The feel of a freshly sharpened pencil. Stack of notebooks in backpack. The latest superhero or cartoon character to grace the lunchbox.
As millions of people go back to classes, think of the hundreds of rituals passed from school to school—all of which were once America’s stables. Many things are required from every parent.
But thanks to everyday technology, these pieces of our lives are gone forever.
Even the most advanced calculus or math instructor today would not know how to use a slide rule. Just no different from the moms of 35 years ago.
They’ll be stunned to learn that there’s no more traditional back-to-school shopping.
It’s all online, and home delivery is done from Wal-Mart and Amazon.
Forget pencils and pens; Note talking and homework are done on laptops and iPads—except for first to fourth graders, where you still need a standard notebook, glue, and crayons.
Still, even then, with a keystroke and standard two-day delivery, everything is only a few hours away.
It may be back to school, but this year, it’s with far less trauma, thanks to consumer tech.
Hear my thoughts on going back to school in this consumer tech update. Tap or click here to listen.
Globally, 1.2 billion students are currently affected by nationwide school closures. According to a recent UNICEF study, more than 70 countries recently announced plans to reopen schools for in-person learning, while other schools will offer distance learning options or hybrid models.
School administrators, teachers, staff, parents and students are faced with the daunting task of adhering to current recommendations to reduce the spread of COVID-19 while meeting worldwide education standards.
The spread of COVID-19 in the school setting is still largely unknown. However, institutions will learn and develop best practices as the school year progresses.
For schools looking to reopen, experts recommend a number of practical and important measures to improve school safety during the pandemic, such as physical distancing, mask requirements, staggering school start and end times, Staggering meal times, reducing class sizes through hybrid classes, holding classes in temporary locations or outdoors, providing handwashing and sanitizing stations throughout schools, improving safe food preparation, and more. Implementing these measures requires additional time and resources, potentially shifting the focus away from learning.
In other areas where it is not yet safe to reopen, or districts are unable to invest the time and money for the above measures, distance learning can fill the void. Online learning now offers increased opportunities for both students and schools at all educational levels. COVID-19 has accelerated online learning, which is ripe for growth in recent years. Global edtech investment reached $18.66 billion in 2019, and the total market is projected to reach $350 billion by 2025.
According to new research, institutions with adequate remote environments and technology access can offer online courses that enhance retention of information. Based on improved learning outcomes, e-learning technologies such as live streaming, online learning software and AI solutions will become the cornerstone of the global education system post-pandemic.
Whether a school is returning to the online classroom or in-person, investing in the right technology solutions will not only address this critical moment, but help build a new foundation for future learning experiences. Let us explore the five major challenges the education sector is now facing and the technology solutions that can help mitigate them.
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