This technology-driven world has undoubtedly revolutionized the world as we speak. The cutting-edge software solutions have brought a significant and necessary change within many sectors – be it trading, publishing, manufacturing, space programs, gaming, online banking, and so much more.
However, one aspect that technology has played an important part in furthering to unimaginable height is education. The countless channels and possibilities that technological solutions opened for educational growth are phenomenal, to say the least – not only assisting students globally but also disrupting how professors present their lectures even.
Educational technology has become one of the integral wheels pushing the cart of enlightenment forward. So much so that the US alone has spent more than $13 billion on education technology, alone. However, the fundamental dynamics of education haven’t altered, but ‘how’ they are carried out, sure did.
Let’s explore the positive impact of technology on the educational sector.
1) Online Learning Content
Learning is no longer limited to a physical classroom and a teacher, but in fact, has transcended to high dimensions where the sky is the limit. Now, all it takes is a device and an internet connection – and you can learn from anyplace, anywhere, and at any given time. There is so much learning content available in various formats, which include e-books, scholarly articles, educational blogs, YouTube videos, and even educational mobile apps for all existing platforms and play stores.
With mobile application development companies gaining momentum more than ever, the e-learning or self-learning mobile apps have become in excess for everyone to use on a few clicks, opening a gateway to various learning material.
Statista estimates that the e-learning market worldwide will surpass 243 billion US dollars – which is a massive number and showcases the demand for e-learning or for ‘educational material on the tip of the finger.’ Truly marvelous times.
2) Catering to Special Needs Students
Receiving a quality education is no longer the luxury available for the students with little to no disabilities. Previously, with little awareness on how to teach children with special needs and no technology to assist through the process, these children would be left behind in the race. However, the entire educational landscape has been disrupted with cutting edge educational technology meeting the unique needs at their own pace and time – giving them with quality learning and helping them stay ahead with other children.
Whether there are disabilities are development, intellectual, social, or speech-related – technology coupled with Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and data science and various other modern tools are continually pushing the boundaries further in order to cater to special needs students in the best and most efficient of ways.
3) Easy Access to High-Quality Education
The idea of gaining specialization from the comfort of your own house was not imaginable several years back, and today, it hasn’t just become a reality but common practice by various reputable institutions that provide online degrees and diplomas. Similarly, the classes that are conducted have also become entirely virtually through a software that enables the professors to deliver their lectures online without ever meeting their students in person.
This easy access to education virtually has allowed students from all around the world to gain access to some of the best professors available online – this also includes students of third world countries, where finding capable instructors is challenging. Also, those students struggling to find a particular program within their state can seek online without having to compromise on their interests and passions.
This brings to another aspect of student life that educational technology has changed for the better.
4) Flexibility in Time
The virtual classrooms, online degree programs, and even online training camps have allowed people from all walks of life to gain quality education without having to compromise on their schedules. Whether they are full-time mothers, fathers, employees looking to continue further education, working students, sportsmen with a strict schedule, and anyone really – can benefit in terms of time flexibility e-schooling offers.
Moreover, adding to the freedom that virtual schools bring, submitting homework when time permits is an added benefit, as you do not have to worry about strict deadlines and stressful environment.
5) Un-Biased Grading
Since we are discussing education that is entirely online, it is a given that so are the tests that follow after each lecture. However, one of the exciting things about online tests is that more often than not, these tests are graded by a machine that checks the answers against an answer sheet and corrects whatever is wrong – this leaves no room for bias-ness from professors’ end.
Additionally, it also helps students that are time-restricted and can easily log into their devices and start the test, provided they have a stable internet connection. As for the tests that do require a teacher to grade them still won’t allow bias-ness as they are not acquainted with their students on a personal level – something physical schools allow.
6) Personalized Learning Experience
Online classrooms have opened multiple avenues to gain an education. Since every student is different, if one is facing a specific difficulty, they can easily find numerous technologies, tools, and reference material to dabble into in order to grasp whatever that was posing a certain challenge.
It’s not just the learning material that is on the fingertips, but also the varying degree of tools and technologies helping students to absorb learning material at a faster pace – faster than traditional ways of acquiring education.
7) Reducing Cost of Education
Technological advancements in the educational sector have allowed significant reductions in cost, making it accessible to students from all financial backgrounds. Think about it – all material is available online in the form of PDFs, e-books, PowerPoint presentations, and whatnot. On the other hand, there is not the cost of physical institutions to worry about, because you are making use of your own resources.
Summing Up
The inclusion of technology in our everyday life has made the transition of online education a natural process, one that doesn’t feel alien or different from the rest. Educational technology has made education fun, interactive, and updated with the latest additions, research, and news.