In the past, we used to joke that one day technology will take over the world. With its constant advancements and changes, we’re now living in this reality. Education has not been immune from these changes.
Over the years, many improvements have been made to the way we teach through the introduction of different technologies. With the help of United Carlton, print management software providers, we look at how technology has improved the classroom experience and what the education system could look like in the future.
How is the use of technology in education?
Blackboards and chalk are in the past, as digital solutions make their way into the classroom. Universities, colleges, high schools, primary schools and even nurseries have adopted technology into their classrooms to deliver a better learning experience for all – not only does this provide young people with a better education, it gives them the preparation they need for what has now become a tech-savvy working world.
Tablet devices are now being used in 68% of primary schools in the UK, whereas 69% of secondary schools are using them, according to a study carried out by Barbie Clarke of the Family, Kids and Youth research group. 9% of these schools said that there was a tablet device for every pupil studying at their establishment.
For the remaining schools that do not have tablet devices in place, 45% of them said that it was something they were looking at introducing in the future. In 2014, it was reported that there were 430,000 tablets in education establishments and this figure was expected to rise to over 900,000 by 2016 – however, no confirmation result has been released.
What is the technology in use for?
Tablets and other gadgets are making lessons more interactive regardless of the subject, encouraging more pupil participation. It can also improve the retention rate of learners. By catering to different types of learners, pupils are more likely to retain the information over a teacher simply reading from a textbook.
Lessons can also be personalised to the learners needs, whether this is teaching through the use of games, music and even e-books. Another benefit is that teachers now have the ability to search for materials they need online, allowing them to access additional resources where required.
Not only that, technology is now being used for online lessons, otherwise known as webinars. Teachers are able to connect with a group of students remotely. This is most prominent in university and colleges, although it can also be used for younger children to teach them a specific subject or module. Exams can also be taken online which has shown a huge shift in the traditional methods.
The future of the education system
Sir Anthony Seldon from the University of Buckingham claims that within the next 10 years, artificial intelligence (AI) will cause a shift in how we teach students. Although teachers will still have a job in the classroom, they will act as assistants only while letting the AI device teach the lesson. Essentially, teachers will control classroom behaviour rather than actually teach.
Seldon commented “It will open up the possibility of an Eton or Wellington education for all.”
It is said that this type of technology will be personalised. It will help students progress in the best way possible, as the device is capable of recognising how quickly a student learns so that they gain the most from their lessons. It will be able to work with the pace of the students, setting tasks accordingly.
As the use of technology continues to grow, it’s evidently going to have an impact on how the education works and how it will work in the future!
You must be logged in to post a comment.