Gen-Z! No, Tech-Z

Flesh is torn, the nerves are evident, the blood is unmistakeable and the bone looks completely broken. You look closer...click! The window closes...oops…a mistake. Bored of your science class anyway? Click! ... And you enter the golden era of history. An entire saga told in a fun, animated movie - crisp, clear, compact.

Sounds like a student day-dreaming in the classroom! It isn’t. Au contraire, it is a student studying. Gone are the days of paper, pencil, boring textbooks and unwanted details. Hail the world of e-learning!

E-LEARNING IS EVERYTHING-LEARNING

E-learning is a relatively new concept in India. It refers to Electronic learning – learning the tech-savvy, Gen-Z way. Animation, colours and three-dimensional views... sound, special effects, and narrative... interactive, attention-grabbing, and succinct!

Another interesting aspect of tech-learning that boosts the adrenaline is games – an aspect this instant coffee cohort is addicted to. Just like the PSP or let us call it a study-station here - games add an element of curiosity, intellectual stimulation and an automatic motivation to retain the content better. Experience over plain information... totally rocks!

BORED TO DEATH, NO MORE!

These multi-modalities tackle issues pertaining to the usual boredom and distraction, providing space to shuttle between the subjects. Often boredom and attention issues are because of the inability to understand in class or the fear of asking questions. If only these issues were resolved. But with E-learning, it is.

Take for instance, in the middle of a lecture, you do not understand something - all you need to do is click and rewind or say you feel the need for a break, another click and the teacher changes the subject or even better, the teacher changes. Wicked! Research states that the audio-visual modality has a high impact leading to better memory and recall.

DON’T UNDERSTAND, SIMPLY PRESS PAUSE!

How fascinating would it be for a student to control or pause his/her teacher? It is very motivating for a student when they can control their anxiety, fear and above all, the feeling of being stupid just because they ask tons of silly questions. These feelings often bring a student’s self esteem down. E-learning makes everything accessible and understandable.

THE E-LEARING AVATARS

E-learning provides many ‘Avatars’ that make the subjects even more appealing. They have a similar impact as that of a teacher. It would be far more attention-grabbing if perhaps Munnabhai taught science or Neo from Matrix taught coding or a Star Trek character taught space or maths. E-learning encourages various characterizations to the teaching models. This is a boon to all students and helps bring their creative ‘fun’ side out.

THE E-LEARNING EDGE

Well! What about the seriousness of learning? Many parents may question. If everything is so out-of-the-box – it can be distracting? For those who love ‘text only’- simple e-learning programs can be designed to have to-the-point text and a supporting audio. Interactivity and innovative learning can still be inculcated. There are simple presentations, lecture videos - with or without professors and digital textbooks. Simple puzzles or riddles can make regular text interesting. Questions can be fed in the search tab for answers. The information in bullet points is specific and yet covers all that needs to be understood. These are great for exams and for revision. But our sceptic mind may ask – what about detailed analysis and one may grumble and scream – ‘Simulations’ - a virtual experience for things that seem so complicated. Irrespective of the above, for the not-so-unconventional mind, there is always the traditional text book.

E-LEARN ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

Many other benefits include distance learning, especially higher education. The corporate yuppies who live with a time crunch and the unyielding need to move up the ladder pronto are blessed with added degrees via E-learning. They love the ‘pixel to prose… coding to content’ prop up.

Internationally, this concept has gained a lot of importance. In the middle of the swine-flu crisis, the E –school took centre stage and was in the spotlight since it ensured regular studies. Research states that students indulging in e-learning have done much better than otherwise. Suddenly one realises, there is no more falling ill to avoiding studying now. Those days are definitely over.

E-LEARN, KEEP ENVIRONMENT GREEN

Wisdom they say is the application of learning. Think of the bigger picture. Global warming is a serious and life-threatening issue that humanity faces today and is compelled to address. By incorporating e-learning, the message is loud and clear - ‘Go Digital, Save Paper’.

One may want to wonder, is E-learning going to bring about a revolution? Is the Gen-Z ready to switch to Tech-Z? The scope is vast yet the adaptability is still work in progress. It is said that we need to bring learning to people, not people to learning’- the predilection is clear!

Social Media

Is social media a fad or is it the biggest thing since the industrial revolution.

Let’s talk about personalization and its importance in social media. Information is in overdrive on the web today and user generated content is wide spread but what happens when one needs something specific and has to wade through a million websites to get what they need. Personalization comes to rescue.

One of the biggest trends to hit 2009 was personalization i.e. offering users worthy recommendations and helpful filters. In the real world, we talk about personalized or customized services. Akin to that, in the virtual world, personalization is about providing the right service when it is asked for.

You Have Been Personalized

The need of the hour is to be able to filter through countless web pages and websites and provide a structure for those employing real-time information. Change is palpable as the internet moves from coughing up data that is based on relevance as well as customized to an individual’s need. What is personalization? Using dashboard services such as Seesmic, Tweet Deck or Peoplebrowsr to function on Twitter enable one to focus on what is important by grouping keywords, issues and people. Ergo, Personalization.

Are You An Open Web?

There is an interesting shift in mindset of privacy versus sharing data on the Web. It has been observed that more and more corporations are openly sharing their information online through APIs, open data measures and services on the web. This data is organized in a manner that it is recyclable by other people as well as inter-related. How are open data and personalization related, you ask? Well, applications love it when you put your information out there to be used by them and in return, you make better use of the content or service being provided. While privacy may be of concern here, the edge one gets via personalization are remarkable.

Approach to Personalization

There are several ways in which a product is recommended to a user on the Web. The first way could be a personal recommendation where things are suggested purely based on the user’s conduct in the past. Secondly, there are social recommendations where suggestions are made depending on the past patterns of comparable users. Thirdly, recommendations also take place based on the item known as item recommendation. And lastly, one could combine all three methods and apply them.

The New Way

Personalization is all set to ignite the Web in 2010 even though it may have been a little slow in 2009. Welcome to the Revolution.