The educational landscape has altered dramatically with more excellent connectivity and technology that promotes outside-the-box thinking and innovation. Virtual courses, innovative technology in schools, and internet access for students and parents are all being implemented in classrooms at all levels to meet this “new normal.”
Educators are embracing the symbiotic relationship that exists between technology and education. According to a recent Gallup poll, over 81 percent of instructors believe that employing digital learning tools in the classroom is beneficial. Furthermore, 57% say that digital learning tools are more successful for personalizing education, with a vast majority believing that they are more effective for engaging pupils with school and learning. Moreover, nearly 90% of children who have grown up with technology use digital tools at school twice every week.
However, educational technology (EdTech) has achieved the most significant advances in this age of social isolation and home learning. As a result, we should expect substantial opportunities in various sectors and obstacles that must be addressed.
Inequality of Access
One of the most significant impediments to widespread EdTech adoption is the unavailability of high-speed internet and hardware (e.g., laptops or tablets) in many underprivileged locations. Given the rising reliance on technology in and out of the classroom, this is an obstacle that has to be tackled from all sectors, including federal, state, and local governments and private sector investment.
By which, according to CNBC, has abolished its remote learning application fee for students to help “children in rural regions with low access to high-quality instruction,” is one company that has scaled technology to be more accessible. “Subscription service offers short video content on basic elementary and secondary school curriculum,” according to the company’s learning app.
Personalized Learning Training for Educators
Not only must school districts plan to incorporate new technology, but they must also guarantee that teachers are adequately prepared to use EdTech and handle issues in the classroom or online.
Educators can also explore approaches to cater to pupils at various stages of learning growth strategically. Devices, programs, and software are continually being developed to provide better technology to everyone, allowing for inclusive learning and leveling the playing field for those previously left behind. Virtual reality, for example, has been shown to have a good impact on dealing with students on the autistic spectrum, according to EdTech Magazine, by delivering “lifelike simulations that allow students to repeat activities numerous times before applying their learning in the real world.” And when it comes to virtual reality, this is just the beginning.
Virtual Reality (VR) is a type of virtual.
As virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) become more generally available, schools are expected to boost their curricula by incorporating new technology into the classroom. Students’ creativity has already been stimulated by VR integration and their ability to remember information and encourage their involvement in the course.
Lenovo is developing virtual reality (VR) technology capabilities to enable teachers and administrators to seamlessly integrate VR into their curriculum, resulting in more meaningful outcomes. A virtual reality field trip, for example, can transport students to exotic areas such as the Amazon rainforest, where they can study ecology, zoology, biology, and much more. Teachers can provide immersive experiences that would be impossible to replicate in real life with over 1,000 virtual field trips to pick from.
Higher Education Has a New Structure
Many universities are fully embracing technology rather than just leaning into it. The Sandbox ColLABorative, an arm of Southern New Hampshire University that lets students explore new ideas to affect the future of college education, was featured in The New York Times’ learning special report. Due to this collaboration, university students have been able to test theories about learning languages using virtual reality or including AI teaching aids. The present college-age generation, which was born with technology at its fingertips, will have the capacity to transform secondary education as we know it shortly.
During Covid-19, there will be online training.
Demand for technology facilitating online learning has risen as schools, colleges, educational centers, and training institutions worldwide have closed in-person operations.
However, digital learning is not just used in classrooms. Virtual training is being used by a wide range of businesses for both convenience and necessity. Health-care firms, for example, are training their employees in contact tracing, and manufacturers are developing online apprenticeships that provide distance-learning skills sessions with virtual reality capabilities.
As we continue to figure out what life will be like beyond Covid-19, it’s vital to note that more online training options are becoming available.
For educators and students from pre-K to Ph.D., the future of technology in education is exciting and decisive. We in the digital industry have a critical responsibility to play in innovating and pushing the envelope, and ensuring that all communities and people share the fantastic momentum of this time.
The concept that when everyone — regardless of color, culture, gender, sexuality, money, age, or physical ability — has access to the boundless potential of technology, the future will benefit us all is known as “smarter technology for all.”