Ink to Pixel: Wattpad as a Pedagogical Tool for English Literature in India

Abstract

Digital Humanities is a burgeoning field where traditional ink converges into digital pixels. Descending from the field of computing humanities data, the scholarly activity continues to produce innovative projects. As far as digital pedagogy is considered, the 2012 edition of Debates in the Digital Humanities shed light on the state of pedagogy as a neglected stepchild of Digital Humanities. But with technological innovations, various digital pedagogical tools have emerged in the past decades. Post Covid-19 lot of digital pedagogical tools have been recognized by educators as part of teaching methodologies. In India, teaching methodologies have evolved to a significant degree from traditional teaching to digital classrooms. Lot of innovative methodologies are employed by the faculties to enhance students’ learning and performance. English Literature is one of the most sought out humanities programs offered in Indian Education Institutions. When it comes to Literature teaching, professors employ various teaching methodologies including e- teaching, where digital tools are being employed. The paper aims to establish Wattpad, a digital platform for writing and reading stories, as a pedagogical tool for English Literature in India. This digital storytelling platform provides a space for the students’ literary expression where they can read and write literary pieces and get real time feedback from users which boosts interactivity. By using this digital pedagogical tool English Literature students are encouraged to apply their literary skills by employing what they have learnt during their course to produce literary works.