The impact technology has had on consumers’ lives over the past two decades has been staggering. Technology is not only embedded in people’s lives, but also in the global economy by enhancing our ability to communicate, learn, and advance in engineering and medicine. Digital breakthroughs are also reshaping industries, changing the way products and services are made, sold and consumed.
But where technology may have the most meaningful sphere of influence is in education. We’ve seen this in instances where digital solutions are being cleverly used to connect students with teachers, resources, content, expertise and learning experiences, thereby empowering and inspiring them. By supporting students, parents, schools, and teachers with educational technology resources, we not only facilitate more collaboration, but extend learning beyond the classroom.
With quality education set to shape the course of nations around the world, let’s take a look at how disruptive learning tools will change the classroom of the future.
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mixed model
Greater autonomy leads to greater outcomes—as evidenced by the blended education trend from 2020. Blended learning models greatly help students and teachers get the most out of the classroom, taking advantage of technology at multiple levels. These technology-driven blended learning models improve student achievement because it provides them with more personalized mobility. It also allows them to learn at their own pace and overcome learning insecurities. Students also have the option to relive recorded lectures and learn complex topics at their own pace.
Solving the teacher supply problem
A major obstacle to expanding quality education is the lack of skilled teachers. Technology addresses this issue by ensuring the quality of education provided by teachers worldwide and increasing the workforce of quality teachers. For example, BYJU’S Tuition Center has expanded to 140 cities in just one year of its launch, and provides quality education with more than 2,000 teachers by leveraging technology in the design and teaching of each course. Technology can also quickly review and feed back on any teaching gaps and address them immediately on a data-led basis.
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Increased use of adaptive learning methods
What is taught in the classroom must keep up with what is happening in the world around us. This requires a change in what and how students are taught. Adaptive learning methods utilize technology to provide customized solutions to meet students’ specific learning needs. While the “what” taught in the classroom focuses on the subjects themselves, the “how” taught focuses on connecting those subjects to the real world around us and incorporating skills that students are already using in other areas of their lives. The classrooms of the future will be more diverse and high-tech equipped than today. Access to adaptive learning technologies will free teachers from administrative tasks and instead focus on building more meaningful student relationships. The benefits of digital learning are also recognized by the United Nations, which has a global mission to scale up digital learning and skills and target marginalized students, seeking to connect every child and youth – some 3.5 billion by 2030 – to digital learning. Every student should have equal learning opportunities, regardless of their socioeconomic status,
Regardless of geography or education level, virtual classrooms can empower students to take charge of their education through a rich, intuitive and personalized approach to assisting student learning.
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Focus on human-led learning
Innovations in teaching strategies make learning more engaging, increasing levels of interaction and attention, and making it a holistic human experience. Immersive learning through videos, hands-on tools, AI-based environments, and more, enables learners to visualize and interact with concepts. This ensures clarity of thought and retention. The careful application of technology in education allows us to change the nature of learning to make the best use of students’ time and their abilities.
Teachers are no longer just facilitators of learning; they are becoming coaches, mentors and leaders that students look up to. Automation will continue to transform schools as more intelligent tools are integrated, including facial recognition technology to market attendance, and autonomous data analytics to inform learning decisions. This level of automation can allow teachers to focus more on human-led learning.
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Edtech growth will continue
New forms of education are rapidly evolving to meet the changing needs of students. The combination of education and technology presents powerful opportunities for educators to create impact. Additionally, the edtech industry has the potential to grow due to its ability to provide sustainable solutions and adapt quickly to changes. The next decade will be defined by technology-driven education delivery research and development and the development of blended learning. It’s part of a trend we’ve seen, with educators increasingly being supported by technology. The future of education is bright, but the key lies in constantly innovating and improving our traditional education systems and frameworks, and making them agile to support these rapidly innovative technologies.
(The author is the head of BYJU Tutoring Center)