Now that we’re moving to the digital age, it seems that anything we need to find out is available on the internet and accessed through smartphone or computer. Things aren’t what they used to be and even education is headed to the digital age. Here are some examples of how the digital age is changing education.
1. Tablets
Books nowadays are being replaced by e-books or their digital equivalent. There is no need to go to the bookstore. All you need to do to access school books is a username and password. This is actually a godsend to many children because they don’t need to carry heavy books that can take up precious space in their lockers and bags. They can simply bring the tablet to class and read digital versions of their books.
2. Test Papers
Since books are digital, so are test papers. Teachers don’t need to print individual test papers for students during an exam. He or she just needs to post a test paper on the school website and kids can answer them in school or at home depending on the teacher’s instruction. This can be cost-effective in the long run since schools don’t need to buy paper to print test papers. The same can also be done for assignments.
Test papers can also be printed directly from the tablet. If the classroom has a Bluetooth printer for example, the teacher can print the test paper and students can physically answer them in the classroom.
3. Digital Projects
Children do not need to meet in person to do projects anymore. They can collaborate and work through the internet. Teachers can assign homework or projects and students can complete them though chatting with each other on the web. The project can be submitted in person or saved in the internet to be downloaded by the teacher for checking.
4. Virtual Library
There is no need to troop off to the library every time you need to do research. Just boot your computer to access the internet and libraries like Wikipedia or Encarta. The latest version of the latter can be downloaded for free so that users can access it online. This makes researching more convenient for students because they don’t need to leave their classrooms or houses to access information for their homework.
5. Teleconferencing
Many students, teachers and parents are taking advantage of the internet to teleconference with each other. This is a good tool not only for mentoring and tutoring but also for parents to monitor their child’s academic needs. This is a very useful tool for parents who cannot attend Parent-Teacher-Conferences due to busy schedules or other commitment. This way they can still check on their kids with their teachers in a convenient way.
6. Electronic Grading
Parents want to know how their kids are doing in school and can access their report card through the internet. With this kind of technology, there will be no need to physically come to class to get their printed report card since they can simply log into the school’s website to access their children’s grades. This makes for better assessment and feedback.
7. Digital Field Trips
Just as there is no need to troop to the library, students can enjoy digital field trips in the comfort of their classrooms. Instead of paying for an expensive trip to go to the city to visit the museum, students can immerse themselves in various exhibits through high resolution digital photos and presentations of the originals.
8. Better Simulation
The digital age also means better simulation and models for children. For example, they can build virtual greenhouses and see their plants grow under different circumstances that their teacher or they themselves can control. They can observe how molecules behave under different conditions or how different chemicals react to each other.
9. Global Learning
Students can now learn another language by conversing with a native speaker with websites like Glovico.org. Students from other countries learn from each other by teleconferencing. Learning with a native speaker is a great way to learn a new language because it fosters social interaction while learning about a new culture.
10. Epistemic Games
Epistemic games put students into different roles that ask them to solve real life world problems. Students can be engineers, city-planners or journalists. Immersing students in adult-world situations can help them learn important concepts.
