Back in January 2020, no one could have predicted that a pandemic would engulf the world and that our whole life would literally go online overnight. Most importantly, everyone realized that no matter what was going on in the world, learning must not stop. Schools had to adapt, retool, and master new technologies as quickly as possible. Teachers, parents, and children felt as if they were temporarily in the test mode of the future. EdTech projects (educational technology) were given the opportunity to assess the situation, analyze all the data, and improve their own work as much as possible. We suggest using the examples of distance education, which have already happened, to see what we have now and how the education process may change in the future.
Education will be long-distance
In 2020, the moment schools in different parts of the world switched to distance learning. And it became clear: in theory, everything sounded clear and easy, but in practice, most were not ready for it.
China was the first and undisputed leader in the rapid transition to online education. In just a few weeks, specialists managed to develop and launch the largest online platform for distance learning. Fifty million students from different regions of the country can use the platform free of charge at the same time.
Today’s experience shows that the online format of education is becoming an integral part of the classical school, while completely distance education is impossible – live contact is still necessary. Most likely, in the future the ratio of offline and online will simply change: some things will be more effective to move online – for example, automation of homework check. In general, any analytics is better collected online.
Despite the fact that we are almost back to a normal, familiar life, this unique case of the worldwide transition to distance learning has shown the possibilities that it will help students, teachers, schools, and the education system as a whole.
Gadgets can help us
Children and teens are already ready for online education in many ways. They are familiar with gadgets from birth, they can type before they learn to write, and they instantly adapt to any electronic device intuitively. Using familiar and – even – favorite devices allows students to get even more involved in the learning process.
By the way, students can delegate some of their tasks and get high-quality english homework help or science homework help, for example.
Today, more and more students and teachers are using videoconferencing systems, electronic educational platforms, books, textbooks, manuals, and other various applications that help in their studies.
Most interactive lessons and courses can easily be completed on a smartphone, a tablet. Gadgets are gradually becoming not the “enemy” of the teacher, distracting the child from the lessons, but an assistant. With the help of gadgets and interactive online assignments, and teachers make lessons more diverse, visualize information.
Education will be personalized
Big data can already solve the most important tasks today. For example, machine learning algorithms, based on the data obtained about the successes and failures of the student, have learned to build individual trajectories for studying school subjects and more.
Artificial intelligence can analyze how much time a child spends in class, how much he spends on homework, where he most often makes mistakes, and measure real knowledge. On this basis, the student can be selected personal tasks in order to improve performance and knowledge. It means that online learning is already an individual approach to education, to the peculiarities and abilities of each child.
Conclusions
In conclusion, t last year showed that education is the sphere that primarily adapts to the changes that take place in the world. Therefore, we can say with confidence that the current situation will undoubtedly lead to changes in the behaviors and habits of both students and teachers, and to the evolution of the educational system around the world.
