ONLINE COUNCELLING PROGRAM VIA WEBCAM-THERAPISTS

AND PSYCHOLOGIST
SRP Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree

Of

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMILISTRATION OF ACHARYA BANGLORE

BUSINESS SCHOOL

By

ADARSH V.S

19YUCMD006

Under the Guidance

Of

DR. RAJESH C

Assistant Professor

ACHARYA BANGLORE BUSINESS SCHOOL

2020

1
 DECLRATION BY THE STUDENT

I hereby declare that ‘‘Online Counselling program via webcam- therapist and psychologist’’ is the
result of the project work carried out by me under the guidance of Dr . RAJESH C. in partial fulfilment
for the award of Master’s Degree in Business Administration by Acharya Bangalore B School.

I also declare that this project is the outcome of my own efforts and that it has not been submitted to
any other or institute for the award of any other Degree or Diploma or Certificate.

Place: Signature:

Name: ADARSH V.S

Date: Register Number: 19YUCMD006

2
 CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY

(To be given by the Institution on its letterhead)

Date :

This is to certify that the SRP titled ‘‘online counselling via webcam- therapists and psychologists’ is on original
work of Mr ADARSH V.S being submitted in partial fulfilment for the award of
Master’s Degree in Business Administration of Bangalore University. The report has not been submitted earlier
either to this Institution for the fulfilment of the requirement of a course of study.

SINGATURE OF GUIDE SIGNATURE OF DIRECTOR

Date : Date :

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I take this opportunity to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude to all those who have directly or
indirectly helped and contributed towards the completion of this project.

The success of any project study depends upon a number of factors among which the proper guidance
received from the experts in the industry and teachers play an important role.

I take here a great opportunity to express my sincere and deep sense of gratitude. Dr . RAJESH C.. for
giving me an opportunity to work on his project. The support and guidance from sir were of great help
and it was extremely valuable. I would like to express my gratitude to sir for his constant support and
encouragement. I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to DR. HR VENKATESHA
(DIRECTOR), for his constant and encouragement without his outright and energetic motivation,
support and prompt response. It would not have been possible to do any justice as well as bring
authenticity to the project.

Finally, I want to thank everyone for their constant support and encouragement.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER. PARTICULAR PAGE.NO

NO

01 INTRODUCTION 6-12
02 SOCIAL RELEVANCE 13-18
03 ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES 19-24
AND BUSINESS PLAN

04 REVIEW OF NATIONAL AND 25-35

INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO

05 CHALLENGES 36-41

06 CONCLUSION 42-46

07 BIBLIOGRAPHY 47

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CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION

6
 ONLINE COUNSELLING
Online counselling is defined as the delivery of therapeutic interventions in cyberspace
where communication between a trained professional counsellor and client(s) is
facilitated using computer-mediated communication (CMC) technologies. Research
considers aspects of delivering therapeutic interventions online, including process and
outcome research, the therapeutic relationship online, the potential benefits and
challenges in working online, client suitability for online counselling, therapists' and
clients' attitudes and experiences of online counselling, professional training for working
online with clients, and its very nature and definition as a therapeutic intervention.
Understanding the psychology of online behaviour as it applies to online counselling
includes the effects of apparent anonymity and distance, disinhibition, identity and
impression management, writing and emotional expression, presence, and ethical
behaviour in cyberspace.

Rising prevalence of mental health diseases is a serious problem for society. Some
areas in Asia have no medical facilities and proper mental health care is unavailable.
To cope with these problems, application of ICT for mental health services has been
recognized as one of the effective approaches. Therefore, we have been studying and
putting into practice online counselling for people assigned overseas. We constructed a
system using agile software development for those assigned overseas in Asia. The first
step involved developing a prototype system based on system requirements after we
repeatedly discussed system development with people in charge of a clinic. Next, we
conducted interviews about the online counselling system. We also discussed and
analysed the interviews. Finally, we completed the online Web counselling system by
repeatedly discussing possible improvements with the clinic and then incorporating the
changes in the system. Moreover, we evaluated the system by conducting a survey in
the form of a questionnaire. Since we developed an effective online counselling system
using statistical methods, this paper reports on the construction and usability evaluation
of the system.

7
 Online counselling is where a client and therapist work together through

the medium of online communication rather than in face to face sessions.

 Online counsellors may offer a variety of mediums through which to work.

These include instant message sessions, telephone counselling sessions, video

call sessions.

 It differs from tradition counselling in that the therapist and client are never

in the same room during their work together.

TRADITIONAL COUNSELLING

 It takes place within a boundaries setting, in pre-booked hourly sessions.

 It is bound by the same standards of confidentiality as face to face

counselling.

 It is dependent on an open and honest relationship between client and

therapist

 It requires of the therapist that they provide a safe and non judgmental

space for the client to explore the depths of themselves

 It requires of the client a commitment to attend sessions and to work. 

IMPORTANCE

 It is not restricted by geographical location or the limits imposed by local

service availability.

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 Therapists profiles can be viewed before making the appointment so that

clients can gain some insight into therapist that they feel they would work best

with, before committing to a session.

 It offers more time flexibility as it is not restricted to 9-5 office hours. As

sessions can take place without travel, the time requirement of attending

counselling can be dramatically reduced.

 It offers further confidentiality, because it can be accessed from home and

therefore does not require attending at a local therapy centre, which for some

may delay initial contact through the anxiety of being seen.

 It offers a convenience which enhances empowerment and independence

to those who may require assistance to physically attend for face to face

counselling.

BENEFITS OF ONLINE COUNSELLING COMPARED TO

FACE TO FACE THERAPY

 Often the stress involved in making a face to face appointment may mean

that a person may postpone making the appointment until such time as the

stress due to life experiences outweighs that of the stress of the appointment. In

this way online counselling may offer a safer alternative to those anxious about

face to face and may therefore enable them to access support prior to crisis.

 For people at home with family or at work, online counselling offers a way

of accessing support without the necessity of severe disturbance to their day.

9
 The client can access the support from the comfort and convenience of

their own home.

 Online counselling removes the geographical barrier which may exist to those

living in remote areas who would otherwise be unable to access support.

 Clients have access to a number of therapists and can therefore choose who they

feel most comfortable with rather than be limited to availability due to location.

 Online counselling offers flexible appointment times.

 Online counselling offers an independence and choice to those with a physical

impairment or disability.

 There are also disadvantages to online therapy and these should be considered too

before deciding whether online counselling is right for you.

 In both instant chat sessions and telephone sessions, you can neither see your

therapist nor be seen by your therapist. While for some people this may offer an initial

security, for others it may limit the level of connection they feel or the depth of

relationship they feel able to establish.

In our study, we aim to prevent mental health problems from worsening as a result of

negligence for those assigned overseas in Asia. Therefore we constructed an online web

counselling system in cooperation with a clinic by agile software development based on

UCD. Moreover, we evaluate the system by conducting a survey in the form of a

questionnaire. In this paper we developed an effective online counselling system using

10
statistical methods, we report on the development of the system, describe the system

itself and evaluate the system.

ISTITUTIONAL RESPONSE TOWARDS THIS PROBLEM

The Online Counselling System is developed to enhance counselling. The software will
be great relief to the students. The Online Counselling System is developing to enhance
the counselling, which fully works as an online. This software will be great relief to the
student for Reporting, Registration and searching the information about college and
university. This software gives an overview of the entire institute in a sort interval time
and will be also great help to University to manage in the whole counselling procedure
by there paper work and reducing their time .This project consist fallowing modules.

• Institute record - Covering Details regarding Institute

• Student record - Covering Details regarding Students

• Counselling - Helps in Category wise counselling.

Current Limitations And Defaults

Present system or Existing system of Counselling Management System working
manually or computerized in a building. Therefore all types works are maintain in
building. So to maintain all the counselling procedure is very difficult. If we are
reporting, then we need go to the University and get a form for reporting and fill the
form and submit in the queue conditions. Then verify there form by the university and
maintain the record in computer or register. The system is mainly related to online
counselling management system. Which is developing an online web based application
system, it is necessary to make a thorough study of the existing system .There is no
online Counselling Management System. The all the information not maintains globally.
Therefore to maintain all the information of university is very difficult.

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Why Online Counselling is More Popular than Traditional
Counselling.

Online therapy is proven to be as effective, if not more effective than face-to-face

therapy, with important benefits that bring the experience into the modern era. For some,
traditional therapy is their choice because they haven’t yet experienced the freedom that
online therapy offers.

The Different Ways to Communicate in Online Therapy

Text-based therapy gives you the freedom to have your therapeutic discussion
throughout the day or week. No limits, and no waiting for weeks to address an issue, as
you would when something came up between traditional sessions. Your therapist is
always quick to respond, and text lets you cut straight to the point. For the socially
anxious, it can be a benefit because you don’t face anxiety-inducing face-to-face
conversations.

If audio is your preference, you can exchange asynchronous voice messages with your
therapist. This is a great option if you need to vent in the moment or have a lot to get off
your chest. Audio messaging provides the comfort of hearing a therapist’s voice without
having to schedule a lengthy session.

For those who want an experience seeing a therapist’s reaction and having them react to
your body language, full video chat sessions are an option. You can choose to have that
quality face-to-face time, but do so completely on your terms. Speaking of your terms.

12
 CHAPTER 2

SOCIAL RELEVANCE

13
Online counselling is the provision of professional mental health counselling services
through the Internet. Services are typically offered via email, real-time chat, and video
conferencing. Some clients use online counselling in conjunction with traditional
psychotherapy, or nutritional counselling, and a growing number of clients are using
online counselling as a replacement for office visits.

While some form of tele-psychology has been available for over 35 years, the advent of
internet video chat systems and the increasing penetration of broadband has resulted in
the continuing growth of online therapy. Some clients are using videoconferencing, live
chat and email with professional psychologists in place of or in addition to face-to-face
meetings. There is also a growing trend with online recovery coaches who can now
conduct face-to-face consults with clients online.

Accessibility

Online counselling is filling the unmet need for clients located in areas traditionally
under-served by traditional counsellors. Rural residents, people with disabilities and
expats, along with under-served minorities often have an easier time finding a suitable
therapist online than in their local communities.

Online counselling has been shown to be effective for clients who may have difficulty
reaching appointments during normal business hours, while decreasing the number of
missed appointments for in-person therapy.

Medical uses and effectiveness

14
Although there is some preliminary support for the possibility that online counselling
may help populations that otherwise underutilize traditional in-office counselling, the
question of the effectiveness and appropriateness of online counselling has not been
resolved.
Research from G.S. Stofle suggests that online counselling would benefit people
functioning at a moderately high level . J. Suler suggests that people functioning at a
particularly high level, and who are well-educated and are artistically inclined, may
benefit the most from using text-based online counselling to as a complement to ongoing
psychotherapy. Severe situations, such as suicidal ideation or a psychotic episode, might
be better served by traditional face-to-face methods, although further research may
prove otherwise.

Cohen and Kerr conducted a study on the effectiveness of online therapy for treatment of
anxiety disorders in students and found that there was no difference in the level of
change for the two modes as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

As the main goal of counselling is to alleviate the distress, anxiety or concerns

experienced by a client when he or she enters therapy, online counselling has strong
efficacy under that definition.Client satisfaction surveys tend to demonstrate a high level
of client satisfaction with online counselling, while the providers sometimes demonstrate
lower satisfaction with distance methods.

Nutrition counselling
Nutrition counselling specific to conditions is available by many consultants online
using Skype or another face-to-face program. This is especially effective for people with
a busy work schedule, and others who can't make it to an office regularly. Online
consulting for imbalances in blood lipid levels, blood sugar regulation, and other health
conditions make it easier to manage when using nutritional approaches

COUNCELLING AS A CARRIER

15
Mental health issues can severely curtail an individual’s ability to lead a fulfilling life.
They can cloud relationships, family life and careers. Mental health conditions cut
across economic, social and racial groups. Issues such as depression and anxiety can
affect people of all ages, from children to the elderly.

An estimated 18.3 percent of adults in the United States suffer from mental illness.
Approximately 21 percent of youths between the ages of 13 and 18 experience a mental
disorder at some point during their lives.

Today, there is growing acceptance of the need for help for mental health issues, such as
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can afflict both returning veterans and the
general population. According to the National Centre for PTSD, about 8 percent of
people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.

Fuelling the need for counsellors are changes in the criminal justice system, which is
moving away from jail time and toward counselling services. Schools and colleges are
expanding their mental health services in response to issues of depression, anxiety,
relationship problems, suicide and substance use among students.

There is also an urgent need for counselling for the elderly. About 20 percent of
Americans 55 and older experience mental health issues triggered by the loss of a
spouse, the loss of mobility and failing physical health.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Many of the people who are looking for help from counsellors do not have the time to
visit the specialist because of their busy schedules and lack of availability of free time.
Most of the people have hectic hours every other day, with a lot of errands to run and
work to complete. With the use of online platforms for mental health counselling, they
can easily talk to their specialists whenever they want from their work place or homes.
They can pick out times that are best suitable for them, keeping in mind the office hours
of their therapist. Usually this works best for couples because it is not necessary the
counselling at their schedules meet and both of them are available to visit the counsellor
at the same hours.

16
Location Ease

Another very obvious benefit of online counselling is that you do not have to travel to
distant places every other week or once a month let’s say, to visit your counsellor. With
the ease of online counselling, you can contact your therapist easily, especially if the
couple lives in another region.

Less Time Consuming

Online counselling consumes less time and is more immediate compared to sessions that
are in office. You save the travelling time every time, and it allows the couples to get a
session whenever they are both available.

Lower Cost
Although it usually depends on the online counselling program that has been chosen by
every couple, it costs a little less than the in-office counselling. If you think about it, the
first thing that would save on is the commuting from your home to the doctor’s office.

Confidential
Many couples are a bit shy when it comes to meeting up with their counsellor, because
they find it a social embarrassment to discuss their problems like that. With online
counselling, there is a chance nobody from their peers and colleges would find out about
it, giving them a sense of satisfaction that their issues is between them and their
counsellor only. Moreover, a lot of people are more confident talking on call, instead of
face to face.

Disadvantages of Online Counselling

Misinterpretation and Misunderstanding

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The most common disadvantage of online counselling is that the therapist will not be

able to identify the expressions and body languages of the couples.

Computer Glitches

No matter how good your internet is, there is always a point where there can be a glitch

in the system.

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 CHAPTER 3
ENTREPRENURIAL/EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY INCLUDING BUISINES
PLAN

19
Counselling has been important seemingly since the dawn of society. From parents and
grandparents advising other family members to community leaders providing guidance
to residents, counselling seems to have always been a natural part of the human
experience.

As people became more mobile during the Industrial Revolution and began migrating to
cities, they became separated from traditional counsellors in their families and
communities. A lack of knowledge on how to address mental illness resulted in the
isolation of many people in psychiatric hospitals and asylums.

With the advent of modern psychiatry, both medical professionals and society at large
began to embrace the idea of psychiatric health and counselling. With widespread
recognition of the ineffectiveness of mental institutions, a mental hygiene movement —
led by psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists and former hospital patients – began
to sweep the country.

President John F. Kennedy endorsed the movement’s message — and the importance of
counselling — when he signed the Community Mental Health Act in 1963. The law
profoundly changed the way mental health services were to be delivered and led to the
introduction of mental health centres across the country. At the same time, many
psychiatric hospitals were closed in favour of enhanced community-based services.

STUDENT COUNSELING SYSTEM

The objectives of  the student counselling management system this project is to design a
system where rationalize the admission belong to particular courses in the university; in
helping to solve problems of overlays of different institutions and minimize the
physical, the mental and financial burden of getting an admission to the guardians and
their students due to the fact that nowadays there are multiple entrance examinations
taking places all over the country, to allow a student to workout choices for a division
and institutes several times during off-campus online counselling.

20
There is series of steps is taken in that procedure like first thing, allotment of institution
and branch as per the merit of the candidates and then display the vacancies available
online after that to create a transparent system in the admission process it should display
the total seats which already has been allotted and the result should be displayed online.

The following key points are considered for systems:

Online Registrations from any internet point for counselling

Publishing of inter-se-merit on website

Online choice filling on the based-on merit

Change, delete, alter choices with respect to courses and institution

Seat allotment and updating of data in institutions’ database.

ABSTRACT OF STUDENT COUNSELLING

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
To ensure the quality teaching-learning process in Institutions, right from the entry of
the student through competition, streamlining of admissions is one of the important
parameters.

With this view and to resolve the generic problems faced by the candidates, their parents
and state administration during Entrance test/counselling/admissions in all courses
during admissions of student it is decided to be made based on the merit of entrance
tests.

21
To bring in 100% transparency and to make the admissions highly cost effective and to
minimize the travel by the candidates and parents, The Student Counselling System is
designed to enhance counselling experience during the admission process.

This system will provide the great help not to the students but also to the parents who
are there to invest money on children education. The Student Counseling System is
developing to improve the counselling, which fully works as an online software.

Through this system, the student will be able to report then register for the counselling
as he is eligible after if the student is qualifying the criteria then it will get the
information regarding the colleges and the universities in which he can apply.

A student can also get the information regarding how many seats have been booked and
vacant seats available in the institution. This will help a student in selecting their branch
in which they are interested and not the what the colleges are offering.

All this information will give in sort interval time to the student which speeds up the
process reduce the institutes time.

This software is not only providing ease to the students but also help the institution to
manage their whole procedure of the counselling by minimizing the paper work which
decreases their carbon footprint on the environment and the time factor will also get
minimized as all the process is happening online.

EXISTING SYSTEM OF STUDENT COUNSELLING  MANAGEMENT

SYSTEM
Talking about the current system which presently used in the institutes is basically
manually working or even if it is computerized restricted to a place or building thus all
work of maintenance is also done in the same building.

So, we can say that Existing system of “Student Counselling System” working
computerized in a building or manually with pen-paper.

he creates a very hectic procedure to organize as well as everything is on spreadsheets,

file and binders, same situation will occur in offline computerize method though
everything is on the system, to get the information one has to get to personal point of
contact and ask him for the data which leads to nuance in the institution as well as
among the students.

If one approaches to get the admission in Institute where manual system is followed then
he would go to report the venue or location of the university which will add cost to the

22
student, then to report and get form he/she require to stand in queue where students from
other places have also come to get the same thing done, this wastes the valuable time of
the parent.

While filling the forms if the student has a query or he has done some mistakes he/she
would have to again go and stand in the queue of help desk which may or may not helps
in resolving it. Then according to form University will verify which branch he/she
eligible for and then maintain this record in a computer or in the register.

Following this kind of system does not only require a lot of human resources but also
budget for maintaining them and stationery required. This will incur the weight on the
Guardian’s wallet.

The manual or offline system brings lot chaos for students and the university as who is
eligible for them or not. If a student is eligible there is enough seat to accumulate
him/her.

As this requires the student to travel from one place to venue, it can create a dilemma in
mind which university to join without prior knowledge of how many vacancies are there
in it and how much is already allotted this creates a faced for getting admission.

As all the data is at one place if anyhow this gets destroyed, it will huge loss for the
student as well as the institutions. Thus, the maintenance of information will become a
very difficult job.

Apart from this university also has to maintain a different record for each process which
is being done manually. This shows us various drawback in this system which are:

All the process is time-consuming.

Every process requires proper arrangements which will need a human resource.

Managing the staff entails to spending the money increasing the budget.

Counselling process increments the level of complexity as the number of student

coming for counselling increases.

Information is not available globally to both student and institutes.

Universities manually evaluating the eligibility of student is susceptible to faults

and mistakes.

IMPACT OF STUDENT COUNSELLING  MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

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Once the planning and analysis of the project are completed, the design phase
begins. The goal of system design is to transform the information collected
about the project into the blueprint structure which will serve as a base while
constructing the system.

It is considered to be an unwieldy process as most of the errors are introduced

in this phase. However, if an error gets unnoticed in the later process it may
become difficult to track them down. In our system, we are developing a
system which helps in student counselling during the admission process.

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 CHAPTER -4
REVIEW OF NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO

25
COUNSELLING PRACTICE INDIAN SCENARIO

All counsellors and psychotherapists experience ethical concerns and challenges in their
practice. This book comes at a time when there is a lacuna in the field with regard to
discussion of cultural and local issues that present ethical challenges in the practice of
psychotherapy and counselling in India.

The foreword by Dr Shyam Sundar sets the stage by linking psychotherapy practice in
the modern day with human values and the ancient Indian tradition. He describes the
sources and causes of ethical dilemmas in his inimitable style.

The editors, in the very first chapter, contextualise the foundations, determinants and
basis of ethics in mental health. This chapter traces the philosophical positions in ethics
and leads us toethical dilemmas in the therapy room. They review research from across
the world and discuss codes of conduct and guidelines, briefly touching on the
relationship of ethics and the law and on training issues in ethics and therapeutic
practice.

The subsequent chapters cover a wide range of settings and clients – private practice,
children seen in hospitals and schools, couples and family, intimate partner violence in
sex work, survivors of sexual violence, LGBTQ clients, employee assistance
programmes, and online therapy. The cultural universality and validity of ethics in
therapeutic practice is discussed. Legal contexts and the interpretation of ethics are
debated, too. The role of institutional ethical review boards in research in therapy and
psychosocial interventions is also addressed. The exhaustive range of areas, settings,

26
clients and situations covered is commendable. Some areas that could have been
included are lay counselling, working with chronically/terminally ill individuals in
medical settings; and supervision/regulatory mechanisms in the practice of counselling
and psychotherapy.

Isaac traces challenges in the setting up and development of private practice from a
practical viewpoint. She blends guidelines and recommendations with her experiences to
suggest good practices for continued professional development. A practitioner’s
perspective of ethics in child psychotherapy is provided by Bhaskaran and Seshadri who
address basic principles like boundaries, autonomy and confidentiality. In addition, they
address unique situations with children such as multiple therapists, communication with
third parties, child custody disputes etc. Raman addresses working with children in the
consultation liaison setting and highlights issues of documentation, physical setting,
physician variables and end-of-life care in a hospital context. The perspective of
counsellor ethics from the classroom is provided by David who traces the
responsibilities of the counsellor to various stakeholders- students, school, parents and
self. Sobhana, Saxena and Daimari highlight ethical concerns contextualised to the
Indian couple and family therapy practice setting, with case illustrations.

Moving from the clinic and school setting, subsequent chapters look at ethical issues in
other settings and populations. Iyengar examines challenges in working with women in
sex work facing intimate partner violence (IPV). She traces the steps required to handle
IPV and offers a multi sectoral model. Dilemmas in working with survivors of sexual
violence faced by a feminist organisation are discussed by Kapoor and Baksi. They
share, from an experiential perspective, strategies developed by the organisation and
demonstrate resolution of conflicts, reconciliation of feminist principles and
organisational ethics and handling complex legal, social and psychological
considerations. Ranade and Chakravarty trace the ambivalence about homosexuality

27
among mental health sciences historically in India. They discuss heteronormativity in
counselling and the issues in working with clients who want to change their sexual
orientation and the need for gay affirmative counselling practice.

In her chapter on employee assistance programmes (EAPs) and emergent ethical issues,
Shinde uses case scenarios to highlight the balancing of individual client’s concerns vs
organisational policy; contractual obligations vs needs of clients; and multiple aspects of
the role of an EAP provider – conflicts of interest arising from dual or multiple
relationships. Online client – therapist interactions and e-therapy are discussed by
Gupta, Sinha and Bhola. They highlight the use of specific terminologies in the digital
space, the fit between clients and e-therapy and factors influencing the fit. In addition to
a personal account, the challenges of confidentiality and electronic security, professional
boundaries are addressed with special emphasis on personal and institutional media
policies with guidelines.

Raguram advances the position that ethical principles need to be viewed within the
prism of sociocultural forces that shape and influence them rather than as universal
concepts that are invariant. He discusses the principles of autonomy, beneficence and
non-maleficence, justice in the context of social power dynamics and sociopolitical
challenges. The need for therapy to take into account diversity of situations,
discrimination and injustice and go beyond the individual’s psyche is strongly made.
The legal perspective and its relationship with ethical issues are dealt with by Vinay,
Lakshmi and Badamath with regard to the clinical practice of psychotherapy.
Professional negligence, tests of liability, record keeping, patient access to records and
boundaries are discussed. Srinath and Bhola bring our attention to the role of
institutional ethical review boards in ethical research and psychosocial interventions.
Informed consent, disclosure and deception, comparison groups, compensation for
research participation, research with vulnerable subjects, therapist competence and

28
treatment integrity, intellectual property, copyright and publication ethics are discussed
in addition to international collaborative research and information technology and the
internet.

GLOBAL SCENARIO OF ONLINE COUNSELING

This convention program is built around ACA’s first global counseling book which was
recently published. The book, Counseling Around the World: An International
Handbook (Thomas Hohenshil, Norman Amundson, & Spencer Niles, Editors) provides
information about counseling activities in 40 different countries located on six
continents. After an introductory section which describes global diversity issues,
chapters are devoted to counseling services for countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the
Middle East, North America, Oceania, and South and Central America. Each chapter
follows a common format which includes the history and current state of counseling in
the country, techniques that have been shown to work best, diversity issues specific to
the country, counselor education and training, and possibilities for the future of
counseling. Until recently there wasn’t a comprehensive and systematic global study of
the counseling profession. Then, about two years ago the American Counseling
Association (ACA) contracted with Norman Amundson (University of British
Columbia), Thomas Hohenshil (Virginia Tech), and Spencer Niles (The Pennsylvania
State University) to develop a book on the topic of global counseling . To generate the
content for the book, they developed a method to systematically study the profession
from a global perspective by having leading experts from 40 countries describe the
status of counseling using a standard reporting format. The countries were selected to
represent each of the continents, except for Antarctica. The chapter authors were chosen
using a variety of sources, including CESNET-L and other discussion groups, a review
of the international literature, and recommendations. A total of 109 researchers,
counselors, and counselor educators participated in writing the various chapters. The
book is designed for use as a text for graduate courses in global counseling, multi-
cultural courses, and various introductory and professional issues courses. It is also a

29
valuable resource for practicing counselors and other mental health professionals who
provide services for persons from a variety of countries.

COUNSELING IN ARGENTINA
Areas of growth

Palliative care, school counseling, multicultural counseling, research specific

to

counseling efficacy, peer counseling, counseling and the identification of

emotions, ethics.

There is a need for research on all aspects of the counseling profession

(identity and

counseling efficacy). Apprehension exists among professionals and students

alike.

Mental Health Counseling

During the first 10 years counseling was limited to private offices and
institutions that

had agreements with university programs to place practicum and internship

students-in-training. These included community agencies and churches of

varied

denominations. Since then, counseling has expanded into mental health

hospitals and clinics.

Now they work side by side and in teams with psychologists, psychiatrists,
and

30
social workers without conflict, understanding the unique contributions that
each

discipline offers for clients.

School counseling

School counseling as a profession is not widely recognized; not regulated by

the

Ministry of Education; difficult to seek employment in educational settings

(workshops)

They are not mandated as essential to the education setting and compete with

school psychologists (psicopedagogos), who have been in schools since the

late

1990s.

School psychologists provide student testing and assessment as well as

therapy,

providing a barrier to the employment of school counselors.

COUNSELING IN CHINA
China has at least100 million people suffering from various psychological
problems. Mental illness is her most widespread disease. Industrialization
and the rapid urbanization of the rural population has contributed to a high
suicide rate of around 20- 30 per 10,000 compared to the worldwide average
rate for suicide of 14 per 10,000 (Lim, Lim, Michael, Cai, & Schock, 2010).
It was encouraging to have the support of the Chinese leadership when both
the 2008 5 th World Congress for Psychotherapy and the 2010 International

31
Psychiatry Congress were held in Beijing. Different authors over the last
decade have chronicled the historical development of counseling in China
(Qian, Smith, Chen, & Xia, 2002; Yip, 2005; Lim et al., 2010) There are
three broad groups of counselors in China (Hou & Zhang, 2007). The first
group serves the severely mentally ill in hospital settings. The second group
works within the educational system of the country, where counseling
includes political and thought education as directed by the Ministry of
Education. The third group of counselors consists of those working with
commercial companies and those practicing in the private sector. Most of the
latter are found in the larger coastal cities on the east coast. The Chinese
Psychological Society (CPS) and the Chinese Association of Mental Health
(CAMH) are the two most important professional counseling associations in
China. Both are registered with the Chinese Science and Technology
Association and, therefore, have governmental legal sanction. Both promote
the profession through accreditation, research and journal publication. The
CPS also awards master counselors to be Registered Psychologists The
government has begun certifying the profession. These include the Certificate
of Psychological Counseling and the Certificate of Marriage and Family
Therapy (National Labor Bureau, Ministry of Labor and Social Security) and
the Certificate of Psychological Psychotherapy (Ministry of Health and
Ministry of Personnel.) Similar to the Confucian-based entrance examination
(ke ju 科举), the counseling certification programs tend to emphasize book
learning and theoretical knowledge with minimal practical application. The
certification of counselors by the National Counseling Licensing Board
comes in three levels. Level Three counselors are those with a bachelor

32
degree who successfully complete the government approved courses and
examination (covering such areas as basic counseling skills, developmental
and social psychology, personality disorders, and psychological
assessments). Those who pass Level Three can proceed to study the Level
Two courses and take the Level Two examination covering such areas as
advanced counseling skills, diagnosis, and assessment of mental disorders,
and the use of various psychometric inventories. Level One is still on the
drawing board. It is reserved primarily for those who have qualifying
doctoral degrees in the fields of education, medicine, or counseling and have
worked as therapists for at least three years. By July 2006, there were 112
locations preparing candidates for Level 3 and Level 2 Certificate of
Psychological Counseling examinations; and by September, 2007 there were
120,000 certified psychology counselors in China (Kong & Xu, 2008). Most
counselors draw from a variety of western theoretical models (such as
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Object Relations, Solution
Focused Therapy, Person-centered Therapy and Satir Conjoint Family
Therapy). At the same time, there are efforts at integrating traditional
Chinese ideas of holistic health such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM
中 医 ) with western psychotherapy (Hou & Zhang, 2007; Shu, 2003).
Confucianism and Taoism influence the practice of counseling in China, e.g.,
Chinese Taoist Cognitive Psychotherapy (Zhang, et al., 2002). Other from of
integration include Chinese music and calligraphy, mindfulness practice, Zen
ideas, mind-body holism in TCM, acupuncture, and self-soothing techniques
such as taiji (太极) and qigong (气功). In counseling, the Confucian doctrine
of the Mean (zhong yong 中庸) can guide the Chinese counselor towards an

33
integrated balanced practice that incorporates the best of eastern and western
traditions. Overall, there is still a strong social stigma often associated with
mental illnesses, which in China are usually treated in hospitals and in the
criminal justice system. Most counselors see only individuals, and usually
female clients, who are more amenable to ask for help. Culturally this is
understandable, as most people prefer to solve their problems within the
family rather than involve outsiders. However, with the family under
increasing stress, there is an urgent need for family counseling in China.

ANALYSIS of GLOBAL COUNSELING

The Need

- Economic, political, technological, environmental, health, and social issues

- Imbedding counseling with existing services (focus on prevention,

development,

holistic systems, empowerment, and freedom of choice)

Introducing Counseling Services

- Defining terms and the relationship to other services

- Values of counseling (individualism, self expression, diversity, spirituality)

- Support from Western countries

- Uneven development (urban/rural; personal resources; specific issues)

Global Consolidation of the Profession

34
- establishing professional associations, training programs, credentialing
bodies,

codes of ethics, and legal recognition

- A new form of relationship (Carl Rogers essential conditions)

- Wide ranging theoretical and practical orientations

24

Growth and Development Needs

- Incorporating indigenous practices

- Creating space for spirituality

- Standing firm on some issues (importance of diversity)

- Expanding counseling to areas that are underserved (rural)

- Influencing policy through evidence based practice

- Developing more culturally appropriate assessment measures

- Broadening international cooperation

- Creating more effective regulation of the profession

Global Challenges for the Future

- Strengthening the professional associations

- Improving the training of counselors (teaching and supervision)

- Advocating for better client services (quality and quantity)

- Advocating for the profession (impacting government policy)

35
CHAPTER-5
CHALLENGES

36
CHALLENGES OF ONLINE COUNSELLING
Lowered Session Fees

Online therapy sessions generally cost less than in-office sessions. You
can absolutely play around with charging different fees until you find
what works, but keep in mind that while private practices profit off of
online therapy, a majority of income still comes from their traditional, in-
office services.

Responding to Crises

While online therapy can be extremely beneficial for both your practice
and your clients, the one big drawback we see is responding to crisis of
situation. Since online therapists are at a distance from their clients, it can
be difficult to respond fast enough when a crisis or difficult situation
occurs. Of course, there are ways of assisting clients via online counseling
if and when these issues arise, but you may have to change your approach
to the situation when communicating solely online.

It Isn’t For Everyone

As noted before, online therapy isn’t for everyone. Some people are more
comfortable and relaxed when engaging in an online session from their
bedroom, while others may be more comfortable in-office, with a tangible
practitioner sitting across from them.

THE DANGERS OF ONLINE THERAPY

Over the last twenty years we have witnessed the incredible revolution in
computer technology and the amazing revolution in cyber space. What this
has done is to provide new and fast forms of communication that literally
unites the far reaches of the world. When a couple living Georgia, the small
nation next to Russia, contacts me via EMail in search of couples counseling

37
and are sitting in my office the very next week, we are indeed living in a new
world. By the way, that is a true story.

What this amazing growth in technology and the Internet has done is to
provide consumers with new and unique forms of psychotherapy. People
living in rural areas or in other distant locations now have psychotherapy
available to them. This type of psychotherapy is usually referred to as online
therapy, online counseling, cybertherapy, and so on. There are various ways
these treatment modalities are made available. For example, there is live or
E-therapy chat, video conferencing, text messaging, Email therapy and social
networking therapy through Facebook, Twitter and other similar networks.

DISADVANTAGES TO INTERNET THERAPY AND THAT

INCLUDES SOME VERY REAL RISKS.

1. Any type of therapy that is not face to face, such as texting, Emailing, and
chat, robs the client of a vitally important means of communication. A large
part of what we communicate is from facial expression, tones of voice, body
language and gestures. In fact, these do not cover all the ways, both subtle
and obvious, that we transmit what we mean when we talk to one another
face to face and in the same room. Without these dimensions it is very easy
for the client to misunderstand what the therapist is saying and for the
therapist misunderstand what the client is saying.

38
3. Under these circumstance, how well can you know the therapist. Would
you trust him if you met him face to face? Maybe yes and maybe no.

3. Unless the online therapy is encrypted there is a danger that private

information can quickly become public. The Federal Government has a list of
laws whose purpose it is to protect patient privacy. These laws are called
HIPPA. It is imperative that every new doctor and therapist a patient visits be
given a copy of those laws that must be read and signed by the patient.
Without encryption, there is no way anyone can guarantee privacy. It is
extremely unpleasant to think of very personal information becoming public
information that is available to everyone, including strangers, friends,
relatives and employers.

4. Related to item “3” is the danger of identity fraud and that can be as true
for the therapist as for the patient.

5. If there is a technological failure, such as the patient’s computer going

down or an interruption of service for the therapist, how is that handled.
When appointments are face to face at least everyone knows the meeting will
take place. If for any reason, a cancellation is necessary, that is directly
handled between therapist and patient with time for a new appointment to be
made.

39
6. A new issue had emerged in recent years with regard to licensing. It is
always important for a patient looking for a therapist to verify the therapist’s
licensing. In doing that is the right of the patient to find out whether the
therapist has ever been disciplined by the licensing board or had any law
suits made against him, particularly if he lost that suit. This is important
whether the therapist is online or face to face. This type of information is
available to the public in the state within which the therapist is licensed.
However, with regard to online therapy, which state is the therapist licensed
in?

Because online therapy can cross state and even international lines, it
becomes vitally important to know whether or not the therapist is licensed
within the state the patient lives in. There is now a long list of states in which
an online therapist cannot practice psychotherapy in any state other than
where he is licensed. It is entirely possible for therapists to be licensed in
more than one state but it is never safe to assume that he is licensed within
the state that you live. This becomes important in order to protect the patient
from unethical therapists who may not even be therapists at all.

VIDEO THERAPY
One type of cyber therapy that has become popular is uses video technology
so that patient and therapist are face to face even though they may be far
away. Some believe that it’s the next best thing to being in the office. Maybe
or maybe not. One of the dangers that the patient must be aware of has
already been mentioned above: Unless the video site is encrypted anything

40
that is communicated can easily become public. In other words, using such
methods as Skype or many others, may be fine for family and friend
communication but not for professional use.

I guess it comes down to the old saying in business: “Buyer Beware.” In my

opinion, it is best to stay away from electronic therapy and that includes
telephone therapy. Many of you may disagree with me and that is your right.
If you do go this route for therapy, do your homework and be careful. Of
course, that goes for face to face therapy as well. It is sad but true that there
are charlatans and unscrupulous people who prey upon those who are
unsuspecting. n a few cases, a therapist absently mindedly pushed the wrong
button and revealed private information about a patient. Intended or not, the
Internet gives rise to these types of things.

41
 CHAPTER-6
FINDINGS, SUGGESTIONS,
CONCLUSION

42
FINDINGS
This paper reviews contemporary literature and research that considers the
use of technology in therapy, counselling and dispute resolution. Key terms
and concepts are defined, followed by a brief history of online therapy. The
benefits and challenges associated with the provision of online therapy are
summarised, including a review of studies that have considered these issues.
A discussion of the empirical evidence related to the effectiveness of online
therapy follows, which includes an examination of the attitudes of clients and
therapists towards the provision of online services and the costs involved.
The use of online services within the family relationship sector is considered.
While there is a limited amount of literature that focuses on families as a
target group for online therapy, the principles outlined in this paper are
relevant, and where available, specific applications to family counselling,
therapy and dispute resolution have been highlighted.
The speed with which technology has become an integral part of modern day
living is astounding. It is difficult to imagine a contemporary lifestyle without
computers, mobile phones and the Internet, yet not much more than a
generation separates everyday users from people for whom these tools are
foreign. Along with the increased use of technology in everyday life has
come recognition of its potential beyond recreational and business use. The
possibilities for the use of technology in counselling or therapy, for example,
have been discussed in the literature for a number of years.
While the need for quality research that defines effective use of technology in
therapy is recognised, there is still a limited number of high-quality
evaluation studies in this area (Postel, de Haan, & De Jong, 2008). For
service providers who have embraced telecommunications and either
enhanced or adapted their therapeutic practice, research has largely failed to
keep pace with their endeavours. There are other challenges associated with
measuring the efficacy of online therapy; for example, users may wish to
remain anonymous as a condition of use. As a result, the potential that exists
for online and other forms of therapy remains largely under-utilised and
untested (Skinner & Latchford, 2006)

43
SUGGESTIONS
Because of the abundant evidence of the demand for online counseling and its
usefulness, particularly for clients ‘‘who were comfortable with Internet
communication and thosewho liked to reflect on their own experience
through writing’’ , we believe that online qualified and experienced therapists
or counselors may be effective if they apply a modified face-to-face
counseling model to online counseling sessions. This category of counselors
can provide a rich qualitative data regarding the development of the
therapeutic relationship in online counseling inquiry. Patton (1990)
suggested, in a qualitative inquiry, to use a purposeful selection strategy to
get ‘‘information-rich’’ cases, among those who ‘‘possess a certain degree of
expertise about the domain of inquiry’’ (Romney et al. 1986, p. . Therefore,
this study aimed to explore counselors’ conception of their online counseling
relationship based on their experiences conducting online email counseling.
Specifically, we were interested in determining how experienced counselors
describe their work with online clients or the description of online counseling
process from counselors’ perspectives. We developed interview questions to
highlight patterns in terms of how online counseling relationships are
conceptualized and how such counseling relationships are managed including
how termination is approached. We also examine how the online counselors
perceive and deal with the new features of online counselling The findings of
the present study enhance current knowledge in counseling relationship with
more understanding of developmental stage particularly in email counseling
as most studies available were on quasi-synchronous chat modality. While
new understanding of the email counseling relationship is highlighted, these
studies also support evidences, indicating distance counseling limitations also
offer advantages to both clients and counselor. However, due to small sample
size, it limits the generalizability of our findings. It is especially important to
replicate this study with a larger sample and more diverse groups to be able
to attain more evidence of the development of an email counseling
relationship

44
CONCLUSION
Online therapy and dispute resolution in family relationship services shows a great deal
of promise. Yet, as Skinner and Latchford (2006) stated, it is difficult to come to any
conclusion except that the lack of an increase in the availability and uptake of online
therapy appears somewhat inconsistent with the general support of clients and therapists.
There is a clear need for therapists and counsellors to adjust to the changing world of
therapy and, at the least, anticipate some clients' desire to use online services and
educate themselves proactively to meet this need (Conley Tyler & McPherson, 2006).
There are still many questions, however, regarding who is best suited to online therapy.
The literature points to a general conclusion that online therapy will suit some people
but not others, and some problems but not others. Yet there are lingering questions
regarding the right mix of online programs and face-to-face therapy, how it is best
delivered and under what circumstances people will benefit (or not) (Cavanagh &
Shapiro, 2004; Griffiths et al., 2007; Mackinnon et al., 2008) and how to effectively
integrate online therapy with other models of care (Cavanagh & Shapiro, 2004). In the
case of online dispute resolution, these considerations are in their infancy.
The current literature indicates that online therapy and dispute resolution is a promising
way forward. There is an inherent difficulty with researching the use of
telecommunications in therapeutic settings, due to rapid ongoing advances in
technology. Yet considering the increasing proliferation of online therapy sites, it
appears that there is an urgent need for ongoing, quality evaluation of such programs to
supplement the work outlined in this paper.
Many ethical issues associated with the delivery of online therapy are noted in the
literature. Issues are often similar to face-to-face therapy, but may be considered more
difficult to address due to the nature of the online environment. Some authors, however,
draw attention to the specific characteristics of the online environment that make it a
safer alternative than face-to-face.
There is some concern that the unrestricted nature of the online environment is allowing
therapists to operate under less stringent ethical guidelines than face-to-face therapy. For
example, in the review of e-therapy websites conducted by Santhiveeran (2009), few
websites discussed limits to confidentiality, and only 12% of sites promoted how
treatment records are maintained. There are many different uses of telecommunications
in health and wellbeing settings, including community services. The simplest forms
include phone calls or emails to arrange appointments or the use of information
websites. More complex uses include Internet-based treatment programs or counselling

45
sessions that aim to modify or address behavioural issues, and it is these uses of
technology on which this paper is focused.
There appears to be little consistency in definitions of different types of therapeutic
interventions involving technology. Barak, Hen, Boneil-Nissim, and Shapira (2008)
suggested, however, that both professionals and laypersons continue to use
interchangeable terminology

REFERENCES
 Abbott, J., Klein, B., & Ciechomski, L. (2008). Best practices in online
therapy. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 26(2/4), 360-375.
 Armstrong, S. (2002). Journeys to a brave new world? Developing Practice: The
Child, Youth and Family Work Journal, 5(Summer 2002-03), 20-26.
 Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2006). Household use of information technology
2005-2006 (Cat. No. 8146.0). Canberra: Author.
 Barak, A., Hen, L., Boneil-Nissim, M., & Shapira, N. (2008). A comprehensive
review and a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of Internet-based
psychotherapeutic interventions. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 26(2),
109-160.
 Bischoff, R. (2004). Considerations in the use of telecommunications as a primary
treatment medium: The application of behavioural telehealth to marriage and
family therapy. American Journal of Family Therapy, 32(3), 173-187.
 Casey, L., & Halford, K. (in press). Couples and the silicon chip: Applying
information technology to couple relationship services. In. K. Hahlweg, D.
Baucom, & M. Grawe-Gerber (Eds.), Enhancing couples: The shape of couple
therapy to come. Cambridge, UK: Hogrefe Publishing.
 Cavanagh, K., & Shapiro, D. (2004). Computer treatment for common mental
health problems. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60(3), 239-251.
 Chester, A., & Glass, C. (2006). Online counselling: A descriptive analysis of
therapy services in the Internet. British Journal of Guidance and
Counselling, 34 (2), 145-160.
 Conley Tyler, M., & McPherson, M. (2006). Online dispute resolution and family
disputes. Journal of Family Studies, 12(2), 165-183.
 Conley Tyler, M., & Raines, S. (2006). The human face of on-line dispute
resolution [Colloquy]. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 23(3), 333-342.

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 Cook, J., & Doyle, C. (2002). Working alliance in online therapy as compared to
face-to-face therapy: Preliminary results. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 5(2),
95-105.
 Gilkey, S., Carey, J., & Wade, S. (2009). Families in crisis: Considerations for the
use of web-based treatment models in family therapy. Families in Society: The
Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 90(1), 37-45.
 Griffiths, K., & Christensen, H. (2007). Internet-based mental health programs: A
powerful tool in the rural medical kit. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 15, 81-
87.
 Griffiths, K., Farrer, L., & Christensen, H. (2007). Clickety-click: E-mental health
train on track. Australasian Psychiatry, 15(2), 100-108.
 Hammond, A. (2003). How do you write "Yes"? A study on the effectiveness of
online dispute resolution. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 20(3), 261-286.
 Hand, T., Chung, D., & Peters, M. (2009). The use of information and
communication technologies to coerce and control in domestic violence and
following separation (Stakeholder Paper No. 6). Sydney: Australian Domestic and
Family Violence Clearinghouse.
 Hines, M. (1994). Using the telephone in family therapy. Journal of Marital and
Family Therapy, 20(2), 175.
 Hunt, C., Shochet, I., & King, R. (2005). The use of email in the therapy
process. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 26(1), 10-20.
 Jacobs, M., Christensen, A., Snibbe, J., Dolezal-Wood, S., Huber, A., & Polterok,
A. (2001). A comparison of computer-based versus traditional individual
psychotherapy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 32(1), 92-96.
.

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48
MEANING OF DIGITAL EDUCATION:
Digital education / Digital learning is any type of learning that is accompanied by technology or by
instructional practice that makes effective use of technology. It encompasses the application of a wide
spectrum of practices including: blended and virtual learning.
Digital Learning is sometimes confused with online learning or e-learning, digital learning
encompasses the aforementioned concepts.
A digital learning strategy may include any of or a combination of any of the following:

• Adaptive learning

• Badging and gamification

• Blended learning

• Classroom technologies

• e-textbooks

• Learning analytics

• Learning objects

49
• Mobile learning e.g. Mobile Phones, Laptops, Computers, i Pads.

• Personalized learning

• Online learning (or e-learning)

• Open educational resources (OERs)

• Technology-enhanced teaching and learning

• Virtual reality

• Augmented reality
Through the use of mobile technologies, digital learning can be used whilst travelling as mobile
technologies gives us this advantage.

Rural India and digital education

Digital education is breaking the numerous barriers that are preventing students in rural India from
receiving quality education in the physically bound classrooms:
• Direct to Device' technology will empower these students to get quality education, anytime and
anywhere
• It will enable them to save time, by having more freedom to move at their own pace as well as
help them save money by avoiding "hidden costs" of education, like transportation fees etc.

• By not having to be at a certain class at a certain time, it will assist working students to not limit
their work schedule, helping them to not lose on wages that they can potentially earn
• With the flexibility of online courses, students can conserve more hours and more money,
enabling them to learn with a purpose and instil a sense of self-belief in them

Four Reasons A Digital Education Is So Important:

‘‘Children today are in a world that is run by technology. Everything is online, or run by machinery and
with an online world comes an online education. That’s not to say that people have to learn online to be
qualified in the digital world, but that a digital education is important for students to get by.’’

Ten years ago, tablets, smart phones and digital technology was gaining some serious traction in the
world. Everyone wanted the latest and greatest gadget and companies like Apple and Samsung were

50
struggling to keep up with the demand of their customers. This required more and more people to be
literate in HTML and coding, programs like Photoshop and In Design and most other Adobe guides
were gaining popularity. A digital education has become as important as mathematics and English, and
it’s a language that is just as fluent. With the rise of careers in the IT and digital sectors, the interest in
learning how to build websites, design company brands and upgrade the user experience for tablets and
smart phones has blossomed.
We must be able to use technology to continue in the world we live in, and this means a digital
education is very important for our children. We’ve gathered five reasons why so you can understand
this too:

1. Equality. Educational resources are at an all-time low. Some schools now require students to have a
tablet with them in the classroom and parents are, for the most part, required to provide these. This isn’t
the school trying to squeeze money out of parents, and pen and paper learning is still beneficial.
However, with the influence of technology in the world, children need to be fluent in coding from a
young age if they hope to get far in life.

2. Future. Our world is already dominated by the digital industry, and this is showing no signs of
slowing down. Articles like this one can give you some insight as to how fast we are evolving with
technology. People who are important in education should be using their responsibility as teachers to
encourage students to master technology on all platforms. Whether kids head off to college or go
directly into work, technology will be used every single day. The more they learn now, the better off
they’ll be.

3. Mobility. Technology can take us anywhere. This isn’t just about computers. Think about the
transport options from ten years ago and think about how the aviation industry has adapted to the
changes in technology. Technology can be taken anywhere, and students who learn early that they
don’t have to be stagnant with their careers will be the ones to go far in life.

4. Convenience. One of the best things about technology is how convenient it is. If your children are
learning from an early age how to navigate the digital world, they won’t struggle when it comes to
the workplace. Technology is as easy as you want it to be and education in technology is vital for the
continuation of the world as we know it.

51
How Digital education is going to be helped to students in rural areas

The use of technology can help in mitigating aforementioned concerns. Education can be digitized in
rural areas by providing multimedia teaching tools to teachers and engaging students through learning
methods that utilize digital tools, such as smart-boards, LCD screens, videos, etc., to teach them
different concepts. By making it possible for one teacher to deliver information remotely across several
locations, interactive digital media will also help address the shortage of teachers in these schools.
‘Children are the future of our nation and therefore, it is imperative that they are provided with
necessary means to realise their potential’
In the Union Budget for 2018-19, the government’s focus has been towards improving the quality of
education by integrating technology. It has allocated Rs 456 crore for digital education. The emphasis
on the need to graduate from blackboards to digital boards signifies the role that technology must play
in improving the quality of education. The role of NGOs in spreading digital education tools across
Indian villages is also noteworthy. For instance, Pratham, in partnership with Vodafone Foundation
India, has started the digital classroom initiative called “Learn, Out of the Box” to enhance teaching
and learning in low-income schools using technology as the primary teaching tool. Similarly,
eVidyaloka is a not-for-profit that aims to improve the quality of education in remote regions of India
through digital classrooms. While NGOs are making efforts alongside the government in the field of
digital education in rural India, the next logical step would be to bring resources of both entities
together and implement these initiatives on a large scale to maximize the impact.

The Features of E-Learning

E-Learning has the potential to revolutionize traditional education, because it could provide faster
learning at reduced costs, increased access to learning, and clear accountability for all participants in
the learning process. It enables businesses or schools to distribute training and critical information to
multiple locations easily. Employees and students can then access training when it is convenient for
them, at home or in the office.

In today's fast-paced culture, organizations that implement e-Learning will provide their work force
with the ability to turn change into an advantage. However, e-Learning is just now in its infancy
[Downes 1998]. As pioneers struggle with new technologies and new practices, the discipline evolves
almost daily. Despite the rapid change, some significant features of future e-Learning can be identified
as the following:

52
• Personalization. The education of the future will become deeply personalized. The learning
topics will be selected based on student interest, student aptitude and educational level, and societal
need. The menu of available courses presented to any given student will be determined dynamically by
the student's prior learning assessment, by the prerequisite for the new course, and by the learning
management system. A student's daily menu will be varied and constantly changing, building on each
day's achievement.

• Interoperability and reusability. E-Learning systems with different environments and

contents from multiple authors must have the ability to work together. There must be a semantic
relationship between different e-Learning systems. Learning content may be reused in multiple
applications and environments regardless of the tools used to create them. This requires that content be
separated from context-specific runtime constraints so that it can be incorporated into other
applications. For reuse to be possible, content must also have common interfaces and data.

•Flexibility. Courses could be generated in a variety of forms based on standard style sheets.
Different forms of layout could be available depending on the purpose of the course and the preferences
of the learner. A student can use various kinds of devices with different processor speeds and memory
capacity, from desktop computers, laptop computers, and mobile devices such as Palm computers, to
access the learning content.

How can rural students and adults particularly benefit from digital education

Digital education is breaking the numerous barriers that are preventing students in rural India from
receiving quality education in the physically bound classrooms:

• 'Direct to Device' technology will empower these students to get quality education, anytime and
anywhere

• It will enable them to save time, by having more freedom to move at their own pace as well as
help them save money by avoiding "hidden costs" of education, like transportation fees (gas,
parking fees)

• By not having to be at a certain class at a certain time, it will assist working students to not limit
their work schedule, helping them to not lose on wages that they can potentially earn

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• With the flexibility of online courses, students can conserve more hours and more money,
enabling them to learn with a purpose and instil a sense of self-belief in them.

CHAPTER- 2
SOCIAL RELEAVANCE

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The process of imparting education has gone through a sea change if we look at the picture 10-20 years
before now. Technology has taken over almost every field of our lives and the onset of online courses
came as a path-breaker. No longer did one need to have access to schools, time or a lot of money! All
one needed was a good internet connection and a computer.

Importance of Embracing Social Media in Online Education

The continual development and progression of the internet has had an immense impact on society and
the way that we do things. From our consumption of information to our communication with each
other, technology and the internet have altered the way that we exist. Therefore, having become an
integral part of our survival, technology is now widely accepted in more areas such as education. With
the new generation having become accustomed to using technology from a younger age, their way of
understanding and digesting information has changed. For example, it has altered the attention span of
students due to having more access to shorter videos and concise articles. Therefore, traditional
education can appear to be challenging due to being presented as deviating from their accepted norm.
The idea of having to sit in a classroom and listen to a teacher may not appeal to everyone and is
therefore leading to more students pursuing online education.

When students are already familiar with using social media and consuming information online, distance
learning is naturally the next step. Therefore, more institutions are beginning to incorporate and
embrace social media within their teaching and learning processes. Instead of having to sit and read
through a wealth of text, students are able to learn through videos and other mediums. They have the
flexibility to learn from within their own space which not only caters to different learning styles but
ensures that they are learning in a way that suits and is familiar to them.

Social media and the internet also make it possible for students to feel more included in a community
whilst still having access to resources and guidance. Social media is often the quickest way to contact
people or have questions answered, therefore making information accessible, regardless of location.
For example, news of current affairs can quickly spread across social media before television stations
have had the chance to cover it. Social media is instant and allows communication in real-time, almost
emulating our daily interactions with people. Therefore, its use in education can only be perceived as a
means of aiding learning and creating a shared experience for the student. Tutors are able to share

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content and relevant material with students in real-time and interactions are not as limited as when in a
classroom setting.

It also allows students to ask more questions and clarify their own understanding which is something
that is often challenging in a classroom when there is no time to contemplate the things that they have
been taught. Social media even improves communication between tutors and students because neither
party has to sit down to compose an email. Social media is accessible on phones and tablets, making it
easier to respond to one another and thus improving the overall interaction between student and
teacher. This ensures that students are able to develop a better understanding of content but that they
are still using their initiative and becoming more critical through their questioning.

The presence and availability of online communities can also help to provide support for students
which is integral for ensuring that they feel encouraged and motivated. Without the physical presence
of peers, it is easy for students to fall behind or struggle with a lack of enthusiasm. Social media makes
it possible for students to have a support network and maintain interaction with others.

As the face of education continues to change, institutions are having to find ways to continue to
develop their curriculum in a way to appeal to the new generation of students. Although some are
hesitant to deviate from the practices of traditional education, it is important to prioritise the student’s
needs and therefore ensure that they are taught in a way that will maximise their own potential and
learning. Whilst more social media platforms continue to be introduced, the internet is thriving and
should therefore be used as a tool to aid the educational process. It has already proven itself as an
invaluable medium and pool of information.

Bridging rural-urban educational divide using social technologies

India is facing a huge rural-urban divide with regard to learning achievement at the school level. Even
after significant educational expansion in the recent years—including physical infrastructure of schools
and enrolment of students (at primary and secondary levels)—dropout rates in rural India are
substantially high (at 40% and 57%, respectively). The major reasons behind this unfortunate outcome
—in spite of large investments in traditional classroom programmes—are teacher absenteeism, and
poor quality of teaching due to non-availability of trained teachers and attractive teaching materials in
rural schools.

Enrolment rates and identification of learner obstacles are two objective metrics of evaluating a
nation’s level of educational attainment. In this context, the UNESCO Convention against
Discrimination in Education noted: “If the right to education for all is to become a reality, we must

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ensure that all learners have access to quality education that meets basic learning needs and enriches
lives. But in reality, millions of children, youth and adults continue to experience exclusion within and
from education around the world.” Ensuring inclusive, lifelong learning for all, and improving quality
of education are among the top priority areas identified by Asia-Pacific education ministers.
Unfortunately, many developing countries, including India, are struggling to maintain a unified
learning system that caters to students from all socio-economic backgrounds.

However, the current age of digital connectivity can enable us to address this problem in innovative
ways, paving the way for access to quality education universally. The internet plays an important role
in connecting students to an ever-expanding information base that is now easily available owing to the
presence of free cyber knowledge repositories like YouTube, Wikipedia, Khan Academy. Social
technologies (i.e. technologies used by people to interact socially, and to create, enhance and exchange
content) have been gaining importance globally, leading to the creation of crowd-sourced knowledge
resources throughout the internet.

Numerous e-learning platforms are using crowd-sourced educational materials where knowledge
seekers can connect to a pool of knowledge providers, with the internet serving as an intermediary.
This crowd-sourced knowledge base of the internet can effect positive change in communities by
allowing people to connect and experience uniform knowledge exchange. Social interactions via
technologies allow people to raise questions, share knowledge, ideas and discover human skills
regardless of hierarchy. This gives rise to the concept of ‘sharism’, wherein people actively share goods
and services worldwide using the internet.

At its heart, the disparity of educational quality between rural and urban areas is due to unequal access
to quality learning in its traditional form. This problem can be addressed by utilising the massive
potential of the internet and cyber knowledge resources.

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 CHAPTER – 3
ENTREPERNEURIAL/ EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
INCLUDING BUSSINESS PLAN

The opportunities for improving rural education are endless. The awakening of rural population to the
value of education throws a giant opportunity for education entrepreneurs to begin with their education
start-up and expand in this rural India. Entrepreneurs can open schools in various rural districts and
enrol students and provide them with the basic schooling. As infrastructure of government schools in
rural India is a problem, it can be taken care of by these entrepreneurs. Hygiene and sanitation are a
major cause of worry which should be addressed by these schools.

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Entrepreneurs can also start a venture with other schools educating the adults / elderly population of
rural areas as these people, if not properly educated would not let their children study and instead will
join them in work.

Another opportunity could be opening an institute for the working population in rural India to provide
them with the necessary skill to excel in their work. This comes after PM Modi took the initiative and
laid down the Skill Development Mission in the year 2015 which plans to make India a hub of skilled
manpower.

For example, Hippocampus learning Centre provides low-cost preschool and after-school learning
services to students in rural areas. It currently serves over 6000 children across Karnataka and is the
largest early education provider in the state. They are actively seeking additional entrepreneurs across
India who have plans for scalable and affordable educational services or products that will help India’s
rural children get the education they deserve.

Thus, opening of an educational venture in rural India would let the entrepreneurs tap the potential
market and reap the benefits of enrolling a high number of students, obtaining easy funds by
government and other institutes and educating the masses altogether.

The fact that education is part and parcel of our existence. The business opportunities in the education
industry are massive and any entrepreneur who is serious about making money can leverage on the
opportunities available in the industry. As a matter of fact, any entrepreneur who is creative and really
imaginative can create his or her own business concept that can be highly marketable in the education
industry.

Here are 5 thriving and profitable business ideas in the education industry that an entrepreneur or
investor can choose from:

Tutor Finder App:

Private tuitionis something highly demanded everywhere in the world. Be it a high school student or a
university student, a large number of the population needs help in their studies and so they look for a
tutor. A web based or a mobile app that allows students to find best tutors in their city can be a great
business. Get local tutors onboard; allow them to add their professional background and rates. Promote
them, get them business and keep a percentage of their earnings. Allow the students to review the tutors
they have booked. This way you can ensure that your service connects students with the best tutors.

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Skills Development Center

A skill development center can organize various courses under one roof, i.e. cooking, music, arts
painting, language and anything that helps people to improve their skills. To make your skills
development center, you must get affiliated with a local education council, and this way your business
should be providing authentic and certified skill development services.

Teachers Resources Online:

A healthy education system is one that goes with a constant improvement, and to keep up with the
changing requirements, teachers must update their methodologies. This is why they look for new
resources, lesson planning help, ideas and tips to improve teaching practices and so on. On the other
hand, there are too many researches going on that provide a lot of qualitative teaching aids on regular
basis. Creating an online platform that has teaching resources and aids available for free or for a little
price can be a great business. In case if you are keeping the resources free, you can make money by
selling advertising.

The options mentioned above are the ideas that do not require huge investment and can be highly
profitable is short period of time.

Start an Online Library Business

Online library is another platform where people learn different subjects at an affordable fee. The
internet has made it possible for people from different parts of the world to be registered in the same
library. Online library (e-library) is a resource center where you can comfortably conduct a thorough
research and study from the comfort of your home no matter the part of the world you live in as long as
you have internet enabled device (smart phones, computers, notebooks, tablets et al).
People pay registering fees and of course membership fees to make use of online libraries. If you
looking towards starting a business in the education industry, then starting a well equipped e-library is
one of your options. You can start your own e-library and attract membership from across the globe.

Start an Entrepreneurial College

It is fact that loads of entrepreneurs did not go through entrepreneurial training before launching their
businesses, which is why much business closes shop before their 3rd anniversary. Entrepreneurial
college is a place where aspiring entrepreneurs enroll to learn the rudiment of starting and growing a
business. Statistics has it that majority of the startup businesses that survives are managed by people
who have undergone formal or informal business/ entrepreneurial training.

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The Essential Guide to Entrepreneurs in Indian Education

Problem Solving

As the education market grows, so do its problems. Several start ups are attempting to pinpoint and
solve issues that plague the education industry.

A. Quality of Education

Lack of personalization

Education has stayed a ‘one size fits all’ model since the industrial revolution. With current progress
and research, we know that it isn’t as effective. Everyone learns at different levels depending on their
abilities, their background and their access to learning materials. Each student struggles in different
subjects and even different areas of each subject. Ed Tech can aid teachers and students here, as shown
by US based Khan Academy.

Lack of engagement

Technologies such as AV systems and video are equally important. While they may not bring people
online, they are mediums that can make learning more interesting. Books and papers have become
things of the past. Bringing new methods of learning into the classroom can encourage children to stay
in school and learn further.

Lack of after-school support

When personalization or engagement is lacking in traditional set-ups, most students turn to after school
support. While tuition classes have become dime a dozen, the growth has not resulted in an equal
improvement in quality. While home tuitions are popular, the teachers may not be qualified or
effective.

Lack of vocational training

Former president APJ Abdul Kalam said that “un-employability” of a majority of Indian youth, which
was a result of skill deficit, was a bigger crisis than unemployment itself. Education in India is oriented
towards gaining a degree. Unlike in the west where business degrees are meant for experienced

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professionals, Indians pride themselves on continuous education and salary comparisons. Little thought
is given to actual skill building. This results in poorer career outcomes and underemployment.

B. Access to Education

Distance as barrier

India lacks schools and teachers in several districts, especially in government schools. According to
some estimates, as many as one in six teaching posts is vacant. Enabling students to access distance
learning, through online courses and assignments, helps solve this issue. IGNOU, the largest open
university in the world, with over 4 million students across 67 centers is a rare and successful solution.

Technology as barrier

In classrooms around the world, children are used to digital tools at home and school. It is essential to
bring these e-learning tools such as computers and mobiles into every classroom. Rural areas,
especially, need these in a world where digital skills are more important than ever for a successful
career.

Entrepreneurs in the Education Sector

There are many individuals who have contributed to the change so far. While we cannot list them all,
we hope the below list provides an inspiration for many more.

Change makers Narendra

Modi

The current Prime Minister of India has been working on educational reforms since taking on the role.
He has put forward initiatives like a university for teacher training and evaluations of teachers by
students. He has also recommended overhauling of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and All
India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). The government think tank, Niti Aayog, has also
begun to work on recommendations to the education system under his guidance.

Azim Premji

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The Chairman of Wipro runs the Azim Premji Foundation, whose object is to update the quality of
primary education in India. In 2010, he gave INR 8.8 crore to the establishment and construction of
Azim Premji University (APU). The objective of APU is to set new standards for teacher training and
research for education.

Dr. Jagdish Gandhi The founder of City Montessori School in Lucknow, Dr. Gandhi and his wife
Bharti now manage over 20 campuses with 44,000 students. CMS emphasizes co-curricular activities,
while most schools do not. The K-12 school hosts 32 international events annually and has an active
student exchange program with schools overseas.

Dr. Mithu Alur

Dr. Alur is the founder-chairperson of Spastics Society of India (now ADAPT) and the National
Resource Centre for Inclusion (NRCI), Mumbai. The two organizations provide education for 3,000
physically and mentally challenged children. She has also staged four global conferences on inclusive
education (bringing children with special needs into mainstream education).

Lina Ashar

Coming back to India from Australia, Ms. Ashar set up the first Kangaroo Kids preschool in 1993. At
this point the concept of a preschool was relative unknown in India. Her aim was to teach children with
creativity and imagination. It has now grown into a chain with branches across India, West Asia and
the Maldives. She has also founded a full fledged high school, Billabong International High School.

Over the past few years, mobile learning has picked up by the populace who have gradually assimilated
it in their lives. It has offered students the flexibility to access educational content seamlessly across
multiple digital devices like desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

The smart phone user base in India continues to increase, in both urban and rural areas. The coming
years will witness users accessing most of their educational content through internet powered smart
phone in a massive way. Most educational content, including even online courses, will be optimized
entirely for mobile devices.

Video-based learning

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Video learning has always appealed to students since it closely mirrors the traditional classroom
teaching style. Earlier, students watched video lectures as a form of homework and then discussed them
during the next class. Over time, this habit brought about a remarkable improvement in their
performance, with a noticeable improvement in grades.

Video lectures allowed students to learn subject syllabi at their own pace and dedicate time spent in
class towards interactions. This will continue to be a trend in the future where students will have access
to rich and interactive content, that will be useful for both formal training as well as performance
enhancement. The increase in video-based learning on mobile devices will eventually account for 80
per cent of all internet traffic by 2019.

Open educational resources

Open digital education resources have commonly been used in distance learning courses. They consist
of freely accessible media for learning, teaching and research purposes. They are licensed to be revised
and disseminated freely by teachers among students. This allows the latter to gain access to an
extensive arrive of study material that is otherwise restricted indigenously.

Open educational resources also facilitate the creation of a flexible environment where teachers can
customize educational content for individual sessions or classroom sittings. This is applicable for
typical curricular subjects like mathematics, sciences and languages, as well as business and fine arts.

Usage of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) for learning
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are already buzzwords in the technology space. Their advent in
e-learning has massively impacted the efficiency with which it is offered to students and the way it
assesses their performance.

VR allows students using e-learning platforms on mobile devices to directly interact with study
material. This keeps their engagement levels high and motivates them to learn more and better. On the
other hand, AR facilitates teachers and trainers in performing tasks, they previously haven't or cannot,
in a safe environment.

Together, the both of them are engaging students in ways like never before and are poised to become a
lot more widespread in their usage and impact in the future

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BUSINESS PLAN

3.1 Executive Summary

Meaning Of Executive Summary:

An executive summary is a brief introduction and summary of your business plan. It
should describe your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial
highlights.
A good executive summary grabs your reader’s attention and lets them know what it is you
do and why they should read the rest of your business plan or proposal. It’s not unusual for
investors to make an initial decision just based on reading an executive summary, so it’s
important to get it right. We’ll show you how to write an executive summary that sets your
business plan apart from the rest.

1. A description of your product or service and the problem your business solves
Include a brief description of the product or service you offer and why it’s necessary.
Your business doesn’t need to serve a larger social problem, but it should address a need
for customers or an opportunity in the market.

2. A description of your target market

Your target market is who you think your customers will be. Sometimes the product name
itself defines the market, such as “Peoria’s Best Thai food,” or “Mini Cooper Dashboard
Accessory.” If not, then a brief description of the target market—your primary audience,
or the people you think will spend money on your solution will suffice.

3. Competition
Assuming your business has competition (every business does!), then briefly describe
how your business will differentiate itself. Are you competing on price, quality, or
something else? Briefly describe what makes your business different here.

4. Financial Overview
If you’re an existing company, this might be as simple as highlighting recent annual sales and growth
over the last year. For a startup, it might be a brief description of aspirations, such as

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a sales forecast goal for the next year or three years from now. I often recommend a
simple highlights chart, a bar chart with sales and gross margin for the next three years.

1. Your Team
This is especially important for startup companies. Investors want to know who is behind the
business idea and why you and your team are the right people to build the business. It also
may be valuable to highlight any gaps in your team and how you intend to fill them. If you
have potential partners or candidates in mind, briefly mention them and expand on their
qualifications within your full business plan.

2. Funding Needs
If you are using your business plan to raise money for your business, your executive
summary should highlight how much money you are looking for. Investors will want to know
this upfront and not have to dig through a business plan to find this detail.

3.3 Market Analysis

A key part of any business plan is the market analysis. This section needs to demonstrate both
your expertise in your particular market and the attractiveness of the market from a financial
standpoint.
This article first look at what we mean exactly by market analysis before looking at how to
make a good one for your business plan.

What is a market analysis?

A market analysis is a quantitative and qualitative assessment of a market. It looks into the
size of the market both in volume and in value, the various customer segments and buying
patterns, the competition, and the economic environment in terms of barriers to entry and
regulation.

Effective Market Research for Website Design

1. How Much Research is Enough

Generally a research can be divided into 3 types; namely Quick Research, Long Research and
Deep Dive Research.

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Quick Research: A quick research that is completed within couple of hours, is basically an
extended version of brief given by client (in case you are a pure web design company). If you
have your own resources to develop a website, you go by the instructions of the management.
Let’s take example of a web design company; it gets the brief gathered via email or phone on
a set questionnaire, which is mostly same for all. These details allow the company to chalk
out the estimated budget for creating the website and the time it will take. But it is still not
enough, a little more research about who are in competition to your client gives a general
overview of the industry. This research allows figuring out the similarities and differences
between rival websites. This also allows you to create a website that meets industry standards
but also adheres to clients wish list.

Long Research: this type of research that takes anywhere between couple of days to a week.
This mostly happens when the client is unable to give clear picture of the website he/she
needs. This require a lot more questions for clarity via regular email conversations and/or
phone calls until a clear picture is on hand to create a website’s design. In the above case its
better to not just know about the clients’ competitors but also about the industry on the
whole. Also understanding the scope of the project is important as well as understanding
client’s current online presence alongside analytics data (if available) also helps. The
information thus gathered will help you to prepare a solid website; thus, allowing the client to
save time and money in the future. This may also result in client retaining the services to web
design company in future as well. All this will help create a better picture about the website,
its page requirement and cost estimation.

Deep Dive Research: deep dive research can easily take over 15-20 days of concerted efforts
for better clarity, objectivity in relation to the website that needs to be developed. There are
several aspects to it; with respect to website that includes Design (Brand, Stationary, Design
Audit, and Marketing Material); Development (Mobile Support, CMS, Native App);
Technical Requirements (Domain, Hosting, Traffic). Under phase 1 ask the client about the
website related marketing collaterals including offline publications, brochures, newspaper
publications, annual reports, promotional posters, etc. these help in gathering of information

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 about the client and help in creating the website. This is followed by asking the client about
brand like colour, symbols, design preference, and brand message. This is important, as a
website must reflect the company’s brand and related image.

2. Use of Market Research

For a website designing company; designing a proper revenue-generating website is not only
about coding, it also helps align the online business goals of client with customer needs and
creating a better customer experience.
Customer Journey Development- Before a website design is undertaken, the ideal customer
journey must be charted out. For that client and website designer must share input. Striking
balance between them is crucial as it will help in the creation of the website and its
navigation tree. To conduct market research, it I imperative to provide questionnaire to all
beforehand, allowing them enough time to give detailed insight into their experience. Co-
creation & Innovation- it is a modern concept where client and customers are invited to co-
create the website with you. Though most may be virtually illiterate in terms of web
designing concepts but it is their innovative ideas that can help website stand out. In this
creativity and conceptualization is the key; as it allows creating a more interactive
experience. This type of innovative approach allows merging or integrating the essential
elements in to the proposed client website. The only concern here is the budgetary
constraints, if some ideas fit the bill these can be adopted while, the remainder can be shelved
for later use when the website in up for maintenance or redesign and upgrade.
Concept Testing- an important aspect of market research is to create a number of mock-up of the
website and to present them to client for decision on which to carry forward. Its important to test
the concepts with customers, as it allows for incorporation of feedback from client. User
Experience Feedback- As the website development cycle nears launch, you must not forget to
collect user feedback. Based on end user experience with regards to load times, aesthetics, and
navigation of the website, all necessary concerns should be taken into account.

People involved in Business

Designing websites is such a huge undertaking that to do it right, you really need a team of
people — whether working with an internal team, with vendors, or independent consultants.
Here is a sampling of the major players, their roles, and when you need them.
Business folks and website client

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Once, you could get away with sticking a website up on the Internet and expect to get
reasonable traffic without much further effort. In the crowded Internet highways of today,
however, you really need a business strategy and a marketing plan. Your business and
marketing folks must be involved with the website from the very beginning. They are in
charge of the following responsibilities:

Setting the goals and requirements for the site. You must always understand the business
goals, in order of priority, of the site.

Identifying the target customer. The marketing team members should provide a profile
picture of the ideal customer that the site must cater to.

Reeling in the visitors. The marketing team also needs to figure out how to direct
customers to the site.

Producers and project managers

Once clients and companies are committed to a new web project, invariably their eyes tend to
get bigger than the budget. Often times, they will ask for the moon because they simply do
not understand the complexities that go into web development. Among many other
responsibilities, the main job of the producer or project manager is to set and manage client
expectations so the project stays on track.

Content developers

For this reason, content development for a web project is often parceled out to two distinct
individuals — or one individual wearing two distinct hats:
The content strategist: The person who identifies the chunks of copy needed for each page
and the rules for each, such as character limits and style of copy.

The copy writer: The person who actually writes the text for each identified chunk.
Media specialists

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 No modern website would be complete without a splash of video, audio, or even a Flash
component. With so many specialized media formats and compression schemes, however,
it’s best to leave media development to separate professionals.
Web developers
A web developer is the person who assembles the actual web pages in HTML (HyperText
Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). There is a real art to producing what is
called the front end of a website (what you see when you visit a website) because there are so
many browsers and computer configurations to account for.
Programmers
Modern website projects would not be complete without a team of programmers. These folks
can really give your website a turbo boost by making it a powerful business tool, whether it
is an e-commerce site or a social networking site.
In addition to coding web-page templates with a scripting language such as PHP or ASP,
programmers also create the online databases to house all the information the templates may
need. Building databases can be so complex that many times you need a specialized database
dude or dudette for that task alone.

Fiance

Financial planning is the task of determining how a business will afford to achieve its
strategic goals and objectives. Usually, a company creates a Financial Plan immediately after
the vision and objectives have been set. The Financial Plan describes each of the activities,
resources, equipment and materials that are needed to achieve these objectives, as well as the
timeframes involved. A financial plan creates a roadmap for your money and helps you
achieve your goals. Financial planning can be done on your own or with a professional.

A financial plan is a comprehensive picture of your current finances, your financial goals and any
strategies you've set to achieve those goals. Good financial planning should include details about your
cash flow, savings, debt, investments, insurance and any other elements of your financial life.

The Financial Planning activity involves the following tasks:

Assess the business environment
Confirm the business vision and objectives
Identify the types of resources needed to achieve these objectives
Quantify the amount of resource (labor, equipment, materials)

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Calculate the total cost of each type of resource
Summarize the costs to create a budget

Identify any risks and issues with the budget set.

Performing Financial Planning is critical to the success of any organization. It provides the
Business Plan with rigor, by confirming that the objectives set are achievable from a financial
point of view

Average Cost to Build a Website

I’ve prepared a breakdown showing phases that make up a website development price. In a
nutshell, custom website development costs can start at 4,20,000 and go up to 6,80,000 and
over.

UI/UX Design

Tools that can be used: Sketch, InVision, Zepplin, Adobe Creative Cloud

You’ll barely find a poorly designed yet successful product. Most users are visuals.
Good design is what captures their attention and calls to action. Bad design is what
makes them leave and never come back.
In other words, UI/UX design services are as essential as engineering. That means expenses on
design are one of the key points answering how much it costs to build a website.
Research. Defining the target audience, their preferences, and analyzing competitors.

Wireframe. Creating wireframes to show a schematic placement of elements and agree it

with a client.

Prototype. Crafting the final user interface to show how the app will look like on devices.
The breakdown above allows to reach the best efficiency and settle down every project detail.
So, what is the average cost to build a website’s design? It can vary from $750 to $4,000 and over.
Again, the time and cost to create UI/UX design depend on your requirements. They are
number of pages, animation complexity, and so on.
Front-End Development

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 Some technologies that can be used: HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript, TypeScript, SASS,
LESS, Angular, React

Imagine a registration page with three standard fields: name, login, password. You can see
shades they throw, shapes of the input fields, and a red Register button below. You click that
red button and see it's animation. That’s the front end.
The front end is everything your visitors can see and interact with on the website. It typically
starts once the UI/UX design is ready. So what you saw on prototypes before, developers would
turn into a working product running on any browser.
QA engineers are starting to participate in the project from this stage and continue working on
it till release.
The main factors that influence website creation cost on this stage are:

Website responsiveness or adaptiveness

Complexity of animations (yes, again)
Front-end development costs can vary from 37,000 to 65,000 and over.

Back-End Development
Some technologies that can be used: Node.js, Express.js, Nest.js, .NET

Let’s get back to that registration example. Without the back end, nothing would ever happen
after you click the red Register button. The back end is what makes input data travel to the
server and register you as a new user.
If something is wrong, it returns an error saying you’ve already been registered or
another message. In other words, the page alone is just a bunch of code visualized by
browsers. It can’t fulfill it's end purpose — register users.
Back end is at the heart of every website powering all it's features. That means the back-end
development makes up a considerable part of the website creation cost.

The main factors influencing total development time and the average website cost are:
Integration with third-party services
Non-standard data processing (for example
audio) Complex queries etc.
Back-end development costs can vary from 1,50,000 to 4,50,000 and over.

Admin Panel Development

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Content management system (aka admin panel) is a solution that allows to create, manage, and
edit website content. So if you want to change a word in a paragraph somewhere on the
website, you won’t need to ask developers to do that.
There are a plethora of ready-made CMS engines like Shopify, WordPress, Drupal, and others.
They are designed to cut on development hours and reduce the cost to build a website. But as
any out-of-the-box solutions, they can be limited in functionality and security. The latter is
because malicious software is generally written to target popular systems rather than
custombuilt ones.
Expenses on custom CMS development can vary from 1,10,00 to 2,20,000 and over.

Final Development Cost of All Stages

Summing up the development time and cost of every stage described, you’ll get
an approximate website development price. How much does it cost to build a
website

Stage Time Min Price Max Price

UI/ UX Design 15-80h 37,500 1,51,040

Front end 20-250h 45,300 4,90,880

Back end 80-250h 1,88,800 5,28,640

Admin panel 60-180h 1,13,200 5,66,400

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 Total 175-760h 3,84,800 17,36,960

The final website development cost also depends a lot on the region where you
outsource web development or form an in-house team. Conclusion
\A business plan conclusion, doesn’t need to be very long, in fact, it can be pretty brief.
Your conclusion should; reiterate the opportunity, highlight the key strengths of your plan,
summarise your vision, and remind the reader why your business is in a position to
successfully execute the plan.
If you are looking to raise funding with your plan, you should detail the finance required.
Benefits Of Online Courses For Rural Students
e-Learning makes it possible for students to take classes that wouldn’t normally be available
to them. For example, schools in the Idaho Education Network (IEN) can share and exchange
classes online. Homedale High School is just one of many rural schools that share resources,

allowing students to participate in physics, calculus, and hybrid speech courses from schools
across the state.

Online learning can also support rural students when shrinking budgets and strained resources
limit access to libraries and other learning materials. With eLearning courses, students can
study at their own pace with a wide range of online tools from scholarly articles to audio or
video lectures.

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 CHAPTER - 4
REVIEW OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SENARIO

CURRENT STATE OF E-LEARNING IN INDIA

Although the foundation of education is still reading, writing and arithmetic, today’s students need
broader education. Contemporary classroom, hence, needs to deliver live instruction, video content
delivery, student to- student interactions via video conferencing, remote test administration, up-to-date
materials, self-learning etc. Digital India campaign is likely to benefit education by bringing many of
these and other important elements together.
Even as the previous government tried to bridge the digital divide, Modi’s masterstroke offers a lot of
positivity for the Indian education market which is estimated to be worth Rs 5.9 rillion in 2014-15
against Rs. 3.33 trillion in 2011-12. With nearly half the population of India below the age of 25 and
increasing penetration of Internet and mobile devices in this demography which is expected to reach
250 million soon, rivaling the US and second
only to China, India’s potential as a huge market for e-learning is enormous. Indian corporate sector
having hold on tech world such as Intel, Qualcomm and Tata are also making strides in this direction.
Intel recently launched ‘Digital Skills for India’ initiative under which it

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introduced Digital Skills Training Application that is comprised of modules on Digital Literacy,
Financial Inclusion, Healthcare and Cleanliness in five Indian languages. Qualcomm has launched Play
‘n’ Learn program for school children ages 5-8. It is providing
3G tablets under the Qualcomm wireless Reach initiative. Similarly, Samsung recently started on a
Smart Learning initiative to provide interactive study materials to students.
Likewise, Tata, Reliance and BSNL are among the prominent Indian names that are going big on this
sector. While Tata is expanding its school education solution, ‘Classedg’, Reliance has picked up over
38.5 per cent stake in digital education company, Extra marks Education Private Limited, through its
subsidiary, Infotel Broadband Services Limited. Government owned enterprise BSNL has tied up with
Grey cell 18 Media Private Limited, to launch its
online education service ‘Topper Education’. Other noteworthy names in this segment include the likes
of Data Wind, Merit nation, and Class teacher. Even some of the
e-commerce players have expressed their willingness in this segment. Needless to say, if the e-
learning/education market takes root in the country, it will definitely improve the education scenario
which desperately needs a shakeup.Even the government is in strong supporter of e-learning and the
Department of Electronics and Information Technology (Deity) has been actively developing tools
and technologies to promote it,what we need is more devices and an ecosystem.There is a need for a
greater participation from the industry and stakeholders. For this to happen, the tech companies have
to take the lead and help enable a strong ecosystem. We also need more applications and services to
strengthen the ecosystem. The developers and content providers are going to be encouraged only
when there is a plenty of devices, more importantly interest of tech companies. Apparently, there is a
huge opportunity yet to be tapped, even as infrastructure and regulation issues might be slowing down
the otherwise accelerating education space in India. Digital India (DI) programme is a GoI initiative to
electronically integrate the government departments and the people of India. This move aims at
ensuring that overnment services are made available to citizens electronically. It also includes a
massive plan to connect rural areas with high-speed internet networks. Digital India has three core
omponents.These include: Digital infrastructure, Digital service delivery and Digital literacy
The project was officially launched on July 01, 2015 and is slated for completion by 2019. The scheme
will be monitored and controlled by the Digital India Advisory group which will be chaired by the
Ministry of Communications and IT. It will be an inter ministerial initiative where all ministries and
departments shall offer their own services to the public Healthcare, Education, Judicial services etc .
The initiative is commendable and demands full support and confidence of all stakeholders. However,
it has scope for improvements regarding many crucial components like a legal framework, privacy and

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data protection laws, insecure Indian cyberspace, etc. So these issues will have to be managed
simultaneously. But despite its hortcomings Digital
India project is worth exploring and implementation and will raise India to newer heights on the
international scene. The availability of high-speed internet to every citizen , easy access to government
services through CSCs and allocation of private space on public cloud are some the DI features that
will revolutionize the lives of rural populations pan India While the government’s aggressive National
Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) is all set to be spine of the Digital India drive, spreading out of
broadband connectivity is going to aid growth of e-learning. There are three components of
technology-enabled modern education; Digital Content, Technology platform and delivery
infrastructure, or say the Internet. But there is a scarcity of internet infrastructure. Availability of high
quality wireless internet speed is still a challenge. Penetration is also an issue. A correct ecosystem can
be created when we will be able to empower better quality mobile based Internet. Increasing internet
footprint will also help to create the right ecosystem which can be easy achieved through Gi – Fi
technology as it provide high speed data transfer, low power consumption, high security, low cost and
High level of frequency re-use enabled. It can be used to meet communication needs of multiple
customers within a small geographic region can be satisfied thus making it useful to rural India where
still there are issues of power supply, private telecom company are reluctant to provide competitive
services.

CURRENT STATE OF INTERNATIONAL E-LEARING:

The education sector in India is no longer bound to just classrooms. Thanks to new start-ups and
higher internet and smartphone penetration, the online learning space in India is growing manifold.
The e-learning market in India is estimated to be around $3 billion. The central government's efforts
to make digital learning available to students in every corner of the country is also aiding the sector.
Currently, online training in India focuses equally on both school and college-based courses as well
as mid-level professional courses. For instance, Bengaluru-based Entrance india provides practice
papers for all engineering and medical entrance tests in India. The company aims to help students
focus on the right subjects and contents rather than swim blindly in an ocean of study materials
available across different media. Also, they focus on convenience-based training because online
capability enables students to get access to subjects anytime and anywhere. According to studies,
India and China will lead the growth in project management roles, generating about 4 million and

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8.1 million roles, respectively, by 2020. Hence, the business looks to grow from now on. Another
reason why online training will gain momentum is because of the need for re-skilling, For instance,
about a decade ago, all that a software professional was required to know were programming
languages. Now these professionals need to update themselves on other aspects like big data
analytics and cloud computing. Better salary hikes and promotions are also the reasons why people
undertake new courses. A lot of start-ups are already setting their foot in what they think will be the
next big thing in India after e-commerce. While some companies like Simplilearn and Intellipaat
look to generate content, especially aiming at mid-level professionals, others like Learnsocial plays
more of an aggregator role. These companies also offer blended classes, integrating both online and
offline experience, along with self-take courses. Bengaluru-based Simplilearn offers more than 200
certification courses in project management, information technology service management, Microsoft
certification, quality management and financial management. The company has over 300 courses
across 150 countries, with over 600 employees and has trained over 200,000 professionals across the
globe. Intellipaat, started in 2011, provides online training to IT professionals including corporate
training, and self-paced courses and offers over 80 technological courses across different domains.
According to chief executive officer DiwakarChittora, the company is witnessing almost a 1,000%
increment in terms of growth. The company caters to corporates like Genpact, Ericsson, Sony,
CISCO, TCS, Wipro, and Tata Communications among others. Hyderabad-based Learnsocial is a
six-month old company and works on an aggregator model. It aims to cater to both mid-level
professionals’ and students alike. “We want to become the Amazon of online learning. We want to
provide thousands of posts on learnsocial.com, aggregating content from various experts, content
houses or universities,” says founderRaju Vanapala. Learnsocial has close to 200,000 users and has
trained more than 1,100 learners.
The future of digital learning :

With the Digital India programme's vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and
knowledge economy, the education sector in India is poised to witness major growth in the years to
come. Technology-led reach and easy access will bring about a socio-economic difference in the
lives of Indian learners.

The growth of digital learning

Following are the main reasons for the growth of online education in India:
• With nearly a billion people on mobile phones and over 200 million mobiles connected to the
internet, there has been a considerable rise in digital learning

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• The use of best-in-class content, real-time learning and feedback methods, and personalised
instructions has encouraged online learning
• People are stepping towards digital learning as the edutech firms are providing them the comfort
of 'live and interactive' anywhere learning in digital format, through its online programmes
• These online courses are affordable and easily accessible
• Digital learning aims to break the numerous barriers that are preventing people from receiving
quality education in the physically bound classrooms Main reasons for the growth of digital
learning:

• With nearly a billion people on mobile phones and over 200 million mobiles connected to the
internet, there has been a considerable rise in digital learning

• The use of best-in-class content, real-time learning and feedback methods, and personalised
instructions has encouraged online learning

• People are stepping towards digital learning as the ed-tech firms are providing them the comfort
of 'live and interactive' anywhere learning in digital format, through its online programmes

• These online courses are affordable and easily accessible

• Digital learning aims to break the numerous barriers that are preventing people from receiving
quality education in the physically bound classrooms

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 CHAPTER – 5
CHALLENGES

What are the common challenges of education in rural areas?

Around half of America’s school boards are in rural areas, with so much of our country's future
educated in rural areas it can be shocking that these areas are so under-served.

Problems of Education in Rural Areas Include:

• Physical distance of students to school

• Difficulty finding teachers interested in relocating
• Poor internet connection
• Poverty
• Educators required to be entrepreneurial

Physical distance of Students to School

City dwellers may reasonably expect to be able to walk their kids to school (or for their older kids to
walk themselves), but in rural areas this is frequently impossible.

Catchment areas can be very large, making it absolutely essential to arrange a ride to school.

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Time spent on school buses may easily be counted in the hours per day, while depending on those
buses can often mean limited access to after-school activities and sports.

Studies have linked long bus times to lowered educational outcomes.

But what can be done for education in rural areas? The most direct solution would be to build more
schools in order to shrink ride times, but in reality, rural schools are being shut down and bus rides are
getting even longer.

Not only do these drive times hurt grades and after-school activities, they also make it harder to get
extra help. Tutor Doctor offers in-home and online, one-on-one tutoring to combat this common
problem facing rural schools, but other sources of support can be difficult to access due to distance.

Teacher hiring

In many urban areas, there is a glut of talented teachers but not enough jobs available to employ them.
In rural areas, though, it can be extremely difficult to attract great teachers.

Indeed hiring in general is tougher in rural areas, for fields extending far beyond education.
Rural life isn’t for everyone, and a life that’s simpler can seem to some people like a life that’s “less
than”.

Many services such as health care can be harder to obtain, there may be fewer cultural attractions
compared to big cities -- the list of reasons why teachers may be dissuaded from applying for
educational jobs in rural areas can be long.

In reality, rural life and rural teaching offer a great many benefits one can never find in big cities,
including an environment that’s cleaner (and safer), cheaper real estate plus a strong sense of
community.

Perceptions can be hard to fight, though, which can leave rural schools struggling to find staff. The
usual approach is to offer higher pay or better side benefits, but this can often be difficult to afford.

Spotty Internet access

People in big cities take broadband Internet access for granted. Not only is it fairly easy to sign up for
fast access, people in cities are frequently spoiled for choice. America, however, is still experiencing a
digital divide, with, by some measures, more than a third of rural residents lacking access to broadband
Internet.

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Lack of broadband internet can drastically affect education in rural areas

Not only does it make it hard for many teachers to employ digital resources such as YouTube in the
classroom, but employing learning management systems (LMSs) such as Moodle can sometimes be
impossible.

Even accepting digital submissions of homework and assignments can be hard. Also rendered
unavailable by slow Internet access are the vast opportunities for digital learning, eBooks, and the
ability to collaborate online. Even basic software like Google Docs can be a struggle for rural schools
to take advantage of.

Efforts are still being made to expand access to broadband in rural areas, but progress is slow.

Poverty

Nowhere is free of poverty, but rates of unemployment, malnutrition and poverty are markedly higher
in rural areas than in urban areas.

Unlike cities, though, where high population density tends to make poverty more visible, it can be
much harder to see in rural areas, which makes it harder to cope with.

Poverty is proven to affect educational outcomes, and frequently leads to increased absenteeism (or
early drop-outs).

Schools frequently have programs to help, for instance providing meals to children in need, but given
the large geographic areas in many rural school districts, it’s not unusual for teachers to not know how
their students are living.

Teachers need to be entrepreneurial

A little-known fact about rural areas in America: they have a much higher rate of entrepreneurialism.

Perhaps the result of a different mindset or the difficulty in obtaining services (or a combination of
these or more factors), many people in rural areas are just used to getting things done themselves. This
extends to education as well.

A teacher with a willingness to jump in and get things done will do far better in rural areas than
a teacher who is used to being hemmed-in by a bureaucracy.

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In rural areas, it’s not unusual for a superintendent to also serve as a principal and even drive a school
bus. A “not my job” attitude can be a detriment in a community where everybody pitches in, and this
can make it difficult for teachers who are used to specializing.

If technologies can draw in otherwise disenfranchised students through the personalization of material
to a student’s interest or through gaming technology, they could benefit disengaged, poorly performing
students. However, these technologies often reduce oversight of students, which could be particularly
detrimental for children who are less motivated or who receive less structured educational supports at
home. It is also possible that these technologies will be less able to engage reluctant learners in the way
a dynamic and charismatic teacher can.
Moreover, approaches that forgo direct interpersonal interaction completely are unlikely to be able to
teach certain skills. Learning is an inherently social activity. While an intelligent tutor might be able to
help a student master specific math concepts, it may not be able to teach students to critically analyze a
work of literature or debate the ethics of new legislation.

The experience of Rocket ship, a well-known charter school network, illustrates this concern.
Developed in the Bay Area of California in 2006, Rocket ship’s instructional model revolves around a
blended learning approach in which students spend a considerable amount of each day engaged with
computer-aided learning technologies. The network received early praise for its innovative approach to
learning and, most importantly, for the high achievement scores posted by its mostly poor, nonwhite
student population. In 2012, however, researchers and educators raised concerns about graduates from
Rocket ship elementary schools, noting that they had good basic skills but were struggling with the
critical analysis required in middle school.

More broadly, it is important to realize that technologies can be either substitutes for or complements to
resources already in the school. To the extent that they are substitutes, they are inherently equalizing
forces. For example, well-designed and structured online content might provide critical support to a
novice teacher who is too overwhelmed to produce the same coherent and engaging materials that some
more experienced teachers can create.

However, in many cases it may be more appropriate to think of technologies as complements—e.g.,

when they require skilled teachers or students with strong prior skills to be implemented well. In these
cases, technologies must be accompanied with additional resources in order for them to benefit
traditionally underserved populations.

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Perhaps most importantly, systems that blend computer-aided and face-to-face instruction are
notoriously difficult to implement well. In recent studies of the popular Cognitive Tutor math
programs, teachers reported trouble implementing the program’s instructional practices that revolve
around collaborative work, making strong connections between computer-based activities and
classroom instruction, and maintaining the expected learning pace with many students who lacked prior
math and reading skills.

Finally, even with the best implementation, digital learning is likely to benefit students differently
depending on their personal circumstances and those of their school. For instance, non-native English
speakers might benefit from online instruction that allows them to pause and look up unfamiliar words.
Likewise, we might expect an online course to be more advantageous for students attending a brickand-
mortar school with very low-quality teachers.

Indeed, some recent research finds exactly this type of heterogeneity. A large IES-funded evaluation of
computer-aided instruction (CAI) released in 2007 found that students randomly assigned to teachers
using the leading CAI products fared no better than students in control classrooms. Several years later,
then graduate student Eric Taylor, decided to reanalyze the data from the study, focusing on whether
the impacts of these technologies varied across classrooms. His analysis suggests that the introduction
of computer-aided instruction had a positive impact on students in classrooms with less effective
teachers and a negative impact on students in classrooms with more effective teachers. In recent years,
the worlds of online learning and computer-aided instruction have converged to some extent, morphing
into what is often referred to as blended- or personalized-learning models. There are a number of
interesting projects underway across the country, including pilots supported by the Gates Foundation’s
Next Generation Learning Challenge, and the emergence of charter networks with a goal to provide
truly personalized learning for every student, such as Summit Public Schools in California and
Washington.

Major Challenges

1.Lack of Infrastructure and hardware facilities which hamper reliability of e learning

2. Lack of policies, strategies, schemes, monitoring and control that ensure cross-sectoral and multi
stakeholder involvement

3. Lack of awareness about E-learning material usage and services offered

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4. Lack of citizen (user) focus in G2C2G initiatives. i.e. services which listen and change as er
peoples expectations. Products with a focus would develop a sense of “ownership” in local rural
governance.

5. Problem in finding willing skilled manpower to training illiterate rural areas of India.

6. No computer based courses/skills taught to students in primary schools to increase their knowledge
about ICT importance in rural development.

7. Lack of skills in trainer or kiosk operators.

8. Community based participation (which fully understands and delivers the user needs) is not
encouraged.

9. Content development is not relevant and participatory.

10. Services delivered to rural areas are not available using local language and this will affect their
long term sustenance due to low interest in their usage

11. Capabilities are not adequately transferred to end user. This prevents them from using the
applications independently.

12. Lack of Infrastructure and hardware facilities which hamper reliability of online learning
13. Problem in finding willing skilled manpower to training illiterate rural areas of India.
14. No or very less computer based courses/skills taught to students in government primary schools to
increase their knowledge about ICT importance in rural development.

7 Ways Digital Education Is Transforming Teaching Methods

How Digital Education Is Transforming Teaching Methods

Schools are slowly looking at technology as an opportunity to develop teaching methods and resonate
with students on a technology level. Regardless of age, almost everyone owns a smart phone. Google is
our library, and Wikipedia is our encyclopedia. Thesaurus is our dictionary, and Kindle is our textbook.
At a time like this, learning to change our teaching methods by incorporating technology is the only

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way to bring light to the lives of our students. What are schools doing in order to bring about this
change?

1. Smart Class
Teaching with a whiteboard, chalk, and markers are now a thing of the past, and teachers have shifted
to making use of projectors, VCD, DVD players and e-Learning system to display tutorial videos and
short sessions online to help understand that learning can be fun too. Many schools now come with a
TV or a projector attached to their whiteboard where it is easy to shift from a normal classroom session
to an interactive digital session. This can make students pay more attention as we are now in the digital
era where Google is our go-to place.

2. Being Digitally Updated

In a tech-savvy world, education can become easily outdated, as there is always something new
happening. Equipping students to be updated with news and other subject-related topics is the best way
to teach students to grow as a person. Students spend most of their time on their laptops, their phones,
and their I Pads. Knowing what sources students can refer to, online, and knowing which websites offer
the best information can be a great way to guide students.

3. Converting Books To PDFs

Books are now taken to Kindle and other Tabs. Sending them notes, references, and other information
in PDF formats that can be easily accessed on laptops, phones, and tabs is a good way to encourage
students to choose to study better.

4. Encouraging Online Tests

Training students on subjects by conducting fun online tests from time to time can create a good
learning environment for them. Students can be given online quizzes and assessments that they can take
from home, replacing general homework that they find excuses for.

5. Conducting Online Webinars

How attentive are students when there is only a one-way communication with the teacher standing in
front of a whiteboard? We find the classroom becoming noisy or students becoming easily disinterested
in the topic. Conducting online seminars and webinars, enabling all students to engage in commenting
and participating in questionnaires can help them stay alert. Keeping students interested throughout a
lecture is an art and a talent that teachers need to have, to benefit from the entire teaching-learning
process. It is very vital that students engage in seminars and the lectures involve two-way
communication.

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6. Supporting Online Research
Similar to how a teacher is well prepared for a classroom session, encouraging students to be prepared
too, can drive students to be excited about taking up classes. Online research is trending and people
find exciting careers in Market Research and more. Asking students to find something online that is
difficult to find or encouraging online research by giving them a list of things to find before the next
class is a good way to keep students looking forward to more classes. It really does feel like a great
achievement knowing you’ve found something that no other student could find. Giving them rewards
or appreciating their online findings can encourage students to make the best use of the digital
resources they have.

7. Creating Communities
The interaction between a teacher and a student does not have to end at school, in a classroom. An
online community is where a group or a team stay connected online, submitting projects, discussing
topics or expressing ideas. Teachers can set a platform for students to communicate their ideas,
suggestions and subject-related queries, for them to solve any time. Being open to online activities like
these keep students more focused even outside of school, without realizing the fact that the learning
process continues even after classes are done.

CHAPTER-6
CONCLUSION

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It is clear that India has gaps in the education sector. These cannot be solved by the system alone.
Entrepreneurship in education is vital to bringing inclusivity, reducing knowledge inequality and
ushering digital learning.

But maybe the answer to education will arise out of education itself? Outside of formal programs, it is
necessary to encourage entrepreneurship in schools and colleges. The spirit of creativity has been lost
in generations of rote learning. Only when teachers and the system alike encourage innovation, will we
see more progress in the education industry.

Conclusion:
Online Education has brought a positive impact in the lives of students and working professionals. It
has given an opportunity to take up additional courses along with their studies or job as per their
convenience. Online education has also helped the faculty in the institutions to ask students to study
some part of syllabus online which do not require much of classroom instructions. So the online study
helps the faculty to save time in which they can interact with the students more. The quality of
education has improved by online courses and even it has become easy for students to refer the content
as per their leisure. In the era of digitalization the scope of online education increase even more and
will be beneficial for students, professionals and also institutions.

Textbooks, homework, classroom notebooks, whiteboard, chalk, and markers are now history.
Smartboards are introduced where teachers can drag and drop shapes, bring in online calculators on the

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board, measure with AR tools and voice out the text they want to see on the board. How practical is it
to be disconnected from the digital world when students are way faster in terms of technology? Schools
are now offering to provide free tablets and Kindle-like tabs for students to take notes in. It is time to
collaborate teaching methodology with technology and make India digital.

CHAPTER-7
BIBIOGRAPHY

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