Will these 9 education technology trends transform learning?

Technology has impacted our lives in significant ways. It has taken over every aspect of our life. And, education is no exception to that.

Today, education technology trends are constantly transforming the way kids learn.

Where pen and notebooks formed the toolkit of previous generations, today’s learners come to class armed with laptops, smartphone, and tablets.

The current era of pervasive technology is impacting education substantially. The way students learn and the universities teach are changing with the adoption of technological innovation and modern trends in education.

Today’s digital natives are immersed in the computing environment. They are more at ease with collaborative, online educational technologies than previous generations.

Previously, teachers used to be a crucial source of knowledge and education. This restricted the information and learning to what the teachers knew. 

Today, communication and collaboration have opened doors for learners on a large scale. Thus, new and creative inventions can be quickly discovered and read about. 

Here are some examples of the latest education technology trends.
Get ready to be blown away!

1. 3D Glasses:

Isn’t this a cool way to learn?

The technology has progressed heaps and bounds in the field of education. Today, it is possible for the students to study the human brain or the planets in the solar system through 3D glasses watching the hologram of the image.

At GEMS Modern Academy in Dubai, classrooms and laboratories are connected to a high-speed fiber-optic network to deliver science lessons on a 3D platform.

Using technology in the classroom helps the students to understand the difficult concepts with ease. Introducing such innovative trends in educational technology makes studying fun and motivates students to learn.

 Pros:

• Enable students to learn innovatively
• Create interest
• Make learning a fun exercise

2. 3D Printing:

Wish you had this in your school days?

Schools are yet to implement and normalize 3D printing modern technology in education. While it might take around 3-4 years to make its entry, 3D printing can prove to be a huge step towards innovative education.

For instance, it can help in interactive lecture with models of fossils or help organic chemistry students to study molecules and proteins through models.

It can also help in making new tools and mini-models of first-hand design ideas. 3D printing can assist widely to architecture and design students to test their CAD and 3D design prototypes.

Take a deeper insight into one of the emerging trends in education here.

Pros:

• Make it easy to study the implementation of first-hand designs
• In-depth study

3. Spray-On Touchscreens:

The concept of a spray-on touchscreen is about turning a flat surface of any shape and size into a touch-pad.

From furniture to musical instruments, the new educational technology can transform anything into touch-pad.

Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg developed it.

A Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute said in the demonstration that, “The technology is very similar to how touch screens work” Yang Zhang added, “When the user’s finger touches on an electric field, it will shunt a fraction of the current to the ground, and by tracking where the shunting of the current happens, we can track where the user touches the surface.” 

Fascinated by this tech trend in technology? Go ahead and check out this video!

Pros:

• Easy access to touch-pad anywhere, anytime

4. Portable Pocket Printer:

How amazing is this printer?

The portable pocket printer enables you to print anywhere, on the go, on any required size of paper. It’s one of the greatest educational technology tools.

The robotic printer is 4 inches wide and 3 inches high. Slightly bigger than three stacked hockey pucks, it is also called as Zuta Pocket Printer. Students at the Jerusalem College of Technology invented it. The name ‘Zuta’ is derived from ancient Aramaic, meaning ‘small’.

The portable printer is very convenient, for its smaller in size. You can connect it to smartphones, tablets, laptops, and PCs wirelessly via Wi-Fi. It is Android, iOS, OS X, and windows supported. The app made by the company lets you connect the printer to your device and is free.

The company’s idea of the product is to set a print head on the wheels and let it run on any size of paper. The “Omni-wheels” move in any directions on a surface. The printer has inbuilt laser sensors that control the movement, speed, and location of the device.

One cartridge of ink prints about 100 pages but is restricted to black and white print only.

The device takes 3 hours to charge and can go on for almost an hour to print 60 pages. Zuta lab plans to have a full-color printer in the future. Take a deeper look in one of the biggest education technology trends, the Zuta Pocket Printer, here.

Pros:

• Portable
• Convenient
• Easy to use and handle

5. E-paper:

Imagine the number of trees we would save with E-paper!

This new invention and latest teaching technology of plastic e-papers is durable and provides interactivity. It mimics the appearance of ordinary ink on paper.

The concept was developed on the idea of a paper-thin-flexible¸ unbreakable device that provides durability and provides full-color ability.

E-paper is comfortable to eyes with a wider viewing angle and reflects light without emitting harmful rays, hazardous to eyes.

This invention can benefit not only technologically but also environmentally. It can take over paper-centric industries and save trees.

Sony has developed an A4 sized digital paper prototype which is paper-thin, weighs only 63g. Such education technology trends are definitely here to stay! Check this video out and decide for yourself.

Pros:

• Durable
• Harmless
• Easy to carry
• Environment-friendly

6. Cerebroz:

What a great way to learn at home, right?

Cerebroz is an innovative start-up, which replaces TV ads with educational content. This content is designed under the supervision of scientists.

Cerebroz has been acknowledged for its initiative towards an innovative start-up in the government of India’s start-up India campaign.

It has contributed by providing K12 academic education, social education, and general knowledge. Their intention is to turn dumb TV into a smart TV. The team works toward bettering the society in their way.

Edutree is supposed to be connected to the setup box through an HDMI cable and Cerebroz server via Wi-Fi. Edutree costs Rs. 7000 with a yearly subscription of Rs. 2000. E-learning has gained significant recognition in the last few years. And so has Cerebroz. It is flourishing widely in Gujrat, India and plans to take the concept ahead to Bengaluru, India.

Instead of integrating technology in the classroom, Cerebroz is introducing a modern way of learning at homes. And why not? Why should learning be limited to the four walls of the classroom?

Cerebroz is undeniably an innovative and creative technology changing education.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Easily accessible
• Creative, innovative, and a fun way of learning

7. Flintobox:

Now kids can learn while playing!

Flintobox is an initiative towards producing educational activity boxes for children, motivating trends in edtech. Every box is based on a theme with the resources essential for the early development of children.

The company delivers the activity box to your doorstep by following a monthly subscription model.

Arunprasad Durairaj, Vijaybabu Gandhi, and Shreenidhi Srirangam were the pioneers of the Flintobox. The company designs products for age groups from 2-12 years old.

Flintobox observed the growing TV-addiction trend in children. The idea was thus established to divert their mind and intelligence into something more innovative and productive.

The company has also created the app for subscription processes, parenting tips and activity ideas for children. A Flintobox contains activity ideas for the overall development of the child. It is designed to give the child an engaging, learning and educational experience for brain development. 

Flintobox, being the future of education technology, was also awarded as the “coolest start-up” in 2014. To learn more, visit Flintobox’s Website.

Pros:

• Child’s overall growth
• Developing interest
• Interactive parent-child sessions

8. Echo Smartpen:

Isn’t this exactly what you need for your lectures?

Echo Smartpen by Livescribe is an innovative education technology that combines the convenience of technology and comfort of the traditional pen.

This digital pen lets you take traditional ink notes and simultaneously creates a digital copy of the same. Plus, it can record everything you hear or say while you write.

This latest innovation has proved to very beneficial for the students. Studies have shown that handwritten notes increase retention and understanding. But they are difficult to share and comprehend at times. The smartpen takes care of this.

The Echo Smartpen directly stores your data onto your desktop through its software. You can then create customized notebooks by combining notes and easily share it with classmates.

The recording feature is the highlight of this smartpen. The recording is anchored to the text written. So on clicking a given word, you can hear what was spoken at that moment when you were writing it. This helps you catch up on anything you might have missed.

Pros:

• Portable
• Multi-purpose

9. Robot Teachers:

Wait, is this for real? ROBOT TEACHERS?

According to Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, robots will soon be replacing teachers in the classroom over the next few years.

”Machines that adapt to suit learning styles of individual children will soon render traditional teaching all but redundant”, says the Vice-Chancellor.

The robots will learn to read the facial expressions, brains and adapt to the way of communication that works for the students. This major innovation in education will open up larger possibilities in the future.

Students can personalize teachers as the software they choose will be their’s throughout their education journey.

Only 30 percent of the school time will be spent in class considering the efficiency of the automated teaching device currently trending in education.

Read how robots are teaching Singapore’s kids.

Pros:

• Personalized teacher
• Efficient and time-saving

With all the new inventions happening every other day, it’s about time we embrace it and keep making education a creative and fun space. Teaching trends and education technology trends are undoubtedly up for a change!

Have you come across an edutech trend that is changing the way learning is practiced?
Share the examples in the comments below.