Technology continuously changes our world beyond recognition, and its development, in one way or another, influences all aspects of our life. Education is not an exception in this, and the number of emerging technological trends that appear every year in this field is impressive.
Let’s explore the new education technologies emerging in 2020 and discuss its growing use in schooling, together with the benefits that students stand to gain.
#1. Learning Analytics
Nowadays, the majority of leading educational organizations are under pressure to make smart decisions concerning their digital strategies. The improvement of progress tracking and efficient application of analytical tools are becoming significant to the process of achieving any goal. Upgraded accounting of the learning curves and behavior of students allow the educators to form targeted improvements to studying.
Some of the methods of using the increasingly effective approach of learning analytics include:
- capturing data on how students interact to study and analyze the language they use
- modeling the connections of concepts, patterns, and elements in the learning process to identify and quantify how they work in cooperation
- conducting a content analysis of the student’s works, like essays, papers, projects, etc.
- gathering data regarding the attitude of the student to his own studying
- collecting information on the role of social interaction in the educational process
When used effectively, this collection and analysis of contextual data and learning patterns is fully capable of facilitating significant improvements in learning.
#2. Adaptive Learning
Each student has a unique style of studying and making sure the learning process suits every learner’s needs becomes more and more critical. For example, some students may struggle with writing an argumentative essay, while others do not show good results with their mathematical projects. Traditional evaluation methods work effectively in such cases, but additional usage of tech can significantly improve the efficiency of the whole educational process.
The basic principle of adaptivity in education is to modify the approach in response to the computer’s feedback on student’s performance. With the help of adaptive learning, algorithms can provide an educator with the data, which can improve the interaction with the student. It can vastly facilitate the overall learning process by ensuring more favorable conditions for the student to perform well.
#3. Augmented Reality (AR) and Simulations
Augmented reality has been around for a while now, and it definitely left a mark in a world of visuals. Yet, capturing the imagination of the human being is not the only purpose of this ever-developing technology. Today, it can significantly impact the learning process, and, according to multiple studies, it has massive potential in terms of helping students collaborate with teachers and study more efficiently.
AR has the potential to affect conventional studying significantly because limitations, like location and time, will cease to be a problem. New ways and methods should be introduced to make learning more creative and interactive. Learning materials can be accessed anytime and anywhere while high student interest and engagement make learning effortless, fun, and, most importantly, effective. The opportunities that augmented reality offers to the educational system are incredible, and this latest classroom trend justly takes a leading position.
#4. 5G Technologies
These days, it is not surprising that the learning process requires a high-speed wireless connection. Fast downloading speed can ensure a seamless learning experience. This is where 5G comes in – a fifth-generation wireless network. It is powerful enough to get the most out of studying by providing a better connection and creating favorable conditions for productive lessons.
Besides such benefits, like saving time for teachers and students, 5G will facilitate flexible learning. Continuing education outside the classroom will become easier than ever. Students will be able to access the same materials anywhere and with a similar level of interaction as in the school. In addition, one of the interesting suggestions that have been voiced concerning the potential educational value of 5G is a special feature in the form of a holographic teacher.
#5. Education Based on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
For sure, artificial intelligence is one of the most discussed technology trends in the world. Its smart and versatile approach towards a wide range of systems made everyone trust this fast-developing technological phenomenon. As for education, in 2020 it is set to experience a vast array of benefits of using artificial intelligence.
The focus of AI is pointed towards the identification of what a student knows by means of diagnostic testing. The system develops personalized models for each student based on their unique learning needs. For a teacher, to create a customized learning plan for 20+ students is possible, but time-consuming. Meanwhile, AI-based learning systems can cope with this task in a matter of minutes. However, one has to remember that there is no place for competition between people and machines, in terms of who can teach better because, ultimately, it’s all about cooperation.
In the nearest future, education is expected to go through a drastic transformation due to the increasing number of ever-evolving technology trends. The future is coming at us faster than we think, so keeping track of education-related technologies and their effective implementation is vital for taking the learning experience of every student to a whole new level.