As many parents know first hand…remote learning is a challenge! The monumental shift last year was a big adjustment for teachers, students and parents alike. However, its successful implementation enabled continuity for children and young people across the Gulf Region, minimizing disruption to learning.
But now schools have largely reopened, is the technology that enabled remote learning redundant? Not even close – the digital transformation that made this possible is here to stay, morphing to support teachers and provide stronger learning experiences for students.
The teaching assistant of the digital age
When thinking of the work of teachers it’s easy think of lessons, of conversations, of engaging tasks to inspire students to realize their potential…
There is truth in this, but in actual fact there is a lot of manual and admin work that goes on behind the scenes; from grading papers, to submitting documentation, to calculating attendance. Like in other industries, automation and AI can support by removing the manual element of these tasks.
It doesn’t stop there either, AI analytics can be taken further to break down silos from individual teachers and look at trends on a bigger level; for example, identifying specific areas where students struggle or thrive, and the response to teaching styles. This style of analytics can detect trends which would have otherwise gone unnoticed, and enable management to make strategic decisions to improve performance.
An enhanced learning experience
When it comes to schools and governments considering an investment in EdTech, an enhanced learning experience is what they are looking for. There are many ways in which digital transformation and technology can build a better learning experience and outcome for students.
One way is through personalization. Every student learns differently, with their own strengths, weaknesses and ways of working. While teachers differentiate lessons to meet these needs, digital solutions can break the level of personalization down even further, empowering students to take charge of their own learning, leading to better outcomes in terms of grades and development.
Education experience can also be enhanced by taking advantage of VR to bring students into the “Real World” in a safe school environment. For example, geography students can go on virtual field trips or medical students can practice virtual surgeries. This experience will enable students to gain an experience that would not be possible to them in the classroom, making them better equipped for the workplace.
Ensuring technology stays relevant
We’re moving past the immediate need for home learning on a mass scale, which means for education technology to stay relevant it needs to truly help (and not hinder!) the work of teachers and education organizations. At Dell Technologies we’re proud to have a range of solutions specifically designed with schools in mind; from devices for staff and students, to the infrastructure that enables access from anywhere, to high performance security solutions keeping personal data protected. We’ve worked with education providers across the region to implement solutions that rise to their specific challenges and to develop their digital transformation strategy.
Personally I’m incredibly excited to see how digital tools will be rolled out in schools and universities, creating new learning environments and opportunities for students to explore their capabilities. At Dell Technologies we often speak of technology that “drives human progress” and I’m certain if EdTech lives up to its potential, it will do just that.
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