Shaping The Future Of Education Through Technology
What will the classroom look like in the next decade? Just a few years ago, few would have imagined some of the numerous technologies – devices, screens, advanced audio-visual systems or smart boards – that are commonplace in the classrooms of today. These dramatic technological advances are changing the nature of the classroom, how students learn, and how teachers teach. It’s an exciting time for the education sector as the classrooms of the world become increasingly connected. This opens up a plethora of opportunities and possibilities.
Everything’s integrated
Smart devices have been the backbone of the education system for some time, we’ll see many institutions taking this to the next level. There will be further integration of on- and offcampus technologies and networks to produce an enhanced learning experience for students and teachers alike. Students will be able to easily access audio and visual material from past lectures and connect and collaborate using technology in the classroom and in breakout areas. Creating seamless experiences requires great technology that simply works as it should. Solutions should ensure real-time, full-motion video performance for the presentation of multimedia, videoconferencing, and live camera images. This type of learning experience will become the benchmark for organisations moving forward.
Live participation embraced
New technologies that allow teachers to more seamlessly switch between different education materials and better control student participation in classes will become much more popular across campuses around the world. Technology that allows for the introduction of rich media is a great way for teachers to encourage students to participate, but also maintain control of the classroom. Future audio-visual systems must allow teachers to easily switch between different teaching resources, such as video, and tailor teaching initiatives. At the same time, it should also incorporate two-way multi-frequency wireless communication. This supports students who want to ask questions during a lesson.
Online learning gathers pace
Another trend is accelerated adoption among many universities to provide online learning experiences for students. Expect to see institutions offer more of their courses online also, with a rising number of institutions switching to onlineonly delivery of certain courses. The move to online learning models is a reason why so many schools are investing heavily in their technology infrastructure. There is also increasing demand for education institutions to be equipped with best-of-breed teleconferencing facilities, allowing tutors and teachers to seamlessly liaise with remote students over audio or video to facilitate more opportunities to collaborate.
The future will see moving parts of an education institution’s technology assets come together to provide a more dynamic, interactive and engaging experience for educators and students alike. Genuine collaboration will be supported by increasingly sophisticated, yet easy-to-use technology tools that make learning a pleasure. As technology and education seamlessly mesh for the benefit of the education system as a whole, classrooms of the future may be closer than we think.
