What’s app for EdTech?
What if, like the Whatsapp Business version, there was a Whatsapp version for Education that could reach remote areas of India where communities cannot afford heavy tech infrastructure and where the teachers to students ratio is very low
An Overview
Post pandemic, there has been a paradigm shift in the education sector in India with the onset of Ed-Tech startups. With more startups attracting investments and seed funding, EdTech has become a force to reckon with.In India alone there are atleast 92 edtech startups that secured funding in 2020 with over 60 of them receiving seed funding.
Having said this, the underprivileged students are fighting a bigger battle to get access to education resources. The cost of technology, access of internet and pricing of most edtech platforms have contributed to a lacunae in providing education to rural and underprivileged communities.
Problems that need to be solved
In order for EdTech to reach low-income communities to bridge the learning gap, problems at the root level need to be identified. Some of them may include:
- Language : A large section of communities in India are unfamiliar with the English language. During the pandemic, some platforms relayed learning charters to parents with instructions in regional languages so that they can easily assist their children with the learning material.
- Focus on academic performance: There is a tendency for EdTech companies to structure their learning plan towards academic performance rather than cognitive development. Adoption of Gamification(eg: Duolingo) such as incentive based learning, quizzes, habit forming can contribute to sharpening the cognitive abilities of children
- Reach of study material: As depicted in the figure above, not all homes have access to smartphones, let alone tablets and laptops. Most EduTech companies require an internet connection and a device such as a laptop or tablet to consume their content. Considering majority of households have one smartphone, content providers should target Whatsapp or Youtube to share their content as this is far reaching and easily accessible
A Prototype
As stated in point 3 above, let’s consider Whatsapp as a medium for educational content. Like the Business version that is currently a hit, a few ideas for what the Education version might look like:
Please Note: All images below are completely the author’s representation and do not depict the actual product in any way or form
a. Setting up an Education Profile
Schools or educational institutions can setup an Education profile on Whatsapp which they can use to communicate with Students remotely. The profile can also contain hotline numbers if available which will make it easier for students to reach out to the school/institution.
b. Configuring quick replies
Apart from the basic features of Whatsapp like chat messages, sharing images, videos, calling, location, etc., the education version(like the business version) can have quick replies that are configurable by the school/institution. These will help the org handle multiple queries by parents or students.
c. Setting up greeting messages
Greeting messages will help the school/institution onboard students with ease as they can preconfigure instructions and steps in multiple languages.
d. Labelling Chats
Labelling will help instructors/teachers segregate students into groups and send custom messages to each group. Examples of groups can be:
- Groups on the basis of language of communication
- Groups on the basis of learning speed
- Groups for parents
- Groups on the basis of grade or level
- Groups on the basis of subjects
e. Creating Catalogues
Similar to Whatsapp Business, where users can create catalogues of their menu offerings or their services, educational institutions can use catalogues to show the student different learning paths they can take or the different subjects they offer.
f. Use interactive messages features to create quizzes and tests
One of the most attractive features that could be used in Whatsapp education from the Business version is the interactive messaging feature. Using this, the educational institution can use gamification techniques to conduct interactive quizzes and tests for students with prizes and awards.
Apart from this, institutions can group students by area and create a Whatsapp group and organize learning activities.
They can send images, videos and instructions to parents on whatsapp in any regional language so that the parents can train their kids.
To conclude
There are currently many Ed Techs in India who are doing an incredible job in terms of catering to the underprivileged communities ‘ education needs based on the resources at hand— Rocket Learning, ThinkZone, Conve Genius.
The vision is to work towards serving the underserved, providing viable technology in remote areas and promoting cognitive development and skills equally to all students(young and old).
