The potential of virtual learning has long been understood, and perhaps it is now being realized as this technology is now being implemented and used. With the emergence of the internet for learning and teaching, there were great aims for the democratization of knowledge. The status quo of education is still exciting and provides an opportunity for businesses and learners alike based on the advancement of technology for teaching.
Technology has and continues to change education as we know it, and these changes will arguably be long-lasting and impactful. Some of these changes and the impact they will have on the future of education and opportunities in education are discussed in this article.
Wider pool of teachers
There are more professionals available to provide their expertise and who can train online than ever before. A school in India is now able to genuinely make use of its partnership with a school in the West to provide teaching and educational tips. This is now being done virtually, and sister school programs are serving to concretize the idea of such sharing of resources over the internet. The Educational Technology Certificate is proving popular in this regard.
Education is now accessible to all
No matter where you live, you just need internet connectivity to get educated. For a long time, the idea of the internet was intrinsically linked to education, and in fact, many writers argued that education and the internet were one and the same thing. There have been some diversions along the way as entertainment has become paramount, but the recent pandemic and the changes to how education was carried out has once more highlighted the fact that internet connection is an intrinsic component of modern education.
More inclusive
In terms of learners with special needs, schools have never been more accessible than anything else tried before. Learners who have individual learning needs can be taught in the same virtual classroom as all the other learners. There is no simple technological solution that will suit all special needs learners, but bespoke solutions can be applied for specific cases. Human speech recognition and augmentative communication are just two such tech routes that will help learners with disabilities to engage and learn.
Flexibility
Classes are held come rain or snow and generally also whenever the student themselves is available. They can also be recorded and accessed whenever the learner or student is available.
Meet The Millennium Developmental Goals
Only through e-learning and remote teaching can we meet the Millennium developmental goals of education for all. This was a huge ask, but it is clear that although many believed it was impossible, with the right levels of commitment and ethical leadership in education and technology, this is a goal that can indeed be achieved. If these five aspects can be honed and delivered better than initially expected and as is the potential, then surely there can be no better invention for our world than the ability to reach and educate the masses virtually and remotely. Technology has changed education forever, yet the overall aim has remained the same: to improve human life and provide a basic standard of living to all.