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We’ve seen a lot of technological advances in the field of education. Of course, some of them are better than others, as is the case with all technology. But educational technology could potentially really change how we learn. Read on to find out how – you never know what you might find.
Virtual Simulations
This is probably the most well-known piece of educational technology we have. Classrooms have always worked to visually stimulate the students in them. This has always been the same, whether it is through pictures, television, or (more recently) virtual interaction. Things like virtual whiteboards can be used to show anything from pictures to already written essays. Virtual simulations offer endless possibilities for your education. Once you realize that this technology is interactive, the possibilities grow even more.
Virtual simulations mean that learning is freed from what you can do with your own two hands. You can do so much more, including having students take part in the educational experience. Think how much more involved your students will be in their learning if they can physically BE involved in the process. Virtual simulations are also good because learning can continue outside of the classroom. This is very useful in the current climate, as it means that the quality of education people are exposed to drops as little as possible. It doesn’t matter if you are in school or locked down – you will get the same education and the same interaction as you did before.
Better Student Engagement
Student engagement is something that every teacher dreads. How do you get students involved? How do you keep their attention, particularly when there is so much out there to take it away? However, student engagement is definitely something that has made teaching easier in this regard.
Better technology can bridge the gap between students and teachers. Just sitting in a classroom listening to someone can be boring. Technology can make things interesting. From incorporating sounds and video to actively getting people involved, it can really work. Think about the virtual simulations from the previous section. Student engagement with your lessons could skyrocket.
Student engagement is so important because how else do you know if your lessons are sinking in? Technology makes it easier for you to gauge how good your teaching method really is. Track how many people interact with whatever technology you are using. It will show you just how well people are responding to your methods.
Student engagement is quite hard for people in these times of Covid-19. It could be because people don’t use cameras during lessons, or because of mask-wearing. Either way, people are looking to new methods of student engagement to get back to the way things were.
Remote Education
Remote education is a huge part of educational technology at the moment, with good reason! We spent the best part of last year with classes remotely, and many people are still working remotely.
Remote education has been in the cards for a while, even before the pandemic began. It was used by many of the free educational websites, and of course, by the Open University. However, last year was when it truly came into the mainstream. Remote learning can take many forms, including the Zoom app that got so popular. It can involve live video, pre-recorded video, TV programs, booklets, and more.
Remote education and the associated technology could (and has) made huge changes to education. It means that we can learn outside of the normal rooms and institutions. It means that we can choose what and where we go. It means that we can take our learning anywhere we want to. Education has always had the problem of not being able to reach everyone. Remote education means that will change. You can now access educational material in a manner that suits you best. What does this mean for learning going forward?
Boost Communication
Boosting communication is one of the primary ways in how technology helps education. We have already had social media and email for some time. Recently, apps like Slack and Teams have made themselves known as well. Of course, video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet are now very well-known indeed.
Communication has always been a problem when it comes to education. How many kids know the pain of not being able to do their homework? Now, if they don’t know what to do, they have options. They can get in touch with their teacher or with their peers. They can try and find someone to help them with their work.
Boosting communication is also helpful when people are sick. We are seeing how much it helps people during the pandemic, but it has other applications. What if people are at home with a cold? They can still contribute and do their work – they just need to have access to a form of communication. Boosting communication has made the classroom less vital in learning. People can be learning and still be comfortable! Stay in your own space, and still stay in touch with the people you need to.
Self-Paced Learning
Self-paced learning using technology came up earlier in this article. Self-paced learning was first brought in by the Open University to a limited degree. There were terms and deadlines, but you could do the learning by yourself through the week.
Self-paced learning is now much more popular. It’s so easy for people to set up a YouTube channel or just make videos of some kind. All you need is some basic video equipment to get started. Many people start by just using the phone in their camera!
Self-paced learning is becoming increasingly popular because it lets people work and also get more education. If someone can get into a self-paced class, then they can work at their rate. They can work more one day and less the next, as their own life dictates. Not everyone can manage the tight schedule of a full-time program. For them, self-paced learning is a dream come true. The advancement of communication means that self-paced learning is becoming much easier. You can access the material when and where you want to and work on it when you can. You can also choose the method you learn by, to a certain extent.
Try It and See for Yourself
Why not find out how technology improves education for yourself? Try something from our article in your education, and see what happens. It could open up entirely new avenues for your educational process. Just pick one and go from there. You won’t know what works until you try it out.