This post comes from guest blogger
Brooklin Nash.
Accortding to Futurist Jeanette Cajide:
“The Internet of Things will soon the Internet of Everything.”
The Internet of Things is not necessarily new. ATMs, considered the first object connected to the Internet, went online as early as the 1970s. There were more ‘things’ than people connected to the Internet by 2008. But IoT is definitely growing at an exponential rate. As Cajide points out, we will see a dramatic increase of connected devices in the next few years.
So what does this dramatic increase of connected devices and objects mean for learning? Let’s jump into three major implications of the technological development.
1. E-learning Is Becoming More Dynamic and Accessible
There’s no question that technology is changing the learning space. The increasing popularity of online courses and resources makes that clear. IoT promises to make this field even more dynamic. Apps like DuoLingo show that e-learning can be more than static, digital textbooks and quizzes. Students can already use their smart devices to engage with resources. As tech becomes even more pronounced, we may start to see the integration of 3D printers, live Q&A sessions, experiments and more. In the process, these courses are almost sure to become more affordable. At the same time, established e-learning tools like Blackboard and Moodle have made strides to improve collaboration features to compete with nimbler competitors.
In the self-serve space, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have made it cool to want to learn and are even competing for higher-education dollars.
2. Digital Resources Are Changing the Landscape of Higher Education
Online universities have long been seen as inferior to their established, brick and mortar counterparts. But that may be changing with better learning technology and access to tablets, teaching materials and personalized instruction. The line between learning in the classroom and the home is increasingly blurred. At the same time, professors are finding teaching more efficient with the use of digital devices and cloud computing. With the right tools, professors can provide personal instruction, automatically grade certain assignments, and ass
3. Technological Literacy Is Becoming the New Norm
According to one Business Insider article, almost three quarters of US teenagers have access to a smartphone and the same ratio use laptops for educational purposes. At the same time, nearly 100% of public schools have Internet access. With such a widespread use of technology at home and in their hands, many students find it easier to connect with digital content than with a traditional brick and mortar education.
Instead of discouraging this use, educators should find ways to incorporate digital devices (and therefore the IoT) into the classroom. The result is almost sure to be a more dynamic learning environment for everyone.
Brooklin Nash writes about the latest tools and small business trends for TrustRadius. When he’s not writing, you can find him reading Young Adult dystopian fiction (with guilty pleasure) and cooking.
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