How Little Classrooms Have Changed
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Experts of the past have tried, with varying degrees of accuracy to predict the classrooms of the future. In reality, despite increased access to technology, the majority of classrooms around the world have changed little in the last 50 years. How are they likely to change in the future, though?
Many things have changed over the past 15 years. Classrooms that once had few if any English language learners in their student mix now teach students from many parts of the globe. Whereas in 1999, there was precious little classroom technology available for teachers and students, now technology routinely opens classrooms to the world and to a world of ways to think about teaching and learning. While the number of teachers across the country who have flipped their classrooms is hard to pin down, nearly 2,000 teachers have joined a nationwide online social network for those interested in. As the 2021 academic year has kicked off, the back-to-school fever has hit Mzansi. Some of our favorite Zalebs have been ushering their bundles of joy to their classrooms from Monday since the. Classroom technology that much research has so far b een ignorin g. The decrease in students’ performance, particularly in reading and writing, the dehumaniz ation of the educational.
Why a classroom?
Increased understanding of neuroscience means we can learn in more effective ways. Even with effective self study, though, the social experience of real human contact is hard to beat. Whether it’s an online class or a face-to-face classroom, the energy and momentum offered by a class of peers of an enthusiastic teacher can help learners keep going, even when they are starting to lack motivation. Classrooms, of some shape or form, are with us to stay.
A shared experience without a physical presence
We can already conduct live classes in entirely virtual groups, physical groups with a virtual teacher teaching from a remote location. The skills required by an increasingly sophisticated workplace need more and more specialist teachers. As the technology available to teachers becomes easier to use, more experts will decide to set themselves up independently and offer highly specialised classes directly to their learners. We’ll also see increased diversity within larger organisations as they can recruit expert teachers based on their knowledge rather than simply their location.
Improved and more accessible virtual reality
As virtual reality becomes more accessible, more realistic and more immersive, virtual classrooms will move away from the desktop and towards mobile, or purpose-built virtual reality devices. The classroom will be able to transform into any space imaginable. Language learners will be able to practice business English in a meeting room in the first half of their class then switch instantly to practising making small talk at a party in a virtual bar in the second half.
Brain-to-brain interface
The University of Washington, US recently conducted a series of brain-to-brain communication experiments where subjects would communicate with each other using electrodes attached to their heads. This is in the early stages of development and will never replace spoken language but could provide interesting ways for teachers of the future to communicate concepts that are difficult to express in words.
The skill of the teacher will never die
Since the birth of the printing press, there has been a wealth of knowledge stored in the written word. The internet has made that more accessible but it still takes a great teacher to inspire and motivate most people to learn. The role of the teacher may change in the future but their skill will never die. Great teachers will be with us a long way into the future.
Of course, these are only my opinions. What about yours, though? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. What do you think the classroom of the future will look like?
How does technology impact student learning? Some postsecondary educators view technology as a distraction in the classroom. Even if they don’t ban the use of mobile phones or social media during class, they may begrudgingly view technology as a little more than a necessary evil.
But rather than simply ‘tolerate’ it, instructors can harness the power of digital devices, apps and tools to increase engagement, encourage collaboration, spark innovation and enhance student learning.
In and of itself, educational technology doesn’t result in effective teaching and learning. It still requires a guide (the educator) and a purpose (related to the curriculum). And it does require some effort and strategies to integrate it effectively into your course material. But, if used with intention, technology can be transformed from a distraction to an effective teaching tool.
Here are a few answers to the question of how technology impacts student learning, and reasons why educators should make the most of technology inside—and outside—the classroom.
Technology affords better access to resources
With an Internet connection, we have access to information at our fingertips 24 hours a day. We can find almost anything online, in its most up-to-date version. For students, this means access to everything from research materials and educational apps to interactive edutainment and open resources from prestigious universities around the world. They may, however, need instruction on how to find credible resources and direction on providing proper attribution when they use them.
Students can also supplement their learning by connecting with online groups and virtual communities in real time, or by collaborating on group projects with tools such as wikis and cloud-based apps. And instructors can provide access to course material (and additional resources) by setting up portals through learning management systems or providing access to course-specific software for each learner. Blended learning — a mixture of classroom technology and face-to-face learning—is a popular way of organizing this.
Technology can improve student engagement
Education technology can make learning more interactive and collaborative—and this can help students better engage with course material. Rather than memorizing facts, they learn by doing. This could be as simple as taking an interactive quiz in class or participating in tech-enabled group discussions or as involved as playing educational games, practicing science experiments in a virtual lab or taking a virtual field trip.
But to make it truly engaging, it must be truly interactive. Doing math on a computer isn’t any different than doing math with a pencil and pad of paper. But using augmented reality to animate math challenges is a whole different ballgame. For some students, interactivity provides a better learning experience.
How Little Classrooms Have Changed Everything
For teachers, the possibilities are endless: from using simulation tools to demonstrate how a hurricane develops, to using virtual reality to practice medical procedures. “As a growing number of medical schools bring virtual reality into the classroom, students are finding it an effective way to learn complex subject matter, such as anatomy, that’s often easier to understand with hands-on practice,” writes1 Chris Hayhurst for EdTech Magazine.
Technology can expand classroom boundaries
Thanks to technology, the classroom no longer has walls. The learning environment no longer has boundaries. And instruction can be provided by any number of subject matter experts—in addition to the person teaching the course.
“Students in a classroom in the rural U.S., for example, can learn about the Arctic by following the expedition of a team of scientists in the region, read scientists’ blog posting, view photos, e-mail questions to the scientists, and even talk live with the scientists via a videoconference. Students can share what they are learning with students in other classrooms in other states who are tracking the same expedition,” according to an article2 on technology in education by Purdue University.
Technology can encourage self-paced learning
In a traditional classroom, students who were struggling to learn new concepts would quickly fall behind their peers. With online assignments, however, students can advance at their own pace. Those who need more time or extra help can practice outside of class with guided exercises or additional coursework. So, too, can learners who want more of a challenge.
Thanks to the always-on nature of technology, students can access resources online whenever they need to, and instructors can see which students might need extra help. The exercise of self-paced learning also helps students learn digital literacy and 21st century skills, which will be useful when they enter the workforce.
Technology can promote innovative teaching techniques
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Technology changes the way we access information, but also how we’re taught that information. The instructor becomes less of a ‘sage on stage’ and more of a ‘guide on the side.’ From accessing course materials online to watching video-recorded lectures, technology opens up the possibility for teaching innovation: from collaborative group work to flipped and hybrid classrooms. Instructors can also use classroom response systems to assess students’ understanding of course material and adjust the pace or content as needed in real time.
How does technology impact student learning? A summary
While technology is sometimes seen as a threat—and it does have its limits—integrating it into your teaching practice offers a new way for students to interact and engage with course material. Thanks to technology, education is no longer confined to the walls of your classroom. YouTube videos and social media don’t have to be a distraction; they can be part of your course material. The math is easy: it adds up to better learning outcomes.
References
- Hayhurst, C. (2017, February 15). Medical Students Practice Critical Skills on Digital Cadavers. Retrieved from https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2017/02/medical-students-practice-critical-skills-digital-cadavers
- How Has Technology Changed Education? (2017, April 25). Retrieved from https://online.purdue.edu/ldt/learning-design-technology/resources/how-has-technology-changed-education