Lucy - BQ Magazine EditorMost people going into learning today would never remember a time when technology wasn’t involved in education. Whether it’s early computers, laptops, or smartphones, or the effect of AI, technology has impacted all of the industries, including education, which means that the revolution is still happening.
If there is one area where technologies have had the most impact, it’s the classroom. They’re reshaping the way that people learn. And yet, nowadays, the student has become the master because of the valuable information that they have access to. There was once a time when we had to use encyclopedias and go to paper libraries, and now everything is found at the tip of your fingers on the Internet.
AI in higher education has changed the way we look at academic writing and AI has also changed the way that we study. If you consider piano lessons, used to be an impossible skill to learn without a physical piano, but it’s now possible thanks to the help of technology.
A tutor doesn’t have to come to your house, and you don’t even have to put your hands on an actual piano. You can take online lessons on the go with the help of your phone or tablet. Everything that you learn can be learned online, but that doesn’t necessarily get you a formal education. So let’s take a look at how technology is changing how we learn.
Collaborative Learning
Before technology wormed its way into education, the focus was always on individual-based courses. People used to study together around tables, sure, but collaborative learning was at a minimum. Now that we have access to video learning, even those who are taking 100% online courses can still collaborate with others.
Learning is a collaborative activity because of the integration of technological learning methods. Students can solve problems together by working together, no matter where they are in the world. COVID taught us that when we teach people from home, they can still get together as a classroom using the Internet.
Active learning
Education was always a largely passive activity and dependent on the teacher and the methods used to communicate the content to their kids in the class. Technology has shifted it though, from traditional or passive learning to active learning, where students have a more important role. People can diversify their learning and take their content online to learn in a way that makes sense for them. Students are also no longer empty containers that can be filled by hours and hours of lecturing.
The expectations have also changed with the integration of technology and immersive learning. This means that kids are more receptive in the classroom when they have more of a say in how they should be taught. You cannot teach a fish to climb a tree, after all.
Personalisation
Because education has become largely active due to technological developments and learning platforms, it makes learning on the go possible. Just consider Duolingo. Everything you learn via Duolingo is personalised to your level of learning and where you are.