CESGRANRIO 2015

What is the future of technology in education?

By Matt Britland

  Some time ago I was asked about the future of

technology in education. It is a question I think about

all the time. By its very nature, technology changes

quickly and making it accessible to pupils, teachers

and other stakeholders is an ongoing challenge.

  I don’t think iPad is the future. For me, the future

is not about one specific device. Don’t misunderstand

me, I love the iPad. In fact, I have just finished a trial

using them – and they have proved effective.

  IPads and other mobile technology are the

‘now’, and they will play a part in the future, but four

years ago the iPad didn’t even exist. We don’t know

what the current technology will be in another four.

Perhaps it will be wearable devices such as Google

Glass, although I suspect tablets will still be used in

education.

  The future is about access, both locally and

globally. Teaching and learning is going to be social.

Future schools could have a traditional cohort of

students plus online only students who live across

the country or abroad. Things are already starting to

move this way with the emergence of massive open

online courses (MOOCs).

  For me the future of technology in education is the

cloud because it can remove the barrier technology

often represents to teaching and learning.

  Schools will only need one major thing to

be prepared for the future: a fast robust internet

connection. Infrastructure is paramount to the future

of technology in education.

  We don’t know about the new future devices, but

we do know that they will need the cloud. Schools and

other educational institutions will need to provide the

best possible infrastructure.

  If you want to start to use mobile technology in

your school, whether it is an iPad program or a bring

your own device (BYOD) program, your connectivity

must be fast and reliable. If the network is inefficient,

students and teachers will not want to use the devices.

The infrastructure should be there before the devices.

  Teachers can use the cloud to set, collect and

grade work online. Students will have instant access

to grades, comments and work via a computer,

smartphone or tablet. Many schools are already doing

this.

  This is where devices come in. All devices in the

future will need to access the cloud. Students will

have their own devices, either specified by the school

or chosen by themselves.

  Thanks to the cloud and mobile devices,

technology will be integrated into every part of school.

Games fields, gyms and school trips will all change.

Whether offsite or on site, the school, teachers,

students and support staff will all be connected. All

classrooms will be paperless.

  With the cloud, the world will be our classroom.

E-learning will change teaching and learning. Students

and teachers can interact from anywhere.

  The cloud can also encourage independent

learning. Teachers could adopt a flipped classroom

approach more often. Teachers can put videos,

documents, audio podcasts or interactive images for

students online. Students will take ownership of their

own learning. There is a massive amount of resources

online that students can find and use without the

help of the teacher. As long as they have an internet

connection, they are good to go.

  This, of course, means the teacher’s role will

change.

  Shared applications and documents on the

cloud will allow for more social lessons. How often do

students get an opportunity to collaborate productively

using technology in the classroom? It isn’t always

easy. However, using Google Apps is easy when

students are working on documents together. They

could be in the same room or in different countries. Of

course, these collaborative tools are also very useful

for teachers, even if they never meet their students.

  What we must remember is that when schools

adopt new technology and services, they must be

evaluated. Staff will also need training. Any initiative is

doomed to failure without well trained, confident staff

who can see how technology can support and benefit

teaching and learning.

  Many schools have already embraced this, but

there’s still a way to go to ensure all schools are ready

for the future of technology. It is time for all schools to

embrace the cloud.

Available at: teacher-blog/2013/jun/19/technology-future-education-cloud- -social-learning>. Retrieved on: 20th Aug. 2014. Adapted.