Why Technology and Collaboration are Driving Higher Education

As we near the end of 2020, the educational world has been flipped on its head and forced to all move online. Classrooms and schools closed around the country, and students are trying to stay afloat using video chat, online grading sites, and digital presentations. 

Technology has largely facilitated communication and collaboration during the remote boom, and it has become a necessary component of the distance learning sphere. 

Here are a few major ways technology and collaboration go hand in hand to promote and cultivate higher education.

Active Learning Depends on Engagement

Worksheets and online quizzes only require so much attention and involvement, which means that students aren't getting the same level of information as in-class settings provided. Using technology such as video chat and augmented reality to connect people digital will improve the success rate of virtually any exercise or assignment.

Technology is one way that remote learners have been able to keep up with the pace of their curriculums. Cloud-based assignment portals and secure auxiliary workspaces give students a centralized place to share and store:

• Group projects

• Videos and images

• Presentations

• Notes

• Study guides and materials

• Test prep

• Reports and essays

• References

• Ebooks

• Digital workbooks

Students are more likely to engage with programs that are user friendly and accessible with little preparation. Tech innovation has allowed mobile-friendly programs and even wearable applications to thrive.

Greater Flexibility and Work/Life Balance

Students struggle with burnout at higher rates than some of the most demanding professions. Managing pending deadlines, degree requirements, prerequisites, and group projects can be overwhelming for even the most organized students. 

Technology has allowed the education sphere to be better adapted for working students, mature students, parents, and commuters. For many individuals, attending school online at least part of the time is a great way to save money and time on the tasks they'd perform in-class.

Students who are working their way through school often have trouble finding in-person lectures and labs that fit into their job schedule. This contributes to increasing drop-out rates in affected communities. 

With cloud-based online portals, video chat meetings, and AR-assisted automation programs online students can finish their school work wherever and whenever they need to.

Simplifying the education process with digital tools can take a significant amount of stress out of the equation. Not having to worry about paying for gas, making time for the commute, or giving a presentation in front of a class full of people can help students focus on tasks that need their immediate attention.

Reducing stress is a direct factor that can impact a student's chances of meeting the requirements they need to graduate.

Customizable Learning Experiences

Learning has never been a one-size-fits-all system for any student, and individuals require different tools and teaching methods. The traditional classroom environment is limited by the needs of the average student, whereas digital solutions and resources can be tailored for each student's individual needs.

Primary and preschools are using apps to help with reading comprehension as early as two years old because of the customizable interface. No matter where you are in your academic journey, lesson customization is proven to boost learning in online and practical environments.

Instead of being tethered to a printed textbook, students are able to access information via audio books, virtual textbooks, diagrams, demo videos, live chat, interactive virtual models, and even educational games.

Students who struggle with social anxiety, speech delays, or other circumstances also benefit from the controlled environment of the remote classroom.

Remote education has become the primary avenue for college institutions, and students are adapting with a wide range of connected tools and services. Augmented reality, the Internet of Things, wearable tech, mobile apps to help with reading comprehension, and VR classrooms are just a few examples of how technology is driving the academic sphere. 

As universities navigate through the new realm of higher education, technology and collaboration will continue to go hand-in-hand.

About The Author:

Aqib Ijaz is a digital marketing guru at Eyes on Solution. He is adept in IT as well. He loves to write on different topics. In his free time, he likes to travel and explore different parts of the world. You can read more of his blogs at eyesonsolution.