Decoding the future of edtech, one learning at a time 

With digital platforms transforming the way learning happens, experts from Udacity, Vedantu, Springboard, and DADB discuss what the future holds for edtech.

“These days students prefer online learning as they can’t wait to gain knowledge through multiple channels. That’s where education is changing; edtech is redefining that,” said Mohan Lakhamraju, the Founder and CEO of Great Learning. He was speaking at a panel discussion on the Future of Edtech at the 9th edition of TechSparks, YourStory’s flagship event and India’s top startup conference.

He was joined by Parul Gupta, Co-founder, Springboard; Ishan Gupta, MD India, Udacity; Simon Veredonand, DADB Pulkit Jain, Co-founder and Product Head, Vedantu at the discussion where they shared their learnings.

This is a time when digital platforms are transforming the way learning is visualised and presented, be it distance education or cultural preservation.

Adding more perspective to this was Pulkit Jain, Co-founder of Vedantu and an IIT Roorkee alumnus. “I am the only K-12 (Class 6 to 12) teaching platform here. We are trying to solve two problems: access to quality teachers and education at affordable costs. We are addressing this to make the entire online system more effective.”

Adding more colour to the conversation from a technology perspective in different geographies, Ishan Gupta, of Udacity, said: “A lot of behavioural issues have been witnessed despite the course in India and in the US being the same. Udacity has always kept students first, and makes sure that they spend their time along with the money. Time is extremely important; the programme might take 8-10 hours or even span three to six months of commitment.”

Is India the big market for most of these edtech biggies, asked Dipti Nair, Editor at YourStory.Simon Veredon from DADB, replied:

“India is facing an industrial problem that even other nations are facing; classes aren’t able to keep up with the trends. We provide niche resources.” Giving the example of one of his German professors, he says the professor was extremely popular but could not find the time to teach at many universities. “The same day, I completed my work on an augmented reality studio. The professor said let’s broadcast my classes to all those universities that need me,” he said.

Springboard, which has over 10,000 students across a 100 countries in the world, has seen a rise in the number of students looking for employment opportunities after college and those considering online courses.

Parul said,

“The answer to why most students or professionals are opting for online courses is because they want to escalate their knowledge or get ahead with job search.”

“The second thing I would say is that the faulty educational system could be bridged with technology through personal assistance. Through technology, one can understand a person better; after all, everyone has their own issues in understanding. This will lead to more effective learning,” she added.

Speaking about the right ingredient mix of quality education, Mohan added: “Experience is not the only thing. You have trust, assessment, and feedback in a college-based programme. Great Learning provides you this in an online format at your comfort.”

YourStory's annual extravaganza TechSparks brings together the best and the brightest from the startup ecosystem, corporate world, policymakers, and of course, the investor community. Over the years, it has grown to become India's most loved tech and startup platform for knowledge sharing and networking. The ninth edition of TechSparks also marks YourStory's 10th anniversary. A big thank you for all your support over the years and keep reading and watching YourStory.