Technology Trends to Watch in Education

Technology is changing the way that we teach and learn. It provides useful tools to engage learners and improve retention. Technology is helping teachers become more effective, offering flexible classroom solutions that cater to different learners. In fact, nearly three-quarters (75%)of teachers appreciate how technology interventions have helped in their classrooms.

Nearly every classroom across America is using laptops, tablets, and other mobile devices for routine learning. And as the majority of schools transitioned to remote learning for part or all of the school year during the COVID-19 pandemic, these devices became essential for learning. Advancements in solid-state drives (SSD) have made many mobile devices more accessible. And with the rise of the circular economy in ITAD, even the poorest school districts can afford to access common technologies to enhance student learning.

Why Technology is Important in the Classroom

When it comes to technology, the answer is always because it provides a better, faster, or more effective way to do something. Educators have struggled for decades with low student achievement and a struggle to get many at-risk students to meet minimum graduation requirements. Increasing pressure from school boards and heavy restrictions from regulations adds to the stress teachers feel in the classroom.

This stress is causing 44% of new teachers to ditch the profession in the first five years and leaving two-thirds of all teachers ready to quit their current jobs. As school districts and students suffer from teacher shortages, technology is providing a light at the end of the tunnel to ease some of the burdens. Here are some of the biggest benefits of using technology in the classroom:

• Technology Boosts Learner Engagement and Improves Student Performance
• It Caters to Different Learning Styles and Needs
• It Teaches Essential Collaboration Skills
• Technology Future-Prepares Children for Work in the Digital World
• It Supports Social-Emotional Learning Needs
• It Improves Teacher Job Satisfaction and Reduces Turnover

The Rise of Asynchronous Learning and Flexible Classrooms

Traditionally, all the students in a classroom would cover the same material at the same speed. While teachers struggled to keep twenty-some students together, the pace was often too fast for remedial students and too slow for advanced students. Asynchronous learning, which is made possible by technology, allows every learner to move at their own pace and even work on different activities.

The trend of using asynchronous learning is catching on as more teachers are adopting flexible classrooms. Some have even gotten rid of traditional desks altogether. As every student works at their own pace, teachers can focus their attention where they are needed most. Instead of standing in front of a class and lecturing for forty minutes, they remotely monitor student activity and get a little help from AI tools to identify who is struggling so that they can provide appropriate interventions.

Digital asynchronous learning activities might include:

• Watching Pre-Recorded Video Lessons
• Reading Independent Assignments
• Performing Guided Internet Research
• Online Class Discussion Boards
• Individual and Small Group Projects
• Gamified Learning like Solving Problems

This trend means that more classrooms than ever before need access to individual devices for every student in the room. But it also means that they have the flexibility to collect an assortment of devices. Some students can work on Chromebooks, while others use tablets or smartphones. The problem is that not every school budget has the resources to provide sufficient technology. Thankfully, another trend is filling that need. There is a growing push for companies to reduce their e-waste and repurpose their electronics instead of dumping them in landfills. Many ITAD companies who already took care of decommissioning this technology are adding services that provide an easy way to buy and sell secondhand technology. A lot of the devices that are sold to these companies end up going to schools and non-profit organizations.

A New Way to Develop Teamwork with ESports Teams

Many students check off the extra-curricular requirements on their college applications by participating in school sports. Basketball, cheerleading, volleyball, and football, among others, are commonly pushed as a great way to build collaborative teamwork skills that future employers will recognize. Sports are deeply ingrained in American culture, so it makes sense. But what about the students who lack athletic ability?

Warming a bench can do a lot more psychological harm than electing not to play sports in the first place. But for students who never learn the camaraderie of playing on a sports team, it can be challenging to find other opportunities to build essential skills. That’s one reason why ESports are becoming increasingly popular, even in school settings. ESports are organized competitive video gaming competitions.

Benefits of starting an ESports League:

• Important Technology Skill Development for College and Career
• Better Career Opportunities in Technology and STEM Fields
• Technology Pathways to College
• Social Skill Development
• Student Engagement that Translates to Improved Student Achievement
• Similar Positive Impact on Students as Other Extra-Curriculars
• Positive Media Exposure for Schools
• Better Students who Make Better Choices and Engage in Healthier Behaviors

The roots of ESports can be traced back to the early 2000s in South Korea. During a time when the government was investing heavily into technology infrastructure, a cultural phenomenon was born. Restaurants, bars, and other public spaces transformed to host PC Bangs–essentially organized group gaming that became wildly popular and eventually highly competitive.

But starting an ESports league in your school is going to require something a little more advanced than the standard-issue Chromebooks your last technology grant purchased. Here are some things to consider:

• Network: Gaming requires bandwidth. You may need to upgrade your school’s internet connections to provide ample speed and bandwidth in order to host a team and stream tournaments on popular platforms.

• Enhanced Cybersecurity: You’ll find that the world of Esports attracts many tech-savvy students, and not all of them have benevolent interests. Some will be there to win. Others may be there to steal information or even cheat. Cybersecurity is already a big challenge for schools, and Esports only complicates matters.

• Gaming Devices: You’ll need to choose whether your team will use desktops or laptops. As far as specs, you’ll need to meet the minimum league requirements for where you are competing. That means that CPU power, RAM,

  About the Author

  Jim Lee is a computer hardware engineer working at BuySellRam.com.

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