Tutoring apps change pupils' study habits

Dubai - "The Middle East has witnessed unprecedented growth in online education during the past two years."

The growing number of online tutoring platforms has been changing how kids in the UAE are studying, and some say they are learning better through the apps.

Brothers Shrey and Parin Sethi are both subscribed to an education app called Byju - and through the platform, they get to have fun while learning.

"Byju is not studying but it is learning while playing. Learning comes as a consequence of having fun in the right way," said Parin, who has been exploring the different features of the app.

Shrey, on the other hand, has been enjoying the experience that he now describes the app as a "hang-out buddy".

Byju Raveendran, founder and CEO of Byju, said: "Online learning is not just offline learning taken online, by simply digitising content. Technology makes learning better and more effective."

Byju's team has studied what can be done to fill the gap in the way students are learning their lessons, he said.

"In a conventional classroom learning system, access to high-quality education and personalisation of learning has always been an issue. In our system, children are still getting trained to solve questions and not ask questions. Learning happens because of a fear of exams, and not the love for learning," Raveendran said.

Besides Byju, there are platforms like Pamoja that acts as a supplement for certain curriculums, including IB, IGCSE, AS and A-levels.

Those who are pressed for time in preparing for standardised tests and admission exams turn to apps like Khan Academy or Magoosh, among other programmes.

Others who would like to explore new subjects often browse through the offerings of platforms like Coursera and edX.

Kuwait-based Darisni - which was launched in 2017 as the region's first smart platform that instantly connects students with tutors - is all set to run its operations in the UAE.

Noor Boodai, CEO of Darisni, said: "The Middle East has witnessed unprecedented growth in online education during the past two years.

"This has been largely driven by three factors: the tremendous success of online education globally, the fast-paced advancement in technology, and the recent growth in the adoption of digital service apps in the region. This has paved the way for increased confidence in trying new ideas and greater on-boarding into the world of mobile learning."

sandhya@khaleejtimes.com