Education 4.0: A New Face to Blended Learning?

Abstract

A virus which created a localized impact in a country and was thought to be a health crisis initially, has now taken the shape of a monstrous disaster; hardly a sector or area remains unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It may sound unfortunate but the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore Information & Communication Technology (ICT), the digital platforms and the blended learning approach on the same page. This has not only allowed the education industry to offer content for which they may or may not have enough infrastructure but simultaneously, it has allowed students to learn at their own pace that yields to higher learning capabilities. Therefore, to equip teachers with the latest 21st century knowledge for further innovations, rapid technological advancement has taken place through the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) posing a great challenge as well as boon to the educational system. Education is an indispensable parameter for the growth and development of any nation or economy. Over the past few decades, the huge and rapid investments in ICT in educational institutes have contributed for promoting digitalization and fostered creative innovations in the educational system. This has brought to the fore the path-breaking idea of ‘Education 4.0.’ This paper tries to examine the nuances of Education 4.0 and whether it is the new face of the educational system in the near and distant future.