How Has Technology Changed Education? And How Will It?

The advent of technology has transformed the traditional classroom into a dynamic learning environment. Gone are the days when teaching was confined to textbooks and blackboards. Today, digital tools and online resources have taken centre stage, making learning more engaging and stimulating.

With tools like interactive whiteboards, students are no longer passive receivers of knowledge; they actively participate, collaborate, and engage in the learning process.

81% of students feel that digital technologies improve their grades and efficiency. 82% of respondents confirmed that tech devices and digital learning tools allow them to spend more time studying through increased accessibility.

Over the years, technology has played a pivotal role in reshaping educational landscapes, making learning more accessible, interactive, and efficient. But how exactly has technology changed education, and what can we expect from the future?

What is educational technology?

The process of enhancing learning and teaching performance through the use of tangible hardware, software, and other technical resources is known as educational technology, or “ed-tech.” Examining how ed-tech has fundamentally changed education’s future and challenged conventional teaching methods is fascinating.

By developing fresh and creative approaches to encourage children’s and students’ critical thinking and creativity, educators and educational institutions are improving their teaching strategies. This new method of instruction occasionally involves pupils using tablets for writing and reading, playing computer games, and using computers to learn how to code.

Since computer programming and coding will eventually play a crucial role in our daily lives, everyone should learn how to use technology to further their education. Children can develop their problem-solving, logical reasoning, cause-and-effect, and critical thinking skills by learning programming and coding. This is just one of the many benefits of technology in education.

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5 ways technology has changed education

The way students learn will continue to evolve for years when it comes to ICT in education, but let’s take a look at how education technology has impacted learning to the present day:

Virtual Reality

Researchers and technology businesses used to be the only ones with access to advanced simulation and modelling tools. These days, the solutions are so widely available that teachers can incorporate them into their lessons with ease.

With the aid of these resources, students can engage with their subject matter in a far more dynamic and visual manner. Now, educators are able to design interactive learning environments that reflect actual events and circumstances.

Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the simulation technologies that is already transforming education in the future. Through the integration of virtual items into the physical world, augmented reality offers students the opportunity to engage with virtual representations of concepts. It has been demonstrated that this makes it easier for them to learn and retain new information.

Online tools and learning content

Books and films served as the primary teaching resources in the typical classroom learning environment. With the widespread availability of digital learning resources online, this has significantly changed.

86% of e-learning graduates think their courses were a good investment and the cost of it was worth the value provided.

Thanks to blogs, digital education platforms, and online learning courses, knowledge is now accessible to all. Anyone can learn more easily as a result, regardless of age, region, or income level.

Personalisation and adaptability

It is already widely known that Gen Z and millennials demand more individualised goods and services. Consequently, it should come as no surprise that similar preferences are shared in the educational setting and that younger generations of students have higher expectations for customised instructional materials.

A teacher would not have had enough time in the past to modify a lesson plan for each unique student. But with so many digital learning resources at their disposal, students can learn however best suits them without requiring more time from their lecturers.

The role of teachers

Teachers’ roles are evolving as a result of the growing usage of technology in the classroom. Digital technologies are starting to change the role of teachers at all learning levels, even if they are still present in the classroom.

It is now expected of students to have greater ownership and responsibility for their own learning education. These days, teachers put more of an emphasis on teaching students how to learn, analyse material, and carry out independent research using the internet and smart devices than just imparting knowledge.

Collaborative learning

While a large number of colleges and institutions have shifted to offering classes online, this does not always mean that collaborative learning has become less common. On the other hand, students have more resources than ever before at their disposal to collaborate.

With the use of virtual classrooms and specialised collaboration software, students can collaborate more readily on group assignments or courses. Students participate actively and exchange ideas both within and outside of the classroom much more easily.

What lies ahead for the future of educational technology?

Since technological advancements have unquestionably been the biggest development in recent years, we can be very sure that they will continue to be important in the future.

The advances in education brought about by technology will have been gradual as well as beneficial. Rather than schools being (almost) unrecognisable due to a complete technological takeover, advancements in present technology and a persistent focus on new trends will be the norm, putting more information and accessibility at our fingertips.

Additionally, there will be a shift in how we obtain this data. We could witness a transition in education towards greater interaction, from online learning platforms to more customised learning experiences that include virtual and augmented reality. 

In place of traditional lecture-based, note-taking teaching methods, there may be a stronger emphasis on problem-solving and cooperation to better prepare students for the workplace.

Looking for IT support services for your education technology?

In summary, edtech’s future holds a world full of creativity, cooperation, and expansion. Educators and educational technology companies can maintain their leadership position in this rapidly evolving field by keeping up with developing trends and modifying their strategy accordingly.

Educational organisations can benefit from Binary Blue’s provision of IT support services for schools. Whether you only need ongoing maintenance to avoid downtime or you want a full Edtech overhaul of your setup to use new tools, we have the expertise you need and a plan that will work for you.

Our team of experts will analyse your current setup in addition to making recommendations for a new infrastructure and locating and installing any additional tools or equipment you require. We can also provide staff training so they can use your new Edtech products with competence and knowledge as needed.

Get in contact with us right now for further details.

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How technology has changed education FAQs

How has technology changed collaborative learning?

Technology integration makes it possible for learning to be more student-centred than teacher-centred. Collaboration between educators and students helps students grasp various concepts in an efficient manner.

How digital trends are shaping teaching?

The way that technology has evolved in education has been revolutionary, transforming traditional classrooms into cutting-edge digital learning spaces. Technology integration has improved engagement, individualised learning, and information availability.

What value does the use of technology give teachers?

Teachers now have the chance to establish new connections with their students via technology. It makes it possible to establish new channels of communication and use the Internet to present course material to students in a fresh way, both of which can be highly beneficial.