Byjus The Learning App An Investigative Study On The Transformation From Traditional Learning To Technology Based Personalized Learning
Byjus The Learning App An Investigative Study On The Transformation From Traditional Learning To Technology Based Personalized Learning
Abstract: Technology has drastically improved the existing educational system over the past fifteen years. ‘Self-learning,’ using online
platforms, has replaced the traditional rote learning. The umbrella of technology -based educational system incorporates multitudes of
learning apps. Byju’s - The Learning App (Byju’s) is India’s largest educational app with over 3, 00,000 ann ual subscriptions. The learning
app uses a blend of content, media and technology to make learning more interactive and interesting among the students. It al so promotes
personalized learning among the users. In this context, the current study seeks to expl ore a select group of high school and higher
secondary students from CBSE and Kerala State Board and interpret their feedback to examine the transformation from tradition al learning
to technology-based personalized learning. This paper also demonstrates how Byju’s app facilitates and improves the teaching-learning
experience among the students of Kerala.
Index Terms: Constructivism, Online Learning Platforms, Byju’s, Traditional Learning, Personalized Learning, M-Learning, Technology, Learning Apps.
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1 INTRODUCTION
Learning styles have significantly changed over the years. Students all over the world make use of these modern
Gone are those days when we memorized the concepts and technologies for learning. Majumdar opines,Teachers and
put it down during exams. The current teaching-learning students alike can make use of multimedia courseware which
environment prefers personalized learning. The teacher is now helps to promote affective learning that is more engaging and
a facilitator, a mentor and a guide. He/she is not just a content learner-centred. The students can relate their course of study
provider. The teacher constructs knowledge through to real life events and make use of individual learning styles
interaction with the students. The students do all the work and that suit their needs. One of the most important aspects of
the teacher guides them. This method of Constructivism was multimedia courseware is that it encourages higher order
put forward by John Dewey (1859-1952), Bruner (1915-2016), thinking skills and helps for knowledge construction.
Piaget (1896-1980) and Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934). (Majumdar, 2006)One of the latest trends in teaching is M-
“Constructivism is the philosophical and scientific position that learning or Mobile-learning. “M-learning combines both mobile
knowledge arises through a process of active construction.” computing and e-learning, which includes online resources,
(Mascolo and Fischer, 2005, p. 49). The strategy of rich interactive content, strong support for affective learning
constructivism is against the Behaviourist theory propounded and performance-based assessment” (Quinn, 2001). As
by Pavlov and Thorndike, which is based on the idea that smartphones have become common among students,
learning happens through conditioning. The modern strategies educators around the world have started using smart phones
of teaching and learning are highly rooted in Constructivism. to impart learning. App based learning is one of the features of
The facilitators construct the knowledge through the active M-learning. A huge array of educational apps is available for
participation of learners. Learning is student-centred and the the learners which help them in personalized learning.
students are autonomous. Teachers promote critical thinking of Learning through apps is self-paced and are optimized for the
the students. They guide their students to find solutions to a needs of each learner. Educational apps like Meritnation,
problem.The modern learning is highly technology oriented. SoloLearn, Coursera, Unacademy, Byjus: The Learning App,
Teachers make use of modern amenities like smart boards, etc. are designed keeping the learner in mind. Byjus for
projectors, audio-visual aids, and online sites for teaching. instance is one of the biggest educational apps in the world.
Teaching and learning materials are available at the click of a Once a startup, Byjus now caters to almost 300 million
button. The internet, which is the largest network, has become students in India. The app uses 3-D animation, motion
a major tool for teaching-learning process. Multimedia graphics and visual effect technique to provide an immersive
resources, blogs, online forums, online libraries and various learning. Started by Byju Raveendran from Kerala, Byju’s is
websites, provide information necessary for the user. now the most valued Edtech Company in the world. This paper
aims at analyzing the effectiveness of Biju’s App on
_______________________________________ transforming Indian education scenario. It focuses on a group
of high school and higher secondary students from CBSE and
• First author, Sruthi P is currently pursuing PhD in English in VIT Kerala State Board and analyse their feedback to inspect how
University, Vellore, India. E-mail: [email protected] the App promotes personalized learning.
• Co-Author, Dr. Sangeeta Mukherjee is currently working as a
Senior Assistant Professor in VIT University, Vellore, India. E-
mail: [email protected]
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Zuckerberg Initiative, Tencent, Lightspeed Venture and Sofina. the 115 respondents, 100 have been selected for the research
The company is expected to grow more as it now caters an paper. Others were omitted as data filled were incomplete.
international audience.The present study aims to provide
authentic information for students, parents and educators
about the various improvements that learning apps bring in the
field of teaching-learning process. Byju’s App, one among the
M-Learning apps, helps studying difficult subjects by making
concepts easily comprehensible. This paper helps others to
investigate and get a clear picture of the possibility of Byju’s
App in enhancing personalized learning. The findings of the
study will also be useful to understand how far Byju’s App
transforms the traditional scenario of learning, by incorporating Diagram 1
modern methods of self-learning techniques. Further, this acts
as a reference point to other interested scholars to do more Diagram1. shows the number of students participated from Kannur,
Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram districts of
researches in this area. Kerala. 50 students responded from Kannur, 34 from Malappuram, 8 from
Palakkad, 6 from Thrissur and 2 from Thiruvananthapuram.
5 RESEARCH DESIGN
This paper titled “Byju’s - The Learning App: An Investigative Gender
Study on the Transformation from Traditional Learning to 100 Responses
Technology Based Personalized Learning among High School
and Higher Secondary Students” uses Quantitative
Methodology of research to analyse data collected through
questionnaires which were sent through Google Forms. The
objectives of the study include:
To identify how Byju’s app acts as a facilitator.
To investigate the students’ transformation from
traditional learning to technology based modern
learning.
Chart 1
To find out how far Byju’s app promotes learning.
Chart1. Shows the percentage of male and female student respondents.
52% learners were males and 48% were females. Chart 2. depicts the
The study has been conducted from the theoretical board of study of the learners. 58% of the total respondents were State
perspective of Constructivist Pedagogy, and its effectiveness Board (Kerala Syllabus) and 42% were from CBSE. From the CBSE
in a technology assisted self- learning process, using Board, 8 males and 34 females responded and from the State Board, 40
Descriptive and Inferential methodology of analysis. The males and 18 females responded.
questionnaire comprised of 10 multiple choice questions in Board
order to find the responses from random learners who are 100 Responses
currently subscribed to Byju’s app. Questions were asked in
order to comprehend the effectiveness, easiness, comfort,
interactivity, and personalized experience of using the app.
Personal data of the respondents too were collected. The
statistics was analyzed and computed into pie charts. The
respondents answered to the multiple-choice questions and
they chose their answers based on their individual
perceptions.
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subjects. Descriptive Data Analysis describes the main 7. Orientatio Very-36% Quite- Not Not at
features of the data collected quantitatively. The tagline of n for 36% Very- All-8%
Byju’s App is “Fall in Love with Learning.” Advertisements of Exams 20%
the App claim that the App makes concepts easy and makes
8. Effective Very-50% Quite- Not Not at
learning a pleasurable experience through the use of 34% Very- All-4%
ness
technology. The researchers analysed how the modern 12%
learning techniques used by Byju’s App help in the
transformation of learning among the users. The responses 9. Self- Very-52% Quite- Not Not at
collected from the questionnaire given to the learners were Learning 32% Very- All-2%
thoroughly analysed based on Descriptive and Inferential 14%
Methods of research. The analysis of the study helped to draw
certain inferences on the app. The particulars considered for 10. Use of Yes-46% No-38% Som Many-
Other e- NIL
this regard include, Penetration of the App among students, Learning 16%
Scope, Attractiveness, Easiness, Subject Focus, Apps
Effectiveness, Personalized Learning, etc. Each particulars
selected here were chosen based on the questionnaire Table 1
distributed among the learners. Advertisement through Visual
media like television, and New Media like the Internet helped In order to find the reach of Byju’s App among the learners,
the App to reach a wider audience. 74% of the learners heard certain criteria had been chosen for analysing the
about the app through advertisement. 70% of the learners use questionnaire given. The criteria included Transformation,
the App to understand concepts, 24% for exam preparation, Personalisation, Promotion of Learning, Effectiveness,
4% for doing homework and only 1% for doing revisions. From Easiness, etc. The values of the critria were put together to
this, it can be understood that the learners give more create a bar diagram which is given below:
importance to learning concepts rather than rote learning.
68% of the respondents found the App to be attractive and
interesting in learning difficult subjects like Mathematics and
Science. 60% of the learners use the app for 30 minutes to 1
hour. Only 14% use the app for more than an hour. From this
data, it can be understood that the app is used only as a tool
for learning concepts and not used during the entire study
time. 72% of the students opined that the App helps them in
exam preparation. 46% of the respondents claim that they use
an educational app other than Byju’s. The table given below
shows the findings of the study.
FINDINGS OF STUDY
THE Bar Diagram 2
SI. PARTICU
NO LARS The criteria, named ‘Transformation’ was created in order to
1. Penetrati Advertise School- Famil Printe analyse how the respondents make use of the app. From the
on of the ment- 12% y- d
App 74% 10% Media
response of the learners, it can be seen that 70% use the app
-4% for understanding concepts and not for rote learning. This is
2. Scope Understan Exam Hom Revisi clearly a transformation of learning from the old rote learning
d Preperatio ewor on-1% method. ‘Personalisation’ and ‘Promotion of Learning’ analyse
Concepts- n-24% k-4% how far the App promotes self-learning among students. 52%
70% of the respondents consider that the app provides a
personalized experience and promotes self-learning.
‘Effectiveness’ examines the effectiveness of app in
3. Attractive Good- Average- Very Not at
ness 68% 22% Good All-2%
preparation of exam and in reducing exam fear. 50% of the
-8% respondents said that the App helped them to score good
marks in exam and 36% opined that the App helped them to
4. Easiness Quite- Very-44% Not Not at reduce exam fear very much. ‘Easiness’ analysis showed
50% Very- All-2% how easy the app for usage is. 50% of the students feel that
4% the app is quite easy to use. ‘Comfortability’ analysis showed
how comfortable is the App to use from a user’s perspective.
5. Subject Maths- Science- Lang Any 68% opined that the App is good. ‘Interactivity’ was chosen
Focus 42% 42% uage- Other-
based on the attractiveness and assistance of the app for
8% 8%
exams. ‘Facilitation’ analysed how the app facilitates the
6. App 30 min to Less than 1-2 More learner to break down difficult concepts and helps to ease
Usage 1 hr-60% 30 min- hrs- than 2 learning of difficult subjects. 42% of the respondents use the
26% 10% hrs- app for learning Maths and another 42% use it to learn
4% Science.The study finally seeks to understand how Byju’s App
helps the students of class VIII to XII for a personalized
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8 CONCLUSION learning in K 12: BYJU’s : how a learning app is
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