Technology has touched every corner of modern life: how we order food, communicate with colleagues, digest the news, trade stocks… the list goes on ad infinitum.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that technology also shapes one of society’s cornerstone institutions: education. Some people mistakenly think of education as a fixed, unchanging principle; however, like everything else in the world, it evolves and adapts. And how education evolves will have profound impacts on the future.
Below, explore the four most significant ways technology is shaping education – from online schools to artificial intelligence.
The Rise of Online, Self-Paced Learning
The biggest news story over the last two decades in education has been the rise of online learning. Once a niche practice, online education has become a viable rival to brick-and-mortar schools at almost every level – elementary, secondary and post-secondary.
One of the most interesting by-products of this meteoric rise has been a similar rise in “self-paced learning.” By nature, the best online schools are self-paced, meaning they follow an asynchronous model where each student sets their own schedule and speed.
Pedagogical experts often champion this model because it allows for personalization (a concept we’ll explore in more detail below). Self-paced learning allows challenged students to take their time and unchallenged students to work ahead. Further, it urges all students to practice soft skills like self-motivation and effective time management. To learn more about how online self-paced education works, visit the Ontario eSecondary School website for resources.
Emerging Technology in the Classroom
Whereas online schools are noteworthy for their ubiquity, emerging technology in the classroom is noteworthy for how novel it is. Emerging tech integration is still in its nascent stages in the education industry, but a few forward-thinking schools are starting to test its potential.
For instance, some universities are leveraging augmented reality to train surgery students; engineering departments are using machine learning to model earthquake-proof public infrastructure; and some pioneering history programs employ virtual reality to immerse students in archaeology and ancient civilizations.
AI, Curriculum Design and Personalized Education
As mentioned, personalization is a trendy topic in education today. Essentially, it refers to the concept of tailoring an education plan to each student’s proficiency levels, interests, learning speed, and learning style. Instead of a “one-size-fits-all” academic approach, each student gets the education they need and deserve.
Naturally, this lofty goal would have appeared impossible a decade ago – far too much work for a single teacher to assume. However, the advent of AI-powered curriculum design is making it a fast-approaching reality. Soon, we expect to see education systems and administrators turn to artificial intelligence to analyze data on students, pinpoint areas for improvement, and create detailed personal learning plans.
Gamification and Student Engagement
Gamification is a buzzy subject in education right now. Cribbing inspiration from game theory, the concept applies principles like rewards, quests and other “video game principles” to curricula, using digital programs and apps to create an immersive experience. Proponents of the practice contend that it hones problem-solving abilities, fosters collaboration among students, establishes positive reinforcement, and increases student engagement.
Like the other points on this list, gamification meets students at their level. It implicitly acknowledges the lived experiences of students (their love of video games, in this case) and builds a teaching philosophy around that.
The four sections above cover the most significant ways technology shapes education – but they aren’t the only ways. Keep an ear to the ground for further technological changes to education.