Introduction to a New Way of Learning
At the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, a revolutionary approach to education is underway. Professor Anand Nandkumar is pioneering the usage of AI chatbots and virtual reality (VR) within the classroom to reinforce student engagement and learning outcomes. This revolutionary method is designed to assist students ask higher questions, think critically, and apply strategic pondering in real-world contexts.
A New Kind of Classroom Companion
In his Strategic Innovation Management course, Nandkumar introduces students to a session-specific GPT chatbot that serves as a private tutor. The chatbot is primed with relevant cases, news articles, video transcripts, and readings to assist students deepen their understanding of the material. However, the chatbot doesn’t provide answers; as an alternative, it encourages students to ask higher questions. Before each class, students receive assignments together with guided prompts for the chatbot, which they will use to interact more deeply with the fabric.
Building Critical Thinking through AI
The chatbot helps students develop integrative pondering by linking disparate sources and perspectives to form coherent insights. This skill is particularly worthwhile in the trendy workplace, where leaders must learn on the fly and navigate unfamiliar domains. To further develop critical pondering, Nandkumar introduces AI-generated case solutions, which students must analyze and critique. This exercise highlights the strengths and limitations of machine-generated reasoning and encourages students to think more deeply.
Immersive Learning through VR
While AI supports inquiry and evaluation, Nandkumar also wants students to experience business challenges firsthand. To achieve this, he has developed 4 short VR modules that function like immersive field trips. Students strap on headsets and step into complex environments, resembling Amazon’s last-mile delivery network in India or the offices of taxi unions navigating platform disruption. Each module is linked to a core strategy framework, allowing students to attach what they see to the case discussion and theoretical models.
Changing Perspectives
The VR content often shifts student opinions in real time. For example, students may initially apply standard logic about economies of scale to Airtel’s entry into Africa, but after watching a VR module that shows rural communities, infrastructure gaps, and the on a regular basis role of mobile phones, their conclusions change. They begin to see that success will not be nearly price or scale, but about local context, user behavior, and demand conditions. VR helps students see the nuance and develop a more nuanced understanding of business challenges.
Ready to Scale
Nandkumar’s use of AI and VR is not any longer a solo effort. At ISB, faculty in other departments are adopting similar tools, and the college has developed a standardized process for filming and deploying VR content across courses. ISB has also joined a worldwide network of 30 business schools collaborating on immersive learning, giving them access to a library of international VR content. This partnership allows other schools to make use of the materials developed in Hyderabad, paving the best way for a brand new era in business education.
Conclusion
Professor Anand Nandkumar’s revolutionary approach to education is revolutionizing the best way students learn on the Indian School of Business. By combining AI chatbots and VR with traditional coursework, Nandkumar helps students develop critical pondering, integrative pondering, and strategic pondering skills. As this approach gains traction across ISB and beyond, it’s prone to provide a practical model for other business schools to follow, enhancing the standard of business education and preparing students for the challenges of the true world.
