4 New Learning Technologies That Are Changing the Way We Learn

Technology will help create more opportunities for students to learn with their unique learning style. This includes many technologies that will help students with learning disables.

Technology is a life skill; getting students used to technology will better prepare them for their futures. We live in a digital world, which includes classrooms.

1. 3D Printing

When 3D printing hit the mainstream society all at once, it wasn’t obvious how useful it could be to educational institutions. However, its seemingly endless possibilities are certainly being discovered. 3D printing has been used in the class to help teach geology, geography, creative arts, math, and even history. Don’t be fooled, 3D printing isn’t just for post-secondary school. It can be used in elementary schools too. Having a 3D printed version of the circulation system certainly makes learning anatomy a lot more fun and engaging. 3D printing can be used to improve student participation, promote active learning, encourage creative thinking, and it even turns subject into careers.

2. Game-Based Learning

Certainly the most favoured upon by the students, game-based learning is a very easy way to increase student interest and participation. Video games in the classroom can be too easily frowned upon and I think that may just be because people are sceptical of all change. If I told you that even the printing press was seen negatively when it came out, you might start to realize that video games are quite simply just the future… and there is no point in fighting that.

There are all kinds of ways that video games can be educational. Some games are made for the purpose of being educational, others are conveniently also educational. Even Minecraft has been used in the classroom.

3. Augmented Reality

Just in case you don’t know yet, Augmented Reality (AR) is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information. Augmented Reality alters one's ongoing perception of a real-world environment, as opposed to a virtual world completely replacing the user’s real world.

Pokémon Go is a great go-to example of what Augmented Reality is. For example, digital Pokémon get placed in the real world and you have to go outside to find them and “catch them all.”

To clarify, Augmented Reality is still a very new technology and has some bugs to clear out right now. However, it has already been used to help improve the educational experience. For example, it has even been used to make museum and library apps, for a more fun and educational experience.

4. Virtual Reality and LeapMotion

Virtual Reality (VR) headsets are most commonly used for video games, but don’t let this fool you. It has been used to simulate surgeries to further train doctors. It can easily simulate real workspaces for safety/health purposes, as well as educational and training purpose. Virtual Reality has already been used to train the military, for future astronauts, flight simulation, and even architectural design.

More recently, LeapMotion has further pushed our technology limits. LeapMotion is an attachment to Virtual Reality that allows the users to use just their barehands to react with the software. It is referred to as “The Most Advanced Hand Tracking on Earth.” While LeapMotion may still be in its beta phase, it is assumed that the two together will forever change how training, for all kinds of professions, will be done in the future.

Works Cited

Bitter, Gary G., and Jane M. Legacy. “Using Technology in the Classroom (7th Edition).” AbeBooks, Pearson, 1 Jan. 1970, www.abebooks.com/9780205508945/Using-Technology-Classroom-7th-Edition-0205508944/plp

“Game-Based Learning.” Edutopia, www.edutopia.org/topic/game-based-learning.

Hefzallah, Ibrahim M. “Book Information.” Charles C Thomas Publisher, 2004, www.ccthomas.com/details.cfm?P_ISBN13=9780398074920.

“What Is 3D Printing? How Does a 3D Printer Work? Learn 3D Printing.” 3D Printing, 3dprinting.com/what-is-3d-printing/.

“Why 3D Printing Needs to Take Off in Schools Around the World.” 3DPrint.Com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing, 21 Dec. 2014, 3dprint.com/27743/3d-printing-benefits-schools/.

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