The textbook publishing industry has witnessed a steady comeback after the pandemic. Publishers and authors are collaborating to produce innovative textbooks that make learning more interesting – and more digital. The new features expand on the limitations of printed books by providing AV content and detailed explanations linked to the Internet using a printed QR code on the textbook page. Complex concepts are brought to life with videos and animation.
Indian Printer & Publisher recently met with brothers Rahul and Rohit Jain of VK Global Publications, one of the country’s leading textbook publishers for schools and higher education based in Faridabad. The publishing group was founded by Rahul Jain and his father, the late Professor TR Jain, the well-known economics teacher and author.
In our conversation with Rahul and Rohit Jain, we saw their seriousness and dynamism in advancing excellence in the Indian education sector through the sheer weight of quality content and innovations in their textbooks. The group recently enhanced its school textbooks for economics, mathematics, and English with QR codes for video explanations and insight. The in–house produced videos and animations allow access to complex subject matter and ideas where printed explanations can be enhanced by connecting to audio-visual content using a printed QR code.
SHIVARTH
The SHIVARTH initiative (Simple, Holistic & Immersive, Visual & Audio Resource for Teaching & High impact learning) aimed at revolutionizing engagement and comprehension has started with textbooks for the 9th and 10th standards in subjects such as economics and mathematics. These textbooks come with QR codes on complex topics such as ‘National Income’ in economics, and calculus and trigonometry in mathematics. Taking note of difficult concepts that students may take more time to grasp, a simple scan of the QR code on the page enables an audio-visual explanation. Teachers can use these in their first explanation of the topic and for revisions.
The new textbooks work at two levels – basic and advanced. Called ‘baseline’ and ‘expert’ these address comprehension of the same topic with both explanations and questions at either the most simple or more complex levels given the specific audience of the textbook. To enhance their value as a one-stop for the course each chapter contains hints to selected questions, detailed definitions and explanations for making charts and graphs, and a summary at the end. How not to apply a formula is indicated as well, as are questions that are likely to appear in particular competitive exams.
Rohit Jain said that since the lockdowns and learn-from-home experience of the pandemic, students are more reluctant to open books as much of the content is available on YouTube. “The hybrid approach of our books aims to make learning more engaging. Times have changed and while online content is good for a simplified explanation it could affect the technical and critical thinking of the students. Textbooks are still the key to quality education and thinking.” He says students have grown accustomed to ‘smart work’ instead of hard work and that’s to be expected when everything is available in a single click.
American author and futurist Robert Anton writes, “Belief is the death of intelligence,” implying that when a student uncritically believes a clip on the internet, he won’t question its authenticity or source. The idea of the connected hybrid textbooks is to arouse the curiosity of the student and to engage her in the act of finding out for herself.
Since 1979, VK Global has published some of the most widely used economics and commerce textbooks at the school, college, and university levels in the country with more than 3,000 titles of its own. As it explores new concepts in learning and comprehension, the group is intensifying its investment in creating engaging content that is easily comprehended and well understood even for complex subjects. The group sees education not just as a social responsibility but as one of the best opportunities in a growing democracy.
