“If the country hesitates to adopt technology, she will lag behind”. Twenty years ago in April 2004, Badrul Huda Khan expressed such an opinion. This statement was published in the post-editorial of the country’s top daily Prothom Alo. However, earlier in 1995, he wrote a book called ‘Web Based Instruction’ and came into the discussion. He then served as the founding director of the Department of Educational Technology at the University of Texas, USA. And in 2014, he was introduced to the world as the founder of modern e-learning at NATO’s e-learning conference. After ten years, when SMART education is being talked about in Bangladesh, Imdadul Haque, the executive editor of DigiBanglatech.News, met the famous ‘ Living Legend ‘ (Hall of Fame-2015) by USDLA, a global organization working on distance learning in the United States.
Q: What is the difference between e-learning and smart learning?
Badrul Khan: E-learning is a medium. So, when educational activities are conducted using electronic devices, we call it e-learning. E-learning is also happens in online and offline. Meanwhile, smart learning is a technology-friendly sustainable, motivational and self-motivated learning process that helps the learner to adapt with time in ever-changing conditions. What is learned in this learning process reflects positively in individual and social life. This teaching program will be conducted in blended mode with online-offline combination. In this case, the medium in which the students are learning is very important. Because, digitally we can read both online and offline. Smart learning will also involve direct classroom teaching. Smart learning will be achieved then, when students can learn on their own at any time as well as take help from the teacher as needed. In this case, it will be decided in advance which ones the students can do themselves and which ones they need help with. Therefore, in the education guide, which content should be taught digitally and which should be taught directly by the teacher should be specified in advance.
Question: The government has announced the Smart Bangladesh vision. What would you advise the government in this case?
Badrul Khan: Smart living must be ensured. Along with the use of technology in new horizons, smart learning will be precisely defined and delivered.
Question: What are the challenges ahead in implementing smart education in the country?
Badrul Khan: In this case, preparing teachers for students through training is the biggest challenge. For this, teachers should be given appropriate training on instructional design. Making technology accessible to all and ensuring personal learning devices for students are also challenges. Above all making the learning process interactive for everyone.
Question: In our country, institutions have been growing in education for a long time. As a result, parents constantly fight to teach in prestigious schools. Can a smart education system stop that fight? If so, how?
Badrul Khan: This practice is going on all over the world. It is absurd. To get out of this we have to make sure whether our students are learning properly or whether the institutions are able to teach properly according to the needs of the employers. That is why the mindset of the employers has to be changed. Hope smart education will break this taboo.
Question: How do you think the curriculum should be in sustainable education system in global competition? Can technology provide a sustainable solution in this regard?
Badrul Khan: Of course, you can. For that, the content needs to be taught in an engaging and engaging way. Curriculum must be structured with skill based content required by the society. This is what I call action-oriented, skillful and lifelong learning.
Q: Government is working on blended learning. You are a member of that national committee. Also trained. How far do this work? How is the result?
Badrul Khan: I feel good that I went to different parts of the country and trained them. I gave them the instructional design. Talked about how to teach students motivationally. I have received complaints from students on various issues. I have also taken their opinion. I think our education system needs to be student centric. Emphasis should be placed on the humanities and principles of how students reflect on what they are learning. Patriotism should be given importance.
Question: Mohibul Hasan Naufel, the son of your district, has become a full minister in the twelfth parliament from deputy minister. What are your expectations from him as a smart educator?
Badrul Khan: Our country has progressed a lot. In order to have a functioning education system, education should also proceed in that way. Curriculum should focus on life-oriented and skillful education. His father Mohiuddin Chaudhuri of Chittagong loved me a lot. Out of his passion for education, he proposed to organize an international e-learning conference in Chittagong. In its promotion, he gave me seminars in schools run by his Premier University and Chittagong City Corporation. I hope that as a worthy son of a father who loves education, he also will try his best for the welfare of our country. Ensure skillful, career-oriented and life-long education for students to build a patriotic generation. Every institution will connect with education. Emphasize that education should make students inquisitive. Because smart education is paramount, ensuring action-oriented, skillful lifelong learning that embodies our values and ethics. And through this Smart Bangladesh will be fulfilled.