How Technology Is Moulding Learning In Higher Education

Higher Education
Higher Education

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a move towards remote learning pretty much overnight for most higher-education students, beginningin the spring of 2020. In order to complement video lectures and engage students in the virtual classroom, educators adopted technologies which allowed for more interactivity and hybrid models of online and in-person activities.

These tools revolutionised  learning, teaching, and assessment in ways which could persist after the pandemic. Investors have taken note. Edtech start-ups have raised record amounts of venture capital in 2020 and 2021, and market valuations for bigger players rose astronomically.

The Ins And Outs Of Video-Based Learning

Improved access to the internet – as we’ve alluded to beforehand – has opened the door for remote learning. Video-based learning is one of the first and most leading approaches being utilised in education. For example, YouTube, one of the most well-used online video networks, has far more than two billion users worldwide. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI) recorded a 75%.

Video is fast becoming a de facto standard in education. Students choose to watch videos for better understanding, which can also lead to increased  knowledge retention as opposed to reading long texts.

In addition, there is a 27% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in video streaming devices (such as tablets, smartphones and smart TVs), with it being projected that 66% of worldwide devices will be streaming 4K quality videos by the year 2023. Increasing internet speeds, with the latest technologies, such as 5G and high-speed broadband networks, are facilitating the broader adoption of video-based learning through streaming high-quality videos.

Because of these factors, educational institutions are progressively more likely to invest in creating educational videos which can be:

  • Educational/topic-based videos,
  • Classroom-based videos, or
  • Technology-based videos, with screenshots – as well as images – along with a description.

For example , loom.com is a free tool with which educational videos can be created.

Moreover, video production and distribution may be cost-effective because there are a lot of different tools for putting together and editing videos. Very importantly, they support anytime learning, whereby students can watch recorded videos as per their convenience. In addition, the flexibility to watch videos on a number of different devices could enhance the learning process through supporting a convenient learning process.

Books And Technology

Digital technologies are beginning to complement or replace traditional paper-based book. A lot of printed books now have electronic versions, just like many of the games you’ll find at a casino online South Africa. These books are known as e-books (electronic books). The portability of e-books is one of their biggest advantages.

As compared to paper-based books, e-books:

  • Cost less,
  • May includeinteractive animation and simulation inorder to describe concepts,
  • Can have integrated assessments, and
  • Are often customisable.

E-books are being published by publishers, groups and individuals. Hence, quality of e-books has to be assessed correctly in order to assist educators with making informed decisions regarding  proper e-book for a class.

In classrooms, educators spend significant time explaining novel concepts. The dynamic properties of many e-books (such as animation and simulation) assist educators with conveying exactly the same information without spending considerable time and effort on introducing the topics during class.

READ MORE: Why Technology Should Respond To The Reality Of Our Lives

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