Technology trends

Anyone embarking on a course of study in any subject is likely to see an increase in the use of technology to extend and underpin their learning opportunities.

This is particularly true as there is a UK-wide commitment to improving the access students have to hardware and software that supports learning.

Unfortunately, there is a need for some “catch-up” work by a surprisingly widespread number of FE and HE establishments. According to the Student Digital Experience Tracker 2017 (in which leading education tech organisation JISC questioned 22,000 UK learners), 50% of students expressed dissatisfaction with their access to technology. This even included cases in which Wi-Fi was not available in all buildings, and the shared equipment was insufficient to meet student demand.

This means that if you are sourcing a college in London, for example, you need to ensure that their commitment to technology trends is both tangible and forward-looking.

So, what are the three biggest technology trends to look for in technology to support FE and HE learning, that you might come across in your degree final year?

User generated content

There is an increasing number of apps enabling users to collaborate on and share meaningful content on specific topics. This is not just the students themselves, but also specialist contributors, academics and even representatives of industry and commerce.

Augmented reality

Immersive audio-visual input from Virtual Reality requires expensive equipment and software configuration, making it unlikely to be a feasible investment for many FE and HE organisations in the foreseeable future.

However, many Augmented Reality platforms require devices that are readily available – namely mobile phones. Incidentally, Apple recently announced it was adding an AR chip to some of its newer models.

This makes this technology more affordable for colleges and universities. AR also has the added benefit of engaging students in physical processes, to access the advanced audio-visual learning material it provides.

So, for example, if you are studying a diploma in education and training, you could use your phone to scan a poster or even your desk, to see intricate schematics or diagrams or reveal layers of study support.

Better use of big data

The availability of massive data sets generated by rapidly advancing technology is old news. However, the algorithms and skills to make better use of big data are developing constantly.

Particularly if you are doing a degree in HND business, accounting and finance, knowing which new tools are available and which are best to automate and integrate processes, will become central to preparing for the digital workplace.

To discuss enrolment at a college in Ilford that keeps one eye on the future on behalf of its students, contact Mont Rose College today.