The current technological advancements are poised to revolutionize the world that we live in. Machines and everyday objects can now communicate with each other.
IoT systems are the driving force behind all this incredible change. IoT has the potential to incorporate data-driven decision making into every aspect of human activity. The network of sensors and actuators in an IoT system are blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds.
But IoT Isn’t an Entirely New Concept
We have already witnessed its adaption in our lives. Industries have been utilizing the technology to monitor machines and sense changes in the environment.
Hospitals are using it to keep closer tabs on vital human signs. Internet-connected devices and appliances are taking care of our homes, offices and schools. And soon, autonomous cars will be governing the roads.
The technology is quickly expanding to encompass every angle of our lives. The vision of the entire smart cities isn’t a distant reality. According to Deloitte Insights, this model will help improve the quality of life, economic competitiveness and sustainability.
It is, in fact, the internet, which is laying the foundation for the vast applications of IoT systems. It’s facilitating new forms of collective intelligence that are supporting the automated world.
However, education is one of the sectors where this technology is still in the infancy stages. It’s only now that educational institutions are striving to implement IoT methods.
The Importance of Modernizing the Education Sector
Despite significant technological progress over the past few years, the adoption of smart classroom technology has been rather late in leveraging change in teaching methods.
Don’t get me wrong. The syllabus has been dramatically updated. The digital generation focuses more on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) courses. But the process is still the same.
We all understand that education reduces poverty, boosts economic growth and increases income. But utilizing up-to-date and modern teaching techniques can bolster enormous progress for any country. Therefore, the latest tech developments should be integrated into the educational system. Otherwise, it’s at risk of falling behind.
Modernization of the education sector can increase the productivity of both the individual and the nation. As the quality of education improves, so too does the acumen of the students.
A recent survey from Microsoft and YouGov stated that 60 percent of parents were optimistic about the role of smart classroom technology in their child’s life. More impressively, 86 percent said that the use of tech in schools, such as computers and educational software, was beneficial to their child’s education.
Classrooms Are Changing
Gone are the days when teachers reprimanded students for passing notes. Now it’s more so for using a mobile phone in class. And, as electronic devices are becoming commonplace in schools, teaching methods are aiming to be more interactive and applicable to the real world.
The one-size-fits-all approach no longer holds true. Advancements, such as IoT, AI and VR, are altering typical ideologies. They’re bringing change into the mainstream. Schools and universities alike are embracing a whole new world of concepts.
How Can IoT Systems Be Implemented in a Classroom?
IoT can reform the educational system. Inter-connectivity is linking previously disconnected offline objects and devices. The applications here are numerous, beginning from classrooms and extending beyond its walls.
IoT enabled education solutions range from smart boards to school security applications to managing a comfortable physical environment to study in.
A technically-advanced classroom can be equipped with the following IoT systems:
Interactive whiteboards
Automated attendance tracking systems
Student ID cards
Temperature and environmental sensors
Smart, efficient lighting and predictive maintenance for infrastructure
Smart HVAC systems
Wireless door locks and lockdown protocols
Security systems
As an extension of the system, connected schools could also provide smart buses. They could inform parents when a child is dropped off at home or provide students with internet access, allowing them to consume content en route.
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