“The internet of things (IoT) will soon be called internet of everything (IoE). By the year 2020, it is predicted that more than 50 billion connected devices will be on the Internet.”
– Jeanette Cajide
From online tutorials to virtual classrooms and conferencing, education technology has evolved immensely over the past decade. It is no surprise that IoT, which has made its way into almost every aspect of our personal and professional space, has made a major impact on the education system.
Read: Top 4 Education Apps Trends to Watch in 2018
Here are the top 5 ways in which IoT is changing the game for learning and education.
1. A common platform for academies from around the world
As printed texts get digitally transferred into smartphones, teachers are no longer limited to classrooms. IoT brings students, educators, and mentors from around the world onto a common platform for knowledge sharing, thereby enriching the entire learning process.
For instance, interactive boards and digital highlighters are the latest devices related to IoT in the field of education. These boards accelerate and simplify the entire learning process by receiving, acknowledging, and reciprocating information. Similarly, digital scanners aid the learning experience by digitally transferring text to smartphones.
2. Enhancing safety measures on campus
Since 2013, there have been nearly 300 school shootings in America — which is an average of about one per week. Policy makers, educators, parents, as well as students are looking for solutions that will turn schools and universities into safe and secure learning spaces.
IoT enabled products like identity cards and digitized wristbands as well as GPS-enabled bus systems, are some of the major improvements that can be made to enhance the safety of students and teachers. Most of these devices have data on last-known locations through which authorities can ensure that only the right people gain access to the campus.
3. Special care for students with special needs
The right to education cannot be entirely fulfilled if differently-abled learners are left out of the scenario. There are IoT enabled special cards that help students with impaired vision to enlarge computer fonts. The information collected by these cards helps customize the text according to the specific requirement of each student. Not only do these devices help special needs learners feel included in the education system, they also empower them and give them self-confidence.
4. Learners are now creators
The firsthand experience with hyper-connectivity applications is sure to stimulate a student’s imagination and desire to learn. According to our industry experts, Internet of (school) things enables learners to develop better cognitive and decision-making skills. Students are no longer just recipients of knowledge from textbooks; now they can be active participants in the learning process, helping them to understand, build, and control these systems in the future.
5. Increasing efficiency
By streamlining the everyday activities of educational institutions, the time and effort that goes into accomplishing these activities is significantly reduced. Manual attendance recording, fee submission, and other administrative jobs can be enhanced. IoT devices also closely monitor the energy usage of schools and help in reducing energy costs.
The advantages of IoT in education are numerous, which explains why there is heavy investment in this segment. The streamlining of the education system through IoT solutions makes the learning process quick and efficient. With the emergence of smart and connected schools, the future of the education system seems bright.
