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How is technology reprogramming the future of education?
07 Nov 2018
There was once a time where technology was feared. Mobile devices were met with scrutiny and internet connections were linked to global doubt and security threats.
Jumping forward to today and technology is everywhere. Yes, there are still security threats but there’s also a myriad of advantages surrounding its existence.
One leading factor is the positive impact it has on the education sector. As Tech Wire Asia explains, some parts of China are bridging the educational resource gap with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“The country has long had an issue with economic disparity in education. Often, the best academic resources and teachers have been snatched up by well-to-do families in major cities to nurture their children. This leaves students from smaller towns or lower-income families with little access to high-quality education. Online classrooms serve as a platform, allowing skilled educators to reach more people more efficiently,” the article explains.
By giving life to online learning platforms and interactive teaching mechanisms, technology has made it possible to extend education further and attempt to disintegrate inequality.
Of course, the bond between technology and education isn’t just flourishing in China; it’s a global phenomenon that has enhanced the lives of professors and students worldwide.
In the UK, universities have locked onto the demand for graduates with tech-based techniques as, according to Information-Age, there has been a digital skills gap within the education system that needs to be addressed.
During an interview with Gopalan Rajagopalan, Head of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Scotland, Information-Age highlights that, “The UK is facing a growing digital skills gap, and for students to reach their true potential, the education sector, government and private sector need to work together.”
“Today’s children grow up surrounded by technology, but this isn’t translating to interest in technology careers,” Rajagopalan adds.
Despite technology improving the lives of students, there’s also a need for training on how to use it and make the most of its talent.
Universities must integrate tech-based learning tools that make a difference, steering students towards its effective use to ensure a successful future for all.
Here are four UK universities that effectively fuse technology with education…
FACULTY OF EDUCATION, PLYMOUTH MARJON UNIVERSITY
As a UK university where students come first, Plymouth Marjon balances technology with first-rate academics, consistently developing digital skills in high demand among international employers.
Accredited by the TEF Silver Award, labelled number two in the UK for teaching quality and top 10 in the UK for student experience, Plymouth Marjon has a long history of motivating students to become innovative, influential educators.
Source: Plymouth Marjon University
When you team up with the forward-thinking Schools of Education and Teacher Education at Plymouth Marjon University, you can pursue a variety of undergraduate degrees, including the BA (Hons) Outdoor Adventure Education. Professionally approved by the Institute for Outdoor Learning, you’ll be enriched and inspired by the atmospheric Dartmoor National Park and the Devon and Cornwall coast, taught by experienced, passionate staff, who are internationally-recognised as leaders in the subject.
Plymouth Marjon University has delivered teacher education for 180-years, making it the most experienced teacher-training institution in the Southwest. High quality training delivered by qualified tutors mean Plymouth Marjon University’s teachers are the top earners in the Southwest and Wales
If you seek a proactive teacher training course that’s both valuable and globally-respected, applications at Plymouth Marjon University are open now.
SOUTHAMPTON EDUCATION SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
“I chose the University of Southampton because it was recommended to me as outstanding by both colleagues and SEN advisors,” says Anna Blacklock, MSc Education Specific Learning difficulties (Dyslexia) at Southampton.
“I am currently Head of the Resourced Provision for SpLD, at The Wavell School in Farnborough. I work closely with the SENCO ensuring the academic and emotional well-being of the students both in the Resourced Provision and in the wider school.”
Source: University of Southampton
Inspiring students of all ages to unleash their academic aspirations, the Southampton Education School at the University of Southampton aims to train as many learners as possible on diverse learning techniques.
Ranked 2nd in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2019 for its content-rich BSc (Hons) Education and Psychology course, the school maintains an impressive standing and adopts a practical approach to the field of education.
The school also hosts thought-provoking seminars every two weeks, previously discussing crucial areas like engagement with Twitter and its potential use in teaching.
By remaining loyal to the technological affairs that overshadow the education sector, Southampton’s curriculum will benefit you throughout your teaching career.
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, DURHAM UNIVERSITY
Rated ‘Gold’ in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), the university has a reputation for delivering consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for students and is currently one of the UK’s most excellent academic institutions.
Through its dynamic School of Education, Durham transforms ambitious students into career-driven educators with a variety of undergraduate programmes and teacher training schemes.
The school itself takes great pride in its student satisfaction rates, with its National Student Survey (NSS) reflecting a 100 percent satisfaction score for several years running in its BA Education Studies degree.
Source: Durham University
To keep frameworks relevant and coherent with today’s technological trends, the School of Education at Durham supplies an assortment of user-friendly technologies to boost its learning rituals.
As an organisational member of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT), the school stands by the message that learning technology is the systematic application of a body of knowledge to the design, implementation, management and evaluation of teaching and learning.
Every student that undergoes a degree in the education discipline must understand the benefits technology can have on their future and the future of their pupils.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
