Technology innovations have changed the education landscape, providing a plethora of learning materials and tools that enhance students’ learning experience. These innovations are here to stay, for new ones are being developed every day that make the old even better. The traditional models of learning are still effective, but technology has been used to complement them. Let’s look at some of the best innovations that have made learning easy and fun.
Multimedia Slideshow Presentations
Colorful images and short videos added to slideshow presentations make them much more attractive. It is in contrast with text-only slide shows, which are monotonous and hard to read. Thus, the use of multimedia slideshows in schools has indeed made learning more interesting. Since animation videos and images are visually appealing, they tend to make students concentrate more and better able to participate more in class.
Virtual Tours
Through the use of technology such as virtual and augmented reality, real-world features are paired with interactive tools, which include animation videos and contextual information. They can make historical events and geographical landmarks come to life by incorporating animation. It eliminates the need to go to these places physically. There are also augmented reality applications providing instant information, such as facts and figures on paintings and historical sites. As a result, students can make virtual visits all over the world without spending a coin.
Online Class Schedules
Organization has never been easy, most particularly for students with tight schedules. That’s also one of the reasons busy collegians often find themselves with heaps of assignments to do, so they turn sites such as RoyalWriter for help. Thanks to innovations such as Google Calendar that can generate and share timetables, technical breakthroughs have managed to overcome such challenges. Besides informing students about class time and duration, the calendar also records important dates such as exam dates and assignment submission dates. This online scheduling tool helps with time management, and makes students used to being prepared for various school activities.
Virtual Manipulatives
It can be daunting to visualize technical subjects such as mathematics. But there are several virtual manipulatives to assist with this. They are new, but they work efficiently. The most common used virtual manipulatives for teaching technical subjects include base-10 blocks, geoboards, and tangrams. Using these tools makes it easy for students to understand complex math. They also provide a visual image of mathematical concepts, which makes it easier for students to understand than dry textbooks.
Social Media
Social media has emerged from simply being a place for entertainment to somewhere where people can learn and build up their knowledge of numerous matters. Through social media, students can chat with experts in diverse fields, live stream a lecture, interact with students from other institutes, and watch educative videos. There are many educative social media pages, some of which provide information on mental health awareness while others supply students with general tips. Pages like these are helpful to students’ growth. And social sites like X are convenient to use for reminding and notifying students about various things; teachers can make handles for classes.
E-Books
Technology has revolutionized interaction and how we work, so it’s not surprising that the impact is being felt in classrooms. Now everything is online, even the coursebooks. The convenience and affordability of e-books are gradually leading education institutions to choose them over traditional books. E-books have several features not found in traditional textbooks, among them the ability to highlight and jot down important points directly on pages. It is easy to keep track of key points with these forms of annotations.
E-books can even be read on a myriad of different devices, including smartphones, tablets and laptops. This allows students to do away with the necessity of carrying heavy textbooks. Furthermore, textbooks can be expensive. In contrast, e-books are usually cheaper than printed books, thus reducing the costs of purchasing educational materials for students. E-books with multimedia content also make reading interesting. They are thus a cutting-edge innovation that makes learning easier.
Podcasts
Podcasts provide an alternative method of learning suited to our increasingly mobile and multitasking society – you can listen to a podcast while doing other things like household work. Many discussions with experts who teach about different topics are being held on the Internet. So listening to a podcast is one way for students to supplement understanding of the knowledge they receive in class.
Robotics
Robotic tools are especially important in teaching STEM subjects as they help to enhance students’ critical thinking and creativity. They also encourage teamwork by allowing students to work together with their classmates and instructors. Moreover, because they are based on working on practical projects, they help students enhance their problem-solving capacities.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is a novel technology tool, and schools are gradually accepting its use. Eliminating the need for physical resources, it creates a convenient learning environment in which students can view documents such as class notes and assignments at any time. Cloud computing ensures that all the students receive the teachers’ instructions and assignments over the internet. Collaborative learning is also possible thanks to the cloud computing tools such as CloudZero and Google Documents. Besides, course instructors can make corrections and give on-the-spot feedback before the work is finished. It makes learning more efficient as students can pause and reflect on the matter.
Parting Shot
Educational technology tools have played an important role in the changes now taking place across the educational sector. What’s more, these tools create a stimulating and interactive learning environment that adds a richness to learning and makes concepts clearer. In addition to academic excellence, students can also pick up soft skills like critical thinking and problem solving skills that they will need when they go into the job market. Even more importantly, in introducing tech into the classrooms will help raise a generation of tech-literates.
