Recent developments in technology are having a significant impact on how education is conducted. Gone are the days when students had to physically attend a school that was close to their home or work so they could spend hours each day studying. With the rise of online learning, this has changed dramatically!
Online courses have become increasingly popular as many people feel it’s more convenient to complete them from anywhere. Not only can you complete your studies while sitting at your own pace, but you also do not need to invest in transportation equipment like laptops and tablets. This removes one of the major hurdles for some learners – feeling uncomfortable using new technology.
There are several other reasons why these educational mediums are becoming more prevalent. Many parents want their children to be successful and enjoy learning, which often means giving them access to good quality teaching and materials. For others, due to employment opportunities, there is no longer an incentive to learn because they don’t require much training. A growing number of jobs can be done remotely, making it easier to focus on career development.
This article will talk about some ways that digital technology can play a role in improving the way we educate our kids. It will discuss both benefits and drawbacks, and suggest strategies for helping yourself determine what level of involvement is needed in the classroom setting.
Disclaimer: The content written here should should not be construed as financial advice, legal guidance, or medical recommendation along with all possible outcomes thereof.
Online classes are gaining popularity
One of the newer trends in education is online courses. These can be done via school districts that offer them, or individual instructors who create their own accounts to make learning materials accessible from anywhere you have internet access. This removes one of the major barriers to attending college – where students need to have an adequate computer and reliable wifi to be able to take advantage of what educational opportunities they’ve been given.
Online courses come with some advantages and disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage is cost. It can be more expensive than taking traditional classes because there aren’t always fees associated with using academic resources.
There is also no way to assess how well someone is doing in class when they are not meeting in person. There are ways to include mechanisms for feedback and chat, but it cannot replace personal interaction.
However, many people feel that getting your instructional material through YouTube and other media sites makes things less rigorous due to content that may be vague or designed to appeal to the audience rather than educate properly.
Teachers are using technology to enhance their teaching methods
Over the past few years, there have been many developments in education that have helped teachers improve the learning process for students. These educational enhancements include things like interactive whiteboards, laptops, tablets, and smartphone apps.
Interactive boards such as the one used here at our school can be very helpful. Not only do they allow for easy sharing of documents and pictures, but you can also use them to create and edit presentations which can help you teach more effectively.
Laptops and tablet devices make it easier to give lessons from anywhere since you don’t need a classroom setting. This is especially useful when traveling or if a teacher needs some time to refresh before class starts.
Tablets also make it possible to easily access resources and materials. The student can either use their own device or bring theirs to learn from these apps.
Interactive whiteboards are becoming more common
Over the past few years, interactive whiteboard (IWB) technology has been getting increasingly popular in educational settings. IWBs were originally designed to be used as an alternative way to present information and/or lessons. Students would use them to learn by writing down notes, studying material out of their book or app, and then using it to discuss the concept with their peers.
These days, most IWBS come equipped with features such as touch-screen functions, voice activation, computer software that can connect to other devices, etc. This new feature allows for much more versatile uses than just teaching!
Some teachers have made modifications to their IWB’s to allow students to create lesson plans via the device. They can upload learning materials and assignments, use the camera to take pictures or videos, and even add digital decorations like illustrations and fonts. All of these additions make IWBs very accessible to low income students who may not otherwise have access to technology.
Overall, IWBs have become one of the top student engagement tools. Because they are easy to use and relatively inexpensive, many schools no longer need to invest in older model IWBs.
Online tutoring is expanding
One of the most significant ways that technology is improving education today is through online learning. This can be done in a variety of formats, from completely free resources like YouTube lessons or courses on Udemy to paid services like TutorVista or StudyPower.
There are many benefits to offering such opportunities online. For one, it cuts down on transportation costs for students who live far away from their school. It also offers more time flexibility for people with busy schedules, as they can log into the resource at any time and learn when it fits into their schedule best.
These tools have become indispensable sources of educational content for millions of students around the world.
Hackathons are school-based competitive programming events
Recent trends in education include using technology to improve learning and teaching. Educational tech tools like Chromebooks, interactive whiteboards, and Google Apps for Schools have become commonplace across America.
Many schools now use these technologies as part of their curriculum. For example, teachers may assign students digital assignments such as creating an article or taking notes via PDF on their phone. Students can then access and complete them from any device they own with internet access.
This is called student-centered learning and has been linked to improved academic performance. By giving students more choice over how they learn, they feel more motivated to pay attention and retain information.
Another educational tech trend that’s getting lots of buzz is hackathons. These occur when different teams work together to create new apps or software programs in a limited amount of time.
The best app winners are typically chosen not only on what product they made, but also how well they marketed it and what features people love about it. This concept was first popularized by Steve Jobs during his keynote speeches at Apple launch events.
Students are using technology to keep themselves more organized
With all of the distractions students face these days, it can be hard to focus in school. For some, this doesn’t seem like a bad thing though! If you’re someone who loves jumping around from one activity to another, then staying focused on lesson plans may not be your strongest skill.
For others, however, being distracted is actually a problem because they feel that they don’t know how to concentrate on what’s going on. These people might find studying difficult or even impossible.
There have been many studies done about how well kids retain information compared to 30 years ago. However, what most researchers agree upon is that today’s children learn less effectively than their predecessors.
This is due to two main reasons- digital media makes it too easy to stay idle and distractible, and teachers use shorter and simpler lessons with little context.
It is important to note that both of these factors contribute to why student knowledge levels are declining.
If you’re worried about how well your child learns, try introducing them to educational apps that can help improve learning. There are several free apps that can do this. Some make money via advertising, while others are totally free.
We’ve picked out five of our favorite education app fandoms below. All of these apps have features that can boost academic performance such as creating assignments, tracking homework, and providing feedback.
Online journals are a great way to keep students motivated
One of the biggest issues that face education these days is how to get everyone to show up and attend class. With classes being increasingly online, there has been a rise in students using web-based resources to learn.
Many universities have replaced paper textbooks with an online learning platform where users can access content at no cost. This cuts down on student spending, as well as creating less waste by avoiding the process of buying new books every semester.
These platforms also give students around the world equal access to educational material, which was not possible before. Only those who could afford expensive tuition were able to take advantage of such opportunities.
By offering content through digital media, educators are giving people of all income levels access to knowledge. It is not only helpful for students, but it is important for their personal development as well.
Online courses allow you to connect with other students and discuss topics, making this medium more interactive than just listening to a lecture once. There are even forums where students talk about different things related to the course.
Online courses are affordable
One of the biggest reasons why people choose online education is because it’s much more cost-effective than traditional classroom settings. Because you aren’t traveling to a different location, buying or renting a room, and paying for food and transportation, attending an online school can be one-third to half as expensive! This makes online education a much better option if you’re struggling to pay off student loans or tuition bills.
There are many great resources available to students at any level via digital technology. You don’t need advanced software expertise to use these tools effectively. Some free apps and services that have been used in educational contexts include Google Classroom, YouTube, Slack, and Discord.
By offering our content through various mediums like blogs, social media channels, and video lessons, we are providing low-cost alternatives to conventional teaching methods. It’s important to remember that learning doesn’t end when the class does, so continue exploring ways to motivate yourself and your peers outside of the classroom setting.
