Why Digital Education is the Future of Learning
For years, online learning has been a great alternative for students who wish to continue their education without having to attend traditional brick-and-mortar institutions. Today, digital education is not only available to students but also to educators, businesses, and schools who are looking to create channels and learn how to create tools.
With the use of innovative technologies and the rise of online learning platforms, a new era of education has emerged, reshaping the way we learn. In fact, the global online learning market is expected to reach $325 billion by 2025. Students are reaping the benefits of online learning, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and courses that teach skills that cannot be automated, such as emotional intelligence and creativity, which will shape the future classroom for online education.
The study reported that the ‘classroom of the future’ is an attractive and promising market to invest in.
The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Online Learning
The ‘Classroom of the future’ has a lot of advantages to it. According to research, students who opt for online learning tend to retain up to 60% of the information, which is a significant amount more than in traditional classroom settings, where students tend to retain only 8% to 10%.
Hybrid classrooms too have taken giant strides in the last couple of years. Two features are:
1. Online Lab: A digital tool-based online lab. In hybrid classrooms, students access learning materials through a learning management system or another platform chosen by the teacher.
2. Flipped Classroom: In a flipped classroom, students learn at their own pace at home or away from a physical classroom. After that, the hybrid classrooms’ students will meet in person with their teacher to discuss the material they learned online, ask questions, and complete their homework.
Digital Education in the Workplace
As per the 2018 Workplace Learning Report from LinkedIn, 90% of U.S. companies offer digital classrooms, and 72% of them believe that it gives them an edge over their competitors.
Statistics have shown that we can increase our profit margins by 24% per employee annually if we invest in training. Shareholder return increases by 6% for every $680 invested in employee training. Companies can earn $30 in increased productivity for every dollar spent on online learning. Other corporate benefits include accelerated employee training with a 40% to 60% reduction in training time, a 25% to 60% increase in knowledge retention, and a 218% revenue increase per employee.
The benefits of self-paced online learning extend beyond increased profits.
AR and VR: The Next Frontier in Online Education
AR and VR are making waves in education. Primarily, AR/VR in future classrooms can be used to make learning immersive and experiential. Teachers can explain complex concepts to students in a controlled environment by making learning immersive and experiential with VR headsets.
The Advantages of AR/VR in Digital Learning Solutions
AR and VR are the next frontiers in digital education. Recent advances in virtual online training rooms allow learners to interact with online facilitators in real-time. They can interact with online training content and visualise their goals. This future classroom gives traditional education a run for its money.
The Most Sought-After Learning Platforms for AR/VR
The app Unimersiv is one of the more popular AR/VR learning platforms for the ‘classroom of the future’. Students can learn about the age of dinosaurs, the human brain, Stonehenge, ancient Rome, Mars, and other historical and scientific topics.
Google Expeditions offers over 1,000 VR and AR tours from a variety of content partners, including National Geographic and the Guggenheim Museum.
zSpace’s VR and AR learning platforms are used to provide solutions for classrooms, labs, media centres, makerspaces, and mobile. Finally, alongside interactive lessons, students can use Nearpod to explore monuments such as the Taj Mahal and the Washington Monument.
The Influence of Digital Learning Solutions on the Workforce:
Digital learning solutions benefit employees by giving them the tools they need to become well-rounded, highly skilled software engineers. Employees will be able to learn at their own pace and have the ability to seek out the information they need promptly.
Digital education will also allow employees to develop skills that cannot be automated. These skills will be required by any business, big or small, to keep up with the changing market. The Future Is Bright For The Education Arena As the world continues to evolve, the gap between what is taught in the classroom and what is needed in the workplace continues to grow. To ensure that students are ready for their future, they need to learn in digital classrooms, be innovative, and seize any opportunity that comes their way. A digital classroom is a great opportunity to learn new skills and get ahead in your career.