What does the future hold for Education IT? What doesn't it hold?!?! We
are already using technology in almost all aspects of education. Teachers use
online forums to connect their students outside of the classroom. We use
laptops/tablets and overhead projectors in the classroom. We certainly have
come a very long way from chalkboard and pen & paper.
How many of you have heard of “Gamification”? I will tell you that
until I started working on this topic I didn't The official definition is:
integrating game dynamics into your site, service, community, content or
campaign, in order to drive participation. This makes sooo much sense! Everyone
at one point in their lives has played some type of video game. They are
addicting. What makes them so addicting is that rush you get when slay your
opponent or make it to the next level. That feeling of accomplishment is
fantastic. Children these days live for that rush. School and learning doesn't quite give that feeling. (Everyone can relate.) But what if it did? There are tons
and tons of educational games and systems out there now that allow kids to
learn in a fun way and give then that sense of achievement by reaching learning
goals through games. That is gamification.
Gamification is where we are now. What is in store for education? In
the next 10-15 years, possibly even sooner, we will be able to experience
things like eyewear/HUDs, holography, digitally intermediated field trips,
retinal screens, etc. This is the kind of stuff you see in the movies. No way
would we ever have thought it could truly be possible. At least not in our
lifetime. Currently Google is working on beta testing their own version of
eyewear/HUDs called Google Glass. These glasses allow the wearer to view, what
looks like a smartphone screen, and interact with apps and menus through the
lens of their glasses. Just by making some simple head movements you can scroll
and change screens without using your hands. It even takes pictures and video. In
my own opinion they do look a bit goofy but the idea is still really, really
cool!
Just take the time to think about what will be available to you and
your children. The prospects are limitless.
I wanted to take a minute to shout out to the “Cloud Computing” group.
I recently read an article discuss the future of education and how it doesn't matter what the next new and innovative device will be, it is all about the
cloud and access anywhere. I think that is so true, as devices change we will
still need to be able to get our info where and when we want it. As the article
stated, four years ago the iPad didn't even
exist and who knows what we will have in the next four years. We will always
need our information.
Resources:
ReplyDeletehttp://envisioningtech.com/education/
http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/jun/19/technology-future-education-cloud-social-learning
I find the technology impressive and limitless but wonder who will pay for all of this technology. All I hear is that teachers are poorly paid and cuts and layoffs are being made everwhere in education. If we can not even pay for teachers in schools how is our society going to pay for for these advancements? I suppose they will be offered to the kids whose parents can afford the added expense or they will be available at the university level and the price will just be added to the already esculating tution hikes. Very interesting stuff but I just feel it would be hard to implement fairly through education.
ReplyDelete- Nicholas R. Hajimihalis
Cost is definitely the biggest set back for the future of education IT. Right now the idea is to start it at the university level. Without donors I don't see the technology being available to lower level education for a long time until it becomes WAY more affordable.
DeleteFrom the time I started Kindergarden, and now currently being a college student, I have seen the progression of technology both in and outside the classroom. Technology is a very beneficial way to enhance the learning experience for children. Like previously stated in the blog, children of today are driven by the gaming exdperience, with that being said, finding a way to intergrate the gaming experience with increase the desire learning among children. Technology for the use of learning will also prepeare children for a society based on the use of techology.
ReplyDelete-Christian Carter
Adding Gamification will definitely decrease absentee and literacy rates. But I will have to agree with Nicholas in that it is an uphill battle in terms of the amount of funding available and the impact that will have on education. We have made baby steps towards it though, with a few corporations and universities taking the reins from the government in leading Education IT (Link edX which is a nonprofit group founded by MIT and Harvard that offers free online courses). But I don't think gamification will take hold until it creates a market in the primary education level (K - 12) where lack of funding is a bigger issue. Right now it is more geared towards disintermediation in order to provide a completely online learning experience; which, at a point in its growth will need gamification for further growth and expansion.
ReplyDelete-Parth
I defiantly agree that integrating games in children's learning is a very helpful Idea. Kids learn best by playing games, thats the way I learned growing up and its still popular to this day. I do believe that the way technology is expanding, is causing kids to grow up quicker and be exposed to a lot of social networks. Most school systems block social networks from kids so that a good way of making sure there staying focused.
ReplyDeleteI still remember when I was in elementary school, even middle school, and my school had the overhead projectors that you had to use a clear sheet to write on in order to see it on the wall. Technology has come a long way since then, and in the topic of Education, I think it can only help everyone learn.
ReplyDelete