Technology is transforming education at an unprecedented pace, pushing educators beyond the confines of the traditional classroom and providing students with new learning opportunities in the classroom. Do you need signals? I have a big one: the global educational technology market is growing rapidly, with a present value of €254 billion, and forecast to more than double by 2027, with an estimate of €695 billion.
What will the future bring to the classroom? Here are 3 technologies that could shape education.
Augmented reality
One of the probable turning points of the sector. In the future, most likely from the next decade, students will use the same wearable devices in the classroom that will allow them to explore the world without hunching over a smartphone.
For educators, AR will make classroom teaching easier and more effective. They will be able to transfer data and insights in real time, literally in the eyes of the pupils. And because augmented reality provides contextual relevance, understanding won't have much interference. With AR they will be able to make complex things understood by "enriching" the real world with interactive examples.
The nature of this technology makes it harder to divert attention, and perhaps this will also shape the length of an AR session in the classroom. Not bad, there will be more time for comparisons and exchanges of observations on what has just been seen.
Cloud computing
If AR is a technology of perspective, cloud computing is already literally transforming the education sector: a trend that will consolidate in a few years, assuming globally recognized forms and standards.
Consider the DAD seen in the pandemic as a "primitive omen", and from necessity move on to evaluating opportunities. Imagine being able to do homework anywhere, anytime, without having to carry heavy textbooks to the classroom. Thanks to a robust, simple and widespread cloud, students will be able to access assignments and teaching materials with flexibility and freedom never seen before.
Digital libraries in the cloud will transform physical ones, which will have more spaces to host readers and cultural activities. Tests and assignments for students will travel at the speed of light (with a predominance for quizzes and oral tests, especially if it is not possible to curb the creation of written assignments with artificial intelligence: this is a challenge). There may be cycles of lessons that even non-registered people will be able to follow, as "auditors", in unpublished school webinars. In summary: whether the classroom is in person or remotely, education and learning will be more accessible and convenient for everyone.
3D printing in the classroom
Imagine a future where the 3d printing it is within reach for anyone. Engineering students, in particular, will benefit enormously from this technology: with 3D printing, they will be able to create small models that will help them develop and refine their designs before submitting final prototypes. Moreover, they will be able to experiment freely without having to spend too much time on the technical details. And just like other subjects that teach theoretical concepts, 3D printing will make molecular structure easier to understand, giving students of all skill levels the ability to create a more engaging and innovative learning environment. Can't wait to see how this technology will revolutionize the way students learn and create!
3D printing is bound to find its place in the classroom as it allows students to visualize a structure as a whole or its individual parts, helping them to better understand concepts. With the spread of 3D printers, teachers will be able to better integrate prototyping into their teaching methods: seeing "the whole" of something helps students understand how what they observe works.
