The Indian education system is currently undergoing a profound transformation, and recent technological improvements in textbooks are key to this. As digital technologies become more integrated into the classroom, traditional textbooks are evolving to meet the needs of modern students.
One of the most significant innovations is the integration of QR codes, which allow students to access additional digital content with a simple scan.
In addition, features such as augmented reality, adaptive learning and gamification are integrated to make textbooks even more immersive and personal.
In January, the Indian government directed schools and colleges to provide digital teaching materials in Indian languages for all courses within the next three years.
Various digital education initiatives such as ePathshala, DIKSHA and PMeVidya have been implemented to make educational resources available through multiple digital platforms.
These changes, driven by the integration of digital technologies, the proliferation of free online educational resources and policy changes such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, are reshaping the educational landscape in India and providing students with a more dynamic, accessible, engaging and personalized learning experience.
For publishers, this development brings both challenges and opportunities as they have to adapt to a rapidly digitalizing world.
In conversation with Indiatoday.in Sachin Tripathy, Senior Manager, Marketing at S Chand Publishing Limitedprovided insights into how these developments are reshaping the industry.
QR CODES IN TEXTBOOKS
One of the most notable changes in Indian textbooks is the integration of QR codes. This process was initiated by the government in 2018 and is part of a broader digital infrastructure called DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing), which provides technology-based solutions for teachers and students and promotes a blended learning approach.
This initiative, part of the broader Energized Textbooks programme, aimed to bring to market around 200 million textbooks with embedded QR codes linked to digital content by 2019-2020.
The QR codes link to a variety of teaching materials, including video lessons, solved question papers and additional information on specific topics. This enriches the traditional textbook experience and allows students to explore topics in more depth and at their own pace.
Sachin Tripathy highlights the progress in this area: “At S Chand, we have successfully integrated QR codes into about 60% of our K-12 textbooks, exceeding our original projections. Industry-wide, we estimate that about 50% of textbooks currently contain QR codes.”
The process of integrating QR codes involves several steps that need to be carefully planned and implemented: curating digital content for each section, creating and testing QR codes, placing them in the textbook layout, ensuring a robust backend infrastructure to handle increased digital traffic, and training writers and editorial teams to effectively integrate print and digital content, explains Tripathy.
“We have found that this combined approach has significantly increased student engagement. Our internal surveys have shown that the use of supplementary digital materials increases by 40% when accessed via QR codes,” Tripathy notes.
Meghalaya announced in July that it would include QR codes in textbooks, and other states are likely to follow suit soon. The initiative is set to expand further, and there are plans to include QR codes in textbooks of different grades and subjects.
IMPACT OF FREE DIGITAL CONTENT
The rise of free e-books and educational videos on platforms like YouTube has had a profound impact on the publishing industry.
“Our data shows that sales of traditional textbooks have declined by about 20 to 25 percent over the past five years. This trend has accelerated dramatically during the pandemic,” says Sachin Tripathy.
In 2020-21, sales of traditional textbooks fell by 30-35% as schools and colleges switched to online learning.
Textbooks increasingly contain interactive elements such as animations, simulations and videos to make learning more exciting and immersive. These interactive features are often accessible via QR codes or integrated directly into the e-book versions.
Textbooks include gamification elements such as quizzes, puzzles, and contests to reinforce concepts through interactive and competitive activities.
Some textbooks are experimenting with augmented reality (AR) technology, which allows students to use a mobile app to scan specific pages or images to display 3D models or interactive content related to the topic.
Many textbooks can now be accessed via cloud-based platforms, allowing students to access their learning materials from any internet-enabled device.
“To adapt to this changed post-COVID-19 landscape, we are focused on developing blended learning solutions that combine print and digital resources, which have shown a 25% higher adoption rate compared to print-only offerings,” says Tripathy.
The company also develops interactive e-books and learning management systems on platforms like Test Coach. Partnerships with edtech companies have helped S Chand’s digital content library grow by 30% in the last two years.
Additionally, investing in data analytics helps them understand students’ learning patterns and adapt content accordingly.
IMPACT OF THE NEP 2020
The NEP 2020 is another catalyst for change in the publishing industry. “One of the key impacts is an increased demand for multilingual content, with a 25% increase in requests for textbooks in regional languages, particularly in Hindi, Tamil and Bengali,” explains Tripathy.
Besides, there is greater emphasis on competency and experience-based learning materials, which has led to a 40 per cent increase in the development of activity-based learning resources. The focus on a modern curriculum has led to a 50 per cent increase in NEP 2020-based books, he says.
Integrating Indian knowledge systems into textbooks requires extensive research and collaboration with subject matter experts. This is in line with the objective of NEP 2020 to promote a holistic and inclusive education system.
CURRICULUM AND TEXTBOOK UPDATE PROCESS
Updating curriculum-based textbooks is a comprehensive process that usually takes six to twelve months. It begins with the announcement of curriculum changes by educational authorities such as CBSE, ICSE and UGC.
Subsequently, expert committees with eight to ten members per subject are formed and new drafts of content are developed, which are then subjected to several rounds of review.
“The selection of authors and the development of the manuscript for a single textbook can take three to six months,” says Sachin Tripathy. At least two to three external reviewers are involved in peer review and editing for each book. The design and production phase, including layout, illustrations and printing, takes about a month.
Throughout the process, close communication with educational bodies, subject experts and teachers ensures adaptation to the latest pedagogical approaches and educational standards.
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Recent changes in the Indian textbook sector, driven by digital inclusion, free online content and policy reforms, are transforming the publishing industry, bringing with it both challenges and opportunities.
As the industry adapts to these changes, the focus remains on increasing student engagement, offering blended learning solutions and meeting the evolving needs of the education landscape.
