Category: Content Services

Fixed Layout EPUB: Key Challenges and their Solutions

Posted on by aashish-dev

In the past two decades, we have witnessed the increasing digitization of a wide range of media. Audiences today prefer to watch films on streaming platforms. Even relatively modern distribution channels, such as television networks are being disrupted and are facing stiff competition from digitized formats of entertainment. While physical books have not yet been replaced completely, every advancement in digital reading technology — across devices and file formats — is driving an increase in the adoption of e-books. In today’s digital age, e-books are playing a vital role in content publishing. 191 million units of e-books were sold in 2020 in the United States alone, up from 168 million units in 2018, and a significant portion of the e-books available, both free and purchased, are currently in the EPUB file format.

Understanding EPUB files

An EPUB file (short for Electronic Publication) is an open eBook file format that uses the ‘.epub’ file extension created by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). EPUB files are supported by almost all e-readers, with compatible software available for most smartphones, tablets, and computers.

The two major types of EPUB formats available today are reflowable EPUB, and fixed-layout EPUB. In the case of the fixed layout EPUB — suitable for books that contain complex design elements and multiple images — it is not possible to change the layout/position of the text. However, this is deliberate, and is aimed at maintaining the context of the text. For instance, certain images and pieces of text correspond to each other and will lose their context and meaning if placed further apart in the course of rescaling attempts. The fixed layout maintains the sanctity of the content.

There are several publishers world-wide who require the fixed layout EPUB for the following types of books:

  • Cook books
  • Travel guide
  • Gaming guide
  • Comic books (including Manga)
  • Children’s’ books
  • Illustrated textbooks
  • Books with two-page spreads, and
  • Full-bleed art books

Overcoming e-publishing challenges with Integra’s EPUB solution

1. Optimizing page sizes

The challenge:

Choosing the best page size is one of the key challenges when customers use multiple target devices to view the content. The page aspect ratio and page dimensions play a major factor in deciding the optimum page size. Since all device screen sizes are dissimilar and vary from device to device, it is challenging to optimize and adapt the page size.

The solution:

Based on our experience, we recommend that an aspect ratio of 16:9 be used which is suitable for all major devices.

2. DPI/PPI resolution

The challenge:

In terms of page dimension decisions, DPI (Dots per Inch) or PPI (Pixels per Inch) are not quite relevant. However, we need to ensure that any graphic elements that are included in the EPUB file are clear, sharp and readable, when viewed in full size. For example, if we have a device with a resolution of 1024×768 and we want it to display on a full screen, an image that has a 1024×768 resolution needs to be used.

The solution:

We recommend using 300 DPI images for books that contain fewer pages and 150 DPI images for books that contain a higher number of pages.

3. Controlling text alignment

The challenge:

Matching the text positioning in a fixed layout EPUB file as per the print output is also a key challenge. It is difficult to align text in fixed layout conversion if the text aligns in the justified mode.

The solution:

Our proprietary in-house tool overcomes this challenge with its inbuilt algorithms which enable the alignment of text based on the layout.

As per standard practices and recommendations, “Wavy” and other strongly-formatted text can be captured as SVG text paths.

4. Embedding fonts

The challenge:

Fonts need to be licensed separately for embedding purposes in the EPUB format.

The solution:

To overcome this challenge, we recommend the following:

  1. Use alternate fonts which are available and are free to use. However, the look and feel of alternate fonts may vary. Select fonts that match the print output as closely as possible.
  2. Capture the entire page as an image and keep the text in transparent mode so that the look and feel of the print output can be retained.
  3. Use a font that will include only the glyphs that you need, i.e., the characters that are actually used in the EPUB. Our in-house application does the subsetting of fonts automatically.

Using technology to transform the reading experience

As the e-publishing industry embraces cutting-edge technology, AI, and advanced algorithms, the customer experience for digitized books will get progressively enhanced, delighting readers. Taking advantage of intelligent solutions will drive ROI with increases in readership, traffic, and online purchases. Today’s e-book publishers can leverage technology-driven applications to gain significant first-mover advantages, cultivate reader loyalty, and build enduring brand value for the future.

From Conversion to Transformation: Unlocking Your Content’s Potential

Posted on by aashish-dev

As we step into 2022, a new wave of the pandemic is sweeping across the globe. The effects of COVID-19 are continuing to accelerate disruptive trends in a rapidly changing digital landscape. The education and learning domain, where face-to-face learning has been a defining feature for hundreds of years, is being reshaped and forced to confront difficult choices in the process. Digitalization and other trends in education that were emerging slowly over the last decade, have been sped up drastically. After all, crises often have a way of stimulating innovation. As we stand at the cusp of this transformation in learning, there are some questions content owners are asking themselves.

 

 

1. What has changed in terms of content?

 

With a sharp rise in e-learning and remote learning, user behavior and content delivery models have changed. Content owners and creators are adapting to these shifts in consumption and catering to the new models. In a medium with a high potential for distraction and many creators vying for attention, one of the most challenging tasks for the content owners is to retain the learners’ interest by generating original, reliable and high-quality content. Given these factors, it is not sufficient to convert old content into a digital-friendly format. What is required is a complete transformation that is aligned with new sensibilities and delivery models. To this end, content should be interactive, engaging, original, interesting, and accessible anywhere and everywhere.

2. What choices do content owners have for successful digital content delivery?

 

 

 

 

 

The choice for digital content delivery depends on the content strategy and the goal for content transformation. A simple conversion of the content can ensure that it functions well on the latest browser, operating system or device, but it may not deliver the desired experience to the learners. However, with a larger investment, one can completely transform the content to make it engaging and inclusive. After all, learning should be an immersive process.

3. How much will content conversion cost and what is the timeframe required to achieve it?

 

 

 

 

 

With a combination of artificial intelligence, automation and a skilled workforce, turnaround times for large-scale content conversion can be reduced drastically. With significant developments occurring in the technological and digital landscape, the process has become relatively inexpensive. However, the conversion of highly interactive content, such as content that includes games, will cost more and require a longer timeframe.

 

It is crucial to keep content efficacy in mind during conversion. Content efficacy must not be compromised while modifying and transforming the content since it would defeat the very purpose of the content, even if it was successfully adapted for a digital delivery model. If you believe your content efficacy is high and it is worthy of conversion, the next step is to find an experienced partner to collaborate with.

 

Integra is an organization with 28 years of deep knowledge and expertise in content conversion and content transformation services.

4. Are content conversion and transformation investments future-proof?

 

 

 

 

 

In a rapidly changing technological and business landscape, it is indeed difficult to gauge what the long-term impact of one’s investments will be. However, while not investing in content conversion or transformation may seem like a safe bet in the short term, it may mean losing precious opportunities for long-term growth. After all, it is during times of uncertainty that future victors emerge.

Making the right choices for content transformation can go a long way in making your investments future-proof. It is important to choose the right technology for powering your content. It is also crucial to test your content across browsers, operating systems, and devices, and to ensure that your content meets all the accessibility guidelines. These choices and processes can be significantly simplified and accelerated with the right transformation partner. While nothing may be guaranteed in an ever-evolving content landscape, the right partner and choices can translate into content with a longer shelf-life.

5. How does one navigate compliance with respect to content?

Compliance is an important aspect to consider when transforming content. There are two key factors to compliance:

  • Accessibility: Across the world, states are pushing for stringent digital content delivery norms around accessibility standards. If you are considering content transformation in 2022, it is highly recommended that you read about these aspects. Accessibility and accessibility guidelines may be confusing. Furthermore, it is difficult to retrofit content to meet accessibility guidelines. However, an experienced partner can streamline the process and enable you to overcome compliance hurdles seamlessly.
  • DE&I (diversity, equity, and inclusion): We live in a boundaryless world with unprecedented digital access to all forms of content from around the globe. Therefore, it would be wise to take a closer look at the language, tone, and other aspects of the content to ensure that it is inoffensive, inclusive, and acceptable to a diverse audience. While this is not a step that is absolutely necessary, it is certainly helpful to be cautious and inspect your content before investing in a massive content transformation assignment.

Learning today has reached a stage of continuous and fast-paced evolution, and more players are taking advantage of the capabilities available today to disseminate their content. Content owners must act quickly to transform their content from legacy formats and reach whole new audiences.

 

To learn more about Integra and the services we offer, contact piyush.bhartiya@integra.co.in

AR/VR and accessibility: Creating an inclusive reality

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AR/VR and accessibility: Creating an inclusive reality

 

A growing number of companies are investing in bleeding-edge technology to introduce innovative products in the market. To ensure maximum engagement levels, there is heavy dependency on technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which can capture people’s imagination with a truly immersive experience. While implementation of VR remains within the realm of gaming, tourism, education, and training primarily, the use of AR is becoming more commonplace, especially when aided with AI.

AR is being used widely by online shopping apps that focus on delivering a customized experience with attention to precision. Whether it’s furniture, watches, jewelry, eye gear or sportswear – companies are banking on AR to ensure customers get an in-store experience from the comfort of their homes. These trends boomed during the pandemic and have endured in its wake. Social media is yet another platform that is heavily using the magic of AR through filters, face recognition and other personal data.

 

AR/VR in education

 

The AR-VR-AI combination has become standard on Edtech platforms over the past few years. Even classroom-based learning is being transformed.

 

Immersive learning experiences

 

Technology is being used to boost engagement, understanding and information retention in students across age groups. Audio-visual aids are highly conducive to learners and interacting with the learning material helps create a truly immersive learning experience. VR can help recreate historical places and events with life-like simulations. History becomes interactive and the experience more human.

 

 

Educational field trips

 

Geography lessons, too, become personalized and accessible. From a trip to the Arctic to taking a walk on the moon – the Google Expeditions app allows its users to experience it all. Field trips across the arts, science, history and nature can be experienced at a moment’s notice.

 

 

Hands-on learning

 

Medical education is fast transforming with the AR/VR combination. Whether it’s the human anatomy or a frog’s, immersive experiences are helping students learn better and practice in a safe, controlled environment.

 

 

Training at the workplace

 

Simulating real-life situations can help prevent dangers while training but allow personnel to train and practice. An Australian company has developed modules to train firefighters, which are being used by multiple countries across the globe.

 

 

Life-long learning

 

As our outlook toward learning changes, Edtech platforms are making the most of the opportunity to deliver learning in the most innovative ways, backed by scientific data to maximize learning. This trend will progressively grow.

 

What is the Metaverse and how is it relevant?

 

As the role of AR/VR expands into our everyday lives, concepts like the Metaverse are making an appearance. The term Metaverse defies a definition at this point. While it has been referred to multiple times in various important discussions regarding emerging technologies, Metaverse can be vaguely defined as a completely virtual world that includes the use of multiple technologies. It has a life of its own, a digital economy, digital personas, digital marketplace etc. that operate across virtual platforms.

 

While AR/VR are major technologies in the Metaverse, the concept of the metaverse is filled with unanswered questions. Videos and demonstrations of the Metaverse look fantastical than real and it will be a long time before major global players and stakeholders in the market can arrive at an accepted version.

 

Accessibility options in AR/VR – is it viable?

 

Whether it is the Metaverse, or real-life applications already being used, it is difficult to challenge the fact that digital technologies have made the world more accessible to us. However, the important question is – how inclusive is this accessibility? Both AR and VR promote visual experiences heavily and the technology seems impractical for people with visual impairments. Similarly, with experiences that include wearing AR/VR gear and moving around a room seem irrelevant for people with restricted mobility. AR/VR are assistive technologies that rely on evoking empathy in the user with the help of strong audio-visual experiences. With critical senses disabled, the technology seems limiting and not viable for a diverse and inclusive audience.

 

Navigating the diversity and inclusion gap

 

However, global players are making rapid progress on this front. Rather than relying on visual experiences primarily, companies are augmenting their applications to adapt to a more inclusive audience.

 

 

  • Prototypes of navigation apps are being customized to provide feedback to the users who have vision impairment through the vibration of the walking cane, as audio cues help describe the route to the journey.
  • AR/VR technology is being used for pain and stress management. It could also be used for blind or low-vision users to experience a fun exercise session as they are taken on an immersive tour of a preferred location.
  • Video game giants are upgrading their products to cater to more inclusive audiences. Complete audio commentary, social chats, sign language, etc. are being introduced to create engagement in differently abled gamers.

 

As the awareness about diversity and inclusion grows, various means are being employed to increase the reach of services and products. Along with governments and standards-setting bodies defining the law, several companies are conducting surveys as part of their research and development program to create more accessible devices. Some key points that can be used as best practices to ensure inclusion in AR/VR experience include having:

 

 

  • Accessible system controls by including sensors, customized configuration, navigation menus etc.
  • Input and interaction controls and recognition that respond to voice, motion, eyes, sensors and operation interface, or sync to mobile apps
  • Flexible modes of operation that allow users to customize based on personal preferences

 

Future of accessibility in AR/VR

 

Accessible design is fast becoming the legal standard across technologies. To ensure a product/service is accessible to all, accessibility needs to be factored in at the design stage of the development cycle. As AR/VR aided devices find increased adoption, the market looks at significant and fast-paced changes over the next few years. The AR/VR market leaders need to address personal data security, ethics, and other factors. Still, with the advantages outweighing the challenges, AR/VR promises a bright future ahead.

Integra is a trusted partner in content, immersive technology and accessibility services for many leading organizations worldwide. With a focus on providing end-to-end solutions for digital content, learning services, and content workflows, we help our customers realize transformational business value.

Role of color psychology in accessibility

Posted on by aashish-dev

Improve accessibility with the use of colors and contrasts

Think again if you think accessibility is just about wheelchair ramps and disability claims. Accessibility is about good design for each one of us. Most of us feel awkward using our phones in ways others might find strange – like holding it farther from the eye.

Inclusive design ensures that products and services are designed to be accessible to a range of people regardless of their age, gender, ability, ethnicity, and more. It puts people under the spotlight in the design process. From the design perspective, it is not a limitation. But an opportunity to reach out to the maximum audience with ubiquitous ease of use.

Inclusive design is an inherent aspect of all good design. It should be a crucial part of the process, not a bolt-on at the end. That’s why color plays a vital role right at the beginning of the process.

The psychology of color and its impact on design

All of us have favorite colors. We like to paint our homes in a specific shade too. It is because these colors evoke unique emotions in us. And when it comes to accessibility, choosing a color goes beyond the reason one simply likes it. The choice of color can impact visual aesthetics and stimulate emotions that can influence the viewer in a particular way.

An experiment by Hubspot[The Button Color A/B Test] proves just that. The team made an exciting discovery while A/B-testing green and red button colors for conversion rate. The expectation was that green would perform better, thanks to traffic lights. But surprisingly, red outperformed green by 21%. They concluded that it could probably be because red is a more attention-seeking color.

How can color address the challenges of different audiences

Empathy is a vital aspect of the inclusive Design system. Designers need to think of the limitations and motivations that inspire and influence all types of humans. The prime intention of an inclusive design system is to consider diversity and address it with suitable solutions.

When designing for a color-blind audience, blue seems to be a good choice. Red and green are the most affected by color-vision deficiency, while nearly everyone can see blue.[Reading is the primary activity of the Web] To say it more definitely, almost everyone can differentiate blue as a different shade from others.

Similarly, people on the autism spectrum have a wide range of conditions. Many of them can face difficulties with cognition when using the web. That’s why navigation and layout should be consistent across the entire site. Performing similar actions on similar user interface elements should produce similar results. They may also have contrast sensitivity [Sensory challenges for autistic pupils], so using suitable color contrast is advisable.

While different people have different abilities and limitations, at their intersection is inclusive design. It connects diverse people in similar circumstances. For instance, situational and ability-based impairments have similar user needs. Take the example of having a larger font size. Usually, it is intended for people with visual impairment or senior citizens with reading limitations. But it can also greatly serve a person in a moving car with a lesser attention span. Designers may start with one set of people in mind and eventually benefit a larger population.

The magic of color contrast

In digital media, finding shades that offer sufficient contrast between text and background can help boost accessibility – especially for people with low vision impairments and color deficiencies. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)[Intent of this Success Criterion] has put forward strategies, standards, resources to make the Web accessible to people with disabilities. It has suggested a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 as the minimum Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG)[4] 2 standard for regular-sized text.

W3C further elaborates that the highest attainable grade for accessibility is AAA, which requires a 7:1 contrast ratio. But since it may not be feasible to reach AAA level across sites, the goal is to achieve the highest level in crucial spaces like headlines, action buttons, and a few others.

How greys can help in contrast

In accessibility, the brighter shades are made more visible with subtle shades. The colors white, black, and grey are well-perceived by most people with functional vision. Designers can pair these colors in foreground/background combinations of confusable colors.

Choosing bright colors

 When it comes to maximum accessibility, colors and contrast are not the only aspects. The color’s brightness, luminance, or intensity plays a vital role. The colors have to be bright enough compared to the adjacent colors to be apparent and easy to understand.

Utilizing colors smartly to maximize accessibility

Text is the core of a web page. But typography, icons, buttons can impact accessibility in a big way. A few examples are underlining links on hover or marking required fields with an asterisk. A combination of typography and image also adds to ease of use. Some familiar examples are the word “Next” paired with a right-pointing arrow or the word “Home” with an outline of a house. In the right colors and contrast, this intelligent blend of visual and text goes a long way in maximizing accessibility.

Enabling enhanced user experience with personalization

Web accessibility is not about placing users in a funnel and pushing them down one path. It is about creating an uninhibited digital ambiance to create a user journey effortlessly. Personalization enables users to customize their own experience with minimal work.

Personalization can hide extraneous information for people who are distracted by lots of information and find it difficult to focus on crucial details. Thus, they only get to see the content they wish to perceive.

Personalization allows users to change numerical information into visual cues for people who have difficulty understanding numbers. For example, a temperature of 32°F/0°C can be conveyed as a person with a hat, scarf, and mittens, and the text ‘very cold’.

Future of web and mobile accessibility

The future is likely to see the web more accessible for diverse people, going beyond just disabilities. Universal design or ‘design for all’ [Present and future of web content accessibility] will emerge as a working philosophy for creating web pages. It may also automatically lead to an adjustment of web environments to match user characteristics like impairment or age. Technology is also likely to develop to adapt the web to the user’s environment like low light or mobile device viewing. Together, it will make the world wide web accessible in every way.

Improving Math Performance Through Game-based Learning

Posted on by aashish-dev

Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms; it is about understanding. –William Paul Thurston

A conversation between a child and a parent is always fun and engaging, until it hits the roadblock called “math.” The heart starts pounding faster, and careless mistakes start happening. In other words, math anxiety or phobia takes over. Math anxiety is defined as a feeling of apprehension that interferes with performance in math, the manipulation of numbers, and the solving of mathematical problems in a variety of ordinary life and academic situations. While math anxiety is often born in growing years in siloed classrooms, its impact spills over and lasts longer in one’s life than one can imagine.

Math anxiety and the exam of life

A vast percentage of Americans indicate that they experience some level of math anxiety. Children with math anxiety find it challenging to learn new math concepts. This impact is not just limited to their scores in exams but extends to basic math concepts in daily life situations. Struck by math anxiety, children’s problem-solving capabilities remain underdeveloped. This often shuts their minds off to anything that’s even remotely connected to math. This can potentially lead to cumulative gaps in math proficiency over time and impact their career choices as well.

A study published in the International Journal of Education, Psychology and Counseling states that “There is a significant relationship between mathematics anxiety and the course and career choice of Grade-11 students.” So, when it comes to chasing a successful career or enjoying a job, confidence in math can help.

When the LHS of math doesn’t equal to RHS of confidence

Having butterflies in the stomach in a math class is a common feeling among school-going children. But when these shivers spread to other aspects of life and impact the confidence of a child, it becomes a cause of concern. People who have had consistent math anxiety while growing up can find it difficult to manage their financial lives. However, the student who is more comfortable in math goes on to take more prudent financial decisions.

The exponential impact of math anxiety on life skills

Not feeling confident about the challenges of math can also lead to avoidance of challenges in everyday life. Lack of critical thinking, analytical skills, and low levels of self-esteem are also common among people with math anxiety. Conversely, when children feel confident about math, they are more likely to shine in various avenues of life as adults.

Subtract anxiety, add confidence

The answer to math anxiety is not as difficult as it seems. It is converting the negatives into positives, just like math! For instance, the numbers that scare a person can be conversely used to build confidence. However, it’s not possible to turn this around without the encouragement from teachers and parents.

Teachers: Inspired learning in the classroom

Teachers play a vital role in engaging the students in class and making the curriculum, even math, interesting. Researchers believe that math-anxious teachers and their teaching strategies have the potential to shape students’ math achievement. They need to be aware of the students’ learning journeys and must create a conducive environment for them. By turning math problems into fun games, teachers can help reduce the anxieties of students.

Parents: Shared discoveries at home

Children see. Children do. This is true even for math. As parents exhibit greater confidence in their own abilities in math, the more confident the children can be. In fact, parents can even discuss their own fears and draw out strategies to help children gain confidence.

Derive a solution with tech

The perfect solution to overcoming math anxiety is understanding it thoroughly and then practicing it regularly. One great way to do it is by tapping into the power of one big obsession of children these days – gaming. This approach takes something children love and fuses it with another that they are scared of and create a unique experience – game-based learning.

What makes game-based learning different from gaming?

Games and game-based learning are often used interchangeably, though incorrectly. Games are merely digital interactions that are fun and rewarding. They engage children but are not aimed at enhancing their knowledge or skills. On the other hand, when a game theory is applied in learning, it helps children boost their knowledge and achieve a certain goal. Thus, educational games are highly recommended by experts to let students understand and practice the basics of math.

With the aid of advanced technologies, children can learn math in an attractive and motivating way. While peer pressure can make them feel inferior, educational games let them do their best in a non-judgmental environment, without the fear of being judged. Game-led learning gives children an open canvas and doesn’t need a supervising pair of eyes.

Gamification can count on a number of technologies

From AR and VR to artificial intelligence and beyond, technologies are reinventing the future of digital game-based learning across ages. AI is not limited to science fiction any longer. It is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives, from self-driving cars to math classrooms. Driven by AI, educational games create a compelling experience that students keep coming back to. It ushers them into a world away from the typical classroom setting and helps them learn math in ways they least expect to.

With the world becoming smaller, our learning devices are also fitting into the compact space of a mobile phone. As 5G promises a breakthrough with enhanced experiences, mobile gaming is likely to attract more people into gaming. And if gaming offers the double benefit of learning, it’s high up on the list of students and parents as well.

Up your game with a strategy

While digital games and apps can be educational and fun for most of the students, what makes them more engaging is to find a game that matches the interests, maturity, and needs of the student.

Game-based math learning boosts students’ ability to reason, understand underlying concepts, and find solutions to complex math problems. Educational games motivate students to find creative solutions and drive them to accelerate their learning, having fun all the while.

In reality, educational games just help the students understand math concepts and remember them for a long time. The discussion students have with each other to create a long-lasting learning effect adds to the confidence. Together, it makes the student feel equal to their peers and empowered.

The equation of games and math

While many institutions strive to get students interested in math, gaming offers an engaging solution. Making the right moves in a game can take a student high up on the math charts.

  • Choosing game-based learning encourages strategic mathematical thinking. Students find innovative strategies to solve problems and strengthen their understanding of numbers.
  • Repeatedly playing math-related games can help develop computational fluency. Digital games present irresistible opportunities for practicing math with a touch of fun.
  • Game-led learning can help students to develop familiarity with the number system. Students can master their computational skills to build a deeper understanding of concepts and improve math performance.
  • Games support a school-to-home connection. Going beyond school hours and reliance on teachers, parents can also aid schools in math. They can enhance children’s mathematical thinking and improve performance by playing educational games with them at home.

On one hand, while game-based math learning plays a great role in relieving anxiety, they also increase screen time for strained little eyes. But these games in essence also serve as brain teasers. The time spent learning through playing math games enriches a student’s life manifold.

Interest balances the math anxiety

Children love to play. Some like outdoors while some are hooked on to board games. With technology, another group of children is emerging – the ones who love to play digital games. Every time they get in the chaos of homework and assignments, playing educational games brings them back to learning in a fun way. Since they are engaged in an activity they love to and are challenged by, they enjoy every part of this learning journey. Sans any fear of failure, children can up their score of strategic thinking, problem-solving, and fluency in math – without even realizing the pressure.

Every problem has a unique solution. Every student is different, and so should the choice of educational games be. In a learning context, here’s how a learning-focused game can help find the right balance of interest while minimizing any ill effects.

  • What’s the age and maturity? Children aren’t always as mature as their age in years. It’s important to choose a game that is right for a child’s mental maturity. A game with a shooting sequence for a 7-year old is as misfit as a game with cute cartoons for a 12-year-old.
  • What are their skills? When it comes to gaming, the overall interests of a child also play an important part. Children who are not inclined to reading books are more likely to prefer games with lesser text. Knowing a child’s strengths and challenges can help make a smarter choice in educational games.
  • What’s the pace? Some children learn faster, while some others are a bit slow in their grasping speed. Today, educational games can be personalized to match each child’s learning path. This ensures that every child can gain meaningfully with every move they make in the games. They are not compared to anyone faster or slower than them.

Moving on from school grades to life goals

Today, numerous mission-based, multi-level games are designed like complex math problems. This solution is based on the children’s capabilities to think on their feet and strategize in a fast-paced fantasy environment. This translates into a real-world environment and empowers children to act faster and better. Therefore, it pays to gamify the math learning journey and beat math anxiety.

 

At Integra, we help education and learning services providers experiment and innovate within their space by providing the much-needed bandwidth through our digital content development, and XR in learning solutions (AR/VR/MR/360°videos). Our team of experts can help you design innovative and impactful learning interventions for your learners. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you with this transformation!

The Future of Education: Online Learning

Posted on by aashish-dev

Online learning is not a new concept. The idea has been around for decades. The advent of online courses was experimented with as early as 1998 by universities such as MIT, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Oxford. While these experiments were initially popular among students in their 20s, they didn’t find widespread adoption for many reasons. Online education was largely ignored in the early 2000s, with educators and policy-makers being slow to adopt technology that could amplify learning outcomes.

The education delivery model had remained unchanged for close to a century and was not open to disruptive innovation. Education was traditionally delivered in an enclosed system due to its physical-only nature. The personal computer and internet changed many industries. Education was one domain that had not utilized the advancement in the technology landscape to its benefit for a very long time. Educators were too slow to adopt technology in education delivery.

Flipped classroom and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

One of the early innovations in education delivery happened in the form of the “flipped classroom” concept. Alison King, then associate professor of education in the College of Education at California State University, first seeded this concept in her 1993 publication, “From Sage on the Stage to Guide on the Side.” Eric Mazur, a physicist and educator at Harvard University, gave structure to the practice in his 1997 publication titled “Peer Instruction: A User’s Manual.”

In the flipped classroom, teachers would prepare lectures to be played in a scheduled time (usually at home) and provide students with more hands-on learning activities during class. The innovation was revolutionary because it provided learners with greater mobility without compromising the quality of teaching. Learning media like audio and video found widespread adoption.

Flipped classrooms likely lead to the next innovation in education delivery: massive open online courses (MOOCs). MOOCs are a modern manifestation of distance learning. Students can enroll via video lectures without instructor interaction or personal instruction, leaning instead on social networks for advice and feedback.

More importantly, this model does not require learners to be present, which is an invaluable innovation that has been historically inaccessible due to cost constraints. Suddenly education became more affordable and accessible to a broader group of people than ever before who could never afford such an opportunity just 20 years ago! The future looks promising.

Education Technology

The advancement in technology and handheld devices was central to quite a disruption across industries. The education domain suddenly was buzzing with several online tools and mobile apps that were available to support early learners. In many cases, these tools were specifically designed in response to the needs identified by educators who work closely with teachers, students, and parents alike. Education Technology suddenly became a high-growth domain. Here are just some examples:

  • Khan Academy is an online learning platform that offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and lessons for math, science, economics, history, art history, or computer programming for kids ages six years old up through high school juniors.
  • ABC Mouse develops educational games which are available on Apple’s iTunes App Store so children can learn about reading phonics skills, letter sounds, vocabulary story, etc.
  • Duolingo offers free language learning whether it is Spanish, French or German, and is the most downloaded language learning app
  • Codeacademy teaches individuals to code through interactive programming lessons.

The future of education: 2021 and beyond

The pandemic brought a global standstill. Millions of students worldwide suddenly found themselves stranded. The world witnessed a problem never seen before. The Education Technology landscape, which was struggling to find a foot less than a decade ago became the lifeline for the education domain.

A new era in the education domain has begun which is slowly but surely changing how we think about learning and transforming every aspect of our lives to make way for a better future ahead. Online education delivery is the next frontier for education. This model provides greater access to students worldwide and offers a wider variety of subjects that would not be available otherwise. The best of what we have come to experience through flipped classrooms to MOOCs will provide a future full of innovative possibilities.

Technologies like augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality have great potential to create an entirely new way of learning experience.

Innovation is necessary for survival

The future of education holds much potential to transform the way we learn. Many students now see online education as a viable alternative for obtaining an affordable, high-quality degree from elite universities like Stanford University, Harvard University, and many around the globe. With the industries more open to recruiting capable candidates who have taken to skill themselves through alternate education models, there’s more to look forward to in the future. If anything, the current circumstances have taught us that innovation is necessary for humankind’s survival.

The teaching-learning process has come a long way, and so must our understanding and awareness of the latest trends in online delivery methods. The possibilities for what we can expect from this new frontier are endless.

Integra offers content development, online learning solutions, assessments development and learning modernization solutions to Higher Education Publishers, Edtech organizations, and, Colleges and Universities. Our team of experts can help you design impactful courseware tailored to meet specific learning needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you with this transformation!

The Future of Remote Learning in Higher Education

Posted on by aashish-dev

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing many changes to how we live and work, and this crisis could be the catalyst for a significant shift in how we educate our children. But what does remote learning mean for higher education? With today’s technology, is it possible for someone living in New York City to take an online class from Stanford University professors without ever setting foot on campus? How will higher education survive if colleges become completely accessible through laptop screens? Will this crisis-driven experiment with remote learning be successful in the long run? What will our higher educational system look like in, say, next 10 years?

 

 

Origins of online learning

 

Slide projectors and television-based classes date back to the 1950s, but one of the first instances of online learning can be traced back to the 1960 at University of Illinois, USA. The University of Toronto offered their first completely online course in 1984. The University of Phoenix became the first university to offer online degrees in 1989. In the early 1990s, The Open University in the UK was one of the first universities in the world to begin online distance learning.

 

In late 2011, Stanford University offered three Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) as a small experiment to test scale and accessibility. Each of these courses attracted more than 100,000 registrants. In a few months, the world saw several MOOC platforms appear one after the other, for example, Udacity, Coursera, edX. Year 2011 saw the beginning of a revolution. At the time, few could have predicted its magnitude, but it began by making education much more accessible and within reach. MOOCs have grown in popularity with participation from many major universities and prominent professors from various disciplines.

 

An exciting time for higher education began because students worldwide can now find educational opportunities where they would not otherwise be able to do so, including those with physical disabilities, developmentally delayed learners, and people living in remote areas without access.

 

Role of EdTech in remote learning

A pandemic has forced us to consider experimenting with new ways of learning. The broad field of EdTech is a catchall term not only for hardware and software programs used in remote learning, distance learning, and online education but also for theories on effective teaching methods for acquiring new knowledge.

 

The advancement in computing technology and mobile devices has become central to creativity across the world of education. Computers are now a standard feature for most classrooms, yet teachers find new ways every day to make them work with their teaching methods. The use of tablets is also on the rise; they’re an easy way for students to keep up when there’s no room at home or school!

 

Student success in online learning in higher education is no longer just a dream, but with the right tools, it’s also becoming possible and practical than ever before. Students can now engage in interactive and immersive learning environments to encourage curiosity and develop their problem-solving skills. Interactive digital content allows for flexible delivery options, tailored assessments, and more authentic experiences in today’s digital classrooms.

 

Challenges in online learning in higher education

While the brighter side of remote learning is very encouraging, the digital equity gap is a growing concern in higher education. Remote learning is a great way to reach students who might not otherwise pursue education, but it still has its own set of challenges.

 

Remote learning may be an effective solution for some populations who have the resources to make higher education work for them. There is still a significant portion of the global student population without access to a computer at home or in their schools and/or lack of seamless internet connectivity.

 

Another challenge with remote learning that is around the corner is that despite the progress made by institutions over the past year, many traditional campus services are too expensive for digital learners (such as housing and meal plans) when in-person instructions restart. This situation leaves them without access to what they need most: connection with peers on their campuses. These difficulties make it more difficult for these individuals to stay engaged digitally, ultimately leading to disengagement from school!

 

Innovative possibilities in higher eduction

Remote learning has been called an “innovative response” by higher education institutions at the outset of the pandemic. It allowed them to maintain academic operations when campuses were closed due to health concerns. To meet these needs, institutions must consider how they will enable and foster “creativity” among remote learners from every background so that they too can succeed academically. Educational inequality must also be addressed through learning innovations like bridging initiatives where students work collaboratively.

 

The future of higher education was never more complex or promising. While we continue to grapple with some challenging issues like student success rates and retention, it should not discourage us from continuing on our path forward into a bright new era for education innovation. The challenge before us now is how to make college accessible for all students—the silver lining? By working together, we will find solutions that address these concerns head-on!

 

There are many different possibilities out there already:

  • partnerships between colleges and universities close to students who share resources that can provide opportunities to meet with peers enrolled in other institutions
  • there could be an industry-academia partnership with off-campus labs or learning spaces that can support students who lack access to reliable bandwidth or computers
  • microlearning strategies, a trending instructional approach in the corporate eLearning domain, in higher education content delivery that can lead to a ‘flipped digital classroom’ wherein learning content is consumed asynchronously while live sessions promote active learning through discussions
  • use of emerging content technologies like augmented reality to enhance learning engagement and offer profound immersive learning experiences
  • touch devices with applications using digital inks will provide the needed human touch through a digital medium that promotes live collaboration between teachers to students and peer-to-peer problem solving

 

 

The future of online learning in higher education looks bright

We have an opportunity in front of us that has the potential of including millions of young people. It is possible to create impactful remote or hybrid learning opportunities for millions of young people worldwide.

 

Innovation is driving new and creative ideas for higher education. There are many ways we can use innovation to create impactful student outcomes, such as using more recent technologies like MOOCs or mixed reality classrooms within the context of mainstream education delivery.

 

What does this mean? Higher education leaders need to explore innovation with all options on the table. They should consider incorporating disruptive possibilities into their long-term strategies to stay relevant and engaged with students who want more than what traditional models offer them today.

The benefits of XML-First workflow in Digital Publishing

Posted on by aashish-dev

Picture this: A publishing house receives manuscripts as word files from authors, editors, subject matter experts, and other contributors. They are then typeset on InDesign to make interactive PDFs as end-deliverables.

 

What does such a process flow typically indicate?

A print-first production that is prolonged and less dynamic in nature. In this context, what can a markup language do? Provide a streamlined approach that considers several aspects of the publishing process in the digital environment.

 

XML markup is not new. The first version (1.0) existed in 1998 and was developed by the SGML Editorial Review Board. At that point in time, the primary deal was to enable Internet usability, along with compatibility, stability, and formation. XML describes content in structural terms and uses semantic tags to communicate structural definitions. With time, the relevance of maintaining file stability and adaptability to various output formats became crucial. And that’s also when digital took the world by storm.

 

A quick peek into the digital publishing setup today and one of the oft-heard terms that holds significant ground is the XML-first approach. It’s commonplace. It’s that one comprehensive approach that digital publishers fall back on to produce any form of content in digital formats. So much so that XML-first is the new normal for publishing and is characterized by a size and layout-agnostic principle. Documents are turned into pure information, ready to be displayed virtually anywhere, thereby, making it consumable and reinterpretable across several media.

What is an XML-first Workflow?

In a traditional workflow, content creation and editing come first. Sometimes the entire document is converted to PDF on its way through different channels. Only at the end are XML tags added. Contrary to that, with an XML-first workflow, XML tags are inserted from the start, and documents are formulated with XML in retrospective effect from the beginning. XML severs the ties between content and layout (so, it separates content from format). Hence, content is secure, editable, and rendered convertible to multiple output formats.

 

Here’s a take on the pros that an XML-first adoption in digital publishing lends itself to.

Welcomes platform independence and interoperability!

When publishers take care of XML upfront, it simplifies the publishing process by enabling the delivery of multiple digital formats such as HTML, ePub, PDF, ePapers, eMagazines quickly. Besides, it helps repurpose content and layouts across various platforms such as InDesign and QuarkXPress.

Brings intuitiveness at its core

By implementing an XML-first workflow, we get intuitive documents that adapt themselves to any publishing medium. This in turn enables useful repurposing of content to eliminate redundancies as well. It also minimizes the need to convert one format to another every single time, thereby increasing publishing efficiency.

Makes way for collaboration

By incorporating XML tags right at the authoring stage, independent chapters can be handled by different editors/SMEs simultaneously, setting the stage for collaboration. This also paves the way for making global style changes effortlessly and designing content that is well-suited specifically for the web.

Fits the web quite naturally

Using an XML-first approach tailor makes content to make it work for the web. It helps publishers amplify their market leadership by eliminating the need to re-create content across different channels and platforms and steering publishing efficiency.

So, what does the future hold?

In the realm of digital publishing, infusing manuscripts with granular XML encoding prior to typesetting ensures an enriched, consistent product that works for the digital world. Particularly, if typesetting is managed in-house, applying an XML-first workflow helps typesetters with their work.

 

When an XML file is ingested into a typesetting application, the content styles are already established. The underlying code has organized the text into its various components, even down to the individual parts of a reference. XML-first is flexible and can be added as a new step in your workflow without overhauling the entire system. In fact, changing this one step will make the rest of the process easier even if everything else stays the same.

How custom content e-learning is transforming learning in the corporate world

Posted on by aashish-dev

The advancement in technology has played havoc on the lives of every individual, irrespective of the age, gender and race. No matter what you do, it is driven by technology. Even learning is also vastly affected by the latest technologies. The increasing numbers of people, not only find it reliable, but also think that electronic learning (e-learning) is also capable of keeping them updated with the present pace of growth. The National Educational Technology Plan developed by the US department of education has defined e-learning as the way to adjust to the growing pace as well as to keep the readers informed about the approach.

 

Personalization is quite a broader term than just individualization. E-learning offers the readers with a wide section of choices about what he want to learn, when he wants to learn and how it can be learned. Anyone and everyone can learn at their ease, if they are truly determined and focused. The learners also have the opportunity to learn in ways that suits their individual learning styles. More and more people are getting attracted to the e-learning, making it the latest trend.

A brief about Learning Management System

A Learning Management System (LMS) is actually a software application, especially designed for the administration, documentation, reporting and delivery of the electronic education technology, or the so called e-learning procedures. This software can manage the best solution as per the individual needs of the learner, which is again based on his performance. Most of the corporate training departments across the world are using LMS to deliver effective online training to their trainees. LMS is also used for the automated record keeping and employee registration. Personalization is what matters here most. The progress and the potential of each individual learner are taken into consideration, including their competencies, abilities and sensibilities. The use of LMS has increased to a great extent in order to reach a different level of cognitive excellence. Learning objective will be a lot different for each of the learner, the use of Learning Management System will further benefit the learning process.

The e-learning infrastructure

The sound infrastructure of e-learning delivers and manages the instructional content as well as identifies and assesses the individual and organizational learning or training goals, track the progress of the individual learner and presents data for supervising the learning process of the organizations. Apart from benefitting the learning process, the Learning Management System software is also known for handling registering courses, administration of the course, tracking and reporting the progress.

 

If we narrow down e-learning to its digital form also affects the personalized online experience of the individuals. Most of the education plans are focused on the approach of learning and not on the learner. It has become easy for the learner to personalize their learning needs. The important dimensions of e-learning include training workflow, the provision of on-line learning, on-line assessment, management continuous professional education (CPE) and training resource management.

Some statistics about Learning Management System

The incessant growth of the Learning Management System isn’t showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon. Increasing numbers of individuals, institutions and corporations are turning to e-learning as they recognize its effectiveness as well as convenience.

 

The global e-learning market is expected to reach $107 billion by the end of the running year, 2015. Reports are in favor of saying that global self-paced e-learning market reached $32.1 billion in terms of revenue, with a five year compound annual growth rate of approximately 9.2%, which means this e-learning industry, should generate $49.9 billion by this year.

 

Back in the year 2013, the LMS market was worth $2.55 billion in 2013. If we calculate by the compound growth rate of about 25.2%, the LMS market is expected to grow $4 billion in 2015. As per the reports, the highest contribution is expected to be generated from North America.

 

The worldwide mobile learning market is also growing exponentially, it is estimated that the mobile learning market will reach $8.7 billion by this year. Since the year 2012, the top buyers for the mobile learning products and services remains US, India, China, Japan and South Korea. The growing demands of the mobile learning services indicate towards the fact that more and more countries across the globe are equally interested in mobile learning.

 

Most of the large companies are the main buyers of the e-learning products and services. These companies make up roughly 30% of all e-learning buyers. It has become very important for the businesses to invest in e-learning procedures for the constant betterment of their employees as well as the organization. The multinational workforce is burgeoning, training them to upgrade their competencies have become important for the companies to stay ahead in the race. It is not just the multinational companies but the small and medium sized companies are also opting for e-learning. A recent report has confirmed that e-learning can eventually help companies boost their productivity by 50%. Each $1 spent in e-learning to upgrade the skills of the employees, lead to $30 of productivity.

 

The aforementioned statistics about e-learning technology is an indication towards the fact that e-learning industry is growing and it has tremendous potential. More than ever, even learners are also turning into e-learning courses online and prefer to attend the online trainings and workshop to work out their personal as well as professional goals. With e-learning, students have better control over their learning processes and can better understand the materials, which lead to a 60% faster learning curve as compared to the classroom based training.

Conclusion

Owing to the increasing demands of e-learning, every corporate are focused on the appropriate software training of their employees. This technology has not only simplified the learning and understanding procedures, but also make the learning procedures much easy and less time consuming. Technology has several contributions in making out lives easier, it has benefitted the education systems mostly across the globe within many cultures.

Are Teaching Methodologies Distinct Over Different Age Groups?

Posted on by aashish-dev

When addressing the question of whether or not there are any distinctions between teaching methodologies over different age groups, one of the first things that must be considered is the specific needs and learning styles associated with each age group. There has to be a certain level of specificity involved in any teaching modality that is to be proven efficacious. For instance, children between the ages of 0 to 5 years, offer a unique set of challenges to learning due to certain issues, such as the inability to express feelings and a short attention span. These challenges can usually be effectively engaged by using shorter teaching sequences and games that stimulate the imagination.

 

While ages 6 to 8 can be considered as transitional years, in which visual aids are still immensely prevalent as part of the learning experience, ages 9 to 12 are characterized by an intensified curiosity and an increased capacity to use deductive reasoning. This age group responds well to the “watch and do learning style,” which is a modelling concept. What is important to understand is that there seems to be a difference in methodologies among gender as well as age. It seems that men do much better in visual non-verbal instruction than women, with 48.1 percent of men having a visual non-verbal learning style in comparison only 36.2 percent of women, which may explain why men are able to look at assembly graphics and assemble products without actually reading the instructions. Females, on the other hand, tend to do equally well with visual/verbal teaching and visual non-verbal concepts, with 35 percent of women having some form of visual/verbal learning style.

 

As children move up in age, especially during their teenage years, they become more adaptable and experienced in the learning process. Additionally, they also develop an increased capacity for critical thinking. During these years, the teacher is open to a number of different models that focus on concepts in which a significant amount of gravity is placed on emphasizing the child’s strengths instead of their mistakes, which will go a long way in improving confidence and self-esteem.

 

The teen years are also the ideal time to use an approach that requires team work. The whole-part-whole approach has proven to be highly efficacious for children in this age group.

 

When it comes to adults, there are still learning challenges; however, the challenges that most adults face have little to do with the development of the capacity to learn, and it is more centred on the lack of time and distractions. Adults have the full capacity to learn, including deductive reasoning, critical thought, imagination and the mastery of learning concepts, so the key is to place them in a better learning environment that is self-paced, relevant and welcoming.

 

Do you think everyone learns the same way?

According to experts, a significant number of students don’t necessarily exhibit once distinct learning style, many will have a hybrid learning style that encompasses a number of different learning styles, which means that the student will have the capacity to respond to different teaching methodologies. What has proven the most effective over the last decade is programs that are tailored to the individual learning style of the student, which stands to reason when teaching styles are the most effective when properly matched to learning styles.