6 Hot Topics in Educational Technology
As educational technology is taking a turn to drive learning down a different road, it is important that we try to understand the changes that would take place in this domain. To stay in the loop of constant growth, we should try to understand these revolutionary ideas that would soon shape our future. If there's one thing that remains constant in this field, its change. Newer technologies and methods to help students learn is now hitting the market at an accelerated pace, with each companies bringing forth a different perspective to what they think of learning to be.
Each of these technologies have bagged the title of being Trend Setters in the field of edtech. Without waiting any longer, here's what educational technology will bring to you by the end of 2019.
Computational Thinking
Don't let the name deceive you. Computational thinking is not just applicable to students who code or take computer classes. Teachers have found computational thinking to massively help any student from any background. All that it does is this: it helps students to logically plan ideas and solutions using reasoning, creativity and expression. It also helps in providing a new way to demonstrate content knowledge. Techniques that come under computational thinking, such as decomposition and generalizing, can be applied to any field of the educator's choosing, no matter the subject area.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
Students should be allowed to bring their own devices into their schools. With companies developing methods for mobile management to protect the data of schools and to make sure that students solely use it for learning, administrations can now view this tool to be of an instructional difference. A mobile device has shown an increase in productivity as well as engagement. This is also another way to bring about a one-on-one program, that could help students build on their efficiency. If you want to read more on this topic, do visit an earlier post I had written on the role of smartphones in education.
Professional Learning
What does professional learning do? Well, it helps people focus on providing knowledge through ongoing activities, that help them learn matter as the modules or activities move ahead. It's tailored to be used by anyone with any background, as it is differentiated, personalized and workday friendly for busy educators. Instead of using Professional development, which focuses on the work of a person, this makes learning fun and interesting, as people get the chance to engage and take part in what they learn. This gives an added focus to educators who wish to bring educational technology to their classrooms.
Artificial Intelligence
As explained in an article I had written before, Artificial Intelligence is taking the world by storm. A number of applications are produced to give the student and teacher a unique learning and teaching experience. Such applications focus on automating processes that would generally take up useful hours of both the student and teacher. AI provides solutions for helping students choose the right career paths that are now available in the job market. It also helps teachers in evaluating tests and assignments that provide insight into the student's performance and possible areas of improvement. More about this topic can be found here.
Global Learning
With the help of the Internet, we're able to connect to so many people from all around the world. This unlimited resource has provided with the ability to explore and learn as well, which is what Global Learning is all about. In short, it is an approach to learning about international development through understanding the importance of linking people's lives. The excitement about students participating in global learning will soon increase. Why, you ask? It helps them connect with their peers globally; peers that come from culturally and globally different issues. Students who have participated in global learning have addressed worldwide problems such as scarcity of food and water, climate change and refugee crises.
Student-centered Learning
This is one of educational technology's defining moments. The introduction of student-central learning into programs has brought a lot of changes to schools and administrations that have recently adopted this concept. It has been observed that schools that put students at the center, by providing them with the material they require and teaching them courses that interest them, have done far better than schools who have not yet adopted this method of teaching. Through this method of education, students feel empowered, and are more willing to learn in the process.
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