Published on February 13, 2023

Introduction

Researching for school projects was always, always a fun task to do. The nature of school projects in our early grades was usually arts and crafts. It would involve a couple of runs to the stationary store to buy cutouts of famous political leaders or birds, or countries and flags too! And then the whole family would collect together to stick them on chart paper and make one great collage of it all. And we, as children, would proudly roll it up, put an elastic band on it and carry it with us on our school bus. And before the project was due, we would exchange notes on who did a better job with all our fellow students.

As we got older, research projects got harder. We had to use four or five different kinds of books to pick out information that we thought best suited the point we were arguing about. We took the books from school libraries and would pour over them, till we found what we needed. It was a different kind of thrill, making our arguments from books.

Somewhere along the way, we built the Internet. And Google. And then research for our papers became a breeze. A simple search on Google gave us 1000s of articles to read from. And in a couple of years, we knew which websites gave us the best information, so we would make all our arguments from those. And with this, more students were submitting similar research papers or assignments.

Being a student in today’s world is a little more complex – yes, we have super-speed Internet, and we have tons of research papers available at our fingertips, but we also have AI. So, how are Digital Tools and Artificial Intelligence going to change the game of education? Will it change forever? Or will it be an academic’s downfall? Read on to find out!

Digital tools have already changed education in several ways and will continue to do so in the future. We leave the ‘for better or worse’ argument for you to conclude at the end of this blog.

Accessibility

For starters, digital tools have made education in general, way more accessible to the modern world, and to a wide range of students. All one needs to do is to have access to a smart device, and a decent internet connection. And there is no dearth of that, for any price range. With the widespread availability of the internet, students can now access educational resources and courses from anywhere in the world. This opens up opportunities for students who might not have been able to pursue higher education or otherwise gain knowledge and skills.

Digital tools such as smartphones and tablets have made it possible for students to learn on the go. This means that students can study and complete coursework from anywhere, at any time, as long as they have an internet connection. Digital tools also enable teachers to personalize learning for individual students, taking into account their strengths and weaknesses. This helps students learn at their own pace and ensures that they receive the support they need to succeed.

And for differently-abled students, digital tools often include accessibility features, such as screen readers and closed captioning, that make learning more accessible in today’s world, compared to before. Online learning and open-source educational resources can help to reduce the cost of education. This is especially important for students who might not be able to afford the cost of traditional education.

Digital tools have made education more accessible by providing students with more opportunities to learn, regardless of their location or financial situation. This has the potential to greatly improve educational outcomes for students and create a more equitable educational system.

An individualized approach to learning

Digital tools have made learning highly personalized and tailor-made for every student. You learn at your pace, with your strengths and weaknesses.

Digital tools allow teachers to track student progress and performance, providing them with real-time data to inform their teaching. This data can be used to personalize learning experiences for individual students, taking into account their strengths and weaknesses. AI algorithms can analyze a student’s performance data to identify areas for improvement and recommend personalized study materials. This helps students focus on the topics they need to work on the most, making their learning experience more effective. Hence, making digital tools a medium to create learning experiences that adapt to each student’s abilities and pace. This means that students can progress at their own pace, without being held back by the pace of the class.

And of course, it allows a teacher or professor to make customized content for every student. Digital tools make it easy for teachers to create customized learning experiences for individual students. For example, teachers can use online learning platforms to create tailored lessons and assessments for each student.

And lastly, digital tools make learning more interactive and engaging through gamification. Teachers can incorporate games and other interactive elements into their lessons to make learning more fun and motivate students to learn.

Collaboration

We use our smartphones for nearly everything! From instant messaging to social media to research and coursework. But what we don’t often realize is the power of digital tools for collaboration with education.

Digital tools such as email, instant messaging, and video conferencing make it easy for students to communicate and collaborate with each other and with their teachers from anywhere in the world. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn provide students with opportunities to collaborate and network with their peers and with professionals in their field. Online forums and project management tools enable students to collaborate on projects and assignments in real time, regardless of their location. These tools help students stay organized and on track with their work, improving their ability to work together effectively. VR and AR technologies are rapidly changing the way students learn and collaborate. For example, VR can create virtual learning environments where students from different locations can work together in real time.

This leads to more productive and engaging learning experiences, which can improve experiential and exponential educational outcomes.

Blended Learning

Just like Work From Home, educators across the globe are choosing to be flexible about learning when students want to learn, and where they want to learn. An experience that was available to students way before COVID-19. Digital tools provide students with more flexibility to learn at their own time and pace. This means that students can choose to attend traditional classroom-based classes or complete coursework online, according to their schedule and preferences. With the personalization of education through digital tools, blended learning helps to ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed. Real-time data on students’ performances allows educators to track a student’s progress, even with blended learning. Digital tools provide students with access to a wealth of online resources, including video tutorials, interactive simulations, and e-books. This enables students to learn at their own pace and receive support when they need it.

Gamification

The best part about using digital tools for education is the experiential gamification that it allows a student to engage with. Digital tools make it easier for teachers to create games and other interactive learning experiences that engage students and keep them motivated. This makes learning more fun and helps students to stay focused and interested. It enables teachers to create games and other learning experiences that are tailored to the individual needs and abilities of each student. This makes learning more effective and helps students to progress at their own pace. Digital games and other learning experiences often provide students with real-time feedback on their performance, helping them to track their progress and identify areas for improvement. It makes it easy for students to collaborate and play games, regardless of location. This helps to build teamwork and communication skills, which are important for success in the workforce.

Overall, digital tools have made gamification in education better by enabling teachers to create more engaging and personalized learning experiences for students. This leads to a more effective and enjoyable learning experience.

Immersive Learning

VR and AR allow students to immerse themselves in virtual environments and experience learning in a whole new way. This makes learning more engaging and memorable. It is now possible for students to visit remote locations and experience learning in environments that would otherwise be inaccessible. This provides students with a deeper understanding of the world around them. Studies have shown that students who use VR and AR technologies are more likely to retain information and recall it more accurately than students who do not. VR and AR technologies enable students to collaborate and work together in virtual environments, regardless of their location. This helps to build teamwork and communication skills, which are important for success in the workforce.

With VR, students can experience virtual field trips to places they may not be able to visit in person. AR can enhance textbook learning by adding interactive elements to static pages.

Artificial Intelligence

AI-powered digital tools can analyze data on student performance and make recommendations for personalized learning paths based on individual needs and abilities. This helps to ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed. It can also provide instant feedback to students on their work, freeing up teachers to focus on more important tasks. This leads to a more efficient and effective learning experience. AI-powered digital tools can analyze student data and predict outcomes, allowing teachers to intervene early and provide support wherever needed. This helps to ensure that students are on track for success. It can be used to create educational content, freeing up teachers to focus on more important tasks. This leads to a more efficient and effective learning experience.

AI-powered digital tools can make learning more accessible for students with disabilities or learning difficulties by providing audio, visual, and text-based support.

In conclusion, digital tools are transforming education by making it more accessible, personalized, collaborative, interactive, and innovative. As technology continues to advance, we will see even more changes in the future. The challenge will be to ensure that these digital tools are used effectively to support student learning and provide equitable educational opportunities for all students.

How can parents, educators and students use digital tools better for education?

Yes, it’s true. While digital tools can greatly change the game of education, they also have the potential for great misuse. By establishing clear goals and outcomes, educators, parents, and students can work together to use the available digital tools for the desired outcomes. And of course, with this kind of power comes responsibility. Educators, parents, and students should work together to establish clear guidelines for the responsible use of digital tools in education. This helps to ensure that the tools are used in a safe and appropriate manner.

Educators, parents, and students should receive training on how to use digital tools effectively for education. This helps to ensure that they are using the tools in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

Educators, parents, and students should use data to inform their decisions about the use of digital tools in education. This helps to ensure that the tools are being used in the most effective way possible. It’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in digital tools and technologies. This helps to ensure that they are using the most effective and efficient tools possible.

Educators, parents, and students should collaborate and work together to ensure that digital tools are being used effectively for education. This helps to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals and that the tools are being used in the most effective way possible.