Problem Statement

Online learning in India had only begun gaining momentum in the education space when the COVID-19 pandemic sent more than 1.2 billion children out of school across the world, in the initial months of 2020. As it became the only effective alternative to classroom teaching, it also exposed the gaping social inequalities amongst learner communities, especially in India. Empathizing with this digital divide across learner demographics in India, Global Shapers New Delhi Hub initiated the Online Learning Project to address the gaps for the disadvantaged.

The Online Learning Project identified the following key problem areas amongst education stakeholders to address:

1. Lack of access to digital infrastructure 


2. Absence of an active community to exchange ideas and experiences


3. Inconsistent support for capacity building and resource sharing to enhance the digital learning model and delivery

The project team has initiated activities in a three-pronged approach i.e, Access, Inform, and Support through multi-stakeholder partnerships. Through these initiatives, the project team aims to bridge the educational inequality in the Indian education space during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Short Term Goals (Within first 4 Months)

1. Ensure maximum individual-level device collection and donation of used digital devices, through hub-level marketing drives.


2. Conduct one webinar/discussion group forum each for all stakeholders i.e, educators, learners and other ecosystem stakeholders to begin development of online space for awareness generation


3. Setup pilot project with one NGO to streamline program evaluation structure, standards, and protocols for the project.

Long Term Goals (Until 1 Year and Beyond)

1. Scale-up digital device collection and donation drives by establishing 3-5 partnerships with corporate organizations under CSR programs.


2. Develop a loyal community of stakeholders, passionate about the impact of online learning, to exchange insights for co-developing the ecosystem


3. 
   Conduct 3 program evaluations of different NGOs and collaborate with them for implementation of recommendations.
   

Available Metrics & Numbers

• Number of Project Partners (so far): 3


• 
  Organized a webinar under the “Decoding Online Learning” series on the topic “By the teachers, for the teachers: Digital learning during COVID-19” - was attended by 60+ teachers from across India
  


• Fundraising for a local grassroots NGO to help them procure smartphones for students from under-served communities, to continue online learning


• Assisting a local grassroots NGO to conduct an impact evaluation of its online learning pedagogy in under-served communities, and make recommendations for increasing efficacy