Education Technology
Article | July 15, 2022
The combination of education and technology is a hot topic in 2021. Virtual classrooms and e-learning have become the new norm, and new technologies start to determine early education.
The discussion about trends in educational technology has never been more lively, and it's easy to lose sight of the big picture. It’s worth asking: what's driving today's education and technology integration in schools?
Let’s check which EdTech trends are evolving right now in the industry and how they will dictate the future of the entire sector.
Technological optimism in the teaching profession
The first trend occurs on the institutional level: More and more schools are looking to integrate technology into the curriculum. Worldwide, teachers and schools have been seeing the positive sides of integrating technology. As a result, they have started demanding new, technology-based methodologies to overcome the challenges of traditional education. This curiosity is stronger and louder than ever before.
At the same time, EdTech tools such as Google Classroom allow teachers to train themselves in technology-based teaching more quickly. Former three-day teacher conferences now happen periodically in many schools via distance discussions and practical peer review sessions. In those meetings, educators share their knowledge, tools, and ideas on matching technology with their curricula.
It is a good sign that technology is penetrating further into the professional development of educators. Teachers understand that students’ development depends on their own development and are finally keen to attend workshops and conferences that address technology-based learning.
The rising interest in technology-based education is also reflected among students. As the McGraw-Hill Education study points out, 53% of U.S. college students prefer classes that use and teach digital technology over traditional textbook lessons.
Virtual reality facilitates learning in schools
The second trend is how augmented reality and virtual robots change teaching and learning. One of the most exciting developments is the vast potential that simulations and virtual robotics offer to school education.
For some time, augmented reality and virtual simulations have been on everyone’s mind. However, only recently have we started recognizing the immense possibilities that virtual reality (VR) carries to improve learning experiences. Today, preschool children can explore insects in actual size and authenticity via the Google search engine.
Computer simulations, such as VR, can bring distant or abstract experiences into the classroom and make them technically accessible every day. And with simulations, students can examine “what-if” situations and learn how to test hypotheses and develop scientific rigor early on. In this way, students strengthen their practical skills and logical reasoning and develop their creativity. Some application examples are phenomena like the functioning of the solar system, explosive reactions between chemical substances, or progressions on how CO2 emissions will affect the ecosystem by 2050.
Even if it’s not as obvious, simulations are valuable for linguistics, history, architecture, and other educational fields. Let’s take drones as an example. Students can program a drone and use the simulation to explore the features of bridges and monuments worldwide by doing expeditions with drones.
Artificial intelligence drives personalized learning
You cannot miss the immense opportunities artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT) have brought to the EdTech sector. The principles of AI and IoT and their integration into students’ learning experiences continue to proliferate in school and at home. Tools such as voice assistants and AI tutors help diversify and personalize learning experiences and boost self-regulated learning.
Software like Duolingo teaches children new languages based on what they’ve learned before and what they still find challenging. Such software also integrates voice recognition and responds in real-time, allowing users to simulate a real-world language learning experience.
Moreover, AI-driven learning platforms collect student data and analyze where a student might need help, send a study reminder, or gather additional material on specific topics for the individual student. On those platforms, teachers can regularly review students’ learning data and take the proactive recommendations provided by AI into account.
The personalized learning experiences that AI creates are crucial to improve students’ motivation and learning success. The goal is to support students in the same personal learning stage and give teachers accurate information on the student’s progress in specific areas. Personalized training makes sure that not a single one is left behind or slowed down because of underwhelming materials.
The year 2021 as a window of opportunity
Not only did AI and simulations open up new learning opportunities, but 2021 also brought sweeping changes at the grassroots level of technology and education. Schools, parents, and teachers have now understood the importance of technology for successful personal development.
We are in the ideal moment to continue transforming teaching and learning through technology. Now, it is only a matter of creatively using the essential tools and integrating new devices–and marking a bright educational future for everyone.
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Online Education
Article | July 19, 2022
As many colleges and universities make the decision to offer online instruction in fall 2020 due to COVID-19, we’re quickly reminded of the Saturday Night Live (SNL) episode that aired during the spring commencement season. “Congratulations Class of 2020! You will now pay full price for your college experience at a University of Phoenix Online without the tech support,” joked Kate McKinnon. She was portraying the principal at a COVID-19 graduation at St. Mary Magdalene by the Expressway High School. Unfortunately, this skit from SNL wasn’t only humorous, it also reflected the reality for some. These people have been thrust into a version of remote teaching that, while developed with the best intentions of faculty and administrators, was more emergency triage than true online learning.
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Continuing Education
Article | November 15, 2022
So, you’re shopping for ITSM software. If that is the case, then typically one of two scenarios is usually in place – either you are currently using a very rudimentary ticketing platform that does not truly encompass the full scope of IT Service Management (ITSM), or the opposite – the platform is very cumbersome, overly complex and requires 3-8 resources to administer.
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Education Technology
Article | July 27, 2022
Virtual reality and augmented reality, or AR/VR are making waves when it comes to creating immersive environments for people to learn, play, meet, and experience. And what better application of AR/VR than for learning purposes? AR/VR is known to make education more engaging, interactive and most importantly, to enable longer retention of information. The immersive experience allows students to be more present and learn multiple concepts hands-on. Implementing AR/VR in your school can be expensive, but there are applications that allow schools to get the most out of it without blowing their budget. Here are five free tools to consider adding to the AR/VR roster while waiting to win an education grant.
SkyView
The SKyView app is a winner among children who love space. The app requires users to use a smartphone and point it at the sky. It provides a real time view of the constellations and planets in the part of the sky that is being viewed through the phone. The app is especially great at night to view the placement of stars, satellites, and planets and identify them.
Berlin Blitz
Not all screen time has to be destructive. AR/VR apps make for a great way to enhance history lessons and make them more interesting and vivid. The BBC offers a 360-degree virtual learning experience that is free for all and can be accessed through a web browser on any device. Berlin Blitz lets users ride a bomber plane that was flown over Berlin by a camera crew and a journalist.
Froggipedia
Science classes are not complete without dissecting a frog. However, it can be too brutal for some classes or simply time-consuming and costly. This is where Froggipedia comes in. The app uses a virtual frog and displays the frog anatomy as if there was a frog on the desk. Not only is it safer but also cleaner and more animal-friendly. The app demonstrates how a frog’s body works in real-time without having to actually dissect a frog.
Google Expeditions
Google Expeditions lets users take a trip around the world from their screens. The initiative is part of Google’s Arts and Culture website. Learners can take expeditions across timelines and geographies. In addition, the classes come with follow-up materials for educators to do a class based on the trip.
Sandbox AR
Created by Discovery Education, the Sandbox AR app provides a comprehensive AR experience that lets students build a virtual world in any room. This allows for educators to move classes and take interactive sessions. For instance, students can discover the wonders of ancient Rome in a school auditorium.
To Conclude
At a time when remote learning has become an essential aspect of education, interactive and immersive apps are the best ways to ensure that education is fun, meaningful, and beneficial to students. These free resources ensure that schools are able to make the most of AR and VR technologies without having to invest in expensive hardware and paid applications.
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