Educating a Billion

Some books are a great surprise package!This one on EdTech revolution by Arjun Mohan is one such masterpiece.Brilliantly weaved akin to an engaging web series. Every chapter ends with a new beginning hook, bound to make you read more.I picked it for knowing Arjun's perspective and experience on EdTech. I thought it would consolidate learning for me and act as a reminder. Instead, I ended up learning and enjoying a lot more due to its honest revelations and engaging writing style.Some pointers worth summarizing:1. You learn best from your learners/product users. Reach out to them first, instead of only discussing amongst experts in a room.2. Provide personalized learning experience. The extra effort is worth it.3. Collaboration among learners and with all stakeholders involved is key to success.4. The next generation of learners need a lot more than visual learning and its only possible with constant innovation.The world through India is surely going to benefit a lot with everyone- Govt, Institutes and EdTechs trying to raise the learning experience bar.Highly recommend reading this to everyone interested in education sphere.PS: I ditched a movie plan to read this and it was totally worth it.

Education has gone through several transitions, albeit minor, over the years, keeping its facade more or less the same. During the COVID pandemic, millions of students had to get cooped up in their homes with almost no access to education. Enters the online version of learning, which, frankly, existed way before the pandemic hit but had average traction. Education had to transition and take a big leap this time for the need of the hour. It became a necessity first and then a big hit with not only students but also people who wanted to upskill around the world. Youtube can be cited as the forefather who set the path for such an advancement. Then came the Ed-Tech start-ups and apps, and now the education sector sees a mighty ally, AI.There’s always a story that charts the rise, and this epic transition has a story of its own. Arjun Mohan, an insider who witnessed such a transition, reveals how ed-tech companies are keeping no stone unturned to change the landscape of education, trying to assuage the problems that weaken the education system while enhancing the quality of education imparted at a very high scale.He takes you through the formative years that added to such companies' foundations. How have these ed-tech companies delivered and continue to deliver great products that produce effective results in such a short time? How did some rising and aspiring entrepreneurs, in spite of obstacles, push through to bring about changes that have changed the face of the education system, and how do these companies still continue to strive for new heights and fulfil new promises by facing upcoming challenges head-on?Being an instructional designer for an ed-tech company, reading this book felt deeply insightful and eye-opening. Reading this book did not feel like a chore; in fact, it actually felt enriching to read about the journey and be surprised at the level of grit, hard work, and passion that went into it. If you are remotely interested in understanding ed-tech companies and their journey and how some rising entrepreneurs of India are still at it, this book is for you!

I really loved how Arjun has described the whole journey. Well narrated with all ups and downs in Edtech. For a person not from this industry will also be able to understand it pretty well.

Non-fiction becomes extra saucy when there is a hint of witty commentary here and there which this book fulfills. The author talks about important issues revolving literacy and how in today's time there is an important need for it to be more than just basic reading and writing. And how ancient definitions fail to suffice and live up to today's need and action to contribute to our society. We get to know the back story, the author's contribution to byju's.I absolutely have to add that I was so pleasantly surprised by the tone of the book which managed to insert us in the story in a way which kept it alive and not monotonous. The book spans the education system throughout the years and traces the offline online transition, pandemic hurdles and will especially capture people's attention in the education sector. I strongly feel this is one of those non-fiction books that will be highly appreciated by Gen-Z.

With a teacher-student ratio of 1:42, and the quality of several teachers, each expected to teach forty-two students at the same time, another concern is the infrastructure in Indian schools. In the country,  the first attempt at using technology at scale in schools was by Educomp, Digimate by HP, and Next Education. Nowadays we know Meritnation, BYJU'S, Unacademy and Vedantu.This book discusses the vision, audacity and optimism of the tech companies and entrepreneurs that are changing the education system after 200-plus years of slumber. The COVID-19 lockdown gave online learning a boost and the post-covid scenario was that people rushed back to offline learning, BYJU'S was keen to buy an academic company, right on time. The perfect business decision, not due to lack of confidence in online learning, but because of the need of the hour.The book is highly professional and productive. It talks on the basis of real facts and that too after great research. The author has covered all essential details and points regarding the world of online education. The language used is easy and engaging, it's written in an interesting manner. It's an insider's take on the business. The author Arjun Mohan is an authority in the Edtech ecosystem who has played an integral role in helping the rise of several Edtech Start-ups. He has used his experience and opportunities to introduce us to the world of Edtech Start-ups and their business strategies. This insightful book is definitely worth reading.