How Technology Is Changing the Business of Education
The emergence of powerful innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is revolutionizing classrooms around the world. Increasingly, engineers are creating empowering technologies that engage and resonate with students. Already, remarkable innovations that enhance learning are popping up in classrooms across the nation.
Simultaneously, the workforce is changing. In the past, college graduates would remain with the same employer until they retire. Now, however, it’s not uncommon for skilled workers to change employers, or careers for that matter, one or more times during their professional journey.
Ed-Tech Promotes Entrepreneurialism
A growing number of people among new generations, such as Millennials and Generation Z, want financial independence. They want their own opportunities and their own businesses. Technology is allowing them to do that.
Today, education is perpetual. The days of earning a degree, starting a profession, and learning the rest along the way are long gone. Now, for many professionals and entrepreneurs, continuing education is essential. More often than not, ongoing education is the only way to survive and thrive in a competitive environment.
Today’s growing abundance of online courses allows professionals to control their learning experience. With so many responsibilities, free time comes at a premium these days. Still, professionals and entrepreneurs must continually develop their skills to remain leaders in their respective fields.
Online classes deliver the flexibility that busy professionals demand. In addition, digital classrooms give today’s professionals the power to focus on information with real-world relevance for their industry.
Technology Is Accelerating Learning
Digital technology is taking learning to the next plateau. The latest training platforms allow educators to deliver personalized experiences and improve student learning outcomes. Moreover, innovations in education allow students and professionals to learn more in less time.
Educators who leverage the latest technological teaching innovations now have an unparalleled ability to customize lessons, and now more than ever, institutions are empowered to manage the student learning experience.
From iPads to whiteboards to desktop computers, today’s classrooms are filled with technology. These innovations are driving transformation in academia.
Educators are taking a lesson from for-profit organizations in leveraging technology to enable access to content. In addition, technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are empowering instructors with bold new capabilities. Furthermore, teachers can deliver lessons to students anywhere, at any time, and on nearly any Internet-connected device.
The Ed-Tech Industry: Early Growth Stage
Experts forecast that the ed-tech industry will grow to $93.76B by the year 2020. The field is greatly enhancing the quality of how educators can engage with students.
As an example, many students now use easily accessible cloud-based learning resources. In fact, most students take for granted the ability to store documents online for free.
It’s growing increasingly easy for the average student to gain access to powerful technologies such as voice recognition and applications that use artificial intelligence. While the average education technology user is unaware of the innovations that are making it easier to learn, school districts across the nation are enjoying extremely positive outcomes thanks to advancements in edtech.
Some school districts now issue devices such as laptops to enhance the student learning experience. These municipalities have noticed an average 10% increase in student advancement. In addition, they’ve also enjoyed a similar improvement in the number of students who meet or surpass education proficiency standards.
While the benefits of education technology are undeniable, change is difficult for many. There are some educators who would prefer to stick with tried and true teaching methods of the past. Nevertheless, the traditional classroom will give way to digital learning as positive outcomes become irrefutably apparent with time.
Ed-tech is enabling the future and promoting growth in STEM fields, data science, and other skilled disciplines. Advanced technologies, such as adaptive math education applications, are enabling students to learn at a level and pace unique to their needs.
Furthermore, adaptive teaching programs are replacing textbooks and enabling educators to track student progress and customize their learning paths. Because of these empowering capabilities, technology will certainly reshape the foundation of academia, and with each innovation that emerges in ed-tech, young learners will become more empowered to succeed in the workplace of the future.
Historically, the foundation of learning ensured that all students memorize a predetermined set of information. In the future, however, the learning paradigm will shift to teaching students how to satiate their curiosity and discover powerful educational concepts on their own.
