Education is vitally important for society. Without education, our children couldn’t flourish and our communities would fail to grow as a result. Improving the quality of the education we offer young people is of paramount importance.
One of the ways in which we are improving education is through the integration of technology. What does this look like? We’ve listed a few examples below. Read on to check them out.
- Gamified Education
The idea of games and education, on the surface, don’t seem to have much overlap. After all, one is work while the other is play, right? Not quite. Combining games with education can have enormous value, and it can create highly engaging educational exercises that appeal to students across a range of age groups and demographics.
Whether it’s an online math game or a language learning game, gamified education attempts to bring an element of fun into the learning process. We can all remember how dry and tedious math lessons were in school. With gamified versions of these classes, students can track their scores, set records, and compete against one another.
Research has demonstrated that games are crucial for early development. By gamifying the education process, we can more effectively engage students and achieve better results while ensuring they have fun in the process. A systematic review and meta-analysis entitled “Game-based learning in early childhood education” concluded that “game-based learning has the potential to promote cognitive, social, and emotional development”. There was “strong evidence for the effectiveness of game-based learning in enhancing various aspects of child development.”
Outside of schools and formal education systems, learning apps like Duolingo and Babbel are incredibly popular. The New York Times examined the possibilities and limitations of these apps. The writer concluded that while they won’t lead to complete fluency in a language, they’re useful for teaching conversational phrases and, after “a few weeks or months”, you can learn every sound and symbol in a new writing system.
Interestingly, the article also noted that “body language and posture can have a dramatic impact on how your speech is perceived” – something these apps can’t cover. But that leaves the door open for other technology, such as video lessons with online tutors.
- Personalized Programs
We all understand that no two people are the same, and this certainly applies to students. One of the most significant benefits avant-garde tech can offer education providers is the ability to personalize the programmes they deliver.
AI technology in particular, can be used to personalize educational programmes and learning materials. An AI system could evaluate the performance of different students and assign each different tasks based on their unique needs and requirements. By implementing these kinds of personalised programs, educators can ensure all students get the level of care and attention they need to achieve their goals.
Educators can even use machine learning tech to further improve the programs they offer. This tech can monitor students’ progress and update the education they receive to suit their developing skills and base of knowledge.
- Collaborative Opportunities
Collaboration can help students learn and progress. However, there are often barriers to effective collaboration. Students in different locations or those with accessibility needs could find it difficult to attend classes in person on a regular basis.
Tech solutions can help break down these barriers and make collaborative education accessible for all, regardless of geographic location or physical ability. Online portals can be used to host students, and these are places where all can interact to hold discussions, share ideas, and learn together. This social element is key; it can make education more enjoyable for all.
A paper from the University of Rennes discussed virtual reality and the nontechnical skills it could develop in healthcare students. The authors wrote, “The general conclusion of these studies is that VR 241 simulators offer promising opportunities for NTS training of health professionals.” The authors noted that VR addressed teamwork, communication, and situation awareness.
Another paper, entitled “Exploring virtual reality as a platform for distance team-based learning”, received positive responses from participants. The authors wrote, “Ninety-four percent (94.4%) of participants strongly agreed that this was a fun experience, and 94.4% of participants strongly agreed that they would take a course in this format if it was offered.” It was noted that ease of use of the technology, comfort, and the learning activity could be improved. Some finetuning is likely to be required as more educators implement the technology.
Final Thoughts
Avant-garde tech is changing the world as we know it, and nowhere is this more evident than in the education industry. Whether it’s through the use of gamified games, personalized programs or collaborative opportunities, tech is helping educators deliver more effective material that engages students on a deeper and more meaningful level.