Edtech – Page 3 – Fedena Blog

School ERPs Make Education Spending Smarter

January 31, 2017

Why Smart Schools are no longer an option, but a necessity.

Education policy is an issue that is as divisive as it is important. Nothing has exemplified this more than the recent nomination of Betsy DeVos, a controversial figure in education, for the position of US Secretary of Education under the Trump administration. In addition to her seeming lack of knowledge about polarising positions in education, one of the issues DeVos was raked over the coals for her support of increased privatisation of public education.

This would strike a chord with parents in India. It seems obvious that for their child to achieve success, a private school education is not an added advantage, but a necessity. Even those from economically weak backgrounds prefer to send their children to private schools over government schools. This, despite the fact that over the years, between 2006 and 2013, we have enhanced spending on government school education from 2.2% to 2.68% of the GDP.

But has this increased spending resulted in better learning outcomes? A 2016 Annual Status of Education Report says no. The percentage of children able to perform division has nearly halved, and only 25% of standard five students are able to read English sentences. These statistics are dismal, to say the least, and it goes to show that funding is not the only factor that contributes to a child’s success in school.

Private schools are increasingly popular due to better student teacher ratios, enhanced learning environments, and increase quality of education. Even in rural areas, parents prefer to send their children to private schools – totalling up to nearly a quarter of rural students being enrolled in one. But what does this mean for the remaining 75% who don’t have access to or are unable to afford them?

Complete privatisation of education is an exclusionary solution. Instead, we must focus on replicating the enhanced learning infrastructure and hospitable environment that private school students enjoy. Until this happens, learning outcomes become a secondary priority when faced with the overwhelming task if keeping your head above water in any government school.

Education technology can help bridge this gap. From online classrooms eliminating the need for long treks to an overcrowded school or providing reusable electronic materials reducing our dependence on paper resource s, these innovative ideas help all our students achieve their potential – not just the privileged few.

But let’s get realistic – in a country like India, scaling up solutions quickly enough to address present day, on-the-ground needs can feel like one is forever playing catch up. A perennially overworked government school teacher wears many hats; they are counsellors for parents, caregivers for students, and often the only educated person making decisions in the local government. Tracking the progress of every child and empowering them to achieve their learning outcomes in such a scenario becomes a Sisyphean task.

School management software is a low-cost solution. It allows people to work remotely on a safe and secure platform. School ERPs allow students, teachers, and administrators to stay on track through automation of repetitive tasks like coursework submission, grade assignment, and fee collection. Individualised attention for every student through the online messaging system, study groups, and library management system allows teachers to aid students every step of the way.

Smart school solutions are thus vital for the underprivileged and under-resourced, and it is high time that we leverage this technology to also get smart with our spending – the children need it.

Decoding The Need For An Online School Management System

December 23, 2016

Using an online School Management System to help schools achieve efficiency and competence

Understanding The Challenge

The landscape of education and the role of a school in society in fast changing. From being a basic infrastructural complex where knowledge and academic skills were transmitted to the current scenario where the school has evolved into a complex institution, there is a tectonic shift in the role and responsibilities of a school. Beyond the core skill of imparting education, schools have to undertake numerous activities, teach various life skills, span across locations, connect students, 3rd party vendors, teachers, administrators and other academic staff across time and geographies.

Schools need to put in additional efforts to increase their proficiency and fulfill the needs of various departments and ensure that the educational institution is functioning efficiently. Schools today, face a constant demand for data, which needs to be immediate and accurate. In the midst of this, it is often easy for a school to lose its focus from the student and find itself distracted by constant administrative pressure.

Seeking The Solution

However, an outstanding feature of our society today is that we live in a hyper-connected world, an era driven by technology. Today, many leading schools globally have sought an online school management system as a solution that controls and monitor daily operations as well as meets the needs and wants of every department. Functions such as student database management, multiple campus management, student attendance, online admissions, accounting, finance and even human resources can easily be managed by an online system.

Administrators

An online school management system software enables the administrators to effectively manage their institute, allocating resources where most needed, and ensuring a swift response in all situations – be it an urgent look at a student’s track record, a quick study of the school facilities usage or a glance at the admission trends. In a world, where time and resources are under constant pressure, the usability and functional efficiency associated with cloud-based software systems help schools, colleges, and other education centers to manage the students as well as their administrative activities at the click of a button, from any location. For instance, using an online payment method makes payment of fees for various classes, tuition, transportation, easy and hassle-free. An online admission system allows for easy inquiry and registration for various courses.

Teachers

A school ERP with generous features, easy to use and highly customizable with schools requirements allows schools teachers to have more time to dedicate to their students, instead of continually being bogged down in paperwork.

Parents

The focus on school performance has never been sharper and parents are increasingly vigilant about their child’s performance, ensuring they play an active role in their child’s academic life. Using an online school management system enhances communication between the school and parents. It creates an easy platform for the parents and teachers to be in constant touch with one another, encourages an open dialogue of communication on students’ academic progress and keeps the parents in the loop on all urgent issues.

Students

Students too benefit from using an online system, where they can communicate with their peers, access information on projects, submit assignments or get their doubts resolved by their teacher.

Over the past few years, it has been widely proven that using online tools for data management enhances a school’s operational and academic performance. It not only helps school administrators streamline and simplify operational tasks, but it also boosts the productivity of students and augments a positive parent-school relationship.

The Rise Of School Management Software In The Indian K-12 Segment

December 20, 2016

School management software helps in implementing strategies for success in the education industry

Just like any other business, the education industry has commenced using technology to its advantage in order to establish their system in place. Education institutes all over are looking at maximizing productivity within the available resource and seeking to fill gaps in the system that can impact the Indian K-12 segment in a big manner. New models have cropped up, allowing us to review, comprehend and prepare the premises for a better school management. With the effective usage of a software for school management in the K-12 segment, implementation while maintaining and managing a school has become equally easy as pie.

The cloud-based software solution has made education a game changer during the time where the cultural fabric of the country in evolving. Efficient administration, structural assistance, rapid enrollment procedures, managing credentials and other lengthy transactions have witnessed a substantial improvement in their functioning. Consistency, productivity, efficiency has structured various challenging procedures, making everything competent.

Below are the key points that show as to how the school management software is playing an important role throughout the education industry:

Effective Communication:
Speedy and efficient communication is a major catalyst connecting parents, teachers, staff, and society to the school on the right note. During time constraints, it is humanly impossible to pass on significant information manually, in such cases the software for school management provides valuable help. Emails and SMS Alert services designed especially for schools helps reach out countless people at all levels. For daily information on academic schedules, syllabus, assignments, and announcements, the school can effectively communicate through online resources like video recordings of classroom sessions, internet sites, and emails.

Error-proof account management:
Managing school finances and resources is in itself a tumultuous task with no room for error. Keeping a track of funds, allowances, donations, and fees on a daily basis calls for heavy paper work and dedicated labor. The automated management system helps regulate the school’s finances smoothly. They keep financial information secure and successful and the school admin does not have to suffer the cost of fraudulent acts or misleading transactions anymore.

Organized Schedule Management:
Software for school management acts as a powerful instrument to help schools meet the needs of its ever-more-diverse student teaching requirement. Planning ahead is essential, and a methodically managed calendar in terms of scheduling of exams and timetables improves competency amongst students, productivity amongst teachers and limited stress amongst parents. An organized schedule allows everyone access to the varied information around. Grading, calculating and preparing student appraisal reports and various other documents become relatively easier.

India is now the largest country after beating US & UK, to have the highest number of schools and students enrolled in the K-12 system. In this ever so tangled environment, schools look out for consistent and efficacious, simple processes to canvas their widespread activities. With the aid of this digital tool, schools have become technologically skilled and better prepared for the contemporary world, enhancing the overall networking between parents, teachers, and students. Apart from improving the administration & management of schools and classrooms, each one of them, now is able to do more complex and creative work with ease; making it integral for every school to have a proper system that lays the foundations of it being the very best.

integrate technology in classroom blog image

The need to integrate technology in classrooms

December 3, 2016December 3, 2016

Schools know why they do what they do. The Directors, HODs and the Principals know why they do what they do. It’s the teachers and students who need inspiration and leadership. Why integrate technology in classrooms and schools? Why is it essential? These are relevant questions a lot of Indian schools fail to ask themselves before they decide on purchasing and integrating technology in classrooms.

We all know the story about the first controlled flight. The Wright brothers inventing the first controlled flying plane is not quite a complete picture. Nobody talks about all the others who were trying to do the same. Designing the first controlled plane wasn’t just a project the Wright brothers had taken up. It was a game-changing idea and everybody at that time wanted to do it. But what is it that made the difference? Why couldn’t Samuel Pierpont Langley achieve this before the Wright Brothers did? After all, he was the one with the right education and financial backing at that time. The Wright Brothers were just self-taught engineers from the suburbs. The difference is that they knew why they were doing it. They believed that controlled flight was possible and did all that they could to build one.

As an institution, you have to make sure that technology isn’t just a tool to maintain the status quo. But a tool to enhance your force of teachers and students. To take your enthusiasm in educational technology and turn it into results for your teachers and students is the true goal. You begin with

Why do I want my teachers and staff to learn this technology?

You aren’t asking what technology should I purchase to enhance my school. You already know the technology available, the school ERPs, the LMSs, studying guide apps the list is endless. The need for purchase must stem out of the why and not the what. For example, we develop a school ERP, Fedena, often we ask ourselves why we do what we do? Is it just because we live in a digital age and schools and institutions need a school management software? Fedena comes with 50+ essential modules. We are rolling out an automatic timetable generator as a new module this December. It keeps a record of every student, teacher, and staff. Helps you with finances, automates hostel allocations, and a whole lot of other stuff. Why do we want schools and Institutions to buy Fedena? Is it because Fedena is a better product?

We believe that every school and institution should have the power to lead and inspire generations of students. Give them the ability to think for themselves. In order for them to do that, the administration of their resources is paramount. Schools should be in a position to stop worrying about maintaining records. Start worrying about how better to connect with students to enhance their learning. We want to help schools understand the difference technology can make in the lives of admins, teachers, and students.

Once we pass the stage of the “Why”, only one question rises up from the teachers and staff,

Why do we need this change? Is this going to be a constant process, changing from one software to another? Why aren’t we just sticking to our traditional ways?

Reform or change is always an ongoing process. It is only with reform and change that anything becomes great. Helping them understand the results of adapting to technology in this digital age is just the first step. Schools will have to show them these results once technology is successfully integrated in classrooms. Which brings us to the next question

How do I want my teachers and students to experience technology in the classroom?

In a diverse country like India, it is critical to understand the penetration technology has and how people experience it. In a study done by Gartner last year and insights provided by Huffingtonpost. There is a stark difference on how a PC is seen by students in Tier 1 cities and the rest of the country.

“PCs are a one-stop information source for 80 percent youth in Tier 1 cities. Students in Delhi (83 percent), Mumbai (70 percent) and Bengaluru (70 percent) are highly dependent on their personal computing devices, compared to the country average of 41 percent.(sic)”

The post also goes on to say that students in Tier 4 cities take the PC seriously and see it as an educational tool. The students in Tier 1 cities have a more relaxed approach to the PC. East Indians prefer to experience the internet as well as technology only via cybercafes rather than owning one of their own. This study provides us with a lot of insights on how teachers and students experience technology across India.

Teachers in Tier 1 are more likely to have access to PCs at home as well as schools. While teachers in Tier 4 are not likely to know how to operate a PC. This gives us a good idea of how students and teachers are experiencing technology. On the basis of this data, Indian schools and institutions can develop strategies to integrate technology in classrooms.

Once schools are done designing the right experience for teachers and students with technology, truly enhancing the learning process gets ever closer. This is also the time when teachers, staff, and students would be asking schools

What technology are you getting next? Is it really going to enhance learning? How is it going to make the process more efficient?

As the head of an institution or the principal of a school, it is important to ask yourself these questions. This exercise helps you reach answers to the problems and obstacles you are facing while integrating technology in your classrooms. Almost always you will realize the transformation you are looking for in your school. This is what we believe. We engage all our customers in a similar fashion helping them bring transformations and enhancements with ease.

Is Attendance equivalent to engagement in online education?

October 2, 2016

Mahatma Gandhi once said “Those who know how to think need no teachers.” Unfortunately this holds as a poor standard to measure student progress or their development.

We have always had classmates who sat at the back of the classroom, reading a comic or novel, doodling on their notebooks, anything which provided refuge from the learning environment which did not-could not engage them. A very common description which our teachers used was, “Physically present but mentally absent”.

Students today have choices when it comes to their education; education technology has enabled various schools and institutions to develop new models of learning and teaching. A growing number of students are finding academic success via personalized means. But in our society, the definition of school space is the traditional idea of learning in a school building and suburban landscape, involving physical attendance which is rooted deeply in our institutions.

Adopting online education requires a very different and comparatively new mindset, a new criteria which could be used to measure academic success, something which includes the nature of teaching, learning, the diverse set of students online education serves and all the unique ways in which they learn. There are many good debates on the advantages of online classrooms and education, it’s also true that not all online courses serve the best interests of the students, mismanagement of courses, server crashes etc.

But, one could also argue about all the problems traditional schools have faced and how they have failed not just a few but generations of students, the yearly pass percentages dropping in every board, some schools/institutions being reported as dropout factories, teacher absenteeism being one of the major concerns in our rural areas (even technology is finding it hard to solve this).

The average Indian teacher is in charge of 40 or more students at a time, each with a different learning capacity, level of engagement and rate of mastery. Now if the teacher were to address the middle of this group its very easy for him/her to lose the students who are at the ends, the fast learners and the slow ones and that’s only if the teacher is present for the day or the term.

Whenever there is a change in ideas that threaten those who are hardwired to existing ones, there is a lot of resistance. Questions such as, how does one know if the student is playing games while he is logged in an online class? How does learning actually happen? What accountability does the teacher have or the student have? Power shortages are common here, how do we maintain flow?

Addressing attendance and engagement, must take into consideration the characteristics of students who attend online courses. Online education works particularly well for students who face unique challenges in traditional academic processes. Some are far ahead of their classmates academically; others lag. Both sets benefit from the self-driven pacing that is a particular advantage of online education. Online schools also serve to provide an uninterrupted education to students who live with illnesses or are otherwise unable to attend a local school. Still others choose online education because it saves them from bullying or other social pressures found in traditional schools.

The online teaching space is a collaborative space where teachers have the access to a wealth of data that helps them develop asynchronous lessons, adaptive ideas and practices that are discussed and iterated on, and help inspire both learning and teaching. If anything, online education is a complement to traditional learning spaces. One of the first steps institutions, schools and teachers can take is to digitize. A student management system is a good place to start for schools institutions and teachers who want to try online education. Fedena school ERP is one such software, which helps provide live analytics to help you understand all your teachers’ needs, schools’ needs and take definitive action on time.

As today is Mahatma Gandhi’s jayanti, and as he once said, “Co-operating with the good is as much one’s duty as much as not co-operating with the bad is”, let’s hope that we can explore both traditional and online learning spaces in equal opportunities to help build a better system for our children’s academic success.

5 Features which are a must for any online education platform

September 23, 2016September 23, 2016

Online education has seen a steady rise in the number of learners in the past few years and is slowly replacing the traditional methods of learning. The same trend is now true for instructors who want to reach out to more learners but aren’t able to due to many constraints. This increased adoption of online education can be associated with the various features online teaching platforms have to offer, some of them being

Ease of use

Flexibility

to both instructors and learners.

In the words of Bill Gates, “ Technology is just the tool. In terms of getting the kids to working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important”

With many education technology solutions available to teachers, it becomes time consuming for them to choose the right solution for their teaching and training needs. Nothing disparages a teacher’s enthusiasm and drive than a software which is made without keeping them in mind. Undoubtedly, the right software or platform should in all it’s capacity enable the teacher and enrich the learner in every way possible rather than become another cause to worry.

Every online platform comes with different features and capabilities and each of them boast about being built both for the teacher as well as the student. Which makes the process of choosing the right platform a difficult and time consuming task and thus discouraging teachers or students to open a world of possibilities.

So here are six must-have features that an online teaching or training software should satisfy before you decide on adding technology to your existing methods.

Global Reach

One of the significant factors behind the multifold increase in teachers choosing to go online is the wider reach offered by online platforms and well, the internet. Using the internet, teachers can reach out to students across the planet, which isn’t possible with traditional teaching platforms. There are many online teaching platforms with a varying number of users. As a teacher, the right online platform to start with would be one with a good number of active users worldwide or in the geography of your choice and features that compliment the diverse set of students who might be opting for your course. Moreover, a platform with support for foreign languages is also a very important feature, which means that you can teach students without worrying about the language barrier.

Measurement of teaching effectiveness

Effective teaching can simply be defined as a set of activities that cultivates learning. Having an in-depth knowledge is just not enough to be an effective teacher. In addition to having a deep understanding of the subject matter, a teacher also needs to be aware of the factors that affect the learning process, which might include how content is delivered, course ware design, student engagement, and more. It is crucial for teachers to be cognizant of the students’ abilities and specific learning needs as a teacher’s effectiveness can be quantified by measuring the degree of student engagement and the understanding of content consumption.

Online platforms that allow teachers to build their online academies and get actionable information about their courses, classes, and content delivery. Such powerful features enable teachers to get insights into students’ activities through informative reports which cover information, such as content consumed by each student, live classes attended, and the percentage of the course completed to keep a tab on the number of dropouts. Teachers can use this information to refine their course content or courseware design, improve their teaching approach or methodology, and do a lot more to increase student engagement to enhance learning outcomes.

Fedena School ERP is one such online platform which provides these reports to teachers and schools who are still following the traditional methods of teaching. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step and Fedena is that one step which your school can make to ease the transition from traditional teaching to online.

Content Security

Teachers work very hard to create their instructional content making it their intellectual property. It is natural for them to be concerned about the security of their content as information on the web can be accessed and used by everyone. Content security remains one of the biggest concerns of teachers looking to teach online or offline. One of the ways to claim content ownership is by controlling the dissemination and access of content so that it’s accessible to only the intended students. Server security, encryption types and other such technologies are used to keep your data safe on online platforms, so before deciding on which one you are going with, make sure to get a good understanding of who gets to access your data and how they get to do it.

Versatility

The versatility of the software or platform decides the type of online teaching or training activities that you can do. You need to take into consideration the level and type of interaction that you normally have with your students and choose the software accordingly.

Sometimes, you may need to include polls or quizzes, and other interactive elements in your course to engage students. You may also need to have live audio and video communication with students during your class. The platform you choose must be versatile enough to provide you with access to such features, and in an effective way.

In addition, since instructional content comes in various formats, you need to make sure that the software or platform supports content in all the widely-used formats, such as PDF, Microsoft Word, presentation, audio, and video, just to name a few.

Fedena School ERP, an award-winning student management system, has useful and innovative features, such as Polls, online examinations and moodle integrations, text chat, blogs, and content sharing, among others. These features enable teachers to engage learners and deliver a holistic learning experience be it online or offline.

Mobile learning

Smartphones and tablets are radically transforming how we access content and stay connected. We have instant access to information and expertise – from informal electronics lessons on YouTube to online courses. Data is being consumed at a rapid pace on mobile devices and education is getting infused with our daily routine. Mobile learning takes online education right to the student, making it their choice and not the teacher’s choice.

As pedagogy and learning needs change, learning tools evolve. With the online education landscape changing rapidly, teachers and students are adapting to new technologies. As more and more people join the online community owing to ease of use, scalability, flexibility, affordability and choosing the right platform or software continues to remain a crucial factor in the success of your teaching, training or business.

How Fedena Helps in Information Sharing

September 16, 2016September 16, 2016

An ERP aims to associate the structure across an organization in a way of systemizing the workflow, sharing information among departments and providing an insight into various business operations. The traditional methods of handling data and tracking information seems more comfortable and familiar that we tend to forget there are better alternatives. Every institute and organisation have valuable data that needs to be handled efficiently. There are better ways to bring in efficacy and it starts with innovation in technology.

School ERP softwares like Fedena provide the end user to retrieve, manage, analyse and share data in a user-friendly way. Any college or school ERP will streamline all the common activities of the organization to increase productivity, but Fedena takes a step ahead to help you share information among various members of the organization with ease. The benefit of getting an erp implemented in your organization is the ability to allow your users to utilize the data they need at the right time. The need to reply to others in the organization causes a great delay, which further causes a dip in productivity.

Multiple users input data and access it via various modules in Fedena, which allows them to share information with ease. The Fedena dashboard is one such valuable asset of Fedena allowing users to perform multiple tasks and at the same time acts as a central point to begin various tasks. It has a collection of dashlets that provides a quick overview of the information that matters most to the user. Fedena also provides the user with a lot more features.

Optimize Your Human resource department

Multiple departments can be setup and communications are a breeze. The HR admin generates payslips and every employee has access to it through their profiles. Employees can also apply for leaves using Fedena while the managers approve/deny them at their leisure.

Improve Inventory Management

Fedena allows you to build a greater control and automation in your inventory to save time, money and provide your students and teachers with stationaries, study materials etc on time. Multiple users can use the module to run the inventory efficiently.

Maintain Financial transparency

Fedena also enables you to control your accounts, cash management, donations, payroll, assets, liabilities and tax management. Allowing you to maintain transparency and privacy with the admins, teachers, students and parents.

Library Management

Most library managers are very concerned with the need for management of information about the books in the library. All students and staff get instant access to check the availability of books and reserve them. The Library manager can get meaningful information about movement of the books and easily manage the library efficiently.

Effective User-to-user Communication

You can choose to send internal messages, SMS or Emails to all the users in your organization. You can keep your employees, students and parents updated with the latest events and information. This task of mass communication is easily accomplished with Fedena and allows the school admin to message teachers, students and parents individually or setup automatic messages for various events like holiday reminders, event reminders, fee payment reminders, attendance reminders etc.

Having a high stack of spreadsheets and reports on your desk and trying to make sense of all the data you need to review? It’s time to tidy up and organize all your data using Fedena.

This article is written by : Aarthi Paramasivam

Somebody who is a naturally articulate speaker and taskmaster, Aarthi is an industry expert in Fedena. Her idea of fun is engaging customers and helping them succeed at understanding Fedena and improving institution processes.

How Experiential Learning Contributes To Better Learning Experiences

May 13, 2016

The very concept of experiential learning has been thrown around quite frequently of late. It’s a growing trend in the teaching process that more and more schools have begun adopting. The idea is quite simple and works around the process of learning through one’s experiences or a “reflection of doing”.

Originally coined by David Kolb the process follows a cycle of 4 steps:

1. Concrete Experience
2. Reflective Observation
3. Abstract Conceptualization
4. Testing/Active Experimentation

This model of steps is something that seems to appear time and time again in our lives and it has been argued that this learning cycle can begin and end at any of these steps.

How It Works

So what this means, is that the process begins with a person carrying out a particular action and then seeing the effect of the action in a situation. Following this, the second step involves understanding these effects in the instance of the situation in the event if the same action was taken in the same circumstances, it would be possible to anticipate what would follow from the action. In this pattern the third step would follow, understanding the general principle under which the particular instance falls. When this general principle is understood, the last step is application through action in a new circumstance. This ends up completing the cycle.

The World is Your Classroom

It can be argued in favor of experiential learning that concepts that may be hard to grasp in the classroom can be easier to come to terms with through real world experiences. Studies have proven that learning in a real world experience can prove to be more effective in that the learners is made to adapt based on the real world surroundings through careful observations and generalization. Through this learning experience, one can:

1. Gain valuable experience in the field.
2. Study and learn on a more global and local scale.
3. Understand the importance of real life experiences.
4. Participate actively in a dynamic environment.

Individual Learning: A Matter of Here-and-Now

Many studies believe that the very concept of experiential learning is focused on the “here-and-now” that can have serious implications on what we take out of the overall experience. By this, we regard experiential learning as being more on the lines of individual development or developing people as individuals. This is a fair assessment as most experiences, in general, are determined and controlled.

Conventional VS Experiential

Today, schools and organizations dedicated to educating focus on a variety of methods that they believe will contribute to one’s overall development. But there is a clear distinction in how these procedures are carried out. Some consider the concept of learning through experiences and one’s individual development as opposed to conventional methods which are designed for the purpose of developing one’s capabilities to meet a measurable standard or an organizations’ standards.

It’s no secret that people need such abilities, skills and knowledge but what needs to be highlighted here is that conventional methods are more focused on the bureaucratic requirements of an organization and one’s overall ability to meet such qualifications and standards. Therefore, the notion of developing people as individuals is regarded by many employers and much of the educational establishments as less efficient and effective than conventional training and teaching.

Many fail to see the benefits experiential education holds. By developing people as individuals – rather than simply transferring arbitrary capabilities helps develop essential things such as confidence, self-esteem, personal strengths, and crucially a rounded sense of purpose and fulfillment which fundamentally improve attitude, life-balance, and emotional well-being. These are just as important for productive work and a healthy society as the essential skills and knowledge typically represented in conventional education and work-related training.
That being said, there are a variety of differences between conventional and experiential learning:

Conventional Learning	Experiential Learning
Training focused – Very Theoretical	Learning focused – Very Hands-on
Fixed in its framework	Open ended and flexible
For organizational needs	For one’s personal growth
Involves the transfer of knowledge	Knowledge is usually developed
Examples: Lectures, presentations etc	Examples: Hobbies, Passions etc.

A Better Learning Experience

It’s no surprise that the vast majority of teaching and training in education and work continues to be conventional and not experiential. This can sometimes be understandable because, in terms of both education and later work, an organization’s needs may be put ahead one’s individual needs. It can be argued here that society is a bit ignorant and ‘broken’ with regards to this.
It’s difficult to deny the benefits experiential learning brings to the table. It can effectively address the real personal development needs of people, whether young or old and see improvements in confidence, self-esteem, personal responsibility and maturity which are so elusive when approached through conventional prescriptive teaching and training methods alone.

Future Of Technology In The Classroom (What to expect)

May 12, 2016

Flying cars, time machine these are some promising technologies which we expect to see within the next few years. We get excited thinking about these far-fetched technologies that inspire our future generations to learn science, math and engineering. What does the future of technology in the classroom hold in reality? What type of technologies will inspire our future inventors and engineers, scientists and shape their minds? These are some questions which keep boggling our minds when we think of the future of our children and their education. Either you are a school teacher or a parent; we always want to give them the best education. Here we bring you the future technologies that will hold the future of classroom and shape the mind of children.

Augmented Reality Eye-Wear

This amazing technology seems far closer to reality since Google’s confirmed the launch of the Augmented Reality Eye-Wear glasses. These glasses are actually a data layer on top of our eyes. It doesn’t matter if students are wearing any style of glasses because all data is sent directly to their Augmented Reality contact lenses. No doubt, we have digital media textbooks, but it will be more exciting to imagine having Hitler sitting on a desk and explaining the World War. This enriching experience enjoyed by students inside and outside the classroom would be wonderful.

Biometrics

This technology will bring about a revolution in the world of science. The future of technology like biometrics will help in understanding the emotional & physical state of children and their learning in the classroom. Based on signals of biometrics, course material can be tailored individually. To understand the performance of students, their physical traits like heart rate, facial expression, odor and skin moisture, could be measured, studied and taken action on. Teachers can easily understand whether any children need additional assistance with the behavioral signs such as gait typing, rhythm, and voice of children. This technology will also help to understand what teaching techniques will work best for students.

Multi-Touch Surfaces

The concept of multi-touch has been a hot topic in the world of technology since the huge success of iPhone. Even many companies like Microsoft have been experimenting on multi- touch surfaces, consumers have become addicted to it. With the advancement of technology, this multi-touch surface has become more advanced and cheaper; we expect some more products with multi-touch surfaces that will be helpful in the learning of student and change the future of technology in the classroom. Just think of a classroom where every student is working together with their peers across the globe and employing computer-generated objects right in front of them. With this technology, virtual tools, streamed video and millions of online resources are available to teachers and student with a single swipe of the desk.

As we are proceeding to more advanced technology in 2016, the future of classroom sounds amazing. Every time you visit our blog, you will definitely find something new to read. So stay tuned for more!

Do Or Don’t: Listening To Music While Studying?

May 6, 2016May 6, 2016

It’s easy to underestimate the effect music can have on you. Music is a powerful art form that can bring up emotions, inspire motivation and sometimes even alter your mood. Today, it is quite common seeing students frequently listen to music while studying to make the process “less painful” and, in some cases, because they believe music will help them learn. So it brings about the big questions, is it true that listening to music helps while studying? Should you do it or not?
Many may be in favor of listening to music while studying, but the subject itself is debatable because no side on the matter is 100% correct, making it quite subjective and purely based on a matter of opinion.

What Studies Tell Us

· Some studies that have been conducted about the effects of musical distraction on cognitive task performance, have found the idea of music improves cognitive performance.

· Studies have indicated that music can have sedative and stimulating effects on the mind that can reduce both depression and anxiety.

· Studies have also determined that genres of music may be linked to one’s personality whether extroverts or introverts and can have varying effects.

· Noise levels, as well as sounds with lyrics, can have ambiguous effects on one’s cognitive process.

Staying Focused: The Mozart Effect

Studies have shown that listening to music before studying or performing a task can be beneficial as it improves attention and also one’s ability to do mental math. Many researchers, as well as students, have branded this practice of listening to music while studying to be termed as the “Mozart Effect”, as they believe it to help in developing muscle memory. Though this effect only truly applies to those listening to Mozart’s music or anything instrumental for that matter, many today listen to a wide genre or music.
Many believe that listening to music can be uplifting as it puts them in a more positive mood to study. This lift in the mood will only increase one’s IQ. Choosing music that one is relatively familiar and comfortable with will in time increase overall productivity.

The Other Side

While many may be ‘for’ listening to music while studying, others have differing views. Studies have also shown that listening to music while studying can also be very distracting. This may not be prevalent in the case of instrumental music such as the works of Mozart but mainly in genres with extended vocals or major distortion of sound such as metal music (Students don’t usually study when listening to metal music).

Studies have shown that the mind tends to have what is known as cognitive limitations. These limitations are exposed when someone tries to do two things at once or multitask. This is especially the case when listening to music while studying. It tends to break focus. This is especially the case when listening to music that isn’t particularly beautiful to our ears. The overall effect then can be dampening.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

Music can tend to have a profound effect on one’s state of being. This can alter simple things such as moods and one’s heart rate. It can sometimes energize and otherwise depress. But there’s no doubt that music can play an effective role in getting students to another level while studying.
Some may advise staying away from music with lyrics especially when working on something that’s heavily based on language. Some may find comfort in this too. In the end, studying will remain quite a painful chore for many and it will really come down to how you wish to tackle such a hard situation, music or sans music.

Choosing What’s Right

So should you listen to music while studying? Is it advisable? One can never really determine an accurate response to this question. The effects of listening to music while studying are mixed and depend on the type of music you listen to as well as the degree to which it distracts you. By this, it means carefully tailoring the music to listen to while studying, based on the situation and your mood, can help keep you focused. Choosing the wrong kind of music can be counterproductive for your studies.
So choosing the right music can be integral here:

1. Classical is Safe – The genre is peaceful and harmonious. It’s a safe bet choosing classical as music to listen to while studying.

2. Instrumental – Going with Instrumental placed together with modern sounds can be beneficial. It can prove more relaxing than anything else.

3. Chill the Mix – Going in for music that’s more down tempo and blends modern electronic genres such as ambience and trance can be the perfect study companion.

4. New Age Music – If the latest hits are truly your pick, then you could try them, so long as they give you the satisfaction you desire when you listen to music while studying.

Results are Always Subjective

In the end, most studies will only be based on sample sizes that have been studied. It is important to understand that no two minds are ever truly the same. Music is like art and can, therefore, be perceived in a variety of ways. What one may find comfort in, others are downright ignorant of it.
It is why such genres exist, to appeal to a variety of people. The question of whether one should listen to music while studying will always be a matter of debate with many favoring the practice and others ignoring.

Smart School: Is it worth the hype?

May 4, 2016May 4, 2016

Smartphones, Smart TVs, Smart watches, and Smart Schools – the demand for smart products is at an all-time high. People living in this “smart” era can easily prove how smart devices have made their lives better in multitudinous ways. But, is there anyone who can vouch for smart school system’s effectiveness? Does a smart school make a significant difference in children’s development? Or is it just another gimmick to score better than traditional schools? We have covered all your questions here to help you decide why installing smart classes in schools is imperative!

Let’s Start with Basics – What is a Smart School?

Smart school is a technology-based teaching learning institution that prepares children for the information age. In smart schools, teachers take help of a wide array of multimedia tools including movies, photos, audio, slides, etc., to make the teaching learning process more effective and efficient. Unlike traditional schools, the curriculum and guidelines are not rigid and teachers can employ a variety of multimedia tools for enhanced learning.

The definition of smart schools appears to be straightforward. However, the approach about the impact of adopting smart classes in schools needs to be pondered upon. A majority of smart schools today use advanced technologies to transfer traditional school program. In other words, these schools stick to the traditional curriculum and only use new technologies for disseminating information. On the contrary, there are a few educational institutions that adopt smart school systems staunchly to change the education and tools thereby outpacing traditional educational system.

Smart School Goals – It makes all the Difference!

Today’s goals determine tomorrow’s actions. And this is why smart school goals are farsighted and best-suited for the Information and communication technology (ICT) era. Smart school systems focus on a holistic (physical, mental, emotional and psychological) development of students. It is a proven fact that no two individuals are same. Then, how can we achieve miraculous results by treating every student alike? Smart schools are designed to identify and hone individual’s abilities thereby helping them excel in an area of their choice. One of the key goals of smart school systems is to stimulate public participation amongst students. By doing so, students are made to overcome their fears while learning to express their views that further prepare them to face the outside world.

Building Blocks of Smart Schools

Student Management System
The first step towards being a smart school involves having a student management system in place. This system automates many processes of your institution and allows you concentrate on teaching and imparting knowledge.

Curriculum
The curriculum for smart classes in schools is designed for all-round development of students. It is framed in a unique way to integrate knowledge and skills to ensure balanced and comprehensive development.

Pedagogy
It gives freedom from typecast lesson plans of a traditional educational system and allows for blending in learning strategies for more effective and efficient knowledge transfer.

Assessment
Assessment in an educational system is as important as the teaching-learning process. The assessment in smart classes is continuous, comprehensive and integral. Accurate feedback is another important component of assessment in ICT educational system.

Teaching Methods
The teaching methods in smart schools are student-centric. The teachers can use a variety of multimedia tools and materials for development of students’ abilities and talent. Teachers can even record their lessons and put them on a central network so that students can refer to it whenever required.

Having talked about smart schools in detail, it can be easily concluded that smart school system is brilliant and should be adopted in schools for more effective teaching-learning. It’s true that establishing smart schools in India is challenging but every step taken in this direction will make our educational system and nation strong and superior!

Take the first step towards making students’ lives better by introducing smart classes in schools.

8 reasons to be excited about Fedena ERP in 2016 – Rails 5.0, Analytics and more

May 2, 2016May 5, 2016

It is the start of a new academic year and our engineering team is working on some highly useful features for Fedena that will enhance your productivity and save a lot of time for teachers. Some of these are in the design stage and some have already started development. Have a quick preview of what you can expect in the coming days from Fedena engineering team.

1. Analytics

Are you finding it hard to take decisions at your institution due to lack of data? The analytics module is aimed at giving you graphical and analytical reports from the information in Fedena. Be it the administrator of the institution or the teacher of a course, every high-level report from the dashboard can be drilled down to give a granular look into your data.

2. Rails 5.0

We plan to move to the newer Ruby on Rails, version 5, to enhance functionality and performance of your favourite School Management System. Rails 5 will improve performance and enable the use of latest technologies, thus enhancing yourFedena experience. This also allows us to ship new features and updates faster to you. This will be a blessing to our technology partners who can develop new features quicker than ever before.

3. Enhanced Accounting Module

An accounting module in Fedena that you can use to keep track of your income and expenses in your institution. All transactions in Fedena like fees and payslips will automatically get recorded in the respective accounts. Create and manage your cash, bank accounts and etc in Fedena and easily create your balance sheet or income statement with the click of a button.

4. Automatic Timetable Generation

Speed up your timetable generation process with the Automatic Timetable Generator in Fedena. Whether you want to generate it for a batch or for your whole institution, enter subject or batch constraints, assign teachers, click on allocate and sit back while Fedena generates the best timetable for you. Don’t want ‘Mathematics’ on Mondays? Take control of your timetable manually at any time, without recreating it again.

5. Enhanced Applicant Registration(Admission) Module

The Applicant Registration module you need in your institution to manage new admission requests. Now comes with features like customizable fields, status messages to record each stage of the admission process and the option to archive your applicants after the close of the admission process. We have super-charged the applicant registration module to super-charge your admissions process.

6. Advanced HR Reports

This feature brings advanced reporting abilities to the HR module like Payslip Reports, Employee Payroll category wise reports and payslip comparison reports. With predefined reports, you can start using them right away. These report formats can be customized to add or remove fields as per your needs and what’s more? Save them as templates and forget about making reports again.

7. Enhanced Tally Integration

This enhancement brings a host of features to the Tally module. Now you can get fee collection wise amounts as well as particular wise amounts in Tally since all collections and particulars will have a ledger entry. Gross salary paid and payslip deductions made in Fedena will all get reflected in Tally. All Fedena related accounts and ledgers are created by default and all entries will be created only if they previously do not exist in Tally thus ensuring no duplicity.

8. Transfer Certificate Generator

You asked for more options in generating the Transfer Certificate and we have heard you. With the all new TC generator, each of the three sections – header, student details, and footer have customizable fields, that you can choose to show or hide from the TC. Customize the header template or use your own preprinted header. Map to existing student details in Fedena or use custom fields to enter data. Define clauses and add up to 4 signature fields in the footer area. Create your own customized template for the Transfer Certificate of your institution.

What’s next?

Powering your institution with the all new Fedena is but one step towards providing the highest quality of education, let Fedena take care of your institution while you concentrate on what you do best and we understand that providing high quality education is a journey of a thousand miles which begins with one step, take that one step today.