In a post-pandemic world, we have found that many things have changed. Many aspects of our lives have been affected, facilitated by the internet and its immense capability. One of the most prominent areas is the impact it has had on education and learning. Seeing as we live in the smartest version of our society that there has ever been, it comes as no surprise that the way we learn has also changed.
With the internet showing no signs of slowing down, it has made this imperative activity even smarter than it was. In 2023, the role of the internet in transforming the way we learn will extend well beyond what we know and are used to. As technology becomes more advanced, its different uses of it will too.
Using the Internet in Education
Even before the pandemic, online learning existed. Using the internet to learn a skill, take a class, or get a degree is not unheard of. In fact, it has been around for some time. Using a tool such as Zoom, it became incredibly simple for one teacher to get their message across to hundreds of students. With a simple click of a button, hundreds of people could be listening in on a lecture.
These students were from around the world and Zoom allowed us to continue studying. Furthermore, tools such as cloud storage and instant messaging made correspondence and file sharing effortless. Expounding on this, we can find that there are different ways that the internet makes it easier to learn.
Accessibility
The internet has made the world around us more connected than it ever was. It has allowed us to remain in touch with people from across the globe with effortless ease. In the modern age, the internet is available in our homes, in public spaces, in offices, in educational institutions, and just about everywhere we go. This makes it easier for you to learn as you go, whenever you want, and on your device of choice. Many digital learning tools are available on computers, phones, tablets, and even wearables.
Customization
Digital learning is not limited to a college degree. There are countless ways for you to learn something on the internet. Millions of people have used Google to learn everything from how to play an instrument to fixing a leaking faucet to coding and so on. It costs a total of nothing to use it and you learn what you want. Platforms such as Skillshare allow you to learn specific skills with a wide variety of experts publishing their offerings there. You learn at your pace.
Customizing what you want to learn prevents people from using their time to learn things they don’t need. By having just what they need to learn in front of them, a student does not need to devote time where they shouldn’t. Coursera and edX are other examples of platforms that offer countless courses across different disciplines. For a monthly fee, you can take any of their available courses to your heart’s delight.
Costs
One of the reasons why online learning is so fruitful is that it allows you to bring down costs. If you are learning from home, you do not need to bear any cost of the commute. You do not need to get dressed or make any extra effort to learn. By learning from home, you are using facilities that you already pay for to add more value to your life.
Moreover, many learning resources are now available online thanks to cloud storage. Entire books, PDFs, and other documents can be stored in a database and accessed whenever needed. This saves the cost of buying physical books, carrying around several stacks of papers, and you can have all you need in the palm of your hand.
Learning a skill on YouTube for free can go a long way for you. People have been able to learn everything under the sun and have been able to make money from it. As a result, instead of paying to learn, they are now making money. It sounds too good to be true but it is the reality of the world that we live in.
Convenience
As we have already mentioned, online learning has been such a roaring success because you can learn remotely, from anywhere. All major education tools have mobile applications where you can access all the content you need. You can start on one device and continue on the other and so on. If you started a course on your phone, you can log in on a computer and continue from where you left off.
For college students, submitting assignments and exams has become effortless thanks to cloud storage and other tools. In a matter of seconds, an assignment is submitted by the student and received by the teacher. If a group is working on a project, all the files can be stored in a cloud drive. Each time someone needs something from this folder, a few clicks will get them what they need. They can download unlimited copies of these files and work as much as they need to on them
Emerging Innovations
Beyond already-established technology, there are newer innovations that continue to change the educational landscape. While there are many to pick from, this is a list of the three most important.
Artificial Intelligence
Using AI, the world around us is gaining a new look. When it comes to education, AI can be used in a variety of different ways. Using algorithms, AI can create personalized learning for students based on their progress and needs. Intelligent tutor systems can provide students with real-time feedback on student progress and even give them feedback to improve. With AI, teachers can have assessments graded automatically, eliminating any possible errors and saving time in the process.
The potential of AI is limitless and bound only by our imagination. Tools such as ChatGPT are paving the way for more intelligent learning, allowing students to learn and implement much better than before.
Extended Reality (XR)
The term extended reality encapsulates augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR). Each of these is commonly found around us at all times and it will surprise many that these can be used in education as well.
Using XR, students can dive into the deepest oceans, float around in space, walk the surface of the sun, interact with dinosaurs, and so much more. When training doctors, XR can be used to train doctors without having to use cadavers. Using VR goggles, doctors can be trained by putting them in simulations that can be repeated and altered countless times. Tools such as ACCUvein can help them find veins in patients’ arms using AR and so on.
VR makes it possible to improve visual and spatial learning. STEM subjects can use this to experience different situations and this allows them to understand them much better.
Conclusion
In 2023, we live in the most advanced version of the digital age that there is. The process of learning and the field of education has greatly benefitted from this and continues to do so. All you need is a phone, tablet, or computer and an internet connection. With Optimum internet, this all becomes effortless and convenient. A combination of reliable internet and impeccable customer service makes this the ideal route to go down for all education and learning in 2023. Call now and join the family!