Education blog by Pearson India

Each year a lot of aspirants come forward to prepare academically for a career in teaching. The only eligibility criteria for becoming a qualified and certified teacher is by appearing for CTET exams, i.e., the Central Teaching Eligibility Test, which is administered by the Central Board of Secondary Education of India.

CTET is a national-level eligibility test conducted twice a year. This entrance exam is bilingual, which gives candidates the option of choosing either Hindi or English as their language. Before 2021, the examination was conducted online. But CTET 2021, the 15th edition of this exam, will be conducted online. In fact, from this year, this entrance exam will be conducted online. The goal is to get aspiring teachers accustomed to digital technology.

What are the eligibility criteria for CTET?

CTET exams are conducted in two phases: Paper I and Paper II. Candidates who aspire to teach the primary section can apply for Paper I, and those who wish to teach the elementary section can apply for Paper II. Aspirants who teach both sections, i.e., from classes 1 to 8, can apply for both, Paper I and Paper II.

The eligibility criteria for CTET are very diverse and both papers require different qualifications.

CTET Educational Requirements for Paper I

Each candidate must have passed their 12th grade with a minimum of 45% or 50% marks.

The candidates with a minimum of 45% marks should also have the following further qualifications:

• They should have passed or are currently in the final year exam of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, in accordance with the NCTE Regulations, 2002.

The candidates with a minimum of 50% marks should also have one of the further qualifications:

• Candidates should have passed or currently appearing for the final year exam of the 2-year Diploma course in Elementary Education.
• Candidates should have passed or currently appearing for the final year exam of the 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.EI.Ed).
• Candidates should have passed or currently appearing for the final year of the 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education).
• Bachelor of Education (B. Ed)

CTET Educational Requirements for Paper II

The candidates must fulfill one of the following qualifications:

• Candidates should be graduates and have passed or currently appearing for the final year exam of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.
• Candidates should be graduates with a minimum of 50% marks. They should also have passed or currently appearing for a 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed).
• Candidates should be graduates with a minimum of 45% marks. They should also have passed or currently appearing for a 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed) in accordance with the NCTE Regulations.
• Candidates should have passed 12th grade with a minimum of 50% marks. They should also have passed or currently appearing for a 4-year Bachelor in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) course.
• Candidates should have passed 12th grade with a minimum of 50% marks. They should also have passed or currently appearing for a 4-year B.A/B.Sc.Ed or B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed course.
• Candidates should have graduated with a minimum of 50% marks. They should have also passed or currently appearing for a 1-year B.Ed (Special Education).

What are the subjects in CTET?

CTET Paper I exam subjects are as follows:

• Child Development and Pedagogy This subject is focused on giving aspirants an opportunity to learn about the educational psychology of teaching. It teaches aspirants about the parameters of being a good knowledge provider, communicator, and being interactive with their students.
• Language 1 and Language 2 These are two separate subjects focused on different but correlated aspects. Language 1 is about developing the skills to hold command of the language of teaching. Whereas Language 2 is about communication and comprehension. These two subjects require you to focus on a lot of reading materials from CTET books. The language chosen for each paper should be different from each other.
• Mathematics This subject is about learning problem-solving abilities, data handling, and concepts. To prepare for this subject, you have to be thorough with the mathematics of classes 1 to 8. Error analysis, simplification of problems, and evaluation are some other important aspects of this subject.
• Environmental Studies This subject, as the name implies, teaches aspirants about practical applications. The subject topics include food, nutrition, environmental issues, as well as, principles.

CTET Paper II exam subjects are as follows:

CTET Paper II includes similar subjects to Paper I, which include Child Development and Pedagogy, Language 1, Language 2, and Mathematics. It has two more subjects, which are as follows:

• Science This subject focuses on conceptual learning about topics like human physiology, kingdoms of life, and methods of science. The questions revolve around the NCERT syllabus for classes 6 to 8.
• Social Studies This includes the study of factual knowledge about history, politics, geography, and critical thinking. The questions are from the NCERT syllabus on similar topics from classes 6 to 8.
  Now that you are aware of the subjects you are going to cover, here are some CTET preparation tips that will come in handy for you.
• Know the exam pattern Each subject carries the weightage of 30 marks each, from Paper I as well as Paper II separately. Hence, each paper marks a total of 150. There are a total of 150 questions, meaning each question is worth a mark. There are no negative markings in this examination. The qualifying marks for the CTET examination are 90 marks for each paper. If you score equal to or more than the qualifying limit, then you pass your exam.
• Keep learning and stay up-to-date It is important that you constantly keep learning about the subjects or the sections you aspire to teach. For examination purposes, you can limit your study materials to the recommended syllabus, but as a teacher, it will always be your job to feed their curiosity. The best books to keep up with the curriculum are Pearson CTET books. They are available in Hindi as well as English and are complete resources for your CTET preparation books.
• Practice mock tests Appear for mock tests as they prepare you for the competitive environment that is this entrance test. Keep your exams time-bound and focus on your weaknesses.

These little tips and strategies can prepare you for your exams and for the teaching you aim to impart further. Be consistent and relevant with the latest education patterns, teaching as well as learning materials and technology. Lastly, don’t let your hunger for knowledge fade.

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The lockdown of Covid-19 has completely changed the education game. Being in college was once associated with dorm rooms and lecture halls but now most people are opting for online classes because of convenience. There are pros and cons to both learning systems so let us explore those points so you can choose the one that is more suited to your needs.

Benefits of online schools

One of the key benefits of online schools is the convenience of time. Not only do you cut down on traveling to and for from school but some lectures are already pre-recorded so that you can learn on your own time instead of being available at a specifically scheduled hour.

This makes a huge difference in your routine as you are not planning everything around the school timings but you are learning when it is best for you. Everything you learn with an open and fresh mind is learned better than being forced on to lectures when your mind is occupied because you are not very likely to pay attention or recall the material later on.

Another thing online schools can do is show visuals and explain concepts easily in forms of pictures, videos, diagrams, etc. These visuals can capture the attention of children and make the concepts interesting enough to learn and remember.

Benefits of traditional schools

Most students learn responsibility and discipline in childhood due to their respect and fear of authority in offline schools. In childhood, most of us lack the motivation or a direction in life, and the teachers in traditional schools play a huge role in training children.

But after a point, most of us have to develop intrinsic motivation and self-discipline so as to keep up with the rest of the world. If you are someone who finds it difficult to stay motivated to study every day, social accountability of offline schools is the best option for you. If you know you will be asked to submit something in class tomorrow, you are very likely to finish it, even if you have to burn the midnight oil. Such a need never arises in online schools which means you are very likely to delay studying if you are not motivated enough.

Another compelling reason to study in a traditional school would be socializing. Children who learn to socialize in school can embrace the real world easily. Even for teenagers and adults, studying something together creates a bond like no other, and making friends is quite easy when you are all in it together. Opting for an offline school just to have people to talk to may not sound like a valid reason but being in school is more about getting an education. It is an experience that teaches us a lot of values that you can only appreciate if you have been to a traditional school.

Both types of schooling have their benefits and setbacks but there is a way to combine both and get the best out of both worlds. Pearson’s K-12 Education program has a unique blended learning ecosystem that enables teachers to seamlessly teach the students. This program will empower teachers by helping them plan better, collect feedback, and ensure that this learning can carry on anytime and anywhere without a hitch.

K-12 can adapt based on the changing times as well as to the age of the child. Schools all over India are integrating this system to help their students and teachers. The curriculum is completely mapped and customized to keep children informed and interested at the same time by igniting their imagination. The program can also help students preparing for CBSE, ICSE, and all State and International Boards.

The best part about Pearson, apart from the K-12 program, is that they understand students and their needs. They know that learning is best done when students enjoy it thoroughly. So to up their potential, they have built the Pearson ActiveApp that brings a plethora of digital resources that will provide uninterrupted learning anywhere and anytime. Due to its user-friendly interface, animations, games, interactive activities, quick recapitulation, and self-paced learning system, the app will be easy to get used to and very difficult to put down. Learning new things will be second nature for students who use ActiveApp.

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If you are a teacher looking for ways to improve yourself, you should know you are already a great teacher. Teachers are best when they have an innate desire to learn and impart that knowledge to the next generation with a passion.

Education is a never-ending process, especially for teachers in this progressing world. It is important that there is room for encouragement towards professional development for teachers so that the students have the best learning resources and teachers are satisfied at their workplace.

It is not just curriculum that is changing and adapting but the social life and the entire schooling system has been changed since the COVID-19 lockdown. Teacher development is essential in these changing times and here are several compelling reasons why -

1. To learn something new: Taking courses on things that you are interested in will bring a bigger purpose in your life. It will enable you to step out of the role of being a teacher and help you realize that you can progress better when you are learning by the side. As a teacher, if you just keep teaching the same thing over and over again, you are not bound to make any changes or progress. Take a step back and learn something that you always wanted and bring the enthusiasm and ideas of the course back to your classroom.
2. To stay up to date with the new learning techniques: With the developing technology, you can teach the subject better through various new methods. So going on a teacher development program is essential so that you can be brought up to date with the latest resources. You can also socialize with other teachers teaching the same subjects and learn how to help students better by getting new ideas from your fellow teachers.
3. To be the student once again: After a couple of years of teaching, teachers forget what it was like to be young and a student. This gap in understanding becomes a hurdle in teaching as they can’t get through to students if they can’t understand them. Being a student in a course will help you realize and appreciate how difficult it is to pay constant attention and remember the subject matter. You can check out how other professionals teach and take a leaf out of their playbook as well when you come back to your teaching.
4. Develop skills: Teaching is a profession where every type of course can help you be a better teacher. You can learn the way other teachers plan and organize their lectures and do the same. Joining a course specifically to learn new skills that help teachers will help you gain knowledge and certificates that will help you in promotion and/or better teaching job in a different school.
5. Experience the different methods of teaching themselves: While you are doing an online or offline teacher development course, you can benefit the most by experiencing the methods other teachers use to teach. You can observe which one of their methods was best and which ones were not by checking out what you understood easily in the subject matter and what proved difficult.
6. Gain credit: If you are looking to change to a better school, you will need to stand out. The best way to show that is with certificates of different courses that proves that you are always learning and improving along with gaining experience in teaching. The knowledge and skills will set you apart from most teachers who just fulfill the duties and obligations of being a teacher. These courses need not be related to teaching. You can show that learning in different fields helps you be better in your own field as well.
7. Be better: Learning will undoubtedly help you be better in your career, but it will also help you be a better person. When you learn something new, you realize how much you don’t know in a particular field. You realize there were so many things you hadn’t even imagined are now possible for you. This humbling and liberating experience can only happen once you start learning again.

If you are a teacher looking to develop new skills, check out the Pearson website. They conduct a lot of workshops and webinars on various topics of interest that will help enhance your skills and knowledge.

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India has an immense requirement for a skilled workforce with its growing economy, ever-changing technology, and increasing international trade. To develop a skilled workforce, there is a need to adapt skill-based educational practices. Recognising the value of skill development is a requisite for the competitive job market. Skill development can be defined as the time invested in improving proficiency to stay future-ready and be able to complete a task with higher rates of success at the right time. Skill development is an essential practice as skills determine one's ability to execute their plans with success.

Skills development in India:

India has a literacy rate of around 70%, while only 20% of them are employable. Literacy is not just restricted to education as it also expands to the concept of skills, which comprises technical expertise, transferrable skills, vocational skills, digital skills, and other such knowledge and abilities required for employment and livelihood. According to a survey, only 25% of the Indian workforce has undergone a skill development program. India needs a higher number of skilled workforces to change the narrative.India is experiencing a rise in the role of technology, climate change, urbanisation, demographic shifts, and the globalisation of value chains; as a result, it is changing the nature of work and demand for a skilled workforce.

To thrive in the 21st-century job market, one needs a comprehensive skillset comprised of:

• Technical skills: An acquired knowledge and expertise to perform a specific task with the help of required technology or tools.
• Socio-emotional skills: The ability to navigate through interpersonal and social situations efficiently, and include leadership, teamwork, self-control, and grit.
• Cognitive skills: The ability to understand intricate ideas, adjust effectively to the environment, learn from experience, and reason.
• Digital skills: Skills that carry on all the above skills, and describe the ability to reach, manage, learn, integrate, communicate, assess, and create information safely and appropriately.

Workforce development in India:

Workforce development puts 'people' at the centre stage of business development. This approach contributes to the strategies required to improve the potential of an individual in the workplace and career trajectory. Workforce development not only improves their chances in life but also leads to increased benefits for businesses.

Workforce development has a myriad of positive implications in the life of an individual and the business. The value of workforce development is that the employees benefit from retraining, and the employers enjoy a higher-skilled team.

Below are some of the main benefits of workforce development:

• Increased operational efficiency
• Increased job satisfaction
• Lower turnover rate
• Enhancements in innovative thinking
• Improved productivity
• Proactive problem-solving

Hence, workplace development plays a crucial part for a business, as an empowered workforce is like an asset to their employer. However, when employees feel overlooked or neglected by their management team, they may start looking for employment elsewhere.

Pearson has recognised this requirement and value of skills and workforce development in India and devised Pearson BTEC courses to prepare learners for a successful career in their chosen industry with hands-on practical learning. BTEC opens doors to diverse career opportunities for learners and provides them with real-life skills to meet industry demands. Click here to know more about Pearson BTECs globally recognised qualifications and courses.

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When we think of sports, we imagine a scene from our favourite cricket match or an iconic goal in football, or a range of other physical games which require exceptional skills and athletic ability for playing. However, the realm of esports is rapidly becoming one of the most popular forms of entertainment and competition in the country. The esports sector is still in a developing stage in India while emerging trends lead to the fact that this industry is all set to grow by leaps and bounds and will soon rival the traditional sports leagues in India.

What is esports?

esports can be described as the world of competitive, organized video gaming. Competitors from different leagues or teams face off in the same games that are popular with at-home gamers.

Emergence in India

Globally esports and Gaming are the largest entertainment sector, dominating the revenue of traditional industries like movies and music. With an increasing number of tournaments, active viewers, and engagement around esports activities in the country, India is catching up fast with the trend. Owing to India's much younger gaming demographic and relatively late arrival into the world of gaming, India is set to be one of the largest potential esports markets for the coming decade.

Scope in India

India ranked 16 on the Forbes list, making it a multi-billion-dollar industry. It has successfully taken over the Indian market because of the promotion and campaign on various online streaming platforms like YouTube. India has successfully hosted some of the most notable tournaments in esports, such as PUBG Mobile Series 2019 and the Electronic Sports League, joined by Dota 2 players from different parts of the world. Another significant point to remember is the scope of esports in India is not limited to the players only but extends to various other roles and support services around esports. The infrastructure that supports and continues to propel esports consists of producers who employ teams of editors, photographers, hosts, interviewers, analysts, esports journalists, product managers, game testers, tournament referees, entire production crews etc. Hence the scope of esports in India is immense and is only going to increase.

What are different skills required to be able to work in the esports industry?

1. Communication: Be it playing on an esports team or working for one, the job requires you to be able to convey your thoughts in a concise yet speedy manner as many things can be happening at any given time. Coordinating these different thoughts together to give the team a synchronised mindset is critical to achieving victory. Good communication allows for better synergy with others which makes for some excellent highlights.
2. Research: Playing the esports game of your choice matters a lot, but one of the components to esports that should get as much coverage is the research aspect. From learning new techniques, knowledge on how to take down a particular character to the mechanism behind the game are mostly achieved through research.
3. Critical thinking: It is one of the most powerful skills you can have while working in esports. A part of critical thinking within esports includes the ability to get inside the head of your opponents and try to read their minds. The battles are not only played on screens but also in the minds of the players.
4. Multitasking: esports equip some of the best multitaskers as many games take the players on such levels that they must multitask to guess the next moves of their opponents. During a match, players have to keep track of many moving components while paying attention to different bars and meters to gather every piece of key information within the game to defeat their rivals. And in this way multitasking becomes a part of the everyday routine.

The growth of the esports market will definitely create more career opportunities for passionate individuals. In the coming years, the growth and engagement in the esports industry are going to increase.

Pearson recognises the need and value of different types of emerging skills and workforce development in India. Pearson BTEC courses prepare learners for a successful career in their chosen industry with hands-on practical learning. BTEC opens doors to a variety of career opportunities for learners and provides them with real-life skills to meet industry demands. Click here to know more about Pearson BTECs globally recognised qualifications and courses. 

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Studying can be fun, playful, informative, and important, but many school students find studying intimidating and often run away from it. Even for the students who like studying, it can be a time-consuming process where they have to do assignments, schedule their time, and even pause or push other activities in order to complete their given schoolwork. And all this may feel like a burden to the students who don't enjoy studying. Effective studying requires various skills and strategies to complete the assignments on time and without procrastination, and these skills often are not taught explicitly. With the increased self-sufficiency commanded by virtual education, school students that do not enjoy studying can acquire some useful studying techniques to manage their goals and effectively increase their knowledge.

1. Create a learning environment: Environment and surroundings have a significant impact on the learning habits and response of the students to studying. The environment can either encourage learning or affect it negatively and distance students from studies. Every student has different abilities, and it is crucial to understand that. Incessant nagging, shouting, reprimanding, and pressurising students to study would only lead to them loathing school and avoiding studies. Therefore, it is essential to create a healthy environment that is favourable to learning. Removing the distractions and forming a daily routine with scheduled time for studies and other recreational activities can create a balance for school students. This way positive learning environment can help students to enjoy their studies.
2. Find out how they like to learn: In order to form useful studying strategies, it is crucial to understand the ways students like to learn and how they can absorb the content better. One way is to ask the students how they would like to study to maximize the benefits of study time. They are likely to have different answers, once you have a simple idea, you can persuade them gently towards developing new approaches. Encourage them to combine their own study methods with some other useful strategies such as proactive thinking, learning through games, taking small breaks between study etc. When students think they are studying on their own terms, it can make them enjoy their process. Also Read: How To Develop 21st Century Skills through Blended Learning
3. Avoid distractions: In the day and age of technology and virtual learning, students can find many things at their disposal that might distract them from studying. Understanding these things is crucial to create a distraction-free zone for effective studying. That could mean everything from locking away all the distracting devices to studying in absolute silence and anything and everything in between. Everyone has a different approach and preferences. Creating a distraction-free study zone can encourage the students to study more effectively. 
   Facilitating communication and problem solving:When school students don't enjoy studying, most of the time it is because of some underlying issues they are dealing with, which does not allow them to focus and concentrate on their studies. It is very essential that there is an open conversation, between student-parents and student-teacher, about the challenges they face and provide a supportive atmosphere to create a trusting relationship.
4. Encourage the achievements: Creating small achievable milestones and goals is an encouraging strategy to adopt to form effective study habits in school students who don't enjoy studying. When the students know that there is some goal or an endpoint in sight while studying it can hold their attention to the point. Allow students to make a list of tasks for themselves that they can check off as they do their work. There are psychological rewards in completing tasks and visually striking them off. Doing so provides a sense of both organization and accomplishment. Students that are studying in groups can set a milestone system in place to help keep each other motivated. Online task managers can help with this.

The above useful studying strategies can help the students that don't enjoy studying in ways that they can give the studies a chance and learn at their own pace with the help of positive reinforcement and support from their teachers, parents, and peers.

Learn more about the Pearson K12 and its unique blended learning ecosystem that enables seamless integration and knowledge sharing for the learner. Click here and open doors to Pearson products and services to ignite the interest and imagination in the minds of the students and keep them tethered to learning.

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Blended learning can be defined as an approach to education that blends online educational materials and opportunities for interaction online with traditional classroom-based learning methods. Blended learning promotes knowledge and skill with the combination of face to face and online study methods, while conventional method deals in the only face to face system study methods. Furthermore, both blended and conventional learning are known to possess similar methods, structure, content, strategy and learning activities.

The ever-changing world and technological advancement have increased the demand for technical skills. In order to provide it, educators must evaluate their role in the classroom and determine if their curriculum is designed to help students become successful and develop the required skills in this environment. Educators in the 21st century are guiding students with the help of blended learning in dealing with massive amounts of content, to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to use technology as an effective tool in a responsible manner, and to assist students with developing their own learning styles.

Developing 21st-century skills through blended learning:

Blended learning refers to an amalgamation of the best features concerned with face-to-face and online learning.

Interaction: Interactive studies are performed for the students in the classroom, while virtual sessions filled with multimedia-rich content can be accessed by students anywhere and anytime with only an internet connection. These exercises aim to provide different modes of content delivery to encourage interactions, acquisition of knowledge and skills through physical classrooms, and continuation of the learning processes through online methods. Numerous educational activities and assignments which were performed in physical classrooms are now efficiently being held through online or electronic means. With various forums, online groups and communities created through a blended learning atmosphere, students can interact with their peers and communicate. This kind of interaction and open communication often leads to the development of several social and interpersonal skills.

Communication: Student-to-student communications and reflections are encouraged by the options of reporting and presenting these projects in an e-learning environment. With the help of blended learning, the teachers can set clear directions and realistic goals for individuals for collective tasks. Communication helps in the improvement and motivation of learners, academic achievement, teamwork, skill acquisition, etc. Students are also awarded diverse opportunities for the extension of knowledge beyond the classroom through online learning efforts. The communication also results in the engagement of students which leads to better information and feedback on work. When communications happen online through the channels of blended learning the students become more aware of their online presence and position which leads to the development of 'netiquette skills', a combination of the words network and etiquette defined as a set of rules for acceptable online behaviour.

Activities: Another way blended learning help students develop skills is through interactive activities. Blended learning provides the students with various opportunities and time flexibility to interact, communicate, present, work in groups, discuss, share ideas, and resources at any location. This results in the intense training and promotion of soft skills including communication, IT, time management, problem-solving, research skills, and teamwork. The interactive activities also intensely assist in the achievement of higher academic success. This way students who get exposed to blended learning activities obtain more of the 21st-century skills including soft skills and hard skills.

With the help of the above methods, students can make the most of the blended learning model and develop 21st-century skills. The advent and rise of blended learning can be used in the most effective way for learning new skills and acquiring knowledge.

Pearson offers a similar learning platform for students by fulfilling the above points. With the Pearson K-12 learning program, you can get your hands on a Blended ecosystem. It contains ActiveTeach that blends digital content with print content, ActiveApp, a one-touch destination for learning anytime and anywhere, and a comprehensive range of textbooks and learning material from pre-primary to class 12th. Click here to know more. 

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Libraries have always been a crucial part of the learning process. One can describe the library as a centrally organized set consisting of resources that include an entire spectrum of different types of media (text, video, hypermedia) as well as human services. When we think about libraries, the first thing that comes to mind is the physical components such as space, equipment, storage, racks full of books and other academic material.

No one can deny the role reading play in the life of students. Since digitization has taken over most of the components in school learning and higher education, learning through digital libraries is not a thing of the past anymore. The decline in visits to conventional libraries suggests that students prefer to access information and read content without visiting a library in person.

While many libraries and universities are digitizing their materials to be accessible to members and the general public, let us take a look at the main benefits of digital libraries for higher education:

1. Instant access to resources: There is no luxury such as having access to abundant knowledge and relevant information pertaining to specific subjects. A Digital library cuts short the time and effort one would put into visiting a conventional library and finding the right book. With options like in-built content search with only a few keywords or titles, searching for what you need from thousands of resources becomes easy.
2. No physical boundaries: Accessing the digital library is much easier and efficient, unlike a conventional library, students don't have to check the opening and closing hours to plan their visits; with just an internet connection, you can access a digital library anytime, anywhere. Digital libraries provide the students with the convenience of learning at their own comfort. Students can access and read the library materials in various digital formats (eBooks, audiobooks, videos on demand 24 hrs/day) anytime and anywhere using their preferred devices.
3. Preservation of resources: Conventional libraries need to invest heavily in the maintenance and preservation of library resources. The physical library resources are accessed and reused by readers regularly, where it becomes difficult to prevent the deterioration of books, vinyl records, cassette tapes and other resources. Whereas with digital libraries, the content is digitized, and the digital resources are accessible to a large number of readers regularly without focusing on the preservation of physical materials.
4. Real-Time Interactions: One of the main benefits of using the digital library is that students can clarify their doubts then and there with new-age management software that can facilitate interaction between readers and administrators. The readers can also interact by setting up online communities and find a resolution to their doubts in real-time. This dynamic and real-time interaction feature has the potential to make the readers switch from conventional libraries to digital libraries.
5. Updated information: Digital libraries help you access the updated resources with the latest technology available, the conventional libraries may fall behind in purchasing the latest editions of books, magazines, and other content resources. But digital libraries in higher education institutes or organizations can update the digital library regularly. Many publishers these days allow digital libraries to make the latest editions and magazines accessible to the readers based on the pay-as-you-read model. Hence, digital libraries help engage readers by providing access to the latest publications.

The above benefits will help you see the increasing importance and necessity of digital libraries for higher education in the age of technological advancement and digitization.

If you are looking forward to enjoying a seamless learning experience with 24/7 access to a wide collection of eBooks and digital learning resources, click here to access Pearson eLibrary, a comprehensive digital learning solution to empower learners across all disciplines. And access your course books at your convenience, from anywhere, on any device.  

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This generation has experienced some monumental changes in the form of remote or online learning. Schools and other higher educational institutions are collaborating with many online learning solutions providers to create an immersive learning experience for their students with accessible and customised learning tools.

With new technologies catering to the educational needs of students, it’s safe to say that being physically present in a classroom is no longer the only option. As long as you have access to the internet and a smartphone or computer, it is possible to access education as desired. Technology has enabled unprecedented accessibility, availability, and mobility of education.

Online learning is providing students and educators with the opportunity to upskill and be prepared to lead in their profession with the skills of technology integration for all aspects of learning and teaching.

Let's take a look at why online learning solutions are the future of higher education:

Customised experience: One of the best features of online learning solutions is the personalised experience students can get. Studying with the help of online learning solutions can prove to be flexible for each student’s requirements and address the concerns around the learning ability level. Students can get access to all sorts of digital content such as videos, photos, and eBooks. The tutors can also integrate other formats like forums or discussions to improve their lessons. And this extra content can be available anytime, anywhere, which will offer the students a more dynamic and tailor-made learning experience.

Accessibility: The significant reason behind the success of online learning solutions is that they are easily accessible and provide tremendous flexibility in terms of scheduling lessons and studying at one’s own pace. It has been very clear since the COVID-19 pandemic that there is a huge requirement of digital learning and virtual learning mediums for school students since the use of digital learning tools is increasing day by day, and a significant percentage of them prefer online learning to traditional classrooms. The popularity of online learning solutions is constantly growing in the Indian market, and in other countries, hence they are successfully being implemented in the learning process.

Interactive content: The increasing scope of digital learning, technological advancement in the field of education and availability of digital content over the internet has allowed teachers and educators to find more and more ways to interact with their students successfully and creatively via interactive and engaging content by simply adding eBooks, videos, online quizzes, infographics, and group discussions to the traditional learning approach. The online learning solutions can help traditional learning with multimedia content including photographs, VR maps, and 3D charts etc., this type of interactive content ultimately leads to better concentration and easier adaptation of the ideas and concepts.

Helps in assessment: Testing the learning and assessing the results are crucial elements of the education system, be it traditional or online. Learning solutions perform this task very efficiently with the help of various tools and assessment parameters taking the evaluation process to another level. Good evaluations benefit both learners and teachers. They help teachers to evaluate the effectiveness of the course and training, the delivery of the knowledge, value output, the areas that need to be improved etc. It is important for the course to be engaging in order to increase motivation, focus, and concentration. Assessment helps as the ultimate continuation of this engagement to make learning more meaningful and impactful. Online learning solutions provide useful learner data while performing as effective learning tools for the audience.

Cost-effective: A growing number of students learning online at the comfort of their homes has increased the use of online learning solutions and their demand. The online learning solutions are offering benefits in terms of flexibility and accessibility while saving time and money for the educational institutes by allowing easier enrolment of a larger number of students and providing a user-friendly, web-based environment. Not only educators but also the learners are saving their time and money in commuting in order to focus on online classes and show a better academic performance.

These are only a few reasons why online learning solutions are the future of higher education. Online learning solutions can see exponential growth in the near future.

Pearson offers future proof online school learning solutions for students. With the Pearson K-12 learning program, you can get your hands on a Blended ecosystem. It contains ActiveTeach that blends digital content with print content, ActiveApp, a one-touch destination for learning anytime and anywhere, and a comprehensive range of textbooks and learning material from pre-primary to class 12th. 

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On the 11th of June 2014 Narendra Modi made his first speech in the Parliament as the Prime Minister. He had spoken for slightly more than an hour and during his speech he spoke for nearly seven minutes on education. That vision of the PM has come true through the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP). Mr. Modi had made it clear that education will have the less privileged children as its first priority and the teachers would be centre-stage. He also made it clear that technology would be honed to reach out to the hitherto unreached. The NEP 2020 fulfils his vision of 21st Century education in India.

During 2015 to 2019 a lot of emphasis was given on the use of technology in education and at the nucleus was the teacher. The Government of India established its own massive open online platform by the name of SWAYAM and also launched its bouquet of thirty two educational television channels by the name of Swayam Prabha. Any teacher from anywhere can design his/her own course and place it on the SWAYAM, and learners from anywhere in the country or abroad can take the course. This initiative was a precursor of the Pandemic which hit the world in 2020. Geographical boundaries have been removed and the teacher has the freedom to become a global teacher. On the one hand it brought a great opportunity to the teachers but it also has brought great challenge. The competition for teachers has increased manifold. The competition is no more with the teachers in the school or the town but from any or all teachers of the world. Now every teacher has the opportunity to teach to a real global classroom but the challenge is to be the best otherwise the student can exit anytime. The opportunity to perform and be recognised is unlimited but the competition is also equally unlimited.

The Policy has committed to provide opportunity to students with aptitude for teaching through a nationwide test to enter teaching profession and also provide scholarships, especially to women who want to enter the teaching profession. Section 5.2. of NEP says “To ensure that outstanding students enter the teaching profession – especially from rural areas – a large number of merit based scholarships shall be instituted across the country for studying quality 4-year integrated B.Ed. programmes.” The teacher education program may be long, of four year duration but all would be supported to pursue the training. Conjoined with the pre-service training will be continuous professional development. Ours is the only profession where individual excellence counts. NEP provides the opportunity to continuously grow and become better teachers. Coordination between Boards has been poor. To fill that gap a central agency will be established to coordinate between Boards. The Central Cabinet has approved the formation of a body by the name of PARAKh on the 14th of October 2020. 

The major challenges would be to:

• Become lifelong learners;
• Keep in touch with the disciplinary knowledge as learners will have access to the latest information online;
• Learn new technologies regularly as every machine is updated every few months;
• Degrees won’t matter much but the performance will count;
• Compete with global teaching community to remain relevant.

The Ministries - Central and States; have been regulating and deciding on issues related to schooling whereas it should be done by the experts and professionals. Section 8.2. of the NEP says “At present, all main functions of governance and regulation of the school education system … are handled by a single body, i.e., the Department of School Education or its arms. This leads to conflict of interest and excessive centralised concentration of power.” The NEP it is clear intends to take school education out of the Ministry of Education and put it in the hands of the professionals. The school leaders, who have had little say in school administration will hopefully have more say, rather will be in control of the schools. The policy commits to have the teachers and school leaders centre-stage. Section 5.1 says “Teachers truly shape the future of our children – and, therefore, the future of our nation. … The high respect for teachers and the high status of the teaching profession must be restored so as inspire the best to enter the teaching profession.” It’s time for the teachers to express themselves. What should change? Teachers must have their disciplinary as well as professional associations, which NEP also desires to establish. Indian teachers have not been able to form vibrant associations. The teachers and the school leaders must become opinion leaders as well and put forth their views on what should change in schooling. There is very little publication from the school leaders.

Teachers and especially school leaders should think and express on various platforms verbally and in print, their opinion about revamping school education. All must together demand for an independent regulatory body for school education which should be independent of the Central as well as the State governments on the lines of the University Grants Commission. This may be called the School Education Commission.

All the best.

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