The Internet of Things (IoT) will disrupt the learning process for kindergarteners and higher education students. So, we will discuss the overall impact of IoT in education, its advantages and challenges, and the widespread adoption of this technology that makes it worthwhile.
Remember when you were in school, you had to flip through textbook pages, write on paper with a pen, and carry your books and other reading materials in a backpack that was often too heavy to carry? However, things are slowly transforming.
Like everything else in our lives, education is also changing digitally. IoT, in particular, proves to be a boon for this sector. The education sector has come a long way from traditional teaching and learning methods, from integrated mobile learning to flipped classrooms.
IoT-powered tools are quickly replacing chalkboards, paper, and pencils and revolutionizing instructional methods with panache! Until recent years, educational institutions followed traditional ways of teaching. Now they are embracing technology.
Industry leaders have realized it can significantly contribute to improving learning outcomes. As a result, IoT in education has attracted eager adopters with flipped classrooms and SMART boards with AR and VR capabilities to access secure online learning environments.
Educational institutions had to halt in-person instruction during the Covid-19 pandemic. Learners and educators were caught in the middle of an academic year and were forced to continue teaching and learning as usual in crisis mode.
The entire education system shifted to remote learning. IoT played a tremendous role in helping students and educators transition to a structured online learning environment. Nonetheless, there is still a lot of ground to cover with remote learning. Luckily, IoT in education helps narrow this gap and lays the groundwork for several new organizations focused on digital education.
The Dawn of The New Era
The impact of IoT in education has to be studied as it proves to be a game changer. Many educational institutions use connected smart devices to aid the already present e-learning and SMART board infrastructure.
IoT in education is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.22% and reach a market size of $17.42 billion by 2028. A few reasons for this extraordinary growth are as follows;
- Storage has never been more affordable and convenient thanks to unlimited storage capacities, data access, analysis, and pay-as-you-go facilities.
- IoT-powered gadgets and tools have become increasingly popular, and it is due to the reduced costs of cloud services and the device’s simplicity.
- Moreover, the creation of highly specialized apps to meet the educational needs of institutions has become a reality.
IoT can simplify the lives of all stakeholders, including administrators, teachers, students, and parents. They can use these IoT resources to produce better learning results. IoT use cases cover all aspects of the education sector and provide the following solutions;
- Enable classroom management to improve learning outcomes.
- Make education engaging by enhancing stakeholder connectivity.
- Manage and maintain applications to maximize viability and cost.
The use and rise of IoT in education have changed the learning landscape. The technology minimizes idle time while enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness.
IoT connects multiple devices to the internet, allowing data sharing and processing somewhat conveniently. Furthermore, it enables transmitting information quickly with a single touch without much human intervention. Consequently, IoT in education assists in preparing an automated learning environment.
Prominent Applications of IoT In Education
So, IoT in education means a better future for students learning online. Learners can easily access communication channels and study materials. Likewise, instructors can optimally measure learners’ performance and progress with targeted technologies in real time and assist them accordingly.
IoT empowers educators to share knowledge and learners to consume learning materials much more flexibly. Thus, it makes building learning communities and a culture of professionalism easier. Let’s look at the widespread use of IoT in education;
IoT-Based Attendance Systems
Each school, college, or university has its own attendance rules and regulations. Some institutions even specify the percentage of attendance required to be eligible for exams.
Using IoT, educational organizations can obtain precise attendance statistics. The technology gives error-free information. In addition, you can use it for real-time location tracking of learners living in hostels.
Innovative education aids in maintaining a higher quality of life and student safety. Calculating student attendance and fetching data on punctuality, personality, and regularity are mundane responsibilities made possible through IoT -based attendance management systems.
The time saved on obtaining this information will hugely impact costs and employee productivity. Besides, the digital record of each learner’s attendance motivates them to attend lessons more regularly.
SMART Boards
Conventional blackboards and textbooks often become boring for students. But, SMART boards have made learning and exchange of knowledge accessible, participatory, and fascinating.
SMART boards are white interactive boards that project words, illustrations, and graphics for an enhanced learning experience. An educator can teach better with interactive boards and clarify complex concepts through instructional videos, infographics, and virtual representations.
Additionally, they can easily demonstrate complicated formulas for subjects like mathematics and science and answer questions and queries from learners in shorter amounts of time.
IoT-Powered Screen Readers
Children with learning disabilities find it hard to study and think critically. Fortunately, with the help of advancements in technology, they can learn new concepts, topics, and functions at par with students without learning disabilities.
For example, learners suffering from hearing impairments understand sign language in vocal conversation. However, not all educational organizations have experts to resolve their queries. This is where IoT empowers such learners to access an interconnected glove system and tablets. Moreover, it excels in turning spoken words into written text.
Thanks to IoT devices, the world of education is getting brighter, offering support to disadvantaged youngsters. It helps them tap into their potential and take on the world and profitable endeavors without difficulty.
Wi-Fi-enabled clicks, emergency signs, hearing-impaired alerts, and audio boosters are tangible security measures at schools, colleges, and universities. In addition, IoT sensors provide safety from short circuits, fire, and other accidents by quickly identifying them and raising the alarm to fix the situation immediately.
IoT Sensors
IoT generates real-time alerts automatically and delivers them to students in an emergency. For example, if some staff or learner gets stuck in the elevator, a notification will be sent to the concerned person to take rapid action.
Simultaneously, notifications can pacify the victim. The likelihood of abrupt, deadly weather shifts and earthquakes has drastically increased because of global warming and climate change.
Hence, schools and other educational institutions must be equipped with IoT sensors and meters to be aware of potential disasters beforehand. The management can declare a holiday or end the day early in case of any threat.
Mobile & Tablet Applications
Millennial and Gen-Z students are immensely exposed to technology and gadgets, which has their own drawbacks. Contemporary students tend to live through their mobile devices, tablets, and other screen-oriented devices. In other words, it’s a lifestyle for them.
IoT-equipped devices and systems have skillfully moved the excessive emphasis on social networking channels and gaming to instructional subjects.
Connecting with learners and educators worldwide who share similar aspirations and interests is easy. For instance, IoT devices’ sensors collect data to automatically recommend events and games related to academic topics and subjects of the learners using the gadget.
With academic-based gaming, utilizing tablets and smartphones has instantly become beneficial for students as it aids them in improving their grades.
Problems IoT in Education Can Solve
Research indicates that 47% of American parents feel dissatisfied with the quality of K-12 education their children are getting. Likewise, students know they can do better; their educational establishments can do better. Students usually feel bored and constantly pressured to perform better in traditional classroom environments. IoT solves these problems to a great extent.
Let’s have a look;
Standardized Testing
Students have different capabilities and learning styles. So, they learn differently. While some perform better through conventional learning methods, others prefer to learn through videos to understand concepts or remember facts. Unfortunately, institutions still follow a standardized testing format – which may be unfair to many learners.
Standardized tests and exams kill creativity and encourage teachers and students to stick to tried and tested ways, which would not deliver outstanding results in the longer run.
Outdated Curriculum
Despite technological advancements, many schools still use outdated learning methods, curriculums, and paper textbooks because they feel this arrangement is familiar. As a result, they shy away from embracing new skills and materials that can benefit students and give educational institutions a competitive edge.
Poorly Trained Teachers
Believe it or not, educators play a significant role in defining students’ future and lifetime achievements. Learners with ill-trained teachers have lower chances of entering brilliant colleges and scoring high-paying jobs.
If educators have the tools and resources to better their skills, their knowledge will ultimately trickle down to how they teach learners.
Lower Classroom Engagement
The traditional approach to teaching is about “lectures, discussions, and standardized tests.” But, let’s be honest, it is not ideal for every student as well as teachers. For example, slow-learning students might start to lose focus and get easily distracted because of unstimulating learning materials/resources, with academically inclined students also not showing any significant interest.
Advantages of Using IoT Gadgets & Devices in Education
IoT in education offers teachers all the tools to optimize classwork, boost students’ learning efficiency, connect better with their peers and learners, and keep track of essential information and resources.
It also provides them a chance to hone their teaching skills, connect with each learner individually and aid them to be better at their studies. So, here are the advantages of IoT in education;
Real-Time Data Collection
IoT powers schools, colleges, and universities to handle terabytes of data simultaneously. It offers opportunities like observing student progress, measuring safety, and managing educator professional development.
Educational establishments can also utilize real-time data to enhance testing and grading effectiveness or recognize strategies to increase student participation in online classrooms.
Enhanced Management
A lot of documentation is needed to run an institute, allocate cash, and handle supplies. Schools are laying the foundation for a faster, risk-free, and connected decision-making framework by utilizing IoT solutions. It requires all stakeholders to participate in the process, including educators, learners, parents, and government officials, to enhance the school’s functioning.
Learning On The Go
IoT’s worldwide reach helps education professionals to create global teaching standards and guarantee the same caliber of delivery at colleges and universities everywhere.
Instructors from around the globe can easily share information, advice, and best practices utilizing peer-to-peer training technologies powered by IoT technology. Moreover, learners can exchange study materials across geographies, improving access to quality education.
Digitization of Organizational Processes
IoT applications can automate many organizational processes, such as conducting lectures. Schools, colleges, and universities worldwide can share their standard curriculums and teaching methodologies.
IoT ensures the implementation of attendance tracking methods, student cloud logs, automatic test-checking capabilities, and smart microphones to improve lesson delivery.
Online Education
The Covid-19 pandemic is almost over, but nobody knows when we might need to revert to the social distancing norms to keep everyone safe. It’s scary, but let’s hope it doesn’t happen again.
Thus, webinar-style lessons, remote learning sessions, and specialized software to work on study materials supporting online learning prove helpful. In addition, IoT solutions empower lecturers to manage classes using gesture or speech commands remotely.
Using this technology, educators are better equipped to carry out the curriculum for the year as planned without any hassle.
More Connected Classrooms
Innovative classrooms build a coherent system that identifies students, records their progress, marks their attendance, and displays relevant education resources. Such classrooms also have SMART boards that ensure lessons are easier to comprehend and interactive.
Educational institutions can enable learning systems in smart classrooms with AR/VR capabilities to showcase entertaining and enlightening videos on the key concepts being taught. Moreover, for an interactive learning experience, learners can use VR headsets.
IoT devices create a perfectly connected classroom by linking students and teachers using the technology. In addition, educators can automatically load projects and tasks for learners to accomplish on their gadgets as the lesson progresses.
Additionally, IoT devices can track lessons and upload relevant tasks whenever teachers mention words like “homework,” “assignment,” or “project.”
IoT Impact on Education
eMarketer report suggests that 83.2% of young people between 12 and 17 years of age own a smartphone. Moreover, 31% of parents said their children had smartphones between the ages of 6 and 10, whereas for ages 11 and 13, it was 73% of parents.
These numbers demonstrate much scope for accelerating the technological adoption process in the education sector. As children are already tech-savvy, IoT will alter the learning environment by offering automation and more flexibility.
IoT can impact the education sector in many ways;
- Educational institutions will benefit from lower running costs and enhanced energy efficiency thanks to IoT.
- When students have access to necessary information 24/7, they can study at their own pace and convenience. As a result, they can experience a comparable learning environment at home and in classrooms.
- Educators can focus on hands-on, customized instruction that learners value the most.
- Schools can monitor valuable resources, improve classroom information access, and increase campus security.
- Mobile IoT devices can automate note-taking, schedule checking, and research tasks.
- Purchasing reusable equipment like tablets, smartphones, and laptops reduces costs. For example, paper significantly contributes to the overall budget for many schools. However, reusable technology will minimize that expense.
- Universities can monitor their resources, staff, students, and equipment with IoT-powered devices at lower expenses, proving to be a cost-effective solution in the long run.
- IoT improves educators’ ability to teach effectively. With the increased connected technology, teachers no longer need to hand grade examinations on paper or spend time on other standard tasks.
IoT Implementation in Education
IoT can significantly impact the education sector. The following three vital elements will discern how well IoT is implemented in an educational institution;
Data Integrity
Data integrity is a crucial element of IoT. Schools and universities must use appropriate technology to ensure the integrity and accuracy of data collected from various sources. Also, an open data-sharing platform must be available for all stakeholders without additional investments.
Safety
Private and public data security is essential. Provided that kids are involved, especially in the K-12 education setup, protecting the privacy of stakeholders and the data collected from parents becomes crucial.
Besides the security assurance IoT service provides, schools, universities, and parents must follow effective data privacy measures.
Academic Regulations
IoT in education means a structural shift in how learning happens and is transferred to students. Therefore, stakeholders must devise educational policies that support the use of technology in traditional and online classrooms to bolster the case for deploying IoT in the education sector.
Final Thoughts!
IoT can improve education while enhancing teaching and learning standards and capabilities. Furthermore, it allows students and lecturers to tap into their full potential by providing them with much-needed knowledge and technical assistance.
Hence, IoT solutions are here to stay and will continue to raise educational standards around the globe. As a result, even learners with disabilities can access education the same way as other students.
There is a real possibility for simplifying concepts, complex formulas, and theories through easily accessible and consumable learning materials. The IoT gadgets and tools balance contemporary schooling in advantageous ways for the entire global learning community.
