Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
Education
What the hi-tech drivers of education in the future will be
Excerpts from article by Sandeep Sancheti, published in The Hindu
New advances in technology are impacting the learning that takes place in classrooms and in the minds of teachers and students.
There are a lot of things that can be said about life and education but the first thing that comes to mind is that neither of them is static; both are dynamic. Whether the system likes it or not, it has to keep changing to keep in line with the times, otherwise, it runs the risk of being left behind in an ever-changing competitive world, driven by globalisation and information technology revolutions. Not many realise a simple fact: education and technology are two sides of the same coin.
In the last 15 years, classroom teaching, online learning, or the blended teaching-learning model has gone through a profound transformation. The dissemination, assimilation, and generation of knowledge in institutions where the talk and chalk method seems monotonous in an age where hands on experiences, seminars, and webinars have become the order of the day.
Technology and examination patterns are changing so fast that educators are pondering over whether the day will come when education will dispense with books, papers and pens altogether, replaced by a single device: a foldable liquid crystal display (LCD).
Student primary stakeholder
Student centricity of modern education in India has come to mean many things, the first being a belated realisation that the student is the primary stakeholder and that the system would have to adapt to contemporary young minds and not the other way around. This leads us to the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) that gives scope for any subject combinations. The bottom line is that a student has many options. There are avenues for multiple entries and exits with no loss of credits as well as time and effort.
Thanks to technologies and educators, administrators and regulators, education in India also offers the young flexibility to chase their dreams and passion. The time has arrived for curating a degree or even a dual degree, the choice of majors and minors, the opportunity of multi-disciplinary, inter-disciplinary, trans-disciplinary courses and the overall outcome that is based on strategies chosen by the student to suit their desires and the level of use of technologies that one is comfortable with.
Driving dozens
The student-centric learning has not only facilitated a varied pace and active feedback, but also led to better evaluation of strategies, assessment of outcomes and benchmarks. All of this would be possible because of new technologies, the drivers of education or what I identify as the “driving dozens” as around twelve such technologies are going to be responsible for the turnaround.
About a decade or more ago, it was fashionable to talk of smart classrooms; today we are still talking about this concept, only that the elements that go into a “smart” classroom have become “smarter”, thanks to the advances in technology and its applications. Chris Whittaker, Professor at Dawson College, Montreal, Canada, once described what goes into a smart classroom.“…. students come together in a shared space to construct, manipulate, and negotiate meaning around a canvas. The environments become immersive and learning happens on walls, desks, tables, and in conversations.
Educational institutions in these troubled times have come to doing examinations via the virtual mode with sophisticated proctoring software keeping a watchful eye on the student taking the exam. We are at a time in which students in science are getting comfortable with virtual labs. If the temptation is to say that all these mechanisms are only temporary in the environment of the corona virus, there is also the nagging fear that these mechanisms and technologies would become permanent, leading to different kinds of questions, including on the ethical front.
Biometric eye-tracking
The technology surrounding bio-metric eye-tracking, known in some circles as the “Iris”, while used for entering a building in several countries, is also used in super secretive intelligence agency buildings and facilities. In education, it has been pointed out that eye-tracking would help a teacher understand the extent to which a student has absorbed the study material. But in the realm of medicine, advanced institutions are already said to be using eye-tracking to understand the extent of rehabilitation in a patient. In the same fashion, and in the context of global communication, today’s most talked-about phenomenon is 5G. 5G is going to play a critical role in cloud technologies as it can deal with a high volume of data through the internet.
For all those Star Trek enthusiasts, there is the hologram technology that allows people to be beamed in from where ever they may be in a fictional sense, even from outer space. The uses of holograms are seen as not only real, tangible, and viable but also an experience for the next generation of those wishing to participate in meetings, irrespective of where they are from.
Wearable technology to the fore
The world is already witness to wearable technology, starting with wristwatches that perform a host of functions, including mapping vital body signs such as temperature, heartbeat, and monitoring the functioning of vital organs. Importantly, in an environment of online classes, students and teachers are exposed to different aspects of reality interspersed with digital elements to draw out the differences between virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality!
There is a school of thought that believes that technology can never supplant human beings; their argument has always been that humans invent machines and technologies; and that machines cannot re-invent themselves. While teachers are an essential part of education, it would be quite naïve to assume that teaching and education can happen in a vacuum. But in pushing for technology upgradation, there has also got to be a realisation that education has to be tech-savvy but in the context of societal reality.
Career
A 101 guide to building a career in health and fitness
Excerpts from article by Jyoti Dabas, published in India Today
There’s a sudden urge amongst people to stay fit since the pandemic struck. In fact, Covid-19 is transforming the fitness industry as we speak. From gym closures to opening up new avenues for online physical training, people are moving from total withdrawal from gymming to exploring alternate routes to keep their regimes up and moving. As people realize that health can’t be managed passively, they are seeking nutrition advice online.
Fortunately, we have tools and technologies around to make remote fitness coaching and training a reality.
Here are 6 tips to build a career in health and fitness:
1. Find your niche
A plethora of options awaits if one wants to carve a career in fitness. However, the first step would be to choose which aspect interests you the most – nutrition, mental well-being, holistic health, activity-based workouts, and so forth.
These areas are further subdivided into multiple disciplines. Pick the one that you would like to pursue daily.
2. Learn the nitty gritties
Guiding someone on nutrition or providing fitness considering different health and socio-economic backgrounds of customers is a tough task that requires a complete command over the field, backed by science.
3. Master your discipline
Although there are no mandatory regulations in place to pursue a career in fitness in India, it is always better to be equipped with relevant professional certifications for a wider acceptance amongst people.
No one would shell out money for a six-month yoga class unless the trainer is a certified professional from a recognized organization. And when it’s about your health, would you even take a risk?
4. Join the right institute
Benefits of enrolling in a well-established fitness institute are many. Not only the learner gets access to expert faculty and hands-on experience but also placement support, irrespective of their mode of learning.
It is always better to get an idea by connecting with students who have completed their certifications. Know how it adds value to their work opportunities.
5. Build your network
The best tip is to start developing an online presence as you complete your professional course. Pick some popular social media platforms for health and fitness such as Instagram and Youtube, etc. to reach out and connect with a like-minded audience and potential customers.
This can help you build a strong following and network. You can also begin with free trials and ‘no questions asked’ refunds policy initially if people are not satisfied with the sessions or diet-plans.
6. Develop expertise
Freshers working as group instructors or personal trainers can earn as much as INR 20,000/- month while an experienced professional can demand up to INR 80,000/- month.
Nutrition and fitness professionals with over two years of experience can earn up to INR 50,000/- a month which can be gradually increased to over INR 2,50,000/-.
The best weapons in this industry are a positive attitude, the right knowledge, and confidence. Staying fit and healthy are the keys to garner mass audiences.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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