'Lack of infrastructure and shortage of trained teachers is a reality'

Tom Hodson joined SMART Technologies in 2006 after a stint with a consulting firm serving Fortune 500 companies, specializing in the areas of strategic customer management, marketing, and business integration. In his capacity as executive vice president and managing partner, he was responsible for large-scale projects in the areas of post-merger business integration, customer marketing and strategic account management. Hodson is well known for his outstanding leadership skills and has consistently ranked in the top 5% of his peer group in North America. Co-author of A Blueprint for Winning with Today's Customer', Hodson's business results reflect an ability to deliver strong growth in complex and competitive environments. In an interview with Dataquest, Hodson shares his vision to change the classroom experience. Excerpts

How has technology been able to change the classroom experience?

Education is the key driver of any economy. There is a paradigm shift in the way education is imparted and received all over the world. Having recognized this evolution, India is gearing up to match the global quality standards and ensure unified dissemination of knowledge, regardless of disparities in socio-economic backgrounds. Research has established that interactive technology implementation in education enhances learning, improves student outcomes and encourages collaboration.

How would you rate technology adoption in the education sector in India versus other countries?

The Indian society has always given the utmost importance to good education. Parents invest substantially to ensure their children receive quality education. Technology has significantly helped in reducing the digital divide between nations by providing easy access to 21st-century learning environments for all. Thus, we have noticed similar technology adoption trends across the globe. Though, the growth curve for evolution and adoption of technology has varied from country to country, there has been a clear rise in technology adoption with increasing awareness of its benefits when applied to teaching and learning.

Lack of infrastructure and shortage of trained teachers is a reality that adversely impacts the adoption of technology-enabled classrooms in India. However, with increasing awareness about the benefits of these tools and their application, many private schools in India are gradually evolving into digital classrooms for better student engagement. The government is also recognizing the immense potential of technology in education as is evident from the launch of Aakash tablets. We at SMART Technologies have also collaborated with the governments of four states to create digital learning environments in government schools. We have received encouraging response from government officials across India and are quite positive about the future outlook of educational technology being applied in public schools.

How does your company plan to be a part of the technology adoption drive in the education sector in India?

The Indian government has been investing heavily in the development of education. However there are numerous challenges which need to be addressed to ensure access to quality education. Technology could play a pivotal role in bridging the educational divide that exists between village schools and private schools. Technology is transforming teaching and learning from a one-size-fits-all model to an experience that is much more personalized/differentiated, engaging, flexible, collaborative, and empowering.

Post-secondary and K12 education institutions have witnessed the benefits of distance learning as it provides students the opportunity to learn from teachers around the world and benefit from their expertise. Distance learning could be especially useful for students located in remote areas who have to walk a substantial distance to reach the nearest school. This mode of learning is highly effective in allowing collaboration and learning amongst students and provides them a holistic immersive learning environment and experience. Distance learning is also a viable solution to the teacher-shortage problem. SMART Technologies has also collaborated with the education boards of various states namely, Delhi, Uttaranchal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu to ensure that the benefits of ICT reach the grassroot level. SMART has also tied up with Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya popularly known as RPVVs, a system of schools run by the Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi to install interactive whiteboards and provide training to teachers about the usage of technology in classrooms.

How would you rate India's importance in the global pie?

Education is the fastest growing segment in India. As per industry reports, multi-media/digital learning space in the K12 domain is estimated to be over $450 mn industry by the end of 2012 growing annually at a 60% CAGR. According to Futuresource Consulting, since 2000, there are more than 5 mn classrooms in India with only about 1% interactive whiteboard penetration. Thus, the educational technology sector in India offers huge potential for growth. The country has been identified as an important emerging market for SMART and we continue to develop our business across the region. The transition from blackboards to interactive whiteboards is a clear indicator of the education system evolving and embracing technology. There is a growing need and focus on IT enabled education, leading to the demand for comprehensive value-added educational solutions such as the SMART Board interactive whiteboard. SMART Technologies will continue to be committed to the India market and roll out effective collaboration solutions, contents and resources as well as services and support.

What are your company's plans for the future?

We will continue to be committed to the Indian market and roll out effective collaboration solutions, content and resources as well as services and support. Right from hiring the right talent to enlisting a strong group of distributors as well as significant efforts in marketing will help us further gain market share in the India/South Asia region.