Envisioning-the-future-of-education.pdf. The Rise of EdTech. The one-size-fits-all approach to education has never been more outdated or irrelevant. Now thanks to the transformative effects of technology, learning has become something that can be tailored and personalized to suit individual students’ unique learning needs. Today’s learners, from primary school children to university students, are early adopters who respond intuitively to technological innovation.This can be seen by the fact that 37% of US teens have a smartphone. The same, however, can’t be said about those doing the teaching — many of whom were born before innovations like mobile devices and the consumer web came about.
According to a recent study by Pew, 42% of the teachers surveyed said their students know more about tech than they do. Gone are the days when all that’s needed is a chalkboard and textbook to reach students. But it’s not just in the classroom where the effects of technology on education can be felt. The Apps The Platforms. Using Learning tools. Mobile Trends 2020. Digital Tools Expand Options for Personalized Learning. Published Online: January 29, 2010 Published in Print: February 3, 2010, as The Personal Approach Features Digital tools for defining and targeting students' strengths and weaknesses could help build a kind of individualized education plan for every student. Teachers have always known that a typical class of two dozen or more students can include vastly different skill levels and learning styles.
Some of the latest technology tools for the classroom, however, promise to ease the challenges of differentiating instruction more creatively and effectively, ed-tech experts say, even in an era of high-stakes federal and state testing mandates. For educators who struggle to integrate technology into their daily routines and strategies, the notion of a kind of individualized education plan for every student is more pipe dream than prospect.
Several examples of such customization have recently emerged across the country, and are garnering widespread interest and some encouraging results. A Book by Students for Teachers. The World Is My School.pdf.