Technology in Education Today: Providing an equal learning experience anywhere, on any device
As mobile devices and mobility solutions become more common amongst schools and with students, faculty and staff, education IT is facing a new set of challenges and opportunities. With an influx of new technology and devices, such as tablets, touch screen displays, 3D printers and even drones, schools are taking big leaps forward to provide the latest and greatest technology to their students. The challenge arises when IT and educators realize that this incredible technology essentially becomes a flashy, expensive toy without the right infrastructure, mobility strategy or learning plan in place first.
Citrix and other solution providers are striving to help schools bridge this gap and design a campus mobility strategy that takes advantage of the newest technology while also utilizing their legacy equipment. This type of strategy allows schools to provide an equal learning experience regardless of each student's socioeconomic status. When IT services and resources can work anywhere and on any device, it makes other critical technology initiatives—like BYOD, collaborative learning spaces, and flipped classrooms—easy to introduce and expand.
With programs like these in place, you increase learning continuity and reach students in completely new ways. If you can deliver any application, even heavy applications like AutoCAD and SPSS, to any device, whether it is a MacBook Air or inexpensive Chromebook, you level the playing field for education. In the past, if a student hoped to someday be an engineer, those dreams could easily be shattered due to the inability to afford the expensive software or device required for the classes. In addition, with anytime, anywhere access students no longer have to wait in line for a seat in the computer lab or risk walking across campus late at night.
The next level of IT responsibility will be to address student engagement and success through technology solutions and services. It is no longer enough to put a tablet or laptop in every student's hand and expect them to instantly improve test scores and graduation rates. However, with the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) we may begin to develop new ways to increase student learning and engagement and change traditional classroom pedagogies to be more effective.