How Schools Are Using Modern Technology Today: A Closer Look

All across the world, schools have started to embrace modern technology.

This evolution has sped up in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to many schools turning to technology that they had previously never used. 

Now, schools are using technology for a variety of different reasons; from tracking the weather to remote learning. Not only is this helping them to provide a better experience to their students, but it’s also enabling schools to grow their reputations in the public eye.

So, are you interested to learn about the latest modern tech that schools are using today? If yes, here’s a closer look at everything you need to know:

1.    Weather Station Sensors

As mentioned in the introduction, many schools are now using weather station sensors. They do this so that they can:

• Keep students safe
• Plan field trips and on-campus events more efficiently
• Protect their buildings
• Prepare for snow and harsh weather days

Usually, schools will use either multi-weather sensors or temperature and humidity sensors.

Temperature sensors are especially important during the summer, as they help to ensure that students aren’t left to overheat when they’re inside classrooms or outside.

If you’re the owner of a school, you can spread several weather station sensors throughout your campus for maximum coverage.

2.    Chromebooks

In the old days, schools would provide their students with old, clunky laptops to use whenever classwork required them. Now, though, this has all changed, and it’s thanks to the introduction of Chromebooks.

Chromebooks have now become a classroom essential all across Europe, Asia, and America. This is because they’re small, lightweight, and built with education inmind.

Whether students need to type Word documents, watch educational videos on YouTube, or simply brainstorm ideas, then a Chromebook can do the job. Plus, Chromebooks are typically cheap (and can be purchased in bulk by schools), which is another reason why they’re currently so popular in the education sector.

3.    Tablets

In addition to tablets, thousands of schools are also equipping their students and teachers with computer tablets.

Tablets are great for working whilst moving around the classroom. Also, their touchscreens allow students to draw and scribble ideas much more quickly than they’d be able to on a laptop via typing.

It’s also worth mentioning that tablets are great for younger students during break times when they want to play games, relax, and have fun (providing they’re given permission by the teachers, of course).

According to Open Access Government, 70% of schools currently use tablets, which is a huge amount. Moving into the future, this figure is likely to grow and go above 90%.

4.    Video-Assisted Learning

Video-assisted learning is also becoming increasingly popular across schools.

In a nutshell, video-assisted learning (VAL) is when teachers use educational videos to improve a student’s understanding and cognitive ability surrounding a particular subject, whether it’s science or mathematics.

The main advantage of video-assisted learning is that it typically makes the learning experience fun and more enjoyable for students – especially those who experience difficulty trying to concentrate.

In an age where students want to learn more by using visuals, you can expect VAL to become a fundamental part of education moving into the future.

5.    Virtual Reality Headsets

At first, many people assumed that virtual reality (VR) headsets would only be used for gaming and social media purposes by the general public. However, they’ve somehow made it into the classrooms, as teachers have started to use them for educational purposes.

VR headsets can be used across a variety of subjects, from physical education to information technology. Due to how expensive they are, VR headsets have yet to become a huge part of the education sector. However, if more schools start to recognize the potential that VR headsets have in the classroom, then it’s entirely possible that a VR headset boom will take place in the education sector. For now, it’s a case of waiting for the technology to advance a little further.

6.    E-Books

Sadly, the days of paperback books in the classroom are slowly coming to an end. The replacement? E-books.

E-books are just the same as normal books, with the only difference being that you read them electronically using either a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

For example, many schools use E-book apps like Apple Books so that students can get access to all the educational books they need. This is great for parents, too, as it means they can save a lot of money on book costs every year because they can be accessed online, instead.

Paperback books have still got some life in them yet, but by 2030, you can fully expect E-Books to be the dominant force in the classroom.

7.    3D Printers

3D printers have now become an integral part of manufacturing, production, and education.

If a school is able to invest in 3D printers, they can provide their students with an enhanced learning experience, as students will be able to 3D print a variety of different objects.

3D printers are especially useful in science subjects (biology, physics, chemistry) as well as mechanical engineering and robotics.

8.    Social Media

Last on the list is social media.

To the surprise of many people, schools have managed to turn social media into a tool for education and communication amongst students.

Now, it’s very common for schools to communicate with both parents and students via social media platforms like Twitter. For instance, if there’s a snow day (or another event that has led to the school being unable to open), the school will then use Twitter to announce that it will not be opening. Twitter can also be used to make other announcements; from exam timetables to sportsday updates.

Conclusion

This has been a short look at some of the main sources of technology that schools are now using to produce a better student experience. Moving into the future, the use of technology in schools is going to continue growing at rapid rates, which is something to be excited about.