The global pandemic has underscored the importance of online education in the past couple of years. Despite some indications of a return to normal, technology still plays a crucial part in the education landscape.
With 2023 fast approaching, it is worth considering how educational technology may shape the future of online education. The next few years could mark a substantial change in how we impart and absorb knowledge. Let’s take a moment to discover the potential of this burgeoning technology.
Six Upcoming Advancements in Online Education.
1. Importance of Artificial Intelligence
AI has become a critical aspect of education, among other domains, and is extensively used for training in various professions, including academia. According to market forecasts, the global AI market in the education sector is anticipated to exceed $3.68 billion by 2023.
AI technologies have assumed an ever-increasing role in online education, providing swift scoring and personalised feedback on assessments. This allows students to proceed at their own pace and obtain advantages from bespoke learning plans while teachers can get a holistic view of their students’ advancement, assisting them in creating customised lesson plans.
One example of this is the language-learning app Duolingo. By leveraging AI, the app tailors courses to every user’s individual proficiency and capabilities, enabling them to learn at their own speed.
2. Growing Role of Games in Learning
Research has proven that integrating game mechanics into education can considerably boost student involvement and contentment. For many years, people of all ages have been attracted to this style of pedagogy, and its popularity is projected to grow even further in 2023.
Gamification can be implemented using just pen and paper. However, taking advantage of contemporary technology can offer a far more immersive encounter. Several applications and platforms are accessible that employ gaming as an educational instrument. Duolingo, for instance, rewards its users with points and prizes for their hard work.
Though incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into gamified learning methods is crucial, there are several educational technology platforms that employ this approach without AI.
3. Big Data Enhances Individualisation By
Flexibility and adaptability are vital in the classroom setting. The fact that effective education necessitates a diverse set of techniques is apparent. However, many instructors find it challenging to cater to the demands of students with diverse intelligence and learning preferences.
This is where the advantages of big data become evident. By exploiting learning analytics obtained from data on the unique learning patterns and preferences of students, teachers can evaluate the effectiveness of e-learning platforms, students’ learning rates, and other factors.
Corporations and individual instructors can leverage this data to conceive personalised lesson plans for their pupils, catering to their distinctive interests and requirements, using the information collected on their students’ conduct and classroom activities.
4. Various Student Types Profit from Massive Open Online Courses
Over a decade ago, the first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) was introduced. Nowadays, life without them is hard to imagine. They provide individuals with the chance to delve into an array of topics, ranging from coding and Bitcoin to journalism, at a fraction of the expense of a single college course, let alone an entire college education.
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platforms like Coursera, Udemy, edX, and Udacity are becoming increasingly popular among learners of all ages. Prices of courses differ, ranging from free to budget-friendly. Yet, the outcomes of enrolling in these courses are frequently significant.
Although interest in these sorts of courses and websites waned in the mid to late 2010s, the onset of the pandemic has triggered a resurgence in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that is expected to continue growing in the upcoming year.
5. Online Video Courses Are Supplementing or Even Replacing Conventional Classroom Instruction.
When compared to the recent projects and advancements mentioned earlier, video lessons may appear obsolete. Yet, at times, the most uncomplicated approach is the most productive one, particularly in education and learning.
The use of videos for educational purposes is not a new notion. Accessible online educational assets, like YouTube, have enabled numerous individuals to encounter educational videos and extend their knowledge. In the context of the current pandemic, these resources have proven to be useful in offering asynchronous learning opportunities.
Numerous teachers are opting for digital videos as an additional resource to their live or asynchronous online lessons.
6. Immersive Learning Will Become the Standard in the Near Future
Recently, educational techniques have progressed from solely utilising textbooks to convey history lessons, to the utilisation of augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology. This form of education is significantly more efficient since it stimulates active engagement instead of passive learning.
We expect mixed reality to be extensively utilised in online learning in the upcoming year. The combination of the digital and physical worlds will allow students to be entirely absorbed in an augmented reality environment.
By engaging with the characteristics of a simulated environment, individuals can practice high-risk duties such as armed conflict or intricate medical procedures in a low-risk environment. They may also obtain an understanding of life as it existed a century ago or roam among dinosaurs to explore ancient times.
Through research and technological advancements, the field of education has the potential to undergo a revolution and offer students a competitive edge in the job market. Online education is expected to surpass traditional learning methods by 2023.
