What’s trending?
The exploration and development of the Internet of Things (IoT) aims to merge our physical and virtual worlds through daily objects, this will enable connected objects to provide real time insights with little to no input from the user. Connected classrooms branches from the IoT concept to create the various possibilities of imbedding technological innovation within education.
At its provisional stages elements of the connected classroom see the shift in peer to teacher interactions with the use of social media. Classroom practical’s enable students to visually connect with their work through the use of 3D animations, VR devices and gamification.
Why it is important?
The race of understanding and developing products within the IoT sees private sectors heavily investing in the trials and pilots of products. International Data Corp projects that IOT will see an investing increase from $665.8 billion in 2014 to $1.7 trillion by 2020. Ed tech companies invested in the development of technology within education saw an investment of $2.5 billion in 2015. Aside from the front runners investing in trial runs.
Educators will be challenged with keeping up with technological advancements in order to keep up with their students. The use of technology within education will see a shift within the notion and practice of traditional education. Thus the focus on developing and molding of 21st century skills.
What’s the butterfly effect?
Connected classrooms see schools crafting a digital culture, by not limiting internet connections solely to computer libraries. In 2009, Denmark first allowed for their students to use the internet during the national exams, students are now tested on their ability to analyse information under pressure versus regurgitating text book information.
Beijing Middle School 105 have introduced an interactive intelligent system that connects various devices to each other. With the use of Microsoft technologies teachers are able to connect their tablets, pc’s to classroom TVs and interactive whiteboards. Each classroom is equipped with Linxee Smart Touch All-in-one pc which is Microsoft operated as well as a television monitor and tablets to enable teachers access and control to the data during class time. Teachers are able to create presentations, stream videos from various devices in the classroom as all work can be accessed on the school’s back end data system.
UK has run a IoT pilot titled Distance within eight of their schools. The aim of the pilot is to encourage teachers and students to become actively involved in creating and sharing digital content at school.
Pioneers
Singapore’s government has invested in the merging of social media within classes to drive innovation and creative development among students. Schools such as Ngee Ann secondary school use twitter and facebook as a means for interaction with peers and teachers. Within a class environment teachers sets a question and instruct students to use twitter to answer the question. Teachers are able to receive a real time gage at which student understands the work.
Global hotspots
Countries such as USA, Singapore are leading the race on the use of merging technology within the classrooms.
Above: Connected Classroom Video
By: Khumo Theko
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About Khumo
Khumo is our in house Research and Operations Assistant. She aims to unpack the influential cultural layers that make the African continent tick. While joining the dots that lead to innovative creations and solutions that are shaping the way we live and interact.
Image credit: waack.org
Video credit: Nemroff Pictures
