The traditional art of chalk and talk teaching model has been witnessing a massive transformation in the last few years. One particularly intriguing change towards imparting education with the proliferation of technology is the use of mobile and web-based applications by schools, colleges, and institutions.
Mobile apps are slowly changing the conventional age-old classroom teaching practices while enabling ubiquitous access and personalization of educational content. In this article, we will look at –
- How is the EdTech industry excelling in unimaginable and incomprehensible ways?
- How do apps provide ample benefits to both students and educational institutions?
- How advanced technology such as Artificial Intelligence, Cloud, and Augmented Reality play an immense role in education and strive to provide better learning experiences?
How apps are transforming the education industry?
The educational industry around the globe has gone through a drastic change over the years. Mobile apps have replaced the traditional boring education system with creative classroom interfaces and smart content, revolutionizing education like never before. The profound influence of mobile apps has brought a significant difference in the education industry, leading to the implementation of advanced and intuitive learning methods.
As of August 2020, education apps were the third popular category in the Apple App Store, accounting for almost 8.68 percent of active apps.
The wave of digitization and unforeseen circumstances has impelled educational institutes to effectively leverage the suite of available technologies with creative content for remote learning for students across all age groups. Forbes has reported the total market value of Edtech worldwide is set to reach $252 billion this year.
With the growth of online pedagogy, various companies are trying to play an active role in fortifying digital education. In addition to Edtech companies, many of the world’s largest tech giants are trying to gain traction in the education sectors, with Microsoft, SAP, and Oracle holding significant market shares within the industry.
In the past few years, the importance of educational apps in schools, colleges, and institutes has increased and is still growing. Mobile apps are helping students to overcome the boundaries of classrooms and learn everything at their own pace. Educators worldwide are discovering new possibilities equipped with an augmented understanding of the subjects for greater flexibility, resulting in accessibility and creative learning for students.
Key benefits of mobile apps in education
The education industry has changed a lot with the invention of mobile app development. Mobile apps have imparted a new pattern for users to learn things. Newer avenues of teaching and learning are opening up with mobile apps, which immensely enhance the education system like never before.
Mobile apps in education have several benefits where students can grasp and learn things to enhance the learning process. Mobile apps allow students to search for resources without any interruption and time delay with just a click. Mobile apps are even helpful for teachers and instructors to learn a topic, provide notes or examples, and refer these apps to the students when or if needed. Though there are plenty of advantages of m-Learning, here are the most important of them.
1. Learning on the go
One of the most significant advantages of educational apps is the availability of courses, study material, and the ease of accessing it from anywhere and at any time. This has helped students learn at their own pace without having to hurdle to visit the library and search for the information.
2. Cost-effective learning
With plenty of learning apps available in the market, quality learning and training are accessible to everybody at a much-decreased expense. Online learning is extremely cost-effective in contrast to the customary learning framework.
3. Seamless learning
Learn and share resources, including assignments, courses, and lesson plans, with fellow students from anywhere in a seamless learning environment.
4. Sustainable education
Using mobile apps over traditional teaching methods promotes sustainability. Mobile apps limit the use of pen, pencil, and paper, resulting in fewer trees being cut down every year.
5. Interactive and quick learning process
The goal is to engage users proactively, which motivates them to learn independently. Educational applications are changing the education system by including easy-to-use interactive interfaces and prompt conceptualization and cooperation. The apps are usually developed with a user-friendly interface and attractive design.
6. Ease of communication
Educational apps help establish an easy and simple communication framework between students, teachers, and parents. These apps allow regular interactions between the parents and teachers to improve the overall performance of the students and thereby increase the effectiveness of the educational system. Parents can keep track of attendance, assess reports, and raise concerns and remarks about their child, thus promoting transparency in the system.
7. Systematic learning
App-based learning enables innovative and systematic ways of learning. Educational applications empower efficient learning and permit students to learn from another point of view and explore their thoughts to go with the flow with energy and interest.
People prefer the new way of learning more than ever. There is an opportunity to reconsider the current delivery and online pedagogical methods by seamlessly integrating classroom learning with e-learning modes to facilitate a unified learning system.
Technological trends shaping the education industry
Technology is continuously evolving, and to serve users in the best possible way, the education industry needs to be sure that it is keeping up with new technological trends.
Digital learning is leading the charge as a foundation, and many new trends are supporting up momentum across the globe. Multidisciplinary and modular online pedagogy that offers customized learning will ultimately succeed. In the coming years, we are sure to see a blend of technology-infused e-learning and face-to-face teaching, offering a wealth of opportunities for educators and institutions.
Chatbots
The education industry needs to gear up and provide students with a better and fast communication process with teachers and administration. Chatbots influence the education industry as they become instrumental learning tools, making education personalized, easy, and improving interaction.
Chatbots provide a quick resolution to problems and shorten the cycle of communication or procedures. Chatbots make it easier for students to get information on their submissions, deadlines, and upcoming events.
Gamification
The education gamification market is expected to grow from 93 million U.S. dollars in 2015 to nearly 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.
Gamification has proven to be one of the most effective ways of turning something mundane into an exciting learning experience. The fusion of game technology and education encourages students to learn using video game design elements in their learning process. It also enhances the concentration levels and knowledge retention of students.
Cloud
Often for geographically dispersed campuses, the cloud empowers a unique culture of collaboration across students, faculty, and administration. Adoption of cloud technologies across the education spectrum offers ease of accessibility, a virtual classroom environment, scalability, agility and innovation, secure data storage, and extensive cost savings. Cloud for the education industry is the best option as nothing matches with the convenience of accessing learning resources at your fingertips.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence is flourishing, making its presence felt in the education industry by changing conventional teaching methods. AI solutions can help teachers automate administrative and monotonous tasks and focus more on critical tasks such as interacting personally with students. AI solutions are also helping to break geographic barriers while eliminating the need to attend classroom training.
Augmented Reality(AR) & Virtual Reality (VR)
I hope you remember Pokemon Go! The app uses augmented reality for artificial graphics used in the physical environment.
Knowledge retention improves significantly when learning involves audio, video, and 3D visuals, getting students excited and interested to learn. AR can take learning to a new level, allowing students to experience the subject. VR solutions offer students to learn through interactions with a 3D world. We cannot think of another technology that supports experiential learning with powerful AR/VR learning methods that simulates a real-life environment impossible to interpret in a conventional classroom environment.
Thanks to digital transformation, online learning has evolved into a sophisticated, engaging, well-accepted way of delivering top-class quality education. With just a mobile or laptop in hand, getting an interactive classroom-like experience has become possible. Was this even imaginable to you a few years ago?
The final note
Online Education – the fastest-growing segment has transformed into a powerful medium of education.
Digital transformation in education industry is on the rise altering the old traditional teaching style of lectures and talks. The education industry is embracing digital solutions that make learning more accessible and flexible than ever while supporting digital-ready teaching ecosystems.
Mobility solutions are becoming the need of the hour in the education landscape. If you are willing to build an on-demand app in the education industry, it is essential to hire a reliable company that can craft successful applications with absolute ease and proficiency. No doubt, Scalex can help you develop top-notch apps for any of your needs.