not the same as it was a decade ago. New evolutions in technology such as 3-D printing, autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics and omni-channel retailing have brought about tremendous change in supply chain management.
Take the e-commerce giant Amazon for example, which has been working on a drone-based delivery system. The retail corporation Walmart has also developed a global satellite system that collects and shares its real-time store data. While these companies have taken that early step towards redefining their supply chain for optimal success in the future, most industries are finding it difficult to prepare themselves for today’s ever-evolving, exponentially more complex supply chain industry.The question is why?
According to industry analysts and experts, so much progress so quickly calls for new skills in supply chain management and leadership. Unfortunately, most supply chain organizations are unable to meet this demand currently.
Hence, the need of the hour is an advanced workforce who can integrate innovation and technology with their working knowledge of supply chain tools, activities, and goals to carry out strategic, higher-level supply chain activities in the very near future.
Here are some skills that are required for a new-age supply chain manager:

1. Understanding of Information Systems

In the words of Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft, “Information Technology is at the core of how you do your business and how your business model evolves itself.” This stands true for supply chain industry as well. Thus, it is important for supply chain managers of tomorrow to gain expertise and adeptness in packaged software systems like WMS, ERP, TMS, etc. for better decision support.

2. Technological Expertise

In the wake of technological revolution, it has become imperative for supply chain managers to gain knowledge in areas like Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Robotics and Automation, and know how to effectively utilise them to advance their supply chain. Take Alibaba for instance, which was able to reduce the human workforce at one its facilities by 70% by increasing robotic labour.

3. Strategic Planning and Big Thinking

Another capability quickly becoming indispensable in supply chain leaders is data analytics mentality or Big Thinking. The knowledge of advanced analytics provides them the ability to draw on the data sets and information created by supply chain activities to anticipate market trends and make better, faster, holistic decisions while say, optimising their production runs and distribution plans.

4. End-to-End Supply Chain Management

Unlike a few years ago, a supply chain manager today needs to understand the complete end-to-end supply chain – from sourcing to production, planning to delivery and service – through collaboration and networking. This real-time experience can enable future managers to align all key supply chain partners, identify potential risks and address issues as they arise for effective operations.

5. Risk Management Expertise

As new and improved products, processes and services are entering the market, risk management is fast becoming an important asset for supply chain managers. While different businesses will have an array of different potential risks, the knowledge of risk management can help supply chain managers ask the right questions relating to business, quantify risks, and build contingencies effectively.

6. Global Leadership

As the supply chain is becoming global owing to the technological developments and changes in the market, it has become vital for supply chain managers of tomorrow to develop a holistic leadership style. The ability to control the entire supply chain process as a single point of command, and work seamlessly on a multi-channel, multi-partner basis will enable them to drive change and action.

Currently, supply chain management positions are growing at nearly 270,000 opportunities per year, and there is only one skilled candidate for every six job openings. By 2030, the volume of jobs in the supply chain industry would have grown exponentially and the ratio of qualified candidates to job openings could be as high as 1:9.
The question is will you qualify to run the supply chains of 2030? How would you thrive, and not just survive in the rapidly changing and rather complex supply chain environment?If you wish to accelerate your career and master these new-age skills to prepare yourself to lead the supply chain industry to 2030 and beyond, MIT’s Supply Chain Management Program is just the right choice for you. For more details, click here.

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When it is time to climb the corporate ladder, one of the most sought-after skills that will help you on your ascent is the art of public speaking. Be it pitching your ideas in a meeting or motivating the team; speaking effectively is the key to connect with your audience. From Steve Jobs to Indra Nooyi, nearly every leader around the world brings impeccable oratorical skills to the table.

Even though public speaking is a challenging game to perfect, practice can go a long way to help you get things right. As you work towards becoming an effective orator, you will realize that it really is the little things that matter.

Be prepared

Few things are worse than being caught off guard. Knowing your content inside out can be the difference between an evocative presentation and one that falls flat, leaving your audience not only bored but confused as well.

Read up as much as you can on the topic that you’re going to talk about. Focus not only on the content of your speech or presentation but also on rooting it with a strong context. Explore the topic from multiple angles, even if you don’t touch upon those in your actual talk or presentation. This way, not only are you well informed but you are also well equipped to answer any questions that crop up.

Know your audience

What you speak is more about your audience than you, yourself. Your choice of words, body language, level of information and other relevant things will depend on who you are talking to. The way you speak to one group of people may not be as effective for another group. So before you craft your speech, or just set out make an impromptu announcement, make a note of who you are speaking to. Consider, their age, gender as well as the general cultural milieu and keep these factors at the top of your mind before you craft your words. It might be a good idea to think of some apt catchy phrases and one-liners that will attract your audience’s attention.

Use visual aids wisely

An audience that is unengaged is rarely receptive to what you have to say. The best ideas can die a silent death at the hands of a lackluster explanation. Think of a situation where you are having a conversation with your friend and instead of talking to you, your friend is reading out notes from a piece of paper.

Did you lose interest?

Your audience will too, if you rely too heavily on visual aids. Use visual aids like presentations, for the benefit of the audience. Leverage audiovisual content and innovative formats to keep the audience engaged. Do not use visual aids merely as tools to help you remember what to say next.

Package your message right

The way you present your message is more important than what you have in mind. Use a nice and catchy story or incident to open. You need to grab your audience’s attention with the opening line itself. Interact with them from time to time. This will make sure that you avoid any cognitive backlog. Make your presentation feel like a story and not a lecture to your audience. You can add some relevant anecdotes to establish a firm connection with your audience, and make sure you build on this connection at multiple points during your talk.

Remember that the more often you speak, the better you will be able to ace the art of public speaking. You may not be able to shake off those nerves at once, but you will surely learn how to minimize them with time and by having command & expertise over the area you are speaking about.

We, at Pearson Professional, offer career programs and other certificate programs around new-age skills from leading international universities to prepare you for the challenges that you would face in real life, make you a better leader and help you gain an edge over others to stay ahead in your career.

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Machines emulating human interactions was just an idea once confined to Sci-Fi movies. However, since the dawn of the ‘intelligent machines’ in 1950s, science has come quite far in making Artificial Intelligence (AI) a ubiquitous reality today. From voice-powered personal assistants such as Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa to fundamental and underlying technologies like behavioural algorithms and suggestive searches, AI has seeped its way into our lives in forms which once seemed implausible.

Today, there are numerous practical applications of AI. Let’s take a look at some of them:

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With a continuously evolving environment and multiple business functions at the workplace, every professional today can expect to assume the responsibility of a leader at some point in their career.

Irrespective of the position you hold currently, there will come a time when it will be incumbent for you to motivate, inspire and challenge your subordinates… to lead! However, for being an effective leader, you first need to excel in different areas of management – from planning and organization to communication and delegation. While technical skills are a requisite for you to climb up the ladder, it must be complemented with good managerial and human skills for a sure-shot at career ascent.

One of the most powerful leaders today, Indra Nooyi, CEO, PepsiCo, once said “Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder.” This can’t be truer. There is really no hard-and-fast guide to effective management and leadership; however, there are some golden rules that might make it easier for you to know exactly which trick you need from your bag of skills on the hardest of days.

Here are some of the key skills that will help you become a successful manager and encourage the people around you to trust you enough as a leader to follow you willingly:

1. Communication 

Effective communication is critical to express your ideas comprehensibly and coherently and guide your team to a better understanding, which makes it a key management skill. More than anything else, a potent manager should possess the ability to listen and maintain an open dialog with his or her co-workers and subordinates. This will not only increase your credibility within the organisation, but also garner respect for you as an effective leader.

2. Strategic Thinking 

One of the most important requisites of being a manager is to be a strategic and tactical thinker. You should be able to use critical thinking to anticipate potential issues, identify their roots, and develop sound action plan while making decisions and solving problems.
To be able to think strategically and see the bigger picture, a manager must also possess high levels of emotional intelligence (EI). It will not only improve your interpersonal skills, but also enable you to become a rational leader while de-escalating a difficult situation.

3. Motivation

 According to Nelson Mandela, a leader is like a shepherd who stays behind the flock and lets them go ahead without them realising that they were being directed by him all along.
Being a manager or a leader doesn’t necessarily imply that you have the authority to control. It is, in fact, an opportunity to let your team flourish by recognising their good work and providing them a second chance upon failure instead of criticism or flak. Creating a positive environment will motivate your fellow workers to perform better.

4. Conflict Resolution

For effective management, it is essential to handle issues that may disrupt the functioning of your team with a level-headed view. Playing favourites is most likely to foster a negative environment and inhibit motivation; hence leaving the team dysfunctional. While it may be a challenge to remain fair and consistent while resolving conflicts, adhering to a strict moral code will allow your team to feel at ease around you and define you as a successful leader.

5. Lead with Example 

In one of his books, John Maxwell has written “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” To lead your team to excellence, you must first aspire to excel as a manager and hold yourself to the highest standards of professionalism.
It is your attitude towards your role that will set examples for your team members and determine their behaviour. So, if you wish your team to work together and give their 100% to any assignment that comes through, all you need to do is do the same FIRST.
Adopting these practices in your everyday work-life will ensure that when the time comes, you will emerge as an effective manager and a leader who is looked upon and respected.

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