Education Special Section
educators , school leaders and board members , parents , and the community is critical when looking to successfully integrate new technologies into a curriculum . The change in how teachers are teaching and how students are learning requires a complete shift from room layouts and resources needed for students , to continuing teacher education and administrative observations . Each piece of the education puzzle needs to be thoughtfully addressed in order to successfully accommodate a new way of learning .
“ What technology allows us to do is amplify and expand the repertoire of techniques that effective teachers use to elicit the attention , effort and engagement that are the basis of learning ,” Michelle Miller says in Minds Online . “ The tools we use can and do change us but when we use these tools mindfully , we can remain in control of those changes , shaping them 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 . ■
Higher Education
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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