How Has Technology Advanced in Education?

 If you wandered into a modern classroom or lecture theatre, your first impression may be that little has changed for generations. In many cases, the students are still sitting in rows facing a teacher or lecturer. However, a brief examination would show just how different an experience of education today's students have — and a good deal of that is down to the effects of new technology.

Access to Learning Materials

 Just like the revolution in education that followed the spread of printing, the internet and the devices used to access it have transformed education in a couple of decades. Less than thirty years ago, students had to search for books in shops or libraries. If they found them, even the best books were likely to have been out of date. Students now can access completely up-to-date material online, both at school and at home. And this isn't restricted to written texts. They can watch videos, live feeds and interactive material, as well. For example, a class can follow either live or recorded material from expeditions to a part of the world they're studying, or watch events of scientific or political interest as they unfold.

Interacting with Fellow Students

 It was possible to conduct group projects, involving all or part of the class, before modern technology. However, organising these could be challenging and very limited. Students could only usually work together when they were in class, so that it was difficult to incorporate the project into their homework.

 Projects are far easier now, when most students will be able to interact out of school, as well as on the premises. And this isn't restricted to working with students in the same school. Projects can be shared by several schools, regardless of how far apart they are. For example, if your town is twinned with one in another country, students in a school from each town could work together, learning about each other as well as about the topic.

More Flexible Teaching

 One of the most notable features of the Covid lockdown was how much education moved online, using platforms like Zoom or Teams. While this wasn't a long-term substitute for in-class lessons, it did point the way to remote teaching being available as an option in the future. It's not just having the internet and the platforms that has made this a feasible option, however. A range of tools, such as virtual whiteboards and sophisticated messaging, have made online teaching a viable alternative to in-class teaching. This offers a range of possibilities, such as students being able to attend classes when it's impossible to get to school, or lessons being arranged for several schools simultaneously.

 However, it's perhaps the field of private classes that will benefit most from this flexibility. Students in the UK, for instance, can now register for classes at prestigious institutions in the US or Asia without needing to travelling. At the same time, children, parents or adults looking for a private tutor don't need to restrict themselves to their own geographical area, but can pick the best tutor, wherever they're based. If you're looking for a private tutor, register with TutorExtra to explore all the possibilities — in person or online.