Education has long been a breeding ground for new technology. It’s the perfect place to experiment with new ideas and see what sort of impact they can make. And as we start a new decade, there’s more optimism than ever about what the future holds for technology in the education space.
IMAGE: PEXELS
Technology In Education – 4 Leading Trends
Education is timeless, necessary, and valuable in all walks of life. From elementary education to college and universities to business settings, the need for teaching and learning is something that will never go out of style. Having said that, the way in which we teach and learn does evolve over time.
Over the past decade, advanced technology has played a catalytic role in the advancement of technology. It’s enabled us, as a society, to move past rigid strategies and adopt more flexible and valuable solutions. Here’s a look at some specific examples:
1. Online Learning
The online learning industry, or eLearning as many call it, has grown tremendously over the past few years. Furthermore, it’s expected to get significantly larger in the coming decade.
Experts project that the global eLearning market, which was worth an already impressive $107 billion in 2015, will be worth a staggering $325 billion by 2025. This growth is expected to stem from:
- The increasing need to educate large numbers of people at lower costs
- Increased needs for education in the modern workforce
- Demand for cost-effective education in developing countries
- The rise of premium content served through the gig economy
While online learning is on the rise, reports show that self-paced learning is declining. This shows a shift in the focus of users to more engaging learning methodologies.
2. Video Observation
There are situations where it’s not always possible, practical, or helpful for instructors to be in the same room as the students. In these cases, video observation technology becomes an important education and training tool.
There are a variety of video observation tools on the market, but the Video Audio Learning Tool (VALT) from Intelligent Video Solutions (IVS) is one of the leading technologies in this space.
“At its core, VALT is a simple and easy-to-use application which can stream live and simultaneously capture multiple high definition AV streams in a standard MP4 format ready to be exported as soon as you press stop,” IVS explains. “It includes content and rights management, allowing organizations to control what videos and features individual users have access to. VALT makes it extremely easy to add high-quality AV to your existing training environments.”
VALT, and other similar platforms, are commonly used in fields like child studies and development, behavior science, and health sciences.
3. Artificial Intelligence
“Technology is important, but it’s really just the means to an end,” Silicon Schools CEO Brian Greenberg says. “The real magic is in giving great educators freedom and license into how school works.”
In this regard, one of the more interesting trends is the rise of big data and artificial intelligence (AI). With more data available than ever before, teachers, administrators, and curriculum specialists are able to carefully track the progress of each school, classroom, instructor, and student to gain clear insights into who is struggling, who is succeeding, and why. Advanced education software can then suggest better methodologies that will allow struggling students to catch up.
The U.S. Navy is a great example. They’ve already introduced an AI-based tutoring system that they call Education Dominance into one of their entry-level IT schools in Pensacola, Florida. The platform works much like a human tutor – monitoring student progress and providing personalized assessments and tests to help each student improve on their scores.
4. Interactive Software Solutions
Gone are the days where teachers lecture students and students are judged based on their ability to memorize answers to rehearsed questions. Today’s students – whether it’s high school or graduate school – are expected to think critically and apply the knowledge they acquire in real-world settings. Interactive software solutions allow users to apply knowledge in simulated environments that are intuitive, yet risk-free.
Stepping Into The Future
Technology continues to iterate and improve, which is having a positive impact on a variety of industries and niches – including education. Whether it’s primary school, secondary education, higher education, technical training programs, or corporate training, one thing is clear: New advances are paving the way for a smarter tomorrow. It’s time to buckle up and enjoy the ride.
If you are interested in even more technology-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
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