Sunday, February 5, 2023
National Skills Network
  • Home
  • Skill Story
  • Skill Talk
  • News
    • Events
    • News digest
    • NSN Newsletter Archives
    • NSN PDF Newsletter Archives
    • Other Newsletters
  • Resources
    • How To’s
    • Reports
    • E-books
    • Learning Videos
    • Upcoming webinars and virtual events
  • Skill2Jobs
    • Employability Skills
    • Apprenticeships & Internships
    • Jobs
    • Projects
  • About us
    • Our Team
    • Our Clients
    • Our Services
    • Advertise with us
  • Success Stories
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Skill Story
  • Skill Talk
  • News
    • Events
    • News digest
    • NSN Newsletter Archives
    • NSN PDF Newsletter Archives
    • Other Newsletters
  • Resources
    • How To’s
    • Reports
    • E-books
    • Learning Videos
    • Upcoming webinars and virtual events
  • Skill2Jobs
    • Employability Skills
    • Apprenticeships & Internships
    • Jobs
    • Projects
  • About us
    • Our Team
    • Our Clients
    • Our Services
    • Advertise with us
  • Success Stories
No Result
View All Result
National Skills Network
No Result
View All Result

3 Ways to overcome challenges in delivering technical training through online platforms

by Guest Author
July 8, 2020
in Guest Author, Skill Talk
Dr. Leena Chandran Wadia
Dr. Leena Chandran Wadia

As with all education, technical education and training has also been disrupted with the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, the global health pandemic. It has impacted vocational training programs all over the country in unprecedented ways. To know more about the possible ways to overcome the challenges, Team NSN interacted with Dr Leena Chandran Wadia, Senior Fellow – Honorary, at Observer Research Foundation. Let’s read on to learn more about how to address emerging issues in technology access and adoption.

Online learning and the challenge of hands-on training

While online learning is the need of the hour, the question is, how prepared are we to deliver skill-based training and vocational education online? While it is mandatory for technical training to include hands-on learning, today, in the wake of COVID-19, skilling is being radically transformed. Skill training centres have been closed and all training programs are being shifted to online mode. However, in the skilling space, online learning alone is not enough. It requires the blended approach, with a combination of in-person and online learning, given that there is a high practical component.

In some cases, virtual labs are being offered to students to train them in the practical component but it is not possible for students to learn it just by watching someone else doing it. They need hands-on training for the development of skills. It is delusional for us to expect students to learn and be confident of their skills just by watching a few videos or attending virtual labs. Practical training cannot be digitalized completely, and it is the most crucial part of TVET.

It is also not clear if there is sufficient video-based content available to capture the learning needs of all the practical skills in each of the job roles that are being offered at present. If this experience can be used to move towards creating high-quality digital content in the practical aspects of skilling, then this content can be used to supplement the practical training needs of students in the long-term,

In the meantime, if the practical components of a short term course cannot be delivered to the students at the present moment, then it is worthwhile to pause the courses for some time for the benefit of the students.

3 Ways to overcome challenges in delivering technical trainingTop technology issues that should be resolved

We don’t have uniform access to the Internet even though many small towns do have connectivity. The privilege of access to suitable devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers) as well as Internet connectivity is available to fewer students in rural areas. For instance, a survey conducted by the University of Hyderabad showed that only 37% students said they would be able to access online classes

The government launched the BharatNet project in 2011, to provide rural broadband access to 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats in the country. However, the last mile connectivity has not yet become operational in most locations. Extending the last mile connectivity to all educational institutions in each panchayat should be prioritized as it can support rural communities and students with high quality bandwidth for education and other services.

The second major issue which should be addressed immediately is the access to devices in rural areas. In India only 30% of Indian population has access to smartphones including the rural population and a lot fewer households, only about 5%, have access to computers. With the limited access it is difficult for students to avail the opportunities that the skilling ecosystem is offering to address the current scenario.

Importance of training of trainers

The need for adapting to online learning was sudden and it didn’t give much time to the trainers for preparation. Teachers and trainers are also facing many issues because they have themselves not been trained for the purpose. Online training of trainers should be taken up and prioritized so that trainers are made aware of the challenges and can use technology appropriately.

For instance, student attention span lasts only about five to six minutes online so trainers need to do some activity, say a quiz or reflection, every five or six minutes. There should be a setup for information and knowledge sharing for trainers, so that the goal of making learning happen online is addressed in multiple ways.

A combination of synchronous and asynchronous is also more powerful than just synchronous teaching online, since the asynchronous access and repeated viewing of videos can help students reinforce the concepts they have learnt. The conversation on how to make learning happen must continue and be given utmost priority.

Also read: India needs a balanced approach to blend Vocational Education with Higher Education https://www.nationalskillsnetwork.in/vocational-higher-education/

Technology adaptation has many issues in itself. Some solutions are out there and we need to look at it. While going online is the way forward, making online possible for everyone is the need of the hour.

Tags: COVID-19Dr Leena Chandran WadiaObserver Research FoundationObserver Research Foundation skill developmentOnline learningOnline learning for technical trainingSkill training centrestechnical education and training
Previous Post

The New Normal: E-Learning Demands Digital Certificates

Next Post

Webinar on “Skills and Certificate – The Way Forward”

 

Next Post
Skills and Certificate – The Way Forward

Webinar on "Skills and Certificate – The Way Forward"

Comments 3

  1. Pingback: 3 tips to make online skills training impactful - National Skills Network
  2. Venkatesan Govindan says:
    2 years ago

    Nice, But I had not understood within a short time… Always good

    Reply
  3. Pingback: “Skilling is all about learning the fundamentals correctly”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to our E-magazine and newsbytes

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Siemens Technical Academy STA

Siemens Technical Academy (STA), Mumbai – German Dual VET transforms the lives of youth in India

October 8, 2018
10 best online learning portals in India for students and teachers

10 best online learning portals in India for students and teachers

June 26, 2020
Skill development government schemes in India

Top 10 organizations, missions and schemes for skill development, livelihoods and gainful employment

May 29, 2016
BSNL certified vocational internships

BSNL certified vocational internships for engineering diploma students

May 25, 2020
Siemens Technical Academy STA

Siemens Technical Academy (STA), Mumbai – German Dual VET transforms the lives of youth in India

284
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra PMKK

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra – PMKK

98
Recognition of Prior Learning RPL

Recognition of Prior Learning – RPL

81
B.Vocational Degree

B.Voc Degree Courses: What do they offer and who can apply?

79
Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) Enhancing global competitiveness of TVET

Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC): Enhancing global competitiveness of TVET

February 4, 2023
ITM Vocational University

ITM Vocational University: Preparing youth for the global economy through work-integrated learning

February 2, 2023
Union Budget 2023

Union Budget 2023 – Highlights on Skill Development, Work-Integrated Education

February 1, 2023
NSN weekly newsbytes

NSN Weekly newsbytes on skills, education and training- 31012023

January 31, 2023

About us

National Skills Network (NSN) captures and shares the positive impact of various training, skill development and vocational education initiatives in India.

To know more about Our Team: Click here

Follow us

Address

National Skills Network – NSN
NSN Digital Solutions Pvt Ltd.
Gachibowli, Hyderabad – 500032
Email us: contact@nationalskillsnetwork.com

Subscribe to our E-magazine and newsbytes

  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 National Skills Network - NSN

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Skill Story
  • Skill Talk
  • News
    • Events
    • News digest
    • NSN Newsletter Archives
    • NSN PDF Newsletter Archives
    • Other Newsletters
  • Resources
    • How To’s
    • Reports
    • E-books
    • Learning Videos
    • Upcoming webinars and virtual events
  • Skill2Jobs
    • Employability Skills
    • Apprenticeships & Internships
    • Jobs
    • Projects
  • About us
    • Our Team
    • Our Clients
    • Our Services
    • Advertise with us
  • Success Stories

Copyright © 2023 National Skills Network - NSN

loader