YouTube and EdTech in India

YouTube said on Monday it is taking broader steps to make the video service more appealing to educators and learners and also provide more monetization avenues to the creators. Google unveiled Courses, a feature that will seek to bring a structured learning experience on YouTube

Teachers/Creators will be able to publish and organize their videos and provide text reading materials and questions right on the video app. Viewers who buy a Course/Learning Module will be able to watch the videos without ads. They will be allowed to offer the content for free or charge a fee. The feature is currently in beta and will roll out to users in India “soon,” and will represent a “new monetization option for Indian creators,”

Edtech in India has grown phenomenally in the last couple of years, making India the edtech capital of the world. The private sector is playing a key role with the public sector acting as a facilitator. India’s education sector saw a boom in edtech funding during the pandemic. There were/are certainly some advantages of edtech over conventional learning that were be considered.

In India are several different models/startups of eLearning that are used india, depending on the needs of the learners and the goals of the learning in Indian Audience. Some commonly picked eLearning models/startups include:

1. Self-paced learning: This is a model in which learners are given access to course materials and can work through them at their own pace. Open EdTech Models like Immerse, Kide Science and ABA English.
2. Instructor-led online courses: This model is similar to a traditional classroom, with a teacher or instructor leading the course and interacting with students through video conferencing or other online tools like Smart Course, Miho and GrabGuidance.
3. Blended learning: This model combines online and in-person instruction, with students participating in both types of learning like Athena Education, GuruQ and STEMROBO.
4. Flipped classroom: This model involves students completing course materials on their own time, then coming together for in-person or online discussions and activities with the instructor like PlayPosit, Verso and ClassFlow.
5. Gamified learning: This model uses game-based elements, such as points, badges, and leaderboards, to engage and motivate learners BYJU’s, Khan Academy and SoloLearn.

‘Thinking Digital to being Digital’ – The rise of Indian EdTech
The country has witnessed growth in the IT sector and a shift towards education; between January 2014 and September 2019, more than 4,450 EdTech startups have been launched in India.

The sector got a much-needed push thanks to digital adoption; close to half a billion internet and smartphone users contributed to it. The EdTech sector in India can be compared in two phases – pre-COVID-19 and during/post-COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, the EdTech sector was growing in India but at a relatively slower rate as online education was still met with some resistance. The lack of technology posed a major concern of reskilling and upskilling for teachers. While the pandemic has wreaked havoc across sectors and industries in the Indian market, it has been a watershed moment for India’s EdTech sector.