Shifting to full digital education in 2022
Mohammad J Sear
Digital Gov. & Public Sector Consulting Leader, Middle East and Africa (MENA) at EY
Digital education is the new norm in modern school systems, and all this happened (largely) due to the pandemic.
Many schools were forced to shift to online curriculum, online tests, and complete computer integration into their classrooms.
Projections show the e-learning market worldwide will surpass 243 billion U.S. dollars by the end of this year.
But it isn't all work and no play. Little by little digital transformation has become a necessity in education even after all this pandemic ordeal is over.
Distance learning is not digital education!
This is very important to understand. There's a difference between distance learning and online or digital education.
Distance learning is generally passive, while online or digital education is interactive.
It might seem like a slight distinction, but there are real ramifications for how students engage with their courses, teachers, other students, peers in their cohort, and in general with educational tools.
Online curricula also employ different technologies. Many utilize video conferencing for classes (and even just to connect as peers), which can be less expensive than traveling for face-to-face courses.
Digital education requires providers to rethink their content and how students interact with it. So, it's not all about using the latest technology and tools.
Digital education is more about the philosophical changes designed to meet the ever-growing demands of the students.
Digital textbooks, virtual classrooms, cloud-based libraries – are only a few of the advances educators need to adopt when they shift to fully digitally-delivered classes.
How has digital technology transformed education?
Digital technology has improved our lives in a million different ways, especially in education.
The Internet has not only made learning easier than ever before.
It's also opened up new opportunities for students to explore their interests, experiment with new types of learning, participate in online communities of like-minded people, and more.
Many experts agree that revolution 4.0 needs education 4.0. So here are the most noticeable trends in digital education.
1. Technology in teaching and learning
Digital learning is a form of teaching that uses technology, mainly computers, to aid students' or learners' educational activities.
It includes computer-based teaching (CBT), Web-based learning (WBL), online teaching, and virtual learning. However, the future will see the increased usage of these and many other tools and technologies.
They will better facilitate students' understanding of concepts because they will engage students, attract their attention, and provide immediate real-time feedback.
However, data suggests that an alarmingly high number of people lack basic level technical skills and competencies which puts them at a disadvantage.
2. Soft skills training
Soft skills training is typically associated with non-technical qualities like leadership, communication, organization, and time management.
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While these are undoubtedly essential qualities that are more difficult to measure, they can be developed over time through simple practice.
Starting today, even before students set foot on campus, they can benefit from soft skills training through technology. This will help them be more prepared for their future careers.
3. Decreasing attention spans
Different researchers have found that students focus on a single activity from 10-18 minutes, or even as low as two minutes, even though classes last almost an hour.
Fortunately, technology has made it easier than ever before to keep the students on task, building their attention spans in a fun and engaging way.
4. Facilitating learning versus teaching
Are teachers really just babysitters who hand out worksheets and tell students what they need to know? Absolutely not.
Learning is a complex process that requires structure, collaboration, exploration, and guidance—all of which teachers provide in different ways.
More and more students will rely on independent learning where the entire process is done in the place and time they want.
Where should we focus on the future?
The pandemic has really hurtled the global education system at light speed from the 19th to the 21st century.
As mentioned above, widespread improvement has been fuelled by technology. This has allowed for more independent learning with the emergence of self-directed learners.
As a result, systems have transformed from regimented systems to more creative and open educational models.
However, there is still a long way to go. If we want true digital education, it requires investing in our digital infrastructure and qualified staff.
The prerequisite for its digitalization is a comprehensive and efficient IT infrastructure. This starts with broadband connections at educational institutions.
Digital training is fundamental for teachers and students alike. They should learn how to independently use software tools.
However, above all, governments should work to create smart technology solutions that are low cost and run on widely available platforms/devices. They should make digital education as affordable as possible, by using open standards (and interoperability standards).
Ensuring intelligent technology solutions that benefit all learners or institutions is key to equity and inclusiveness since the digital divide is a real issue.
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