Over the last few decades, everyone has seen the advancement of technology in the educational sector. A lot of people have tried to fight against technological innovation, insisting that it does more harm than good, especially in the education industry. However, statistics have revealed that the benefits of technology in education far outweigh any possible disadvantages that might come with it. Also, the changes that have occurred so far are nothing compared to the changes that will come in the future.
Technological Innovations in Education so Far
In the past, students had limited resources at their disposal. Even teachers didn't have the limitless stream of resources that can now be found at their fingertips. When they had large volumes of work to do, they could only get resources from state or federal libraries. Now, students and educators don't need to be physically present in a library to have access to resources for their studies. There are several search engines and directories online that are handy for in-depth research across disciplines.
Mobile learning is another common trend that has come with technological innovations over the years. Mobile learning is a new approach to education that allows people to learn on the go. All you need is an Internet-enabled mobile device. Some software engineers have come up with offline applications for mobile learning. It offers an amazing degree of flexibility. Students can learn at any time irrespective of where they are. Mobile learning or m-learning is a subset of online learning. However, you don't always need to use a computer to access your studies. It promotes informal education as well. Whenever you have a question or an inquiry, all you have to do is ask Google.
Edtech Goes With the Flow
Students are already using technology in different aspects of their lives. Almost every young person who can read has a phone. Even those who don't know how to read yet have access to phones, tablets, or computers. The bottom line is that technology is at the fingertip of anyone who wants it. Most people don't use technology for dignified purposes but making technology a primary tool in education allows them to develop digital responsibility. Since everything is already being significantly influenced by technology, edtech is going with the flow.
One of the negative consequences of digitisation is that it reduces the attention span of frequent users significantly. People don't have the time to go through boring textbooks for hours. They want pictures, videos, and other engaging content. This is why teachers are using technology in education to spice things up for the students. Even teachers can use technology to improve their skills in a fun and engaging way. Online websites like Computersciencehero.com have a list of job training bootcamps for people who want to learn new skills.
Technology has become an integral part of education but it does more than teach students Math and English. Using technology in education teaches students how to prepare to join the future workforce. You probably already know that tech skills are essential in the future workspace. These days, there is hardly any job you can get without advanced IT skills. By exposing children to computers at the early stages of their lives, educators prepare them for life outside school. Some schools take things up a notch by teaching young people how to code. Even elementary school students can learn to code thanks to technological advancements.
What the Future Holds for Edtech
As stated above, technology has changed the education industry significantly over the years. What does the future hold? Currently, there are some aspects of technology that are expected to shape the future of education, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality, and blockchain technology. All these technologies have a significant influence on education. However, other branches are impacting education as well. The only constant in the education industry is that human educators will always be needed no matter how advanced technology becomes.
Conclusion
You cannot write about the future of education without talking about technology. The influence that technology currently has in education makes it a vital part of the future. Even in the next 20 years, technological innovations will continue to evolve in the education industry. It will also change to adapt to student needs as time passes. The goal, on the other hand, will remain the same: to make teaching as efficient and engaging as possible.
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