Technology continues to change many parts of modern life, especially since the start of the pandemic. One industry that has been transformed by technology in recent times has been education, particularly with the rise in digital learning.
Many experts in the digital field believe that the future of learning will be digital – and this is easy to see when you look at the benefits of digital learning, technological developments, and the way in which society is heading. To discuss this topic further, this article will look at why the future of learning will become more and more digital and what this might mean for the world. Interested? Then keep on reading.
What Is Digital Learning?
So, what exactly is digital learning? There is no single definition for the term, but generally, it refers to the use of technology in learning. Most commonly, since the start of the pandemic, digital learning refers to teaching that takes place online.
With the pandemic forcing schools to close, schools, teachers, and students were forced to adapt to online learning. Much like remote work, there have been a few bumps in the road and challenges along the way, but many schools have found digital learning to be a great success, and it could play a major role in the future of education.
Why Digital Learning Is Beneficial
There are obvious benefits to being in a classroom, which is why many schools are offering hybrid learning that combines both in-person teaching and digital study. Digital learning can benefit all parties, though, particularly when it comes to flexibility. When people are able to learn remotely, it gives them more time and energy to focus on other important parts of their life, and this can create a healthier balance and even boost productivity.
As an example, an online masters in software engineering is a course that can be taken entirely online, which could give students much greater flexibility than pursuing a course at an in-person college or university. Plus, there are also cost-saving benefits to consider because a student does not have to worry about moving away, renting a place, or transportation to and from a physical educational establishment.
From a school’s perspective, digital learning is beneficial for a few reasons. Much like businesses benefit greatly from remote work, a school is able to reduce its costs and could even go without a physical location. These are also benefits that the teacher can enjoy as they are able to teach from the comfort of their own home.
Also, schools are able to recruit students regardless of their location. This can make a massive difference to the students that they are able to recruit and could allow schools to take on many more students than they couldn’t otherwise accommodate in a physical classroom.
The Adoption Of Digital Learning By Gen Z
It is also important to consider that this type of technology is embraced by Gen Z and will be by the many generations to follow. Remote working and digital learning can be harder to grasp for those that have been working and studying in-person for all of their life, which is understandable – change can be hard.
However, for the younger generations, this is the technology that they have been brought up with and feel comfortable with. Gen Z is known to prefer the involvement of digital tools in learning, and this is another key reason why the future will be digital when it comes to education.
AR & VR
Digital learning does not only refer to distance learning. It also includes the use of modern technology and digital tools in the classroom, which in recent times has included AR and VR. AR and VR are incredibly useful educational tools because they can provide a ‘real-life’ environment for learning.
As an example, medical students can use virtual reality to practice on patients without putting anyone at real risk. This is also becoming more common in driver training, where people are able to practice learning to drive safely but still in a ‘real-life’ scenario. In any kind of learning that requires practical skills, AR and VR can help massively, and this will only continue as these technologies continue to evolve.
Cloud-Based Learning
Education has also been transformed in recent years by the rise of cloud-based learning. This allows students easy access to lessons, materials, exams, and more from one central location – no matter where they are. This can simplify the learning experience for all and is particularly useful for courses where there are a lot of resources and materials that students need access to.
Accessibility
Another important element of digital learning that should not be overlooked is accessibility. Digital tools and programs can make education a lot more inclusive and accessible, such as text-to-speech programs that can help those that have certain disabilities engage in learning.
Accessibility and inclusivity are hugely important in modern-day life, and this is something that should be focused on in the future so that everyone gets a fair chance to study and develop the skills and knowledge that they need to achieve their goals in life.
Data For Monitoring Performance
Another area where digital learning may have the edge over in-person teaching is monitoring performance with data. With traditional schooling, students are usually graded and may get feedback once a term. This can be problematic if the student is struggling and the teacher does not notice or does not have the time to give them the attention that they need.
In contrast, with digital learning, there will be an online record of all teaching, and data can be used to monitor performance in real-time. This means that it is much easier to assess how students are performing throughout the semester so that any weaknesses can be identified and worked on in a timely manner. This article should show you how and why the future of learning is digital. Although some are resistant to bringing technology into the classroom, it is already proving to be extremely valuable for students and teachers in many different subjects. Additionally, the pandemic has proven that distance learning can be highly effective, and it is something that the younger generations are keen to embrace.