Replacing blackboards with iPads is not a new concept.
More and more we’re seeing schools embracing technology as not just an alternative method to teach – but a superior one.
CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education, Don Knezek, compares tech-less education to tech-less surgeries.
“If in 1970 you had knee surgery, you got a huge scar,” he says. “Now, if you have knee surgery you have two little dots.”
We can achieve more with less and there’s no reason to not be utilising our advancements. It not only appealing to the students (often referred to as ‘digital natives’) but also to teachers who are realised the approach to education is in need of dire change and looking for technology-based resources to engage students more both in and outside of classroom.
Adoption of tech in schools hasn’t been exactly been universal, however. We’re hoping to change that – as are many organisations. Locally and around the world we’re seeing people who are developing, creating and digital innovating within the education system for better results.
Let’s look at a few:
How many times in school did you look at your mathematics textbook and think, “Why am I learning this?” Machinam wants to answer that question. This brand new, Melbourne-based social enterprise is looking to make STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) accessible with their app “In Real Life”.
Within 10 years, 80% of jobs will require knowledge of technology and mathematics. That’s why they’ve developed their app to give maths tangible outcomes. Teaching kids that maths is useful in everything from fashion design, game development and start-ups.
It’s early days yet but we’re excited to see where this goes.
Having just received investment from Mark Zuckerberg to the tune of $100mil, AltSchool (founded by a ex-Google executive and a B Corp for good measure) is creating a new way of learning.
They are focussing on how to learn over what to learn. Targeting the student’s strengths and passions over the out-dated, one-size-fits all experience. They’ve created ‘micro-schools’ with better student:teacher ratios and the latest in classroom design and technology. It’s a deeply scientific approach to that uses innovative technology to ensure a dynamic, adaptive and personalised curriculum for each student.
The model has yet to be exported overseas (and we may be a several years off seeing it in Australia) but it’s a promising development.
There’s dozens of apps that seek to educate and inform classrooms globally - Khan Academy, Google Apps, Code.org, Reading Plus. But each has it’s own platform, log in and process. Three years ago 3 entrepreneurs in San Francisco starting working on Clever: the one platform, with one log in and one process to access all the educational apps for a streamlined learning experience.
The adoption rate of Clever has been huge in the US, with one-third of schools already using it. It’s yet to make it’s way overseas but it’s becoming apparent that it’s more of a ‘when’ than an ‘if’.
All human knowledge has been readily available since the internet became integrated into everyday life – but representing the relevant information in an accessible, personalised way is the challenge these organisations are tackling.
We’re just at the start of this revolution but the future of technology in education is bright. The youth of today are different and learn differently to the youth of 20 years and it’s time to adapt on a local, national and global front.
