Technology is often seen as the enemy of the students, something that keeps them away from studying. But on the contrary, the development of technology and online platforms has given new possibilities and freedom to education. It has allowed us to seek the best beyond the city where we live and, in many cases, has made it more affordable. The list below includes our top five uses of new technology in education, focusing on newer trends that use online platforms:
- Online Subscription for Course Materials
University textbooks are expensive. At the beginning of each academic year, students have to empty their pockets to afford all the course books at once. Many students have recently been adopting the cheaper e-textbooks – in pdf or kindle format – however, that still leaves the problem of having to buy in bulk unresolved. To make the access to course books more affordable to students, last year an online platform that works on the basis of a monthly subscription was developed. This now allows students to have access to all the necessary materials at all times and for a very student-friendly price. It is also frequently mentioned that having online books makes it easier to switch between study places, which is great for concentration. The trending of online textbooks in education is bringing the students a lot of advantages, so, hopefully, it is a market that will continue to evolve and spread around the world.
- Massive Open Online Courses
University courses are great for providing in-depth knowledge but for that reason, they are often very focused on one or two subjects. In today’s world, however, it is also important to have a wider spectrum of knowledge and be able to make connections between different branches. And this is where MOOCs, massive open online courses, come in handy. They provide month-long courses on different topics by leading experts in the area. These are in no way substitution for university degrees, but rather great support in broadening your horizons. They can also be useful in high school when students are deciding on what to study in university. Taking a MOOC is a simple and free way of confirming that you have a genuine interest in the subject. There are many sites providing MOOCs, with most famous ones being Coursera and edX.
- Online Tutors
Online tutors are becoming more and more popular, with research showing that the market is supposed to grow significantly in the next five years. Online tutors can provide great help with studying any subject from physics to history, while also being accessible. There are many sites where you can look for
private online tutors and choose the one that suits your needs. The big choice of tutors that online platforms provide ensures that all people can find someone who is trained to tutor for their learning style.
- Online Language Tandem
Finding people with whom you can practice a foreign language can be very difficult, especially if you live in a smaller town. Internet and technology have helped significantly in this respect – now you can connect with people from all around the world with just one click. If you ask, you can find a tandem partner on almost any social network or forum, however, many students still prefer specialist sites where both parties are learning a language. These sites have started developing in the recent years and now you can join and find a person for any language you are studying, no matter how big or small.
- Crowdfunding Education
Across the world, the financial situation of schools is anything but bright. Many articles talk about teachers spending their own money on essential class materials. The US teachers have set a new site where they present projects for their individual classroom, such as ‘buying new desks’, and ask people to fund them. Although this is strictly a US site, it can be a good example to teachers from other countries that are fighting the bureaucracy. Specialist websites help to put focus on education, instead of these important projects getting lost in a myriad of all-purpose campaigns.
Annabelle is part of the Content and Community team at
SmileTutor, sharing valuable content with their own community and beyond.
