The learning ecosystem is a sensitive one. Every change in the outside world is bound to bring some changes in the education sector. This creates a need for educational institutes to continuously evolve. Upgrading an institute in such an ecosystem is a mammoth task. It implies that the institute must evolve at a fast pace. This does not merely include newer technologies and digitization but understanding the changing demand in the various industries and current market. Once the need of the hour is understood, the knowledge-skill gap can be filled. An institute that is future-ready will nurture students who are future-ready. With the help of LMS and ERP solutions, educational institutions can take a step closer to technological advancements.
Digital Updation
Ever since the pandemic hit the educational ecosystem, it hasn't been the same. Every institute has been transformed into a tech-savvy learning ground. The result is that digitization has become a necessity rather than a choice. The concept of smart classes had already begun a decade ago. With enhanced audio-visual learning, institutes were able to achieve greater success in the learning sphere. Online classes were the next level, where teachers could impart education remotely and students could access these classes from their homes. This evolution in the time of crisis saved the whole educational flow from being disrupted. Thus, digitization is a core characteristic of every future-ready institute. Schools and colleges must invest in a learning management system to improve the learning experience for their students. Moreover, such systems also enhance teachers’ productivity.
Curriculum
A curriculum for every grade needs to be holistic. If the curriculum is limited to academics, it hinders the overall growth of students. There is a notion among academia that if a student does not entirely focus on studies, they will not be able to perform during assessments. However, this is not true. When students have a diverse curriculum, they can balance their creative and analytical energies. Moreover, institutes must push students outside their comfort zones. Making mindfulness a part of their routine is also a recent upgrade in institutes. Mindfulness practices can ground students within a classroom and help them experience and enjoy their learning process.
Customized Professional Learning
Professional upgradation is a must for contemporary institutes. The head of any institute must ensure that their staff is growing and updating their knowledge and skills. This growth is not the same for everyone since each professional is at a different level. Thus, the training and courses they undertake should be personalized and befitting their needs. Technical training can be offered to incorporate new software into a classroom. Additionally, they can be requested to undertake a course about their field/subject every 3 months. This is how the workforce will become future-ready. Moreover, they should be exposed to solutions like ERP systems to improve their productivity.
Flexible Policies
All conventions and traditions that educational institutes followed have been made obsolete by the pandemic. Teaching methods, ways of instruction, and assessments have changed drastically. Many tasks performed by the instructor such as roll-call or assessment collection have been automated. These tasks are now performed easily with the help of ERP systems. With such a rate of technological evolution, every institute must think of being future-ready. They can stop focusing on traditional systems of school management and come up with policies to improve classroom productivity.
Student Information Management Systems
A student information management system is the storehouse of student information in an educational institute. It coordinates, processes, analyses, and communicates information to every member of the system. In a remote learning setup, information management systems have become very popular since they transfer information despite geographical barriers. The second function of the student information system is to keep records of all relevant information in one place. The centralization of information saves delays and miscommunications. It reduces paperwork and goes a long way in the sustainability initiative of an organization. Another feature worth mentioning is that information systems are transparent. There is a lower chance of misrepresentation and tampering with data. Each futuristic institute is adopting SIS and upgrading digital infrastructure to provide the best experience to every stakeholder.
Data Protection
Personal information submitted by students is sensitive and needs to be protected. The function of data protection has not been emphasized by institutes in the past but recently, it is gaining more and more importance. Institutes that want to be future-ready, can opt for ERP systems that offer data protection and privacy. An added step to this would be familiarizing faculty and administrative staff with the software so that the whole purpose of the software can be achieved. Students should also be aware of the fact that the information they submit must be well-protected.
Smart Infrastructure
Smart infrastructure includes tabloids, classroom screens, projectors etc, which support audio-visual learning. It includes all the software and hardware required to run smooth operations for a smart class. An institute should allocate a separate budget for investing in smart infrastructure to be future-ready. As a part of annual upgradation, the latest technology in the field of education must be looked into and upgrades must be made accordingly. Students already prefer opting for institutes that have better technological advancements over the ones that don't. Smart infrastructure is important to stay relevant to the coming generations. Teachers will have to be guided to use new gadgets such as biometric attendance or automated design assessments so that they can run things seamlessly in a classroom.
Conclusion
Being future-ready is not a one-time measure. It is a continuous process that requires the energy of the leadership, faculty, and students. For instance, it was the management, faculty, and students who together made remote learning possible. The contribution of each party has been immense. However, the role of technology cannot be overlooked. With the help of live classes, audio-visual aids, and classroom management tools, admins can make their institute future ready.
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