By: Cesilia Faustina
COVID-19 or not, there’s no point in denying that digitalization is the future. We all live in a world where technology is slowly becoming our new overlords, and everyday activities tend to involve technology these days. The education sector is one great example of this.
Bureaucrats have long been criticized for not doing enough with the education system. From lack of equality to a bureaucratic system, there are tons to criticize about the way things are done. In the US, critics of public education argue that schools completely run on bureaucracy with many public education being tied to so many stakeholders, ergo, insufficiently distribute education to all students. Even one of the countries with some of the best education systems, such as Finland, is being criticised.
Many academics are seeing technology as a great way to handle the constant slope facing traditional education systems. So here are some points as to how digital education is transforming traditional classrooms.
Smart school
The rise of education management systems has made it easier for students, teachers, staff and even parents to connect with one another. Thanks to a virtual process, students can now receive a proper e-learning experience. Schools today are starting to utilize online classrooms and lectures, which is exactly what a learning management system can provide, it also saves time when dealing with any updates and communication amongst the students/teachers, which can be done through digital means.
Greater accessibility & productivity
Digital education and e-learning platforms also provide greater opportunities for accessibility. Students can now access classes from the comforts of their own homes, which will save time on commute, as well as resources. Having a digital platform that will allow the students to study from the comforts of their own homes may also mean more productivity. According to a study by IBM, a company gains $30 of productivity for every $1 spent on online learning, and this could be the case for schools as well.
Online exams
Thanks to a learning management platform, exams can be conducted online, which will lead to less paper wastage and faster processing. Having online exams will make it easier for students and teachers to remember the different types of exams and quizzes planned, which can also be easily updated and notified via a notification. Students can be more aware of any information and details needed regarding the exam and teachers can have an easier job reminding, collecting and grading the tests.
Digital library
Going digital means that resources will be available online, which is not only limited to books but also various media formats, such as periodicals, videos and more. A digital education platform has made learning resources more diverse and easier to access for the students. Having them available digitally will make it easier to find without the troubles of manual efforts, as well as paper wastage. Handling library resources has become more instant and direct, which helps ease researches and saves the overall cost.
Student affairs digitally
All student affairs can be handled digitally, which equals to a more documented process. All students’ activities, achievements, attendance and more can be fully recorded and archived. Any activities related to the students can be easily followed up along with sending through any digital notifications to the students or guardians. A digital learning system can help to document the student’s progress thoroughly along with taking any immediate action; aside from the school having a thorough archive, so can the students.
Extra-curricular facilitated online
Going digital is not only limited to the main classrooms, but also for extracurricular activities. Many education management systems also provide modules for extra-curricular activities. Schools will now be able to record and document all extra-curricular programs, as well as assign organizers and chaperones for the programs through a digital system. With the rise of the Cloud, it is also making accessing online documentations easier as well; allowing students and school staff to access this information from anywhere they’d like, and not solely limited to school grounds.
Community creation
Going digital creates greater opportunities for online communities. Through digital means, communication between teachers and students do not end once school hours are over. Students and teachers can still connect outside of the classroom, whether for any updates on assignments, exams, discussing topics or even for study groups. Online education can allow students and teachers to create better understanding and communication amongst one another and even help students become more creative. Teachers can create digital platforms through mobile apps and web access for students to share ideas or subject-related queries. It will help to create a sense of community amongst students and teachers that not only limits the learning process to a classroom.
With more and more gadgets and tools to support the digital education realm, we are witnessing the extinction of whiteboards, notebooks and manual processing. It is time for us to embrace the evolution of the classroom and stay ahead of the times, whether on a daily basis or in times of crisis.
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