Technology is having a major impact on industries and society as a whole, so it should come as no surprise that it’s revolutionising the education sector too. The rise of EdTech is already enhancing student experiences, but it’s set to have an even bigger impact in the future. To learn more, take a look at the six ways tech is changing the education sector:
Online learning platforms have been widely used at higher learning institutions for some time but they’re now being rolled out at primary and secondary schools too. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools were forced to embrace online learning when students were unable to attend in person.
This accelerated the shift towards remote, online learning and enabled students of all ages to continue their education, despite external constraints. Now that online learning can be facilitated for students of all ages, we’re likely to see more flexibility in the education sector.
Traditionally, students had a range of materials available at school and were required to carry some things, such as books, back and forth each day. Inevitably, this resulted in equipment being misplaced on occasion or in students being unable to continue with work because something had been left at home or vice versa.
With the use of tablets and laptops, however, students have access to their own dynamic learning environment. Instead of having to bring multiple items to and from school, virtually all of the equipment required can be stored digitally on a small device. In addition to this, storing documents and hosting platforms and apps in the cloud ensures students can access tools and work from any location.
Although EdTech is having a major impact on student experiences, technology is revolutionising the lives of teachers too. Instead of having to take time away from the classroom to undertake additional training, for example, this can now be completed remotely and in a shorter timeframe.
Furthermore, teachers can advance their careers in a much more flexible way. When studying for an online masters in education at the University of Exeter, for example, teachers can complete the program remotely. Not only does this ensure that more teachers can pursue additional qualifications, but it also means that professionals can continue to work on a full-time basis while enhancing their skills.
When full-time, face-to-face postgraduate qualifications were the only available option, teachers were forced to either delay the start of their career to complete an MA immediately following their undergraduate degree or take a sabbatical in order to attend classes. Of course, the cost implications and upheaval this created meant that the number of teachers who could pursue an MA was limited.
Now, however, online learning opportunities are making it easier than ever for teachers to advance their careers and acquire additional qualifications.
Without technology, group learning was limited to small, classroom sub-sections. Teachers might have split the class into small groups of four to six students in order to complete a project, for example. Without parental involvement, however, this group work was restricted to a classroom setting.
Fortunately, the use of technology is improving collaboration, both in and outside of schools. Groups can easily be formed from more than one class, which ensures that students can be arranged in accordance with their abilities or learning styles.
Furthermore, group work is no longer restricted to a single environment. Instead, schools can collaborate with one another and facilitate a broader learning environment. In fact, the use of technology is enabling group projects to be undertaken by schools in different regions, countries, and continents, which enhances learning outcomes and optimises students’ experiences.
It’s been well-known that individuals have different learning styles for quite some time, but the range and breadth of learning styles is still evolving. As well as visual and auditory learners, for For example, a teacher’s classroom may be filled with social, logical, and kinaesthetic learners.
In a standard classroom environment, it can be difficult – or impossible – for teachers to cater to all styles of learning. While schools have certainly moved away from only using passive learning techniques, limited time and resources mean that many students have no choice but to learn material using a style that isn’t best suited to their needs.
With personalised learning, every student’s unique strengths, learning preferences and needs can be accommodated. Access to individual learning plans ensure students can move through the curriculum at their own pace, guided by their instructors, while different learning styles can be accommodated via a variety of activities and materials.
Unsurprisingly, technology is critical to facilitate personalised learning. When teachers are building lesson plans for 25+ pupils, a digital approach enables a wider variety of tools to be used. As a result, instructors can create more varied materials and even use artificial intelligence (AI) to help students find the most effective learning style.
When students learn new material, it is vital they understand it, but retention is also critical to their success. Instead of using traditional revision methods, however, new tech is improving retention and making it easier for students to commit ideas, concepts, and theories to memory.
Educational chatbots are just one way to increase retention rates amongst students. With personalised revision questions and mini-tests, chatbots can be used to monitor progress and identify areas that require more attention. What’s more – AI algorithms can be created to determine when a student is likely to forget the material, so that effective study schedules can be created and maintained!
There’s no doubt that technology will feature heavily in the education sector. An increased emphasis on virtual learning and the wider availability of digital tools will enhance student engagement, which could increase learning outcomes and enable pupils to get more out of their education.
Furthermore, the use of EdTech will ensure that students are prepared for an increasingly digital future.
Table of Contents
- Remote Learning
- Dynamic Learning Environments
- Career Progression
- Group Learning
- Personalised Learning
- Increased Retention
- What Does the Future of Education Look Like?
1. Remote Learning
Online learning platforms have been widely used at higher learning institutions for some time but they’re now being rolled out at primary and secondary schools too. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools were forced to embrace online learning when students were unable to attend in person.
This accelerated the shift towards remote, online learning and enabled students of all ages to continue their education, despite external constraints. Now that online learning can be facilitated for students of all ages, we’re likely to see more flexibility in the education sector.
2. Dynamic Learning Environments
Traditionally, students had a range of materials available at school and were required to carry some things, such as books, back and forth each day. Inevitably, this resulted in equipment being misplaced on occasion or in students being unable to continue with work because something had been left at home or vice versa.
With the use of tablets and laptops, however, students have access to their own dynamic learning environment. Instead of having to bring multiple items to and from school, virtually all of the equipment required can be stored digitally on a small device. In addition to this, storing documents and hosting platforms and apps in the cloud ensures students can access tools and work from any location.
3. Career Progression
Although EdTech is having a major impact on student experiences, technology is revolutionising the lives of teachers too. Instead of having to take time away from the classroom to undertake additional training, for example, this can now be completed remotely and in a shorter timeframe.
Furthermore, teachers can advance their careers in a much more flexible way. When studying for an online masters in education at the University of Exeter, for example, teachers can complete the program remotely. Not only does this ensure that more teachers can pursue additional qualifications, but it also means that professionals can continue to work on a full-time basis while enhancing their skills.
When full-time, face-to-face postgraduate qualifications were the only available option, teachers were forced to either delay the start of their career to complete an MA immediately following their undergraduate degree or take a sabbatical in order to attend classes. Of course, the cost implications and upheaval this created meant that the number of teachers who could pursue an MA was limited.
Now, however, online learning opportunities are making it easier than ever for teachers to advance their careers and acquire additional qualifications.
4. Group Learning
Without technology, group learning was limited to small, classroom sub-sections. Teachers might have split the class into small groups of four to six students in order to complete a project, for example. Without parental involvement, however, this group work was restricted to a classroom setting.
Fortunately, the use of technology is improving collaboration, both in and outside of schools. Groups can easily be formed from more than one class, which ensures that students can be arranged in accordance with their abilities or learning styles.
Furthermore, group work is no longer restricted to a single environment. Instead, schools can collaborate with one another and facilitate a broader learning environment. In fact, the use of technology is enabling group projects to be undertaken by schools in different regions, countries, and continents, which enhances learning outcomes and optimises students’ experiences.
5. Personalised Learning
It’s been well-known that individuals have different learning styles for quite some time, but the range and breadth of learning styles is still evolving. As well as visual and auditory learners, for For example, a teacher’s classroom may be filled with social, logical, and kinaesthetic learners.
In a standard classroom environment, it can be difficult – or impossible – for teachers to cater to all styles of learning. While schools have certainly moved away from only using passive learning techniques, limited time and resources mean that many students have no choice but to learn material using a style that isn’t best suited to their needs.
With personalised learning, every student’s unique strengths, learning preferences and needs can be accommodated. Access to individual learning plans ensure students can move through the curriculum at their own pace, guided by their instructors, while different learning styles can be accommodated via a variety of activities and materials.
Unsurprisingly, technology is critical to facilitate personalised learning. When teachers are building lesson plans for 25+ pupils, a digital approach enables a wider variety of tools to be used. As a result, instructors can create more varied materials and even use artificial intelligence (AI) to help students find the most effective learning style.
6. Increased Retention
When students learn new material, it is vital they understand it, but retention is also critical to their success. Instead of using traditional revision methods, however, new tech is improving retention and making it easier for students to commit ideas, concepts, and theories to memory.
Educational chatbots are just one way to increase retention rates amongst students. With personalised revision questions and mini-tests, chatbots can be used to monitor progress and identify areas that require more attention. What’s more – AI algorithms can be created to determine when a student is likely to forget the material, so that effective study schedules can be created and maintained!
What Does the Future of Education Look Like?
There’s no doubt that technology will feature heavily in the education sector. An increased emphasis on virtual learning and the wider availability of digital tools will enhance student engagement, which could increase learning outcomes and enable pupils to get more out of their education.
Furthermore, the use of EdTech will ensure that students are prepared for an increasingly digital future.
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