A teacher has an amazing job. The traditional classroom is out of the picture. An educator no longer prepares the good-old lesson plans that involve a lot of lecturing and not much learning. Today, the students are in charge. The teacher uses all kinds of educational technology to engage them in the learning process as much as possible.
Through the many technological trends in education, it’s hard to choose the right tools that do their job without confusing students. That’s the reason why so many teachers prefer not to take the risk at all. But you have to take that risk. Your students expect you to introduce some ed tech, so you’ll stay on track with the latest trends and choose the ones that work for your classroom.
The Latest Trends in Education Technology
- Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is already a big thing in higher education, especially in the medical niche. This is an aspect of experiential learning, which is much more effective than old-school education based on textbooks. Medical students are still witnessing live demonstrations and watching videos of surgeries. However, thanks to AR technology, they can also perform virtual surgeries and gain a certain level of experience.
Augmented reality is useful in classrooms at lower educational levels, too. This technology creates a composite view of the real surroundings and computer-generated images. That’s great for explaining concepts that are hard to explain. For example, the students can point their device and see 3D models of atoms, geometric shapes, human anatomy, and more.
- Cloud Computing
Getting access to the right resources. That’s one of the most common student problems. Textbooks are very expensive. When students work on academic projects, they also have to access scientific and academic research that requires payment.
Through cloud computing, students share valuable resources. In addition, they find it easier to store and manage their own academic papers. They share files when they collaborate on projects, too.
- Social Media in Learning
Social media is gaining an increasingly important role in education.
Teachers have a chance to connect with other educators, share lesson plans, and discuss potential solutions for the common issues in their profession.
Students from all around the world can connect, too. When a student from California needs help with capstone project, they can collaborate with a student from Barcelona. Social media eradicates all boundaries. Teachers can share lessons via Facebook and YouTube. The students can share science projects via Pinterest. The options are limitless.
- 5G
How does the speed of Internet change education? How did 4G change things in regards to 3G?
Here’s the difference: a 5G tower is going to support over a million connected devices per square kilometer. Do you know how many devices 4G supports? About 2,000. This changes things about using the Internet to educate students in remote areas. It makes virtual reality, augmented reality, and all other smart innovations possible – everywhere.
- Speech-To-Text Options
Are you one of those educators who ask students to take notes during class? That’s good. The notes serve as reminders and help the retention process. But the note-taking process also takes a student’s attention away from real listening.
When you use a speech-to-text app, it will take notes and you’ll share it with everyone. Easy!
- Digital Security
As more physical objects in the classroom become connected to the Internet, security is not just about smartphones and computers any longer. It’s about the air conditioning and door locks, too. This imposes a risk to the classroom’s security, so it’s important for the tech teams of each school to stay updated to all digital security threats.
With the increased number of apps that students use, it’s also important for the students to learn how to stay safe when connected.
- 3D Printing
3D printing technology helps inventors find their calling from a very young age. When schools introduce it in the classroom, young students can create all kinds of projects. They will imagine different shapes and they will bring them to life.
This is a great way to motivate students to explore their creative side.
Finally, We’re Seeing Massive Changes in the Educational System
All these trends in educational technologyimprove the efficiency of the schooling system. Teachers can teach better, and students can learn more effectively. The classroom is no longer perceived as the boring environment where the students have to sit, listen, and stay quiet. It’s the fun environment that engages students, so they can’t wait to spend another hour in it.
Education is fun. Finally, we’re able to help all students to realize that.
BIO:
Robert Everett was always interested in learning, and he never stops. Through his blog and his Twitter profile, he shares news and tips on educational technology. We are lucky to be part of an evolving system, so let’s keep up with it.