It is only natural for technology to have a huge influence on education. After all, somewhere down the line, both influence each other and contribute to its growth and development. If experts are to be believed, then this marriage of technology and education is going to revolutionize the entire process of teaching and learning. Since the evolution of human civilization, pedagogy has been one aspect which has attracted a lot of attention, driving umpteen number of research and analysis. And now, when technology has evolved to such a level that it can very easily improve the overall quality of education, educators are looking for ways in which this education technology can be leveraged for the greater benefit of the masses.
Benefits of integrating education with technology
We have come to a point where technology is practically defining the future of the education system. No longer is technology seen as just a distraction for students – rather educators now agree that when integrated with the teaching process in the right manner, education technology (ed-tech) helps develop the cognitive abilities of the students in a better manner. Some of the major advantages of ed-tech are:
1. Better teaching
After one point, even teachers know that theoretical explanations do not help students. In fact, there is unanimous agreement on the fact that audio-visual presentations not only keep the students engaged for a longer period but also help them understand the concepts in an in-depth manner. Ed-tech adds excitement to the teaching process by integrating videos, images, and graphics to the lessons.
2. Promotes independent learning among students
Unlike the traditional methods, ed-tech encourages students to take the initiative and learn things on their own. The internet, in spite of credibility issues, is a treasure house of information. Students can easily look up for their lesson online, with minimal or no assistance from teachers and parents. Another major advantage of education technology is that all the online content is updated on a real-time basis. So what the students learn is not some obsolete theory, rather they can now feed on current information and broaden their thought process.
3. Encourages distance education and is cost-effective
Lastly, with the internet available in almost all the corners of the world, distance education has evolved amazingly. In fact, distance learning is among the leading trends in learning methodology. Students, of all age-groups, can now organize and decide the topics they are interested in and accordingly take online lessons. This freedom is something the traditional curriculum never provided, which explains why Ed-tech has become a rage among the masses.
Most of all, with education technology one does not have to pay high tuition fees or buy expensive textbooks. With resources being available in abundance, the cost of textbooks has come down. Rather many students prefer the digital format of the books which are cheaper than the physical textbooks.
The future of education technology
With several e-learning programs, the emergence of m-learning, adoption of audio-visual aids, and education apps, the sphere of education technology has broadened even further. In fact, technologies like m-learning are no longer limited to higher education alone. Rather some corporates seem-learning as the most appropriate medium for training their employees in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Some of the major predictions for ed-tech this year are:
a. Use of predictive analytics
Universities have increased their focus on the use of predictive analytics to improve the overall student metrics. Even though funding is a major challenge in this regard, as campuses are turning to automation, it is expected that the operational and administrative costs will reduce eventually. Predictive analytics on its part can easily help in addressing issues like student retention, academic program assessments, and accreditation.
b. Adoption of VR and AR
Virtual and artificial reality have immense potential for the education sector. If used in the right manner these technologies will not only enhance, but also transform the entire educational experience. The year 2017 will witness several institutes and universities explore both administrative and academic applications of VR and AR. Though the shortage of skilled-technology workers is a major road block at the moment, policy makers believe that in future VR and AR will bring more diversity into the technology workforce.
c. Increased investment in technical infrastructure
At this point, all the major stakeholders in the education sector realize how critical it is to invest in better technical infrastructure. Technological deficiencies will, in fact, push them behind their peers and cost them heavy loss in enrollment of students. Several schools and colleges are now changing their budget approaches – will increased focus being on the higher deployment of technology on campus, and adopting cloud-based tools like SaaS and PaaS.
To know more about how ed-tech is influencing the education sector
Order the 2016-2020 Report on Global Higher Education M-Learning Market
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