Christ (Deemed To Be University), Delhi NCR

CIA I

Part A: Case Study Analysis

Digital Teaching-Learning Apps: Advantages and Disadvantages

6BAPSENG

Media Psychology

Submitted By:

Khushi Agrawal (20214226)

Submitted To:

Prof. Ishanpreet Kaur Toor

Jan 19, 2023

 BYJU’S and Coursera: A Comparative Study

‘I dream of Digital India where quality education reaches the most inaccessible corners driven by

digital learning’’- PM Narendra Modi

Digital learning indeed is one of the most productive and widespread modes of learning induced

by technology. The learning apps specifically have shown wonders both at Indian and

International levels. Education is no longer a matter of concern due to geographical

phenomenon. Any inaccessible corner of the globe where students are far from the reach of

educational institutions is not a piece of worry with the emergence of digital learning apps.

India is a developing nation using technological improvisations at every other level to increase

productivity and create a root for a developed nation in future. An example of such an app which

exists in India is BYJU’S. Headquartered in Bangalore, this app was established by a group of

students in 2011. The app was officially launched in 2015 as ‘Byju’s: The Learning App’.

Beginning from providing educational content to students from classes 4th to 12th, the platform

started an early learning program for kids of classes 1st to 3rd. In addition to school content, the

app also trains young individuals in India to prepare for national and international competitive

examinations.

Digital Teaching-Learning apps have indeed exceeded the boundaries of school education and

have given access to universities worldwide by offering learning opportunities in forms of online

courses, projects and certain degree programs. The example of one such app is Coursera,

headquartered in California, US. It was founded in 2012 by Stanford University professors and

provides an intensive learning opportunity by offering online courses and degrees from leading

universities at an international level. From free courses to professional certifications, this

teaching-learning e-platform has been a crucial digital platform for customers worldwide.
Analysis

There has been a lot of research in recent years about the importance and credibility of digital

teaching-learning apps like Byju’s, Coursera and many more. One such research titled, ‘Byju’s

The Learning App: An Investigative Study On The Transformation From Traditional Learning To

Technology Based Personalized Learning’ by Sruthi P and Dr. Sangeeta Mukherjee investigates

the great transformation of students from traditional to modern learning. The research focuses on

M- Learning or mobile based learning which has transformed the whole educational scenario

with emergence of educational applications. The author takes Byju’s learning app as a medium to

showcase how M-Learning is serving as a constructive learning technique. The authors use

various psychological theories to illustrate the impact of Byju’s learning app on student’s

self-learning experience. The research findings also depict the disadvantages that Byju’s app

holds for Indian students. The result suggests that the app is proven ineffective to some extent for

personalized learning to users who can’t afford the huge subscription expense. The subscription

fee of this app is quite expensive on an average for Indians. However, Byju’s learning app strives

to reach a mass audience and look into the solutions for its affordability to transform the

educational scenario.

A different research study carried out by Priyanka Kumari and Ishrat Naaz titled, ‘Digital

learning through MOOCs: Advantages, Outcomes & Challenges’ portrays the various pros and

cons that apps like Coursera have on users worldwide. The research focuses on how the online

courses provided by apps like Coursera puts distance learning in the limelight in today’s digital

era. The research demonstrates how people in the twenty-first century are more knowledgeable

about the creation of apps that offer MOOCs. This growth could be psychological, physical,

interpersonal, or occupational. E-learning services like Coursera utilize professionalized online

courses to address all these issues. The top private universities around the world, as stated in the

paper, propose their online courses through platforms like Coursera. The findings of the research

highlights the widespread use of apps like Coursera but also indicates a certain amount of

population beyond the reach of higher education who are far from the whereabouts of such

technological invention. The findings also indicate the massive dropout rates from online courses

at Coursera which serves as a major challenge to the industry.

Psychological Implications

Both national and international apps, Coursera and Byju’s are a complete revolution of education

in the digital era which is increasingly making a shift from traditional mode of learning to

modern mode of education. The teaching-learning process and the modern strategies of digital

learning apps are highly rooted in constructivism. Both the app facilitates a personalized learning

experience through the instruments of audio-visual aids, projectors, smart boards, etc.

Multimedia courseware can be used by both teachers and students to encourage effective

learning that is more engaging and learner-centered. Apart from their commonalities, both the

apps have differences due to their own distinct features. Where Byju’s on one hand focuses on

the curriculum at school level, Coursera is more career oriented and focuses on the massive open

online courses that offer varied opportunities.

The cognitive domain of psychology holds a lot of importance when it comes to personalized

learning experience. The understanding of online curriculum gained through thoughts,

experiences and senses gives a whole new perspective of self-learning and critical thinking

which is highly technology oriented. The whole new learning experience obtained through online

classes and courses guides the whole behavioral perspective of students by allowing them to
learn at their own pace. The Social Cognitive Theory yields a better outcome due to its

increasing relevance in e-learning. The whole self-learning experience obtained through these

apps can be more aptly studied using the four S’s of Social Cognitive Theory. A large number of

e-learning strategies used by these apps can be traced to SCT. The observational learning through

audio and visuals and the motivation and rewards can be traced through scores, graphs, badges

and certificates to inspire e-learners. Moreover the behavioral domain of psychology also holds

a lot of importance in the whole digital learning process. The effects of digital apps like Byju’s

and Coursera transform the learning behaviors of students in the course of knowledge

development. The behavior which was previously based on entertainment purposes on mobile

applications have been transformed to a whole new digital learning behavior which has led to

productivity and flexibility of time and pace. The motivational domain of psychology focuses on

the self-determination theory that significantly aids in addressing the issue of motivation for

ongoing digital learning. It contributes in substantially sloping the teacher’s motivation to use

digital learning resources upwards along with the academic success of users to enhance the

teaching-learning experience. The ideas of Self Determination Theory holds an important

reference in digital learning through apps like Byju’s and Coursera. In the online

teaching-learning environment, these digital education applications present the greatest challenge

to the demand for relatedness while offering many options to meet the desire for autonomy.

Contextual Implications

The effectiveness and functionality of online teaching-learning apps like Byju’s and Coursera

holds a crucial role in the field of education, culture and public policy environment.
The implication of e-learning apps in the educational field has transformed the whole educational

scenario from traditional to modern. The usage of technology in the learning process leads to

increased interactivity and promotes self learning at one’s own pace. Technology oriented

learning in the 21st century emphasizes on improved critical thinking and critical learning skills.

These online educational apps have built a comprehensive digital learning culture by involving a

learner centered mindset through digital tools.

Cultural differences among and within societies have a significant impact on how the users of

digital apps access, read, and engage with course materials and conversations. Language,

methods of visual image perception, power dynamics between teachers and students, collectivist

versus individualistic norms, educational background, and comfort with, use of, and access to

computers and devices are cultural factors that are taken into consideration in online learning

environments.

Above all, governmental policies act as an important driving force in the spread of e-learning.

These policies and regulations define how technology will be utilized in the digital classroom,

how it will look, and how it will be accessible to the users of educational apps. Due to the

accelerating speed of educational technology around the world, it creates a challenge for

government policymakers to meet the digital requirements. It presents a difficulty for educators

as well because they have to balance acknowledging the effects of electronic gadgets while

coordinating their approaches with the overall strategy.

Personal Reflection/Conclusion

The application of psychological theories and perspectives in the domain of digital learning apps

within and outside the nation were the key learning in this assignment which helped me gain
insights about two completely different educational apps proving different e-learning

opportunities. The comprehensive research carried out during the course of this assignment

improved my understanding about technology’s growth in today’s era around the world. I gained

some important applied skills by studying the various events of e-learning apps and applying

them into domains of psychology which guides cognition, behavior and motivation.

The assignment helped me in understanding the challenges faced by educational apps like Byju’s

and Cousera guided by government policies which poses a challenge to meet the extent of

technology required in making these apps accessible to a large population including the various

tools, applications and expenses required to ease the teaching-learning process.

Hence, the knowledge, skills and deep insights gained through the whole research process to

include every component required in the assignment helped in the cognitive, behavioral and

social aspect of my personality. It has therefore, improved my critical thinking and learning skills

which will help me in my further studies.

References

1. Palliyalil, Sruthi & Mukherjee, Sangeeta. (2020). Byju's The Learning App: An

Investigative Study On The Transformation From Traditional Learning To Technology

Based Personalized Learning. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research.

9. 5054-5059.

2. Jha, Priyanka & Naaz, Ishrat. (2020). Digital learning through MOOCs: Advantages,

Outcomes & Challenges.

3. Salikhova, Nailya & Lynch, Martin & Salikhova, Albina. (2020). Psychological Aspects

of Digital Learning: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective. Contemporary

Educational Technology. 12. ep280. 10.30935/cedtech/8584.