Classrooms are quickly transforming from dusty spaces with chalkboards and rows of books into tech-savvy institutions.

Technology has transformed how our children are taught, as well as how we teach them. It has done away with solitary learning, instead utilizing an interactive group experience.

Educational technology allows children’s needs to be catered to – no matter what their preferred learning style is – so that no student gets left behind.

Ahead of BETT – the world’s biggest education technology event – we take a look at some of the top educational technology trends in the classroom right now…

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Far from the other-worldly technology we see in Sci-Fi films, artificial intelligence (AI) is very real and it’s making waves in the education sector.

AI has already been applied to education primarily in some tools that help develop skills and testing systems and has been proved to drive efficiency, personalization and streamline admin tasks such as grading tests.

The technology can adjust learning based on an individual student’s particular needs, allowing a level of personal attention that isn’t possible from a teacher when they’re faced with 30 or more students.

On top of this, AI tools can also help make global classrooms available to all including those who speak different languages or who might have visual or hearing impairments.

GAMIFICATION

Fun and engaging, gamification is perhaps one of the biggest innovations in educational technology.

By adding game elements and bringing video game designs into the learning process, gamification connects to an audience that is engrossed in modern pop culture and the rise of the gaming community.

Gamification not only makes learning more dry topics fun, but it can also be used to promote team-building skills as well as other social functions.

Integrated games into lessons can give a student a great sense of pride when they get a question right and win a point, or even come out on top when they complete a game, giving them pride in the subject they are learning.

ANALYTICS

Learning analytics utilizes existing data to monitor student behavior to plan lessons accordingly.

This data allows teachers to create the optimum learning environment for their students, making their job easier and the student’s learning experience positive at all times.

The collected data can also be made to use predictions about a students’ learning, which can highlight who needs additional support and attention before it is desperate.

On top of this, learning analytics can also help to develop new curriculums based on what went wrong and right, meaning students get more control over how they learn.

VIRTUAL REALITY

The rise of virtual reality (VR) has not only been noticeable in the events industry; we’ve also seen significant changes when it comes to education.

VR allows students to experience events they have not been physically present for. The moon landing, World War I, and dinosaurs roaming the Earth – students can witness all of these events without ever having to leave the classroom.

This technology creates an exciting experience that leaves a lasting impression on students and also allows them to get hands-on with different topics.

CLOUD COMPUTING

An interactive approach to topics promotes higher memory retention and makes learning fun.

With cloud technologies, students will no longer have to worry about losing important documents, transporting heavy books or exchanging educational materials with USB sticks.

Cloud computing allows teachers to share documents with students quickly, doing away with paper handouts that can easily become lost.

It means that children who miss a day of school due to illness never have to worry about falling behind when all of their course documents are available at the click of a button.

Cloud computing allows students who work in a group to share documents and pieces of work easily, eliminating the arduous task of arranging a meeting time and place that suits everyone involved.

3D PRINTING

A student can easily shape their idea of a project thanks to 3D printing.

With 3D printing, students can bring their imagination to life and make their ideas a tangible reality.

This technology allows students to get hands-on when learning, and create something that will remind them of the information they have consumed.

TABLETS AND TOUCHSCREENS

Gone are the days of paper and pens as tablets and touchscreens reign supreme in the classroom.

Tablets and touchscreens allow students to make notes during lessons that can easily be swapped and changed, as well as annotated with images and video content.

This form of note-taking does away with bulky paper handouts that can easily be lost, and these electronic notes can easily be shared between teachers and other students.

Touchscreens allow students to get hands-on with content, creating a memorable and fun learning experience for all involved.

MOBILE EDUCATION

You can guarantee that most students own a mobile phone, and they can easily be integrated into education.

Mobile technology can be used to track the staff and students along with connecting devices across campuses and has helped improve the safety standards of a variety of institutions.

There are loads of educational apps available on mobiles that make education fun, both inside and outside the classroom.

With the high costs of interactive whiteboards and a greater connection between students and teachers, mobile learning is becoming increasingly popular.

You can hire virtual reality headsets, mobile phones, tablets, touchscreens and more from ITR. Want to learn more? Speak to us today.