Like other aspects of life, the field of education has been transformed by the changes brought about by the digital era. Over the past couple of decades, new technologies have been used to deliver educational materials, analyse learners’ performance, and design new learning for methods. At the same time, online and blended learning modalities have become an integral part of educational programmes at many higher education institutions throughout the United Kingdom. And as time goes by, EdTech is becoming more sophisticated and central in importance to educational institutions.
The inclusion of technology in higher education makes sense from different points of view. Firstly, it is more cost effective than traditional teaching systems. The rising costs of real estate and utilities can be reduced when using technology to deliver online courses on a one-to-many basis, and this helps cut costs both for education providers and students. Moreover, EdTech allows education providers to reach a wider audience that is not restricted to a geographical location, which translates into higher student numbers and therefore increased revenues. Lastly, the latest higher education technology trends make it easier to personalise learning and to generate student engagement through the use of apps, virtual reality, and gamification strategies applied to educational materials.
Overall, the UK’s EdTEch market is expected to reach a value of nearly £130bn by 2020, and will undoubtedly play a key role in the future of higher education. In this post we discuss the five most important higher education technology trends to watch during 2019.
Five Higher Education Technology Trends To Watch In 2019
Educational technology is becoming more affordable as technology advances, which means that in the near future you can expect to see widespread adoption of EdTech. More specifically, there are five higher education technology trends that every educational manager and the governor should become familiar with due to their potential to add value and help reach the institutions goals and mission.
- 1. Collaborative learning
This is one of the key trends in 21st century education, since peer-to-peer learning incorporates the social learning trends that are so widespread in modern society. Collaborative learning technology can enhance problem solving and communication skills and foster creativity, complementing the goals of higher education on the whole. What’s more, collaborative learning solutions don’t need to be complex to be effective, as they can include shared apps like Google Docs, interactive whiteboards, or group messaging apps. - 2. Virtual Reality
One of the greatest benefits of virtual reality technology is its ability to generate engagement and create immersive experiences that are more likely to be retained by learners. Virtual reality applications have been used to simulate of historical events and in science subjects, and can vastly magnify the learning impact. Thepotential of this technology is still to be discovered, but some institutions are already experimenting with new uses, for example by tracking students’ body movements while using VR headsets to analyse information retention and make changes to content or the way it is delivered. - 3. Big Data
Reaching a wider audience also means there is a need to be ready to deliver educational content to students with a wider range of needs and learning styles. Modern education is all about personalisation and Big Data can be an invaluable resource to get that accomplished and create data-driven solutions that improve your understanding of students needs and help accelerate their progress. Key trends within educational Big Datainclude the use of specialised data analytics platforms to adapt and modify course or programme content, and educational data mining, both of which can help achieve objectives like higher admissions and scholarships ROI, evaluating teaching staff performance, and developing the curriculum making data-driven business decisions. - 4. Cloud technology
Until recently, the large amount of data and information handled by higher education institutions required having physical space to store it. With the arrival of digital or virtual storage solutions, information is not only easily accessible from multiple locations, but it can also help reduce expenditures since large archive rooms are no longer needed. Cloud computing is being adopted by a growing number of higher education institutions, and their management teams often cite benefits like efficiency gains, lower infrastructure costs, and making innovation easier. Some of the most important cloud technology trends you should be aware of include on-demand cloud workstations, on-demand cloud networks, and off-campus access to labs via cloud computing applications. - 5. Security Technology
The growing amount of data generated by new technologies poses new challenges, many of which revolve around issues of security, privacy, and data protection. Security technology like visitor management systems are an essential tool for higher education institutions, since they can help handle tasks like controlling of who has access to educational premises, issuing ID badges, vetting authorised contractors, and digitising reception tasks. Educational technology that incorporates security protocols (such as servers and IT infrastructure with built-in security features) also reduces the risk of experiencing data breaches, particularly in the light of changes brought about by GDPR regulations.
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As a higher education manager or governor, you are probably already considering adopting some of these higher education technology trends. Starting with security is always a wise choice, as this can help you make a more efficient use of your resources and budget. At Visipoint we specialise in providing advanced visitor management technology or higher education institutions. Get in touch with our team to find out how our innovative educational technology can help reach your objectives.