Schools have come a long way over the past 50 years, and much of this has been down to technology. No longer are we sitting at a wooden desk, only to look at our teacher who is writing on a blackboard using a piece of chalk. The modern classroom looks much different to this scenario with computers on desks and illuminated whiteboards in many schools, and they may be about to undergo another big change in the way they teach their pupils.
Teaching professionals are beginning to learn that many of the old school techniques and practices that were used back in the day, just simply aren’t effective anymore. Society is different and has evolved with the times, and so must teaching. Now, some teachers are adopting the use of artificial intelligence systems to get a clearer understanding of how their students are really performing in all areas.
Another area that has become very popular within schools is virtual reality. Instead of having students look at a slide show or pictures of a historical artifact, they can put on a headset and see it virtually for themselves giving the student a much deeper understanding and feel for the object. Some virtual reality systems that have already made their way into schools include the Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, and HTC Live.
Discovr Labs are a relatively new company that are looking to change the way teaching is done in healthcare education. Their VR training solutions are already being used in Canada at various hospitals and universities. Studies they carried out in regards to their product has shown that there is as much as an 80% increase in subject retention when learning in this type of environment. Their next move is to develop similar platforms that teacher will be able to create the contents for the students to access.
Across the water, in the United Kingdom, they too are embracing the advancement of technology and are beginning to introduce artificial intelligence apps into the education system. Currently trailing across the UK is a web-based application called Formative Assess that has the backing of the UK Government. The system uses an on-screen avatar to quiz the students and then provide individual feedback for each one. The teacher is then able to monitor the students’ progress and provides extra support where needed.
Virtual reality learning may be the way forward for effective teaching, and even Minecraft has seen its way into 7,000 classrooms around the world, and Microsoft is now working on a special education version of the ever popular game which is due to be released this September. As with any virtual learning, the systems are designed to teach students not just the subject matter, but also valuable skills such as problem-solving and communication skills. By making learning more interactive and more engaging students will no longer think of learning as a chore and will learn to enjoy it.
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