Author: pankaj.harvard

AI is the Future of Education

Posted on by pankaj.harvard
Brain circuit
Brain technology photo created by rawpixel.com

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to tech-enabled learning, even though it may not have been the most desirable driving force. However, the pandemic pushed tech integration into the field of education.

Companies across the world are happy about this since they can now show the world what technology can do if used in its most essential forms. Before we get into how AI technology plays a role in education, we will understand what AI means!

AI System definition, history, and the likes:

Manual effort in certain areas can drive very little change, especially on a larger scale. Automating some human tasks can maximize impact and reach a larger scale.

For all those tasks, we make use of Artificial Intelligence. While AI systems may perform tasks that we generally associate with humans, it is humans who build the framework that allows for AI principles to function!

AI is a determining tool that uses data to make recommendations, and decisions and also arrive at evidence-based research findings all in seconds. It can save time and a lot of valuable human resources that can be used in other domains of functioning. It can also help people make decisions based on risks and rewards. So, these are just a few of the vast capabilities that AI can power. 

With the right frameworks, AI can do things efficiently, very effectively, and on a massive scale.

Robotic hand
Robot hand photo created by rawpixel.com

AI in Education:

Keeping all the aforementioned points in mind there are a few things that we can be sure that AI does- 

  1. It helps teachers understand not just the needs of their students but also more personal things about their students. For instance, teachers can learn through AI where a student’s learning interests are.
  2. AI gives evidence-based reports to teachers rather quickly so teachers can foster collaboration with their students.
  3. AI is what is revamping and revolutionizing assessments right now. What AI does is use assessments as a diagnostic tool that reflects on a child’s learning needs instead of using it as an indicator of their capabilities.
  4. AI as a feedback tool is more reliable, free from bias and cancels out any human error in the estimation process. When feedback is based solely on a student’s performance, they tend to rely on it more than any other form of feedback.
  5. AI helps eliminate boundaries. AI does not see geographical boundaries. It can be used anytime anywhere, truly inspiring the idea that AI is a global experience.

There is a lot about AI that is still under research and development but what we have in the markets and in access these days makes use of some very optimal tools to give students an experience they will enjoy.

Innovation drives artificial intelligence, and with proper coaching, students learn to enjoy the methodology behind it. What AI also does is inspire and it is important now more than ever that students appreciate their opportunities to learn and act on them with performance, drive, and passion!

Help Your Child Manage Their Learning With These Tips!

Posted on by pankaj.harvard
Students in classroom
Photo by javier trueba on Unsplash

Children require a lot of attention when they are pursuing academic interests and it is not the kind of attention that you think they need. Having parents spend every learning moment with them can cause children to lose focus, feel suffocated and also dislike the process.

For the sake of this article, we researched and put together a list of 5 things that work in helping your child manage their schoolwork and here’s also why these are important.

1. Time management

Children need to be taught time management from early on as it brings discipline to the growing and learning process. Help them build a timetable and hold them accountable for it. Avoid being the one who fills in the timetable for them, that is for them to figure out.

However, you can oversee to ensure there is school-play balance and also time for some extracurricular activities. It would also help if you had a time management chart so that you can lead by example!

2. Create space for open communication

When your child feels burnt out or pressured, they should be able to articulate it to you. Children who cannot do that grow up to entertain more stress and anxiety.

Managing a timetable also means looking at the tasks at hand and being able to say “it is too much for today, I will work on it when I have more mental energy”. This also teaches them the importance of rest.

3. Befriend the school and teachers

Do not be one of those parents who calls their child’s teachers every day. Be friendly enough with the teachers to know how your child is doing in school, if they’ve noticed any behavioural changes or if they have some tips for your child to follow.

It is important you do so primarily because you can intervene wherever necessary without badgering your child too much. It is also good if you communicate regularly with the school so that you are aware of all the developments and opportunities that are available to your child at school.

4. Help them think long-term

Management essentially means building a process today so that the outcomes are fruitful tomorrow. When your child is building their routine or expressing their interests, ask them to think about it long term as well.

For example, if your child wants to learn a new language, first ask them if they can continue pursuing these interests through multiple other engagements and how they seek to benefit from it in the long term. You can also help them by finding the answers to some of these questions for them!

5. Do not overschedule

Your child may be good at multiple things but it is important for them to find time for it. Also, as parents, you may want your child to fulfil each one of their interests but in the worst-case scenario, you may end up turning an interest into a chore. Helping your child manage their time also means teaching them to prioritise their immediate needs and make space for other pursuits in the future.

Parents, learning goes beyond teaching charts and sitting with them while they learn. It is also about giving space, learning when to hold your child accountable and also giving in to their interests if they show interest along with commitment. We hope these tips will help you and your child!

Teach Your Children to Love Maths With These Tips!

Posted on by pankaj.harvard
Math textbook page
Photo by Deepak Gautam from Pexels

Mathematics or Maths for short, has been an item of absolute terror for students across generations. There is no easy way to say this, but Math, you are more feared than loved.

Before you read the above sentences and agree with us, remember that this is the fear that you can prevent your children from embodying and you could break the bad spell surrounding Maths. Want to know how? We have a list of five tips you can use!

1. Lead the change you want to see –

If you have had a bad experience with Maths and you constantly narrate it to your children, then they start internalizing a fear for the subject. This is something that you may want to prevent.

Granted that Maths may not have been easy for you but the goal is to make sure your child does not approach the subject with any preconceived fears. Maths anxiety is real and very catchy.

2. Know what they need to know and by when –

We assign a specific set of math skills that a child needs to know for each grade or level. For instance, kindergarten Maths will require number recognition and your child will need to know how to conceptualize numbers through examples; they should be able to count out five apples in a basket of ten. Knowing what they need to know is useful when you want to complement their school learning with activities at home.

3. Allow them to learn through conceptual experiences –

Learn Math as a life skill, not just a textbook concept. If your child is old enough to own a bank account, help them set up one. Additionally, you could ask them to keep track of their savings with the passbook and also teach them to calculate various things such as interest rates. This fun way allows you to see Math being used live in action! It also dispels fear if you reward it through their savings account.

4. Board Games are fun when it comes to Maths –

There are plenty of fun board games that require the use of applied Mathematics for victory. Games like Monopoly are not just great family games but will also teach your kids to appreciate the finesse with which Maths is being used everywhere, especially for fun!

5. Avoid Tuitions for performance –

Tuitions the way we have experienced are the most detrimental experiences for students who want to learn Maths. We send students for tuitions in the country only in the event that they are doing very poorly at it. A child forced into tuition will believe that they are incompetent at that subject.

Introduce tuitions as a concept to help them hone their skills instead of a method to discipline learning. It may be difficult to find a teacher who can help your student this way but till you do, avoid standardised tuition practices.

Math is only as scary as we make it, and we must treat it with confidence and respect. There’s no point fretting about a subject like Math that is highly misunderstood.

So much of Maths is a learner’s paradise and it is time we demystify the subject for now and forever! If you need help with that, start using our app, Class Saathi: MCQ Revision App. It’s for students in Class 3-10, free with 30K+ practice questions!

TagHive India’s First Team Meeting

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First ever TagHive team meet in Bhopal
Meet our India team!

Last month before the Indian summer descended over the sub-continent, we at TagHive India had our very first in-person meeting. 13 people from 6 states attended conversations and sessions prepared to bring Clarity of (Purpose, Platform, and Role), Deeper Connection with the (Team and Product), and a Confident Outlook for (Growing the business).

Jasmeet and Amrut participating in an activity
Jasmeet and Amrut participating in an activity

With ice-breaking sessions for the team in place, everyone got a chance to share about themselves in small and big groups. Further, to cement the “why” of TagHive, the whole team visited Government Secondary School Bhopal to see Class Saathi in action. As it was the academic year-end, our team saw teachers revising Maths and Science using the Class Saathi clickers and app.

Female student using Class Saathi clicker for quick assessment
Female student using Class Saathi clicker

Mrs Alka Sharma, the school principal for the last 22 years, along with grade 5 math and science teachers, spent time with the team. They shared their experience and helped us understand the on-ground needs of teachers and school leaders. The goal is to empower teachers to transform their role from “a sage on the stage” to “a guide on the side”.

Class Saathi team meeting with secondary school principal in Raj Bhavan, Bhopal
TagHive team meeting with secondary school principal in Raj Bhavan, Bhopal

With the motive of taking away concrete learning points from the team meeting, new team members understood the different Class Saathi solutions (Desktop, Mobile, and Large Scale Assessments). As a team, fruitful discussions on the kind of changes that are required took place. Herein, all team members shared their organisational goals to plan and execute as a collective. Now, it’s onwards and upwards!

How to Keep Strong Student Engagement in Class?

Posted on by pankaj.harvard

While teachers do their best on most occasions, it can be difficult to keep a classroom fully engaged in a 45-minute teaching session. What works to a disadvantage these days is also the fact that increased digital time has resulted in reduced attention span in children.

As educators, it can be frustrating to have one child distracted in class who inevitably distracts other students too. Want to know how to be engaging in class and retain attention? Read on to find out!

1. Ice Breakers

Illustration showing ice breaking with hammer for jigsaw puzzle pieces

Ice breakers are a good way to refresh young minds from learning fatigue. Children sit in classrooms all day learning subjects and concepts throughout. It can be tedious for them to switch gears and maintain the same level of focus for each class. So, having ice breakers will give them something to focus on and give them a mental break from the stress of constantly having to be present!

2. Switch up teaching styles

Students learning outdoor
Outdoor Learning

Do not rely only on one method of teaching to help your students. Students respond to variety and if you enlist the use of audiovisual content, outdoor teaching activities and the like, you are at a great advantage of being able to retain their energy.

3. Peer learning is key when all else fails

Exchanging ideas
Exchange of Ideas

What can truly work in moments of absolute desperation is peer learning. You can split them up into groups and have students learn concepts in that group. What you can also do is announce a group quiz contest after the teaching session to drive some enthusiasm in class.

4. Announce a formative assessment

On days when the classroom energy is low, you can use formative assessments as a bolt of energy to reawaken your class. When there is a test around the corner, students will find themselves being more alert and responsive.

5. Education Apps (Class Saathi by TagHive)

QR code to download Class Saathi app
Scan to download Class Saathi

We live in a world with apps and only apps and one thing we can rely on when all else fails is the use of educational apps. This is not just a fun way to engage students but it can also help them learn concepts more easily.

There are a dozen ways to manage, motivate and measure students and the best way to do it is in ways that they are happiest responding to. The idea is not to create an environment of fear where children are forced to learn.

Instead, having an ecosystem that takes into account what the students are feeling and helping them by enlisting resources that work best for them will make learning in the classroom a far more enjoyable process!

AI Helps Make Students Learn Simpler

Posted on by pankaj.harvard
Class Saathi AI helps students learn simpler
Learn with Saathi AI

Artificial Intelligence is all about what makes life easy. To use it is a privilege and the world over technocrats are rallying to make AI an everyday part of our lives. This holds true, especially in the field of education and nowhere is AI more useful than here. Here are the top five ways in which AI builds frameworks that help students learn simpler.

1. Everything is data driven –
AI does not know how to operate on bias. This is the first major advantage as it prevents students from feeling bias that can otherwise originate in a classroom.

AI tracks, scores, and records every single activity on any learning platform almost instantly, heavily basing learning recommendations on evidence. This makes for a transparent and transformational learning experience.

2. AI can break things down to their simplest form –
If AI can quickly identify learning gaps in each student, it can also present information in a digestible manner based on their grasping power.

AI has evolved to such a degree that it can also cater to students who struggle with learning disabilities and give them information in ways that they can consume it the best! What an absolutely remarkable achievement!

3. AI can record pace and help students widen their knowledge base –
AI can also record the pace at which a student learns. It can do this for each individual student even if a learning platform caters to over 10 million students.

It can identify the pace at which a student learns and formulate an intelligent framework that can help students increase their pace so that they can retain more information as time goes on!

Overall results in Maths contest
Skills results in Maths contest

4. A diagnostic tool –
We have built AI to support effective learning for all students. There is not a more diverse or inclusive learning environment you will find anywhere in the world.

We use and leverage AI as a diagnostic tool for student learning in various ways, such as checking for learning disabilities.

5. Global access to resources –
The world has become a smaller place with technology and this means that students can access resources from anywhere in the world. With AI, students can access learning resources from anywhere in the world at any time.

It is okay to be suspicious of technology but allow that fear and suspicion to stem from an educated space. Earlier, technology was considered a distraction from tasks and goals. Now, however, it is recommended as a system that allows students to learn most optimally. Now check out our app Class Saathi which enables students to learn most optimally!

5 Ways AI is Used in Modern Education

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Source: Pixelplex

In today’s world, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are what drive innovation in various sectors. Earlier, AI and ML were seen as independent of the field of education. However, since the pandemic, most educators are of the opinion that technology is what should drive education.

In the field of education, innovators face a more conservative playing field as disrupting a standardized field can be challenging. 

But, innovation in education technology has boomed across the world and what schools and academia are relying on these days are all tools and instruments that have artificial intelligence at its core. Now that we have established that premise, let us see the 5 ways in which AI is used in education these days.

1. Personalised Learning –

This word has been flying around in the ed-tech space for quite some time now. What is it about personalised learning that drives the core of innovation in companies across the field?

To begin, there is a competition to harness the full potential of artificial intelligence in creating a unique learning experience for each student through digital platforms.

Companies have built frameworks not just to record the learning levels of students but it is also possible now to predict scores and the time taken by each student to answer a question!

2. The Power of Now – 

Everything driven by technology is powered to save time. That is the principle that most AI-based tools use to drive learning across the field. Students no longer have to wait for days to receive answers to their questions.

There are apps that can use AI to record a student’s aptitude based on which it gives them revision content and practices questions to take them to the next level. Students do not have to wait till an examination to see their learning gaps. They have a system that publishes information about it in a matter of seconds and students can use this to tutor themselves!

3. Diagnostic Tool –

Students need not wait months to understand and rectify their learning gaps. Today, they can download AI-powered learning apps like Class Saathi and take quizzes. Once a student starts responding to questions, the app makes notes to track their progress and identify their learning gaps. Once the test is over, the app will make recommendations on where the student needs to improve and what concepts they need to especially focus on to close the knowledge gap!

4. Key Automation Technology –

The recent shift to technology-based education has shown educators across the globe that it is important to move to this method to save time. What teachers lacked during the global pandemic was a reserve of time and they relied on digital resources to guide them through.

Complicated and time-consuming things like report generation for each individual student can be compiled in seconds. What’s even better is that there are different ways in which teachers can automate their daily redundant tasks like attendance for that matter or even conducting pop quizzes with only a minute taken to create it.

5. 24×7 and 365 days – 

Technology-based learning offers global accessibility, allowing leverage anytime and anywhere. The world of education is a smaller place because of technology and we must all be more thankful for it.

Gone are the days when students had to spend long hours in libraries for research or attend tuition classes for revision. Everything that is to do with education is instant these days and AI has made that possible!

Are you as excited about Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning? Download the Class Saathi app and let us know what you think about the different AI frameworks that govern the app!

How to Successfully Talk to Children About Exams?

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Exams are a terrifying experience for everybody so you cannot blame children for being scared of it. However, times are changing and the way we examine student abilities has changed considerably. For that reason, we need to change the way we perceive examinations and have conversations about them that dispel the fear surrounding them. Here are some ways you can make examinations look like activities instead of a doomsday spell.

1. Teach them skills that will help them ace their exams –

Photo by Monstera from Pexels

Examples are a reflection of a disciplined process. If you teach your students or children essential skills like time management and priority-based learning, you are giving them a golden lesson in making the best use of time and resources.

Most often it is how you prepare more than what you prepare that gets students acing exams. If you focus on skill development such as this, it lifts the focus from having to score more to a more balanced teaching experience where they learn essential skills that will help them long term.

2. Be careful with your words –

Students in the world today know the pressure and challenges like nobody else. The competition is higher these days and school curriculums have changed to test for multiple dimensions of learning.

All this can really stress a student out and prevent them from learning to the best of their needs. Be careful not to use words like “pass” or “fail” around them. Replace that with “growth” and “support”.

3. Lead by example –

Photo by Annushka Ahuja from Pexels

It helps if your child knows your process and it is also a bonding experience in itself. When adults help students gather skills and teach them their ways, they are passing down a moment instead of a lesson! Look at it that way and help them strategize learning based on tips that worked for you!

4. Post examination feedback/communication –

Photo by Monstera from Pexels

Understand how your child has performed in their examination by asking them questions about their feelings instead of asking them how much they will score. For instance, ask if your child felt confident after writing the paper. If they say no, ask them why and help them figure out a strategy to address the same!

5. Stop worrying for them –

No amount of you worrying as an adult will benefit your child/student. Children are like sponges and they absorb the energy they receive or see. If you radiate a world of worry, they will embody it and treat exams with a detrimental amount of fear!

There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to helping children learn but examinations are tricky and if done incorrectly, it can scar children and affect their motivation to learn. What we need to do is make examinations a diagnostic tool for them to reflect on instead of seeing it as an encapsulation of their abilities.

Let us know what tips you have discovered that work magically for your child or students. Write to us in the comments below or you can write in at [email protected].

5 Ways to Teach Your Young Ones Multiplication Tables

Posted on by pankaj.harvard

Multiplication is a fantastic Mathematical concept and it can be used to have so much fun! There is a plethora of ways in which you can use multiplication as a method to bond with your children. Amongst many different ways, let this blog guide you on a few ways you can start teaching children multiplication tables.

1. Do multiplication charts

A fun post-lesson activity could be to fill in a multiplication table chart. Once they finish the chart, you can reward them. This system helps your young ones sharpen their mental Math skills and rewarding them for it will only increase their curiosity! You can download Whizz’s handy times table sheet for the same!

Times Table
Practice Multiplication Table

2. Educational card games

Want to battle it out the multiplication way? Here’s what you need to do. Get a deck of cards, both players have to draw from the pile at the same time and place the cards in front of them. Whoever correctly estimates the product of the two cards wins the round.

3. Short quizzes every now and then

The idea is to quiz your child in such a way that they remain alert for your quiz questions whenever. This also means that in general, they are sharpening their focus. However, be sure to do it as gap fillers, for instance, do a multiplication quiz when you are waiting for a bus at the bus stand or when you’re shopping.

4. Raise them to enjoy the process

Cultivating a taste for multiplication tables is a tough task however a highly achievable one. The best way to do it is by teaching them the easiest tables first and then the rest. This way, they also feel more confident about learning tougher ones progressively.

5. Multiplication Songs have a special place in the Math world

Songs about multiplication are a genre unto itself on the interest and if there is a way to get children to learn a new concept, it is highly recommended that you pick the song and dance method.

Multiplication is a game-changing Math concept as once you learn it, everything you learn after that relies on you knowing it. The fun thing though is that multiplication is also the most fun to practise and there are a million ways to do it. We have just mentioned 5. There are more ways in which you can and one thing you should definitely do is download Class Saathi to test and challenge yourself on the same!

Class Saathi Saved 45,600 Human Hours in Conducting One Large Scale Assessment

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Large Scale Assessments (LSAs) are instrumental in leading some revolutionary changes in the education sector. More and more agencies working in the education space are relying on LSAs to test, formulate and implement policy change.

What are Large Scale Assessments and why have they received so much prominence in the recent past? More importantly, how does Class Saathi change the game in the LSA arena and how beneficial is using it in the field of education? We will explore all these questions in this article!

Composite school students in Varanasi using Class Saathi for quick assessments
Students in K-8 classroom in Varanasi school using Class Saathi for quick assessments

We will start by understanding the implementation and purpose of Large Scale Assessments (LSAs). To do this with clarity, we will also talk about the expenses, both material and human, that agencies have to incur to conduct LSAs. 

Large Scale Assessments involve conducting standardized tests on a significant sample size. They differ from regular assessments or exams as they do not evaluate individual student proficiency.

Rather, it is an instrument through which organizations and policymakers test the learning achievement of students in a bid to understand the efficiency and effectiveness of education policy and other crucial domains that govern the everyday functioning of schools.

Save time and money with Class Saathi
 (Find in-depth explanation below)

The monetary investment required in successfully conducting large scale assessments is very high. Let us analyse the costs here a little bit –

Let’s consider a scenario where a school has 30,000 students and needs to conduct LSAs in two subjects, Maths and Language, for both primary and secondary categories of students. We will then collate the costs and other non-monetary expenses involved. Additionally, we are also going to assume that ​​the average teacher salary is 50,000 INR/month or Rs. 225 per hour for standard 8 hour/28 day’s work month.

Next, we will explore the expenses incurred by schools at different stages of LSAs, from planning to execution.

a. The set-up process: Assuming that each paper takes 5 hours to draft and create, we are looking at 40 hours that go into only curating question papers for two subjects across two categories. Taking the above teacher salary into consideration, it will cost schools ₹18,000 alone to create the question paper.

b. Printing costs: If the cost of printing a paper is ₹0.5 and Maths has a total number of 10 pages and Language has a total of 20, the total amount of money spent printing question papers for students in primary and secondary school amounts to a whopping ₹18,00,000.

c. Grading: Assuming that a teacher takes 10 minutes to grade each paper, we can safely assume that a total amount of 40,000 hours is spent correcting 60,000 papers. In monetary terms, it would cost an organisation/school ₹9,000,000.

d. Documentation and Analysis: Here again we will operate on the assumption that teachers spend 40,000 hours simply documenting and analysing the results from the LSAs. in monetary terms, it would cost a school or organisation a mind-blowing sum of ₹4,50,000 at this stage.

e. Reporting: Assuming reporting takes 3 hours per school and there are 100 students per school, the human cost associated with reporting is 3,600 hours of labour or ₹8,10,000.

So, all in all it takes about ₹12,078,000 which is equivalent to 45,680 human hours not including the logistics of it all.

With Class Saathi, here’s how you will be saving time and money-

Class Saathi saves over 575 times the human hours
Human Hours Comparison: Save 575 times the time

a. The set-up process: Since teachers will still be giving us the content needed for the assessment, we will calculate the same amount as prescribed by the non-Saathi method. So let us assume that it takes ₹18,000 during the drafting process as well.

b. Deployment stage: TagHive Inc. offers LSA capabilities for a mere sum of ₹25 per student per assessment, which means for 30,000 students, the price is ₹3,000,000 and we require only 80 hours to deploy, use and analyse data points.

The TagHive Assessments platform saves over 4x the money and 575x the human hours required for just 1 year of assessments for 30,000 students.

Class Saathi saves over four times the money
Cost Comparison: Save 4 times the money

However, this also does not account for the fact that through digitized assessments, organisations reduce the chances of using forged or erroneous data to formulate policies that can benefit students. What this method also does is help schools and other organisations reduce their carbon footprint by going digital. This also means that Class Saathi is helping people make eco-friendly decisions by discouraging the use of unnecessary stationery and most importantly paper.

Want to know more about our Large Scale Assessment platform? Write to us at [email protected].