In 2019, the value of educational technology in the world stood at 76.4 billion dollars. Between 2020 and 2027, the projected growth rate is 18.1%. The increase in the use of smart devices and internet connectivity further fuels a boom in EdTech. Educational tech is changing how learning takes place, especially in universities. More institutions are looking for ways to digitize the learning process, which enables things like distant learning.
Despite the efforts, statistics show that universities in the US and UK do not meet students' expectations. Their digitally-focused nature makes it hard to meet all their digital needs. Universities must further explore ways to implement tech in learning. Here are some of them:
Improved Collaboration
Technology has improved how people connect, including students. Almost all university students have access to a mobile phone, which enables them to communicate with their colleagues at all times. This ensures a constant connection among all students. When students miss classes, they can request notes quickly and catch up. It is also possible to access recordings of lectures, which comes in handy when one misses a class.
Students can easily create study groups where they share information like useful learning links, various guides, essay service reviews, etc., that make learning easier. They can create their online learning platform for their specific course.
University Apps
Universities are increasingly adopting social media platforms such as Facebook, where they share important information. However, social media platforms tend to crowd with information. This makes it difficult to focus on announcements from the school. Therefore, some institutions find it necessary to have a school app where they post all information concerning the school. They can give information on fun social events, admission dates, academic news, etc.
School apps ensure students never miss out on any school happenings. Students can also make inquiries or give their recommendations easily. For example, they can request to have specific speakers at a school event. Through school apps, universities can efficiently respond to such preferences.
Improving Retention
Technology plays a huge role in meeting the diverse needs of students. Universities are now incorporating technology to ensure students have a connection to the services they need. Universities connect students to academic support, financial aids, and essential schedules such as classes or dining hall hours. Such provisions make learning easier and improve the safety of the students. The retention rate also increases as a result.
Giving All Students a Voice
In most cases, students who share their opinions in public settings such as classrooms are extroverted. The introverts do not get a chance to express themselves. However, with education technology, all students can share their sentiments, as they have an equal platform.
Platforms like Today's Meet and SurveyMonkey allow students to collaborate and express their thoughts. They can start online discussions, which replaces the need for papers and physical talks. More sharing of ideas improves learning in institutions and makes the process active.
Simulations and Models
Sometimes, it is difficult for students to understand traditional learning concepts as they cannot visually make them out. Through EdTech, lecturers can explore teaching materials and explain concepts outside the traditional classroom. Simulation tools allow teachers to develop visual content out of abstract concepts that are more interactive. Students can carry out procedures involved in learning without the risk of accidents from the environment or the equipment.
Through simulation, students can practice their theoretical concepts in a real-world setting. Simulation tools also give students standardized feedback and track their progress, which aids considerably in the development of skills. While the initial cost of simulation tools could be high, the long-term price is fair.
Development in Research
The internet provides a ton of information, which is a massive asset in research. Students can access a lot of books, journals, and other research materials online. Massive search engines like Google allow students to find information from all over the world, which enriches their research tremendously. They can also store the information on the cloud, which makes access easier.
Students can save specific pages that are relevant to their research and refer to them later. They avoid the stress of flipping through numerous books. This gives them more time to acquire research materials, which advances the quality of their research.
Advanced Assessment
EdTech not only allows lecturers to digitize their lessons but also transforms assessment. Lecturers can gauge the student's process more efficiently. There is software that gives real-time feedback on how the student is doing. This is through statistics like how long it takes to solve particular problems or assignments. The statistics update every time, which gives a clear insight into the ability of the students. Lecturers also know when individual students are improving or not.
Conclusion
Technology is here to stay. The revolutions the world is experiencing now are set to increase in the future. Education is one of the sectors that will experience extreme change. Currently, EdTech allows students to complete degrees from any part of the world without physically visiting a campus. Such revolutionary changes have set the stage for many more changes.
.jpg)
