Article | Education

Implementation of Technology for Your Learning Environment (Part 2 of 3)

This is part two in a three-part series of ThinkFWD articles exploring the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the education sector.

PREPARING THE EDUCATION SECTOR FOR THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is underway, and the workplace is demanding a new breed of work-ready graduates, skilled in the use of the technology they’ll be using.

It is vital that the education sector is capable of delivering upon these new demands, and embracing technology as an indispensable learning tool.

Effective digital transformation of the learning environment requires a deep understanding of how to shift from traditional ways of teaching and pave the way for the future.

HOW LENOVO IS EFFECTING CHANGE IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR
Lenovo delivers agility in the learning environment via detachable Windows devices as well as Android tablets that not only talk to blended learning but also the need to collaborate in workgroups.

These also have the capability of connecting with Robotic Tech (Sphero & Marty the Robot) as well as enabling students to develop their coding skills.

Our styluses respond in a very ‘pen-like’ manner, maintaining handwriting skills as well as enabling the creativity that only comes with the feel of pen to paper. 

CHALLENGES TO DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE CLASSROOM
Due to the varying age demographic, of teachers, there can be some difficulties embracing emerging technology, so it is important that we make the new tech easy and accessible for educators – and that they can see the positive impact.

HOW VR CAN CHANGE TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF TECHNOLOGY AS A LEARNING TOOL
Using VR in the classroom not only gives time back in lesson planning it has also been shown that students have better memory retention from these immersive environments.

VR also crosses financial/physical barriers to experiences, making the real world more relatable. Imagine Geography lessons where every student virtually visits The Eight Wonders of the World via their own headset…

CONSIDER THE IMPACT TECHNOLOGY IS HAVING ON EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES
Since the advent of Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri, getting help, sending a message or activating a function such as a daily schedule is no longer typed, it’s spoken. In the not-too-distant future it will be thought – we won’t even need to speak!

With the technology becoming more and more advanced, we could soon have a room full of students debating, with AI determining who is talking, and converting each student’s words to text. Then providing assistance to the educator in marking their performance.

In Part 3, we discuss how Lenovo is helping teachers and students engage with (and benefit from) this new digital transformation of the education sector.