In a survey from 2016, 84% of the students reported they saw improvements in their education thanks to technology. 81% of the surveyed students said that digital learning technology helped them be more efficient in studying. 79% of them said that thanks to technology, they became aware of concepts they didn’t know.
The conclusion is simple: when technology is properly used, it can boost a student’s memory and inspire them to learn more. The question is: what technology? You can’t just start using all tools and devices that are available out there. As a student, you need specific tools for your specific needs.
Let’s explore the top 10 technology innovations for the studying process. Maybe you’ll find your answers there.
1.Cloud-Based Learning
Everything is on the cloud, including your learning resources. If you still haven’t started using cloud-based systems by now, it’s time to do that in 2017. You can access your materials from any device.
Dropbox is the most popular file hosting service, mostly targeted at business users who deal with tons of documents. However, you can also use it to categorize and store all learning materials in a single place.
2. Internet of Things
The implications of IoT technology for educational purposes are still being explored, but there’s no doubt about it: their potential is enormous. Universities will be relying on this technology for the sake of providing safer campuses. They can use connected devices to monitor the staff and the students at lower operating costs.
That’s not where the use of IoT stops. Students can now interact with their teachers via interactive boards and digital highlighters. They also use RFID (radio-frequency identification) chips to track physical objects, such as birds and animals. Through this technology, they can explore the environment and write better research projects.
3. Mobile Learning
Mobile devices will continue to have a huge impact on the way students learn. If your professors still don’t agree that phones and tablets are important for effective education, it’s time to convince them. The teacher can connect with the students through a collaborative app, such as Evernote. They can observe the work of a team and suggest improvements along the way.
4. Gamification
You can study better if you play games related to the concepts you’re working on. First of all, I’ll suggest a universally useful game for all students: Luminosity. Day by day, it improves your focus and the cognitive power of your brain. Although you can’t get ready for an exam solely by using Luminosity, the regular practice will help you study more effectively.
Elucidat is another gamification tool that makes studying easier. Teachers use it to create branching scenarios, which show the impact of the learner’s decisions.
5. Digital Portfolios
Your digital portfolio is an online collection of all kinds of data. Each and every student needs one of these in 2017! You can use it to store and edit all notes and impressions. You can share links to projects you’ve worked on, multimedia material you created, and all papers you wrote. This portfolio will help you build an online persona. You’ll immediately notice the benefits of this trend as soon as you start looking for a job.
6. Wearable Technology
Have you seen a desktop computer in a classroom lately? All devices are getting smaller and more powerful. We’re bringing technology into GoPro devices, smart watches, Google Glasses, and other devices with different functions. With this wearable technology, you can easily capture data during the lecture. We’re still not seeing wearables in every classroom, but I’m convinced that the trend will keep evolving in 2017.
7. Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is not a new trend, but it’s constantly becoming more popular in classrooms. It brings a new dimension to learning. If, for example, the teacher is trying to explain what the stars are, they can bring the lecture to life by adding layers of digital information on top of the physical world. When you point your phone to a picture, it may reveal a whole world of knowledge to you.
8. Video
What are the usual ways for presenting the things you know? You answer tests, write papers, take part in classroom discussions, and prepare presentations. A new trend is emerging: video presentations! Students are fluent in Snapchat, Periscope, and Vine. Some of them create their own YouTube videos. Video communication is a huge trend, and it’s slowly taking its place in education. I expect to see professors replacing writing assignments with video projects in 2017.
9. Global Learning
With all those opportunities to connect with learners from all around the world, it would be a shame to stay limited to your classroom. If you’re studying languages, in particular, global connection is crucial. HelloTalk is only one of the many platforms that connect language learners with native speakers of the language they target. You can use this tool to learn through social interaction and experience the culture from a native’s point of view.
10. Open-Source Content
While online courses have been available for quite some time, they’ve been getting increased attention in recent years. With the improvement of their quality, the perception of the public towards online learning improved as well.
If you have a hard time dealing with the textbooks for a particular course at school, you can always gain the knowledge you need through an online course. Textbooks are slow to update. Online courses, on the other hand, are really engaging. Find a course that complies with the curriculum and set yourself on an adventurous learning journey in 2017.
These are not the only trends we’ll see in 2017. Students keep discovering new ways to learn more effectively, and the world of technology keeps delivering more opportunities to explore. Can you update this list with your own suggestions? Post a comment below!
