Education used to be held through personality presence lectures, but with modern technologies, it has undergone fundamental changes. In the modern world, technology permits a diversity of possibilities in both education and working professions. Technologies have changed teaching process in institutions of learning including schools, executive education, and training with lifetime learning is essential in the current business world. Through tools like MOOCs which have enrolled a lot of students, as well as online teaching platforms, have made the way education takes place to change substantially. From a wide range of pre-selected online tools for education, there are varieties of possibilities for anyone to choose from in advancement for education and career. Through education technologies, various education providers share their skills and knowledge without pursuance of commercial benefit. Technology permits access to education at a lower cost to individuals who were previously limited from high-class education gaining access and benefit from online tools. Educational technology trends have been able to enhance main ideologies of effective learning. However, some qualities of various technologies need to be enhanced for a more efficient and attractive education process.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing can be outlined as a collection of computing tools that are conveyed through the network. It can be said as the tool that provides resources for information technology through the internet. In its diagram form, cloud computing takes the shape of a cloud which takes into account all appliances, networks and central servers. The new strategies that education centers need to develop are the cloud services which form the basis for offering new business structures. The structures permit them to deal with inadequate finances for construction and management of IT centers required for the development of present forms of education. Cloud computing enhances the formation of a favorable environment for socially oriented learning based on association and interaction amongst all contributors in the education practice.
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The advantages of the system of cloud computing in learning are for both the tutors and learners in addition to the learning institutions itself. The benefits of cloud services in education can be outlined from various perspectives with the main ones being economical, efficiency, accessibility as well as innovation (Kiryakova, 2017). In its cost-effectiveness, the service offer solution for education organizations permitting higher education with financial flexibility. The education institutions do not need to purchase hardware but instead can hire the necessary assets from a provider and pay for the time of their usage. With cloud computing, many of the services for learning are free, and when at times there is a need for services payment it is based on the real usage.
In its efficiency cloud services creates a virtual environment where assets appear limitless, providing each institution the flexibility and liberty to select an improvement plan. Learning institutions can effectively implement their plans, without consideration of physical provision needs. In innovation, the cloud system provides opportunities through technology where various approaches and methods can be appreciated. Through the system, the education organizations have a chance to experiment with new appliances, services, and means with minimal financial obligations.
Social Networking Tools
Social networking which can also be referred to as social media is a web-based technology which is mostly used for advertisement perspectives and social interactions among its clients. Social media application can also be outlined as a web system or technologies that emphasize the social aspect of the net, being a form of communication, association, and expression of the invention. The introduction of social media has changed the way individuals communicate and associate both online as well as offline. Millions of people use social media on a daily basis, mostly being the young individuals across the globe for various motives. A big section of the young users of social media are learners, who have changed the manner in which they use the internet as in retrieving data (Mugahed, Othman, & Musa, 2014). The information is then used for creation and sharing of statistics with their associates through the online means. The change in sharing of information has affected how technology is used in learning institutions in support or teaching as well as learning.
The introduction of social media has significantly improved teaching and learning in higher institutions. Many students around the world have used social media for various educational and social points. The accessibility of helpful literature on social media has helped students who are applying for higher learning. This shows that the use of social media by university students is an interesting aspect of learning and school research. The use of social media application has changed the manner in which teachers teach, learning of students and management of education. This is brought about by the utilization of social media by institutions and learners in urge for advanced education to satisfy modern learning needs. Social media is being used for the advancement of education perspective, making admission preferences, library amenities, and performance of courses as well as being used by students to advertise their activities.
Web 2.0 Tools
Web 2.0 definitions vary according to the subject. However, the tool can be outlined as a theoretical structure for a web-based podium where persons can make use groups in technology apparatus to craft and post information, an associate on responsibilities with associates, interrelate in social networks, review existing information and share data. Through this global based service, clients are able to contribute and regulate the content without being limited to boundaries. The application of Web 2.0 has reflective abilities in education due to their openness nature, ease in using and support for the efficient association as well as communication (Usoro, Echeng, & Majewski, 2013). The tools have changed the old view of human know-how and brought about changes in teaching as well as learning. Web 2.0 must be used by tutors not only to attract learner’s concentration but to increase their learning skills.
Hundreds of Web 2.0 tools are currently available with the potentiality of teaching and training. The applications consist of weblogs, wikis, social bookmarking, collaborative writing applications, etc. In teaching educational plans, Web 2.0 applications have been outlined as being effective in assessing tutors pre-service technology incorporation skills in learning institutions. The application not only helps to teach personnel to attain technology design and integrated skills but as it also encourages reflective thinking for the entire enhancement and implementation procedure.
Classroom Instructional Media
Classroom instructional media are instructional tools designed to give realistic images and substitute experience to attain advancement in educational experiences. As a facilitator in the education set up, instructional media is considered as the most efficient in utilizing imaginative approach. The use of instructional media motivates learning through learners being more attentive, and their participation in class activities is encouraged. In the utilization of instructional media, the teacher is provided with access to new ideas on information access, difficult terms clarification and presentation of information using various instructional media.
A lot of tutors who utilize instructional media find it easy to improve student attentiveness and motivation, take care of diverse learning capabilities as well as exposing the learners to a wider platform of information plus implementing new tutorial techniques. The teaching motivation includes the application of specific measures that tend to boost participants in the learning process which encourages the use of instructional media. Pre-service teachers use interactive instructional media to enhance their training and exploitation of technology in training schools.
Cell Phones, Tablets, and Other Highly-Portable Technology Tools
Portable devices such as smartphones and tablets are rising as one of the hopeful tools for enhancing education and specifically shared education platform. The devices offer new opportunities for persons who need a solution from mobile computing devices which other gadgets cannot offer. The emergence of portable devices technologies brings with its development of many chances to guide and improve learning. The personalized nature of mobile gadgets has provided an exceptional scenario for the development of personalized education experiences.
In mobile learning, there is a representation of a system to address various educational challenges. Devices that include tablets and smartphones allow innovation and help learners, instructors as well as guardians to gain admission to digital content and individualized evaluation essential for the industrialized world (Rosman, 2008). The use of mobile devices in association with wireless connectivity is an important aspect to enhance education for students. As tablets, mobile phones and other portable devices become more available and affordable; the wireless technology has considerably enhanced teaching and brought digital information to the students. The love of mobile technology by students and the usage of personal lives has made it easy for them to apply the devices to make learning more engaging and personalize it for their specific needs.
Electronic Whiteboards
An interactive whiteboard is a big, touch responsive board that is usually used in association with a computer and digital projector to assist interactive information technology engagement learning. The computer is connected to the whiteboard to facilitate control by directly touching the board by use of a particular pen. The whiteboard is mostly considered to have positive effects in a classroom setting. Interactive whiteboards present an educational setting in a highly interactive manner for an entire class or small grouping situation (National Centre for Technology in Education, 2008). The boards allow students to connect and interrelate with technology to become lively partakers in education. The whiteboard can particularly help the students with special needs from a staging of information on a large screen which helps in the processing of information and preservation. The maximum usage of whiteboard involves the student and instructor using a classroom setting.
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are forms of educational procedures which are mostly structured similarly to the earlier online higher learning courses. In the application, learners watch speeches, read allocated materials, contribute to online debates and forums as well as completing questions and exams on the lesson resources. The Massive Open Online Courses are made with the impression of expanding access to education (Pilli, & Admiraal, 2017). In its underlying notion of accessibility, the application makes it easy for anyone partakes by working collaboratively to gain new knowledge or enhance the present knowledge. The tools make scenarios for a lifelong education practice with online lessons which any person can take part, in spite of location and are in most cases offered for free.
Conclusion
The use of technology in education has provided many chances for teachers and students to create a favorable setting for learning, in advancing their teaching and learning methods to address the challenges in the learning environment. The peripheral equipment and resources allow education participants to analyze information through their devices while engaging their associates in the learning experience.
References
Kiryakova, G. (2017). Cloud computing- A necessary reality in modern education. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publication , 7 (4).
Mugahed A. R. W., Othman, S. M. & Musa, M. A. (2014). The Improvement of Students’ Academic Performance by Using Social Media through Collaborative Learning in Malaysian Higher Education. Asian Social Science , 10 (8). doi:10.5539/ass.v10n8p210.
National Centre for Technology in Education. (2008). Interactive whiteboards . Retrieved on 3 April 2018, from http://www.ncte.ie/documents/advicesheets/16InteractiveWBsNov08.pdf.
Pilli, O., & Admiraal, W. (2017). Students' learning outcomes in massive open online courses (MOOCs): Some suggestions for course design. Yuksekogretim Dergisi , 7 (1), 46-71. doi:10.2399/yod.17.001.
Rosman, P. (2008). M-learning - as a paradigm of new forms in education . Retrieved on 3 April 2018, from https://otik.uk.zcu.cz/bitstream/11025/17221/1/13_rosman.pdf.
Usoro, A., Echeng, R., & Majewski, G. (2013). A Model of acceptance of web 2.0 in learning in higher education: A case study of two cultures. GSTF Journal on Computing (JoC) , 3 (3). doi:10.7603/s40601-013-0024-y.
