When the pandemic first broke out, the world came to an abrupt standstill. Offices and retail stores across the globe closed down to curb the spread of infection. Educational institutions quickly followed suit and learning was greatly affected.
However, as the initial shock wore out, businesses and industries came up with innovative ways to get back on their feet. Digital learning has emerged as the savior for the education sector as it connects millions of students and teachers across the globe today and facilitates uninterrupted learning.
Thanks to remote education technologies, the industry is thriving and students have opportunities to learn, even as schools, colleges, and universities are shut down. With the hope of a permanent respite from the virus still being distant, the system is expected to stay around for a foreseeable future. So it becomes important to understand what is happening now and what lies ahead on the EdTech front. Let us explain the technologies that are driving remote learning and training in the new normal.
Distance learning
With prolonged closures of institutions, distance learning technologies have become the mainstay of the industry. It breaks the physical barriers by connecting people across different locations. Right now, virtual learning goes much beyond facilitating classes over online platforms. It also enables real-time assignments, evaluations, feedback, tests, progress records, and more.
The platforms not only bring students and teachers together but also let parents receive regular updates related to the progress of their children. The technology has immense potential and it is here to stay, even as institutions will open up in
the post-pandemic world.
Customized curriculum for specialized needs
Another technology that is emerging strongly in the new normal is the provision of access to customized content. As every learner is unique, making them follow the same curriculum is not the right way to go. Although the pandemic has done a lot of harm, the silver lining is that it has improved the traditional educational models and made customized learning a reality.
The innovative, tech-driven models foster specialization where students have the opportunity to learn what they want to. They can choose to master the subjects and skills of their interest rather than stick with a standard curriculum.
Interactive learning
Apart from the customized curriculum, another positive aspect of remote education is interactive learning. The implementation of modern systems has changed the way knowledge is imparted. It is no longer about just passing over theoretical facts and information but focuses on practical, hands-on ways to empower students.
For example, learners have access to IoT and cloud-based solutions which allow them to run simulations off-premises, beyond the classroom. Interactive systems foster a comprehensive learning environment, which makes learners adept at factual information along with practical problem-solving.
Access to online data in the cloud
With the shift from physical classrooms and paper-based learning, cloud technology has become the mainstay of remote learning. It is hard to imagine education without books and learning materials. Thankfully, students and teachers can rely on File Server Cloud Remote Access that lets them retrieve these materials anywhere and with any connected device.
The information stored and shared in the cloud connects students, teachers, and institutions seamlessly. Students can submit their assignments while teachers can share the learning materials here. At the same time, institutions can put up the important notices and information they want to pass over to everyone in the ecosystem.
Gamification
The biggest challenge of remote education is student engagement in virtual settings because they are bound to feel disconnected at some point. Gamification technologies address this challenge by engaging learners to participate in online learning classes and fostering competition amongst them.
They ensure that every student is attentive, motivated, and available for remote education. Gamification apps and solutions are tailored to make students participate in activities and provide scores based on their performance. Since they mix education with entertainment, these apps have the potential to keep the learners hooked.
Data management and analytics
Data management is another significant aspect of remote education that the latest technologies cover. They facilitate a variety of tasks, such as enabling teachers to issue homework to students. Further, teachers can time and monitor assignments and examinations to prevent the use of unfair means in the classrooms as they would have done in physical settings.
Combined with analytics, data management also makes it possible to accurately track and evaluate the performance of individual students. Teachers can even pinpoint the students who need extra help and ensure that they get it.
Accessibility for all
The current education technology prioritizes accessibility for everyone as it considers the requirements of learners with special needs. These are the ones with any form of disability, which may make it challenging for them to access learning just as the normal students do. Special education software is a part of the system to aid in their learning and to bring equality among all learners.
For example, some apps allow uploading of audio recordings so that the visually impaired learners get access to the training material. Similarly, the use of video recording is of great help to learners with attention issues.
Hybrid models
Considering that the world is going to see a new normal, education will never be the same, just like any other aspect of life. The advent of EdTech is all set to make hybrid models a reality. Schools, colleges, and universities will be keen to switch to these models that bring the best of both worlds together. Coupling physical with digital is a great idea for everyone from the logistics and affordability perspective.
While students will be able to learn from anywhere across the world, institutions will have to invest less in their infrastructure. Even though the pandemic has made life challenging, it has brought great lessons for the world. The educational technologies have made the industry more resilient and capable of facing the challenges. It is digital for the foreseeable future now, so learners and teachers can rest assured that learning will never stop, no matter how long it takes for life to be back to normal.
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