Education is a constantly evolving and adapting thing, as education professionals are always seeking the best ways to teach. In recent years, integration of technology into education has increased considerably. This was partly triggered by the spread of coronavirus, which caused social distancing to become the norm which, by extension, facilitated the need for remote learning solutions to be incorporated in schools.
We reached out to some technology experts to discuss some examples of tech-based education solutions. One company that got back to us specialised in small business IT support London based schools have been using for many years. Though they focus on the back end of organisational IT, they know what kinds of solutions schools are using in the classroom nowadays.
Why is Technology in Schools Important?
Information technology has been a part of education for a while now. It is often taught to a fundamental degree in schools, but as the importance of technology in society and in the business, world grows, a greater emphasis is being placed on teaching young students about IT. According to one of the top providers of IT Support in London, TechQuarters – the demand for IT support services in London, and other major cities, goes to show that technology expertise is in demand. Therefore, it may be important to incorporate technology in classrooms more, so that students can learn about it at an early age.
Tech-Based Education Solutions
There are a number of common technology solutions that schools can easily implement, for the benefit of both students and faculty. Below is a list of common technologies in schools:
- Computers: Devices such as desktop and laptop PCs – have been in use in schools for a long time now. As they become more commonplace in business, higher education, and for personal use, the implementation of computers in schools has grown. Computers are an excellent teaching tool, because it gives students access to a wide array of resources for learning.
- Mobile Devices: Nowadays, the primary form of technology that most people use is mobile technology. Most adults have a smartphone, and children are frequently seen using tablets. In an educational context, tablets in particular are a good form of technology to use. They are highly visual and interactive – which are two important aspects of teaching.
- E-Textbooks: Electronic books have some advantages over print books. Firstly, they tend to be cheaper. Secondly, they are more hard-wearing – so long as the device on which the e-book is stored remains intact, the book will last forever, and will not be subject to wear and tear, or vandalism.
- Videoconferencing Software: This form of software became widely used during the Covid-19 pandemic, where schools had to close their doors and opt for remote lessons instead. Even with schools reintroducing physical learning environments, employing videoconferencing software can be worthwhile. Videoconferencing may be commonly used in higher education, to ensure that students who cannot attend lectures are not missing out.
- Asynchronous Learning Materials: Additional materials to be used in addition to lessons and lectures are always a good way to ensure students are reinforcing what they have learned in class. Asynchronous learning materials refer to any resource that is accessed on-demand and has no time limit (a lessons is synchronous, whereas a textbook is asynchronous). ALMs can be all kinds of things, such as online quizzes, or even educational videos.
- Cloud Storage: Cloud computing is a highly valuable technology no matter where it is implemented. According to the company we spoke with that provides IT support for schools, cloud storage is a frequent priority for their clients. It is something that can be implemented for the benefit of both students and teachers – ensuring that files are kept secure, accessible, and always up-to-date.
