Such education opportunities change our representation of schooling upside down, but the world is developing and we should not follow behind it. It is difficult to say how educated pupils will be in future and whether all these changes are for better, but the fact is still the fact – technology influences both teaching and learning and our task is to get the most of it in the classroom too.

1. TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL DEFINE
THE CLASSROOM OF THE FUTURE

2. MODERN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS UNDERGOES
REGULAR CHANGES AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS
OF THAT IS TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT.
Not only the technology develops nowadays, children
and teachers do too. This fact contributes to the
constant enhancement of the approaches, methods of
teaching let alone accommodation, devices, and
facilities. Though there are many disagreements on this
topic, classrooms also change their look getting much
more technologically advanced. Soon modern students
will not see customary for us classrooms as schools will
adopt completely new requirements to them and up-
and-coming technologies located there. Let us see what
innovative technologies that have recently appeared will
soon reside in the future classrooms.

3. 1. AUGMENTED REALITY
Though the concept of augmented reality has existed for a couple of years
already not everyone is aware of this phenomenon. Many people still can’t
believe that is possible to appear in the another reality, but several modern
applications offer this opportunity. Some of them can be very useful in
education substituting any visual. video and printed material. One of such
apps is Google Sky Map that can contribute to the teaching and learning
astronomy. Each student can identify constellations looking at the real sky
and using the camera on the phone. It will automatically find them and you
can see that on your phone. Another great app is called GeoGoogle that
might be indispensable for acquiring new skills in geography. It can be used
to measure distances using real-world surrounding and 3D compass.

4. 2. 3D PRINTER
How do modern visual materials look like? How
many of them should a teacher purchase? With the
appearance of a 3D printing; machine teachers do
not have to look for unique exhibits or images as
they can create any example themselves in a matter
of minutes. This technology can also be used by
students, who are interested in design and
engineering. It can create a prototype almost of
anything using special modeling software. It is not
only comfortable but also cost-effective.

5. 3. CLOUD COMPUTING
Cloud computing can change much in modern society and
education is not an exception. It has already proved its advantages
in the Chinese schools and soon will be used by a variety of
educational institutions all around the world. What benefits can it
give? Firstly, it is access to the data storage from any electronic
device and any place. Now pupils will not be able to forget to write
down the home assignment or make a dog guilty of the inability to
prepare for the lesson. Secondly, students do not have to carry
heavy textbooks as they will have a constant access to them. Thirdly,
there is a virtual learning environment created on the basis of cloud
computing, so soon classrooms may get virtual too.

6. 4. NEW INTERACTIVE AND
FLEXIBLE DISPLAYS
Do you like that smell of paper in the books? Forget about this old
tradition as soon you will not need to carry and read them. In the
modern society, their place is being taken by the lightweight, thin and
flexible displays. These might be laptops, tablets, memo pads, netbooks
etc. Such “books” and “notebooks” are not only miniature and
interactive but can contain an abundance of information available at the
touch of a finger. Such devices have eased student’s note-taking as now
it is enough to record the sound or make a photo of the paper to take it
with. Soon they will minimize the amount of equipment in the
classrooms too.

7. 5. MULTI-TOUCH LCD SCREEN
Several years ago it was a discovery
to see a video projector at school
but now they are already
considered old-fashioned and are
replaced by smart-boards. Soon
even they will be out of date as the
latest technology makes an accent
on multi-touch LCD screens that
replace several devices at once.
Such touch boards remind giant
smartphones offering the same
functionality and interactivity so
soon they will also possess a
dignified place in the classroom.

8. 6. BIOMETRICS
Though biometrics is mostly associated with security now it can
be helpful for classroom teachers too. It can be used to help
teachers understand how students percept and understand
given to them information. That will help to make adaptive
learning systems and transform the education process into a
more individual and productive one.

9. 7. LEARNING BASED ON GAMES
Modern children sink in the diversity of computer games offered today.
Some of them become their second home, so why not make games the
second school? Being a fast-paced generation they are dependent on the
Internet and opportunities it suggests, so they must be implemented in the
educational process too. There are some online communities existing now
that promote using games for learning purposes. By using motion-sense
technology kids can learn sing language or play a musical instrument.
Another approach using gameplay in education states that soon
schools will have to give basic programming and game designing
might be a good encouragement for learning. That will not also
improve their knowledge of computer devices and software but also
develop language skills, storytelling, artistic talents, problem-
solving etc.

10. 8. MOOCS AND OTHER ONLINE
LEARNING OPTIONS
Some scientists mention that education will
not be soon restricted to formalized
classrooms.
Moreover, there won’t be customary yearly programs
and age limits. Nowadays, college degrees and diplomas
have lost their value as their owning does not guarantee
your professionalism.
Today even a secondary school child can finish any university or college
in any part of the world due to the online courses offered. Each child
could sign up for classes of famous professors that are distributed
by MOOC and pass all the necessary tests to receive a certificate that can
be equal to a degree.

11. Such education opportunities change our representation of schooling
upside down, but the world is developing and we should not follow
behind it. It is difficult to say how educated pupils will be in future
and whether all these changes are for better, but the fact is still the
fact – technology influences both teaching and learning and our task
is to get the most of it in the classroom too.
Originally published at
http://blog.noplag.com/technologies-that-will-define-the-classroom-of-the-future/