Education suffered many changes in the past few years considering the latest advancements regarding tech. Since tech emerged in people’s lives in all sectors and activities, it was just a matter of time until it influenced the learning environment entirely. The many influences that tech had on the learning environment were mostly positive, the downsides being outperformed by the benefits they had. The world that the society lives in at the moment relies on technology in most situations, from mobile phones used daily with all sorts of purposes to the growth of social media and its power. Learning in the classroom was also disrupted by tech, even though the changes are not mass-adopted yet.
The countries that afforded the changes and were willing to put in some effort to flip classrooms are now advantaged in many ways. People shouldn’t be surprised if some high schools and universities still rely on learning things the traditional way, using printed books and traditional approaches. Innovative approaches, on the other hand, are much more expensive and they require open-mindedness from both the professors and the students. The technological changes that happen today will be entirely different in ten years from now on, but people can get a glimpse of what’s about to happen in the future years. Here are some facts about education and technology.
Interactive Classrooms are a Must
The first big improvement regarding education and tech is related to the change happening inside the classroom. Using technology in the school became mainstream in some countries and students are more and more enthusiastic about the innovative ways to deal with studying. The teaching process becomes much easier for both sides. Here are some methods that technology emerged in the classroom:
• Using the online environment efficiently
The Internet and social media platforms are powerful tools to control a classroom as a teacher and to interact with each other as students. Sign-ups on a platform that is dedicated for professors, students and parents could ease the process of finding out about grades, uploading assessments to be graded and so many other. Accessibility is brought to its maximum capacity by making use of the online environment.
• Tablets
Each student should have a tablet instead of notebooks and books. Printed materials are not good for the environment, are more difficult to carry around and are not as efficient as the functionalities of a tablet. Tablets that come with a stylus pen offer the students the change to make annotations on their books and take notes on the same device. Carrying a tablet is visibly more convenient than carrying a book for each topic that a student is studying. Plus, the materials can be shared with the whole classroom, and the content on a tablet can be synchronized with the personal computers of the students.
• Social media
A social media group with all the students and professors in a classroom can be useful to make urgent announcements. Since most students own a mobile phone and an account on at least one social media platform, this can be a useful way not to remain behind with the information regarding schedules, paper tests, assignments and so on. Information will be distributed much faster this way, and it is comfortable for everyone.
• VR, MR, and AR
Students learn much better when they are in direct contact with what they study. For instance, students who study geography must-see images to apply the theory they learn. In this sense, using Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality can be of real help. Students can go on virtual field trips. In topics such as history, students can visit famous buildings such as The White House for better visualization of what the professor is talking about. It seems like a small step forward, but it is surely useful.
• Translation services for non-native speakers
In many cases, students are limited concerning education because they don’t know the main language of the university which offers the courses they want to follow next. This inconvenience was a huge difficulty for students until instant translation services were developed. Now, non-native speakers can understand what other people have to say in real time. Students can use such devices to transcribe what professors say in a foreign language in their own mother language. The translations are quite precise, and students can understand what the teacher has to say.
• Noise in the classroom
Noisy classrooms usually keep professors from getting the best response from the students. Noise leads to poor focus, which is a bit inconvenient during courses. Now, professors can use applications that will be installed on all students’ tablets which will tell whether the noise level in the classroom is acceptable or not. Students must follow the meters and go silent each time the noise level is higher than average.
• Rapid feedback
Moreover, professors can give their students rapid feedback. Students no longer have to wait weeks until they get a response to their questions. Social media platforms, emails, services for sharing files and many more will help professors offer feedback in the shortest time.
• Online courses
Students that can’t go to school because of their disabilities or the distance can opt for online courses. Online courses are also suitable for students that want to get better on one topic only. What’s even better is that online tutoring is affordable and everyone can try such services, regardless of age, location or their purpose.
Practice over theory
In classrooms that entirely rely on interaction and technology, students can involve more into the learning process. Studying theory alone is not always efficient, and – in most cases – students forget what they’ve learned during years of study. The educational system has to focus more on practice to make the information really stick. Technology offers students and professors this chance. The access to infinite quantities of information encourages lifelong learning. Theory and practice combine when technology acts as a mediator between the two.