There’s no doubt about it: Technology is revolutionizing nearly every part of our lives. From smart appliances that turn themselves on to internet-connected clothing items that make themselves more comfortable as you wear them, technology is set to completely change the world and how we interact with it.

 

Technology has had a major impact on one realm in particular: education. New inventions and devices are constantly shaping the way we learn, making education more personalized and engaging than ever before. However, with the benefits of technology in education has also come an important challenge: being able to stay ahead of the curve in a world that is quickly (and constantly!) evolving. Here are some ways you can expect technology to shape learning in the coming years, so you can make sure you don’t miss out on the latest, most innovative tools and trends.

 

Learning Becomes Data-Driven

 

Gone are the days when learning simply encompassed a class of students reading textbooks or listening to a teacher lecture. Instead, learning has become data-driven, thanks to technology that allows us to collect large amounts of data - then analyze it in real time. Data-driven learning allows students to extrapolate useful information from numbers that are relevant and pertinent in a huge variety of learning situations, which means that lessons are more engaging and informative than when based on information that is either hypothetical or outdated (i.e. what is printed in many textbooks). Thanks to the rapid rise of data-driven learning in the classroom, several other important developments have taken (and will continue) to take place in education:

 

People Are Learning to Interpret Data

 

Machines are powerful and can quickly analyze large data sets. Because students now have computers to analyze numbers and predict trends — they are also getting good at being able to understand those results. In the future, students will continue to learn to apply theoretical knowledge and logic to numbers they collect - which means that the pairing of the powerful computer and the creative human mind will allow for insights never before experienced in the classroom setting.

 

Project-Based Learning Is Becoming More Popular

 

With the rise in students who can learn and use data, learning will shift away from a lecture-based system, and it will become a more project-based experience. Thanks to technology, students now have the ability to come up with theories, test hypotheses, and discover results much, much quicker than ever before. Learners will now engage with material by completing projects rather than listening to lessons taught by teachers. Project-based learning isn’t only useful because it allows students to master technology and relevant data; it also helps them develop skills like time management and collaboration.

 

Learning Becomes More Accessible

 

Thanks to the rise in technology, schools and individuals are able to access “education” through multiple means - they don’t just need to be in a classroom to do it. Beyond simply making the “dog ate my homework” excuse obsolete (since learning materials and textbooks will be easily available both at school at home), technology will also allow for online school programs, where students - even designers- can easily obtain degrees without ever stepping foot in the classroom. Many colleges today offer online courses in a huge range academic subjects, and vocational schools are also training new workers with skills from the comfort of their own couches and computers

 

As technology continues to develop, the rise of the freelancer (and freelance designer) will continue. Accessible technology will affect the way designers acquire and sharpen their skills. Rather than earn formal design degrees, designers will need to sharpen their skills on their own via projects or online courses - and on the job training will be a must as designers will consistently need to acquire new skills and master new tools.

 

Luckily, thanks to the power of cloud computing, designers can learn and work on the go, which means that on the job training can be more convenient in terms of both time and location.

 

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