From kindergarten to universities, children are interacting with technology from the first moment they step foot in educational institutes. Like most industries, technology has dramatically changed the landscape of the education sector. And for students to learn more efficiently, a digital transformation is needed.
Technology Trends to Keep an Eye On
1. Educational Technology in K-12 Classrooms
Market Research makes the case that OER adoption has gained momentum recently. Think of OER like the cloud in that it encompasses learning materials that anyone can use, update, and share. OER instructional materials may range from a full curriculum to a single lesson plan, all under an open license. And many of these resources are available at a low cost or completely free. Personalized learning is also supported by flexible OER, whose materials can be easily adapted to the needs of students and teachers.
2. Security and Risk Management
According to CIO, in 2019, Gartner released its 10 strategic trends in education. When it comes to security, a variety of factors are starting to force higher education institutions to address risk matters with a multidimensional strategy, including global regulatory compliance, growing Internet of Things (IoT), and an expanding software-as-a-service portfolio.
3. Supporting STEM Education
It’s no secret that STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers are in high demand. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor, roughly one million jobs in STEM are expected to be created between 2012 and 2022. Yet, most of today’s students may not be ready to enter the STEM workforce. One statistic cited by Market Research is the fact that according to the Department of Education, about 80 percent of eighth graders attend a school that offers Algebra 1, but only 24 percent are actually enrolled in the course. Largely seen as a gateway to more advanced science and math course, this gap in education can have negative long-term effects on a student’s education, as well as future career possibilities.
4. AI Conversational Interface
These go a long way in increasing student satisfaction as they are available 24/7, don’t put the onus on the student to learn software and save the user time by placing the responsibility on the machine interface to learn what the user wants.
5. Workforce Development Solutions
While college has been a major push for most students in the last twenty years, now, there are workforce training programs that have been designed to help people get good-paying jobs with having to earn a bachelor’s degree. In 2019, there was a push made by the White House to prioritize workforce development and promote jobs in technology, manufacturing and skilled trades. Rather than getting a college degree, students can earn a certification or credential to pursue these types of jobs.
6. More Time for Teachers
According to McKinsey, teachers work fifty hours a week, with less than half of that time spent in direct interaction with students. With technology, teachers can spend 20 to 30 percent of their time on activities that support student learning. Technology can help teachers cut down on the time they spend prepping, or help them find lesson plans that are even more transparent and effective. Further, advances in natural-language processing make it possible for computers to assess and give detailed, formative feedback across long-form answers in all subject areas. There’s no limit as to how technology can serve to help, not hinder, teaching.
7. Predictive Analytics
Uses historical data to recognize patterns and assess likely outcomes using machine learning or statistical techniques. They can be used for a wide range of uses, from calculating student demand for a certain course or identifying students at risk of transferring, dropping out, or failing.
8. AR and VR
Virtual reality can be used to enhance student engagement. As VR education works on the premise of creating a virtual world — in real time— it allows users not only see it but also interact with it. Students are immersed in what they’re learning, increasing engagement. It also requires less cognitive load to process the information. Similarly, augmented reality expands the physical world by adding layers sound, video and graphics onto what we already see. Both technologies make learning experiences more entertaining for kids.
9. Digital Credential Technologies
Eliminating fraud has become easier thanks to these technologies. Blockchain and data encryption, coupled with professional networking sites, are changing how higher education credentials are delivered. Higher education, student and faulty these are part of are starting to anticipate the ability to freely and quickly exchange credentials, which enhances the recruitment and verification process, according to Gartner.
10. Hybrid integration platforms
Cloud-based business applications continue to appeal to education systems, resulting in a hybrid adoption of cloud and on-premises systems. This approach requires the presence of the institution’s CRM and learning management system (LMMS) tools, according to Gartner.
Stefanini and Education
Students are more tech-savvy than ever and expect their education to include high-quality digital learning experiences. Our advisory, application, infrastructure, and digital solutions provide the technology and services you need to support modern students. For more information, visit this link.
