Skyrocketing advancements in technology have changed the landscape of the education industry. Education and technology are intricately interlinked, each powering the other the forward. Ground-breaking research at some of the reputed educational institutions has paved the way for numerous innovative tech developments. MOOCs, gamification, utilities like grammar checker tool, math problem solver, article spinners, etc., online academic writing services are prominent examples.
Today’s students will become the tech entrepreneurs and innovators of tomorrow, and tech-enhanced education systems play a significant role in their holistic academic & professional development.
In this era of globalization& capitalistic economic climate, it is foolhardy to ignore the commercial aspect of education. Whether it is aMassively Open Online Course platform or a physical establishment such as tuition centres or even schools. And, tech innovations in education are exerting a noticeable impact on every academic medium.
Let’s take a look at the technologies changing the face of the education industry.
Disruptive Educational Technologies & Their Commercial Implications
The education industry is undergoing rapid transformation due to technology. For an entrepreneur looking to start up a business in the sector, EdTech is a critical factor that will shape their business goals, strategies & models. Education technology lies at the heart of modern academia, as it intends to “facilitate learning and boost academic performance by creating opportunities and implementing & managing technological processes and resources.”
We begin with:
- The Internet
No other technology has been able to affect education as much as the Internet. The Internet lies at the heart of all up & coming e-learning business ventures and the go-to data knowledge repository for scholars at every level.
- Different types & scales of businesses in the education sector utilize the Internet to varying extents. For example, Massively Open Online Courseplatforms, one of the most famous & potent education businesses today, are centered around the Internet.
Khan Academy, edX, Coursera, Future Learn – none of these MOOC platforms would exist without the Internet.
- Another prominent business venture that leverages the World Wide Web’s extensive reach is online academic writing services. Assignment writing services use the Internet to extend professional assistance to students worldwide and often act as the primary source of information for their writers.
For any business in the education sector, the Internet is now a bare necessity and a critical cog in almost every business operation’s smooth running. Whether you are looking to start a multi-purpose school or aiming to launch an online academic tutorial service for students, the Web is the ultimate highway for communicating, interacting, and exchanging knowledge & information.
- Blended Learning
Entrepreneurs looking to get a promising start in the education sector will have to adapt to its rapidly transforming landscape. E-learning and blended learning are two such changes that need to be taken under careful consideration.
- Digital technologies and their widespread implementation in education have paved the way for e-learning & blended learning. Governments & educational policymakers are adopting these methods of dispensing knowledge with an increased emphasis on integrating technology across institutions & platforms.
- Blended learningis a highly effective support mechanism for tutors and professors at any level. Combining the best features of the classroom & e-learning can bring knowledge from around the world right into the classes. Projectors, 3D images, documentaries, game-based learning are teaching & training formats that fit seamlessly into the blended instructional model.
- The blended classroom has already made inroads into numerous academic institutions worldwide. Implementing blended learning at the school has been largely successful, and educational businesses need to address this while devising their model.
For example, an online or real-world tutorial business can connect with their students better through a blended approach and automatically be the first choice of students who are used to the method.
- AI and Data Science
These are two fields that witnessed drastic developments and extensive implementations all around in the past few years. The education sector is also fast adopting these two techs, primarily due to their concrete benefits.
- AI and machine learning are ushering in the era of automated education, where a dedicated system will evaluate, analyze and recommend appropriate learning materials & methods to pupils.
Many MOOC platforms leverage the power of AI and data analytics to automate course & material delivery, learn more insightful information about course participants and offer personalized learning modules.
- Adapting AI can pave the way for creating better learning environments. AI-based Learning Management Systems can deliver better & personalized access to lessons, presentations, training programs, courses, lectures, tests, and much more.
Learning management systems allow tutors and trainers to assign tasks, determine course structure and assess their competence level. AI-based LMS record the time spent on each task by every student and offer much more insightful information about every student’s performance capabilities.
- Curriculum automation, effective resource allocation, personalized learning, real-time assistance, and improved learner motivation are the enormous benefits of AI-assisted online education systems.
Business owners looking to move into the e-learning industry cannot afford to ignore AI’s advantages in the domain. Investing in infrastructure, systems, and resources for effective AI implementation is essential for keeping pace with the changing landscape and attaining better ROI on e-learning endeavors.
- Cloud, Fog & Edge Computing and IoT
The Internet of Technology is the network of intelligent devices and accessories connected via the Internet and other networking technologies. Smart sensors on electronic devices gather scores of information and act as data processing & storage centers. Every machine is interconnected and acts as a web of devices, capable of processing, delivering, collating & storing information.
- IoT has loads of potential in the education & learning sector. With the proliferation of intelligent devices and massive developments in networking & data processing systems, students can access information, attend lectures, go through courses, participate in evaluations & discussions, and experience holistic learning through technology’s auspices.
Tablets, smartphones, whiteboards, and every kind of device can be interconnected through IoT. IoT is paving the way for smart classrooms, and industry experts predict it to be worth a market cap of $ 11.3 billion by the end of 2023.
Businesses like tutorial centers and the like need to quickly implement IoT and dispense education much more effectively through smart classrooms.
- Cloud computing, fog computing, and edge computing are other aspects of IoT. While cloud computing has already been implemented by MOOCs, tutorials, and online writing services, fog & edge computing are also making their presence known in recent times. Smart devices and their interconnections allow data to be processed faster in local networks and devices, reducing time lags, latencies & downtimes.
Scalability, easy & swift accessibility, better accountability, improved information access, and heightened security are the most prominent features that make remote computing such an effective tool in the education industry.
Implementing such technologies can boost operational performance, improve results, and increase almost every learning-based business’s profitability.
- VR and AR
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality help learners grasp & understand things better through practical simulations. VR and AR are already being implemented in different academic and professional training sources. Investing in simulated reality systems can seem a bit costly for most educational businesses out there but have the potential to create a highly effective learning environment.
- Better immersion and interaction allow learners to learn faster and better. VR and AR can break the monotony of learning and make classroom-based learning more exciting.
- VR and ARimprove comprehension, long-term learning retention, student empathy & motivation, and overall performance.
- Virtual and Augmented Reality is more than just advanced & trendy technology. They are being implemented across institutions to improve teaching & training endeavors.
Mega-corporations such as Google & Honeywell achieved better results and reduced costs by implementing VR & AR training programs. Businesses, too, can reap massive benefits through these powerful education technologies.
That rounds up this write-up on the biggest disruptive educational technologies changing the landscape of the industry. Here’s hoping this article acts as a credible source of information for anyone looking for some quick answers.
Bye!