IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Fall 2018 | Page 37

Higher Education
to benefit our students.” As schools
are implementing the infrastructure
needed for technology advancements
in the classroom, teachers are being
tasked with providing their students
with a more individualized approach
to learning. Professional development
for these teachers is critical to ensure
that they are not stretched too thin and
their budgetary resources are properly
allocated. Support from administrators
and coaching from peer mentors in how
to approach this new way of teaching
has proven to increase the likelihood of
success in the classroom. In addition,
classroom evaluations are being
reconfigured, as sitting in the back of a
classroom no longer accurately assesses
a teacher’s effectiveness in this new
learning environment.
The World Economic Forum states
that 75 percent of educators and students
feel there is a gap in their ability to
meet the needs of a growing IT-focused
workforce. In addition, 90 percent of
organizations currently have an IT
skills shortage; by 2020, it is estimated
that there will be 1.5 million jobs in
the digital industry across the globe.
These statistics alone make technology
integration into schools a necessity. Not
only will our young children come out
of their education prepared for a role in
a booming industry, but our teachers
will have the confidence in knowing that
they’ve provided their students the best
opportunity for success.   ■
The U.S. offers a diverse array of options for students interested in higher
education. From specialized discipline areas to on-the-job employee training,
many of these institutions aren’t as easily available to students in other countries.
Community colleges offer two-year associate degree programs that offer occupation
skills training to prepare students for employment, while private and public colleges
offer focused coursework in arts,
humanities, business, education,
and almost any area of focus
that may exist. Students are now
asking much more from their
higher education institutions,
and those institutions are
answering the call. As the cost of
attending school sees no sign of
diminishing in the near future,
students—both traditional and
non-traditional—have high
expectations for where their
money is being spent.
Restructuring
Colleges and universities are looking to new ways of educating their students to
not only better prepare them for their future, but to afford them the opportunity
to learn and grow with the advanced, ever-changing technologies accessible to
them. Colleges and universities across the nation look for ways to keep tuition
costs low but expand their reach to students looking to further their education.
Digital learning has proven to be one way to do so, providing educators with the
tools necessary to reach students wherever they may be in the world. For students
wanting to stay on campus for their learning, institutions are revamping their
campuses to better incorporate the expanding technologies available to them for
learning.
Online Learning
According to the U.S. Department of Education and the National Center for
Education Statistics, 27.7 percent of all undergrads and 32.7 percent of all graduate
students complete at least some portion of their courses on an online platform.
Institutions are investing in online learning as a way to make learning more
attainable for all types of students. Specialized degrees are being offered in hundreds
of areas such as marketing and real estate instead of simply going for business
administration. Students who see a clear path to their career are opting for these
types of degrees to work directly toward their future.
Campus Changes
The integration of technology across college campuses has forced institutions
to rethink the architecture of their classrooms. There was once a time, not so
long ago, that libraries had to clear out space to add computer labs, printers and
scanners. Now, smart classrooms are connecting technologies through IoT, and
active-learning classrooms are allowing students to engage in collaborative reflection
sitting around tables of laptops, cameras and shared displays. In addition to
increased capabilities for hardware, there is also a demand for quality IT networks
with increased bandwidth. According to a 2017 study by the Center for Digital
Education, 43 percent of institutions adopting technologies are doing it as a driver
for student retention. In addition, 38 percent of institutions listed improved student
learning outcomes as a top driver for implementation of campus technologies.
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FALL 2018
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