In recent years, technology in education has been a key area of focus for school teachers. The rapid adoption of all things digital in every other facet of life has encouraged innovation in how technology in education can be used to provide a better learning experience for students. And given how quickly tech continues to evolve, the difference between the classrooms of now and ten years from now will be far larger. Where exactly technology in education is headed is unclear, but it’s still fun to predict what your classroom might just look like in a decade.
Cloud computing will declutter the classroom of the next decade
Cloud computing is already an ingrained feature for business, with companies using platforms like Google Drive to collaborate and share information. Its application in the classroom is equally far reaching. In the future, assignments, coursework, tests, and learning resources will exist exclusively in the cloud, precluding the need for stacks of stationery, text books, and exam papers. Cloud computing will also allow teachers and learners to access the learning environment from anywhere, as long as there’s an internet connection. Will the concept of working from home carry over to education too? Your classroom will contain fewer books, less stationery and maybe even fewer students if cloud computing encourages the move towards virtual classrooms.
Portable electronic devices will replace textbooks and exercise books, and allow learning to happen anytime and anywhere
The back to school preparations at the beginning of a new school year involving trips to the stationery shop and the sharpening of pencils are unlikely to be a feature of school life in 10 years. Instead, personal electronic devices will be the epicentre of a student’s learning environment. From here they’ll complete assignments, keep track of curriculums, monitor their progress, interact with fellow learners, and communicate with teachers. This will give teachers and students far greater flexibility for where, how and when they conduct classes.
Gaming will become a huge part of the teaching models of the future
The current model of teaching (generally) involves a teacher feeding students information, expecting students to assimilate it, and then setting practical and written exercises to test whether the students have learned it. This model may have served education for hundreds of years, but it needs to align with the ways people today consume and interact with information and each other. The internet and electronic devices have shortened attention spans and also encouraged greater connectivity between people through online communities. Gaming – be it through apps, consoles or online – is a massive phenomenon that we think will become a huge part of the teaching model of 10 years time. We’re imagining gaming hubs in schools and classrooms that incorporate augmented reality and allow students to engage with learners in other schools across the globe.
Touchscreens will allow for more engaging lessons and greater personalisation of each student’s learning experience
Touchscreens have become an integral part of how we operate: from smartphones and tablets, to information screens in malls and ATMs. LCD touchscreens are certain to become a mainstay in classrooms too. We’ve already mentioned that the current teaching model of standing in front of a classroom reciting information to students will evolve. Instead of these touchscreens standing at the front of the classroom, these screens will be positioned at various points in the classroom, around which small groups of students can congregate. Not only will lessons be more interactive and engaging, a more personalised learning experience can be delivered too.
Usability and integration are key qualities of any learning tool that’s well and truly entrenched in the 21st century, and beyond. Skooler’s learning management system allows seamless integration with Office 365 so that you can teach and your students can learn more effectively. If technology in education is your priority, sign up for our webinar to learn more about how we can help bring your classroom into the digital age.
Do you want more tips and tricks? Try our Skooler webinars:
