As innovators in the eLearning space, we keep an eye on emerging trends, terms, and technology in the industry. Here are some of the top education technology trends that have been on our radar recently!
While basic forms of virtual realities have been around since the early 90’s, a more sophisticated model is expected to formulate and take off in the next year or so. Students can “visit” places virtually that they do not have physical access to — historical times, monuments, under the sea, other countries, and even outer space. Virtual realities can take history and science lessons to the next level!
Created through light beams, holograms are lifelike and three-dimensional reflections of an image, person, place, etc. Holographic technology has the potential to create an engaging learning experience for learners, and provide them with the visuals they need to absorb material. It can be used for videoconferencing, gamification, and simulating assignments and projects. Major tech companies have been quick to jump on holography — Microsoft picked up on this trend last year, with the release of Windows Holographic.
Adaptive learning is a computer/technology based method of learning, that uses learning technologies that modify the presentation of learning materials to adapt to individual learner needs, often influenced by the learning data gathered from learning analytics. Think of adaptive learning as an artificially-intelligent tutor. Modern teaching tools can now essentially learn the way people learn, and adapt learning material to each learner. As you go through a course, the learning technologies in place track which elements of the course you work well with, and which ones are more challenging, so that it can adjust the course path and course materials based on your performance. For example, if you’ve performed well from watching a learning video, the course will incorporate more video’s into your specific learning path to increase your overall performance.
Adaptive learning will assist higher ed institutes who are ramping up their efforts to pin-point the students who are likely to dropout, and improve graduation rates. Influencers and thought leaders are coming together with initiatives that enable the meeting of private organizations and education institutions and providers, to promote adaptive learning in the future of higher education - The Bill & Melinda Gate Foundation being one of the more notable ones.
A Makerspace is simply a peer-based collaborative space where learners can come together to work, innovate, learn, and educate — a “space” for people to create, or “make.” Incorporating makerspaces into a learning environment means that multimedia and technology such as video, 3D printing, photography, and art pieces are more accessible, and less regulated. Makerspaces spark innovation, creativity, and engagement.
While it may not be flashy or 3-D, learning analytics is possibly the most transformative trend in the education world. Learning analytics is data pulled from reports and dashboards (through a reporting and analytics tool), that helps develop learner profiling. Learning analytics first emerged with a focus in hindsight, preoccupied with describing results and providing a diagnosis. Over the years it has transformed to its current state, which is predicting what will happen in the future. This is evident through the current state of the market, where learning analytic tools help identify which students are struggling, and the specific areas they are struggling in. Analytic data empowers educators with information that allows them to shape better learning pedagogies, empower active learning, identify the factors that affect student success, and build courses that meet students individual needs.
Want to learn how to implement data and analytics into your organization? Download our eBook, on Advanced Reporting and Analytics with Lambda Zoola for Moodle and Totara LMS.