Trends in Educational Technology

New trends in educational technology

Technology offers learners accelerated learning and accessible information. Educational technology involves the use of tools in an instructional environment that improvises learning and teaching. It fosters online education or distance learning as well.

• Immersive learning

The immersive learning approach leverages AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), 3D simulations, and MR (mixed reality) to form an interactive learning environment. Besides this, digital textbooks are playing an important role in reforming education delivery. Physical textbooks are costly, difficult to distribute and collect from remote learners and complicated to update. Digital textbooks address these challenges by integrating with internet learning platforms and creating an interactive experience of learning for the students.

• Game-based learning

It is a popular and emerging trend in educational technology. Students play non-digital or digital games that reinforce or teach particular skills and concepts. This technique promotes critical thinking and keeps the learners engaged.

• Blended learning

This learning system involves hybrid in-person and online approaches to education. It is a common approach in education nowadays in modern schools. It helps optimise the delivery of courses in accordance with a learner-centred model. Flipped classrooms have flipped the traditional education approach to activities and lectures. Students watch lectures; discuss lessons and research topics in the online forum from their homes. Then when they are in class, they engage in hands-on activities. It is helpful in increasing the benefits of in-person teamwork between learners and the instructions of teachers.

Innovations in educational technology

I think technological innovations are impacting the educational system at different levels. Innovation in learning promotes critical thinking and openness to adapt to serve better the students in a learning-teaching environment.

• Virtual reality (VR)

We can say that the application of VR in education enables students to learn through interacting with the 3D world.

• Cloud computing

The use of cloud computing lets us get access to educational resources from different corners of the world. Resources include audio lessons, written lessons, video assignments, and videos that can be stored in the cloud terminal of an institution. These can be accessed by students from homes and submit the tasks back to teachers. This technological innovation prevents the hassle of loading tons of books every day at the back or spending time at the local library. It enables learners to communicate with their tutors online.

• 3D printing

By the use of 3D models, the previously learners’ lessons through textbooks can be expressed. The 3D printing technique enables learners to have a better comprehension of things that were earlier complex to be understood. In higher educational systems, to form prototypes to be utilised in the development of the final system system designers and engineers apply 3D printing. It takes concepts and turns them into reality.

• Social media

Social media has become a part of our lives. With the use of social media, colleges and universities can connect even when the continents are apart. These sites enable organising meetings, contests, and parties. Learners from various institutions use school media to share ideas.

• Biometrics technology

The use of biometrics in schools helps streamline education and enhance discipline. Fingerprints facial recognition, eye tracking, and voice recognition are some of the methods biometric to streamline operations. It has uses in monitoring the class attendance of students and administering the borrowed properties of the school such as books.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

• Task automation

Teachers or professionals need to manage the environment within the classroom besides their administrative and organisational duties. Automation is useful to be used in efficient task management that includes grading tests, filing paperwork, evaluating of homework, making progress report, organising materials, and managing teaching resources.

• Universal access

Educational classrooms are available to global students through Artificial Intelligence. Even the students with visual or hearing impairment can access the educational tools, With Presentation Translator; learners have real-time subtitles for teachers’ lectures. This creates an opportunity for learners who require to learn at varying levels without being available at school due to sickness or other reasons.

• Smart content creation

AI assists tutors to create smart content to increase the comfort of learning and teaching practices for themselves and students. We are familiar with some of the educational content. There are different types of content such as digital lessons, updates of learning content, and information visualization. The utilisation of AI helps in generating study guides, and digital textbooks. As a teacher, you can generate and update the learning content with AI to keep the information updated.

• 24/7 assistance

AI provides us with access to information 24/7. This means that we can get help on any topic or subject anytime. Earlier, students used to get solutions to their issues when they personally meet the professors or teachers and communicate with them regarding the questions in a classroom setting. However, the wait is no longer with AI bots. AI-powered chatbots are made for the educational sector to help students by providing answers to their questions.

Personalized learning

Personalized learning as an approach in education aims to customise the learning for students based on their skills, needs, strengths, and interests. As per this, a learning plan should be prepared for every student considering their understanding or knowledge and ways to improve the same. It enables learners to express their curiosity and bring their best work by using strategies and learning resources that highlight their abilities instead of evaluating their disabilities. As an educational path, personalized learning creates a differentiated learning experience for learners on the basis of their individual traits.

• Manages student-centred instructions

The use of technology in personalized learning also involves collaboration between teachers and students to identify the needs, designs, and plans for learning.

• Technology with purpose

The technology used in a classroom setting should be purposeful. we mean that the same is integrated into teaching or learning designs. It is thus important to consider the quality of technology and its role in personalizing learning and collaborating with students.

• Scaling up

When technology becomes an important part of personalized learning across classrooms it is vital to consider the way students can experience cohesive learning. Technology implementation and strategic planning at a large scale are complex yet an appropriate framework for students should be in place to personalize learning.

• Learning designs for each learner

In my view, there is a requirement for equitable instructions for personalizing learning using effective technology. This means that every student should have access to tools and resources and other things that are needed for building their learning experience desire gender, race, language, ethnicity, or disability It is critical to consider the different aspects of learners’ experience when using technology or teaching methods in the personalized learning system. Students are needed to be taught to use technology in learning. The teacher should use responsive teaching being aware of the well-being of students.

To conclude, we can say that the use of technology in education has facilitated teaching delivery and improved the learning experience of students. Personalised learning and Artificial Intelligence have contributed tremendously to the education sector. Students can grab knowledge and expertise with better experience with use of technology, social media and other areas. Therefore, institutions must focus on developing these to improve educational system and procedure.