Every single aspect of human life has been influenced by technology and digitalization. Some aspects of life have been transformed more than others, but the general march towards a society made entirely of software is inevitable. Education is one critical area where technology has had little widespread impact. Computers have been used in schools since the last century, and desktops have reached even rural communities.
But other than that and cloud-based filing systems, most schools around the world are still predominantly about pens and paper. However, the way we teach our children is evolving. The necessity of learning from home, caused by the events of the past few years, has accelerated the process. From virtual classes to the use of AR in elearning, here is some of the tech that is shaping the future of education.
Smart Devices for Learning
This is one of the technologies that is already being widely accepted in schools. Tablets are smaller and easier to handle than computers or laptops. At the same time, they offer more screen space than smartphones. They can be shared between students and are less personal items.
Their uses are many, from telecommunication to writing and recording to video playing. They can be used to store all the books needed for a class and effectively replace all the items normally found in a school bag.
Augmented Reality
The above, along with virtual learning, are two phrases which have become buzzwords in any discussion about the classroom of tomorrow. The ability to create any environment or scenario with a few devices opens the door to numerous possibilities. Augmented reality has already found use in the field of astronomy. The constellations and other celestial bodies have been rendered in detail to give students a first-hand experience.
Virtual Learning
The students can have the world brought to them and it will be displayed in real time. Lessons in biology, physics, and chemistry are being explained in detail as never before. Field trips to places far and wide can take place right in the classroom.
Smart Boards
Digital white boards are another innovation that is already commonly used. These smart boards serve dual purposes as a whiteboard for teachers to write on and also as interactive screens for all kinds of displays, video playing, and teleconferencing. Such boards will mark the next stage of the teacher’s primary tool, taking over from the projector as the projector did from the traditional whiteboard or chalkboard.
Smart Tables
Smart tables are still experimental devices, and cost is the main hindrance to the development of prototypes. A desk that has integrated functionality such as a screen, notebook, textbook, and more will be a huge advantage for students. The largest tech giants are working towards making such technology available for students to use.
Artificial Intelligence And Digital Instructors
Digital teachers have been introduced into many school systems. They work just like any other interactive programmed software for instruction. Relevant topics can be taught, and likely questions have preset answers. Artificial intelligence is still off in the distance for now, but virtual tutoring assistants have been created. They are designed to help teachers do the essential work they do.
3D Printing
Arts and crafts are the most obvious application of 3D printing, but it can actually find uses in all subjects. Engineering and architecture also benefit from advances in printing technology. Used in tandem with computer-aided design (CAD), real-life models of any school subject and topic can be made. Smaller items can even be produced to scale.
IT Will Revolutionize All Aspects of Education
The utility of technology in education extends beyond the traditional classroom. With learning management systems, the ability to create streamlined and practical teaching curriculums becomes easier. This enables the creation of functional teaching, augmented courses, and teaching guides. This is useful for easing as well as fostering interactions between teachers and students.
Technological innovations also assist children with impairments, bringing their education to a more detailed level in comparison with their peers. For teachers too, benefits abound. Grading exam papers will improve with digital assistance, making student assessment more accurate and realistic.
Teaching through games employs more immersive methods to tutor and assess students in a fun atmosphere. Engaging children through media they are more familiar with and enjoy more will make them more eager to learn.
Of course, the hands-on, physical connection of traditional teaching should not be discarded as irrelevant. Technology can only improve the formula, so that education can evolve as society does.
