Tag Archives: Learning never stops

Education technologies: how to make your project useful and engaging? Part.4 Chatbots

Along with the already familiar trends such as microlearning and gamification, experts are actively introducing new products from related areas: social networks, user experience (UX) design, and chatbots.

Chatbots – a trend in learning, which is actively gaining popularity. Chatbots have long been used in marketing, sales, social networks, CRM-systems, but recently began to be used in the field of EdTech. Chatbots have a huge potential in e-learning. They can be used not only to simulate interaction with the instructor or the author of the course but also to create role-playing games within e-learning courses. For example, a dialogue with a patient or customer online store. Chatbots can ask any question and do not feel stupid. It is unnatural to study any subject, only listening to the lecture, and the chatbots successfully solve this issue. You can send a message to the tutor or research supervisor. A live person will answer for a long time, and the robots will answer the questions about learning immediately. In such cases, it is more convenient for people to communicate with the machine than with live people. It is clear that chatbots are a supplement to teachers and should not replace them.

Chatbots help create online communities and networking.  Many people are attracted by the opportunity to make professional acquaintances, enter the community of creative developing people, and perhaps find partners for their projects. For example, students communicate in slack channels where they can share their impressions, ask questions, or ask for feedback on a project. But it is worth remembering that: without a moderator, any communication sooner or later subsides or degenerates.

Any modern company is faced with the training and adaptation of new employees, advanced training of existing personnel, to improve the quality of human resources. Why is it helpful to use a chatbot for corporate employee training?

First of all, to automate the acquisition and assimilation of new knowledge in the format of interactive interaction. Just imagine: every employee of the company can have round-the-clock access to a virtual mentor, request the necessary information right at the workplace, be tested, and consolidate the material studied. Simultaneously, the load on the HR department or the company’s training center is minimal. In fact, after the initial setup and integration, the chatbot for offline training of employees will perform the functions assigned to it.

In the future, not only employees’ knowledge and skills will be assessed, but their work results. This approach will allow you to link learning metrics with business metrics, assess the real learning effect, and not just take courses.

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Education technologies: how to make your project useful and engaging? Part.3 Gamification

Gamification of the educational process. A growing trend supported by Apple and Google, among others. It has the main goal – to solve a problem, motivate, and stimulate learning through gaming thinking and techniques. Sooner or later, influenced by the market and the EdTech community – all departments associated with employee training in corporations will decide to implement gamification. The corporate environment continues to resist the adoption of such effective gaming techniques. What for? Why are we confident that training should be serious? In the context of a strict corporate culture, this reaction is natural. Research data shows that a large part of the population, including adults, buys games for money. Also, games help to memorize information. 

The first thing that creators should think about is how the game works: its rules and process. An important lesson about the game approach is that the game’s structure and dynamics must match the content. For example, suppose the content describes the techniques of successful sales, in that case, the game approach, as well as the design of the course (module/lesson), should be relevant to sales: for example, bonuses, commissions, and other incentives. In the competition context, it may not be enough for some competitors to simply earn a prize. You need to give users the opportunity to brag their achievements – this increases their self-esteem. Usually, tournament tables (ratings, leaderboards) are used for this.

The second thing is the children learning. It is useless to fight against children and their passion for TV, so it is necessary to use this resource by investing in useful content. Thus, children who depend on TV began to learn social relationships through games and fairy tales. What neither parents nor teachers were able to communicate properly, it was possible to do at “Sesame Street”, putting screen time in the service of children.

The same thing is now happening to gadgets. It’s impossible to keep children away from them. It’s even stronger than the consoles. Since it is more accessible: a smartphone is in any family, games are cheap or free. Now it all depends on desire and imagination. In the gadget, you can invest something useful, with the solution of thematic projects, history teaching, research, art, programming.

No need to try to take learning control. Businesses should create an enabling learning environment for people to build skills effectively. Demographic research shows that playing is as much fun for adults as it is for children – it’s just that joy is expressed in a more complex way. When companies let go of their misconceptions about time management and cultural integrity, they can appreciate the learning gamification potential.

 

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EdTech Global trends: what is inside?

Our world has turned upside down this year. Spring 2020 is the greatest remobilization of the workforce since the Great Depression. Those who did not work online and had no experience had to quickly change the paradigm of thinking, configure services, and search for markets. The education market did not stand aside but accelerated online traffic. Our team took part in a large-scale online conference in the field of education EdTechX Global. According to experts, the online education market in 30 days of spring has grown more than 15 times and continues to grow. This is certainly a unique moment in time to develop an educational project. We are in a hurry to share the most relevant trends in the education market.

 

– LAS in education. LMS has already become a common educational solution. Together with LMS, LAS systems – learning augmented systems – are actively entering the market. LAS helps to improve training performance, engagement, and reduce costs through state-of-the-art augmented technology. LAS can be used in many fields of activity: in healthcare, in corporate training, in the military, in schools, universities, and for example in preparing for work in public safety.

The educational value of LAS is closely linked to the way in which it is designed, implemented, and integrated into formal and informal learning environments. LAS allows students to engage modern way thinking students in training and helps to focus on learning. It includes:

– creating short, interactive instructional content that is easy to understand and reinforces longer core learning materials;

– a separation from traditional “just in case” learning strategies that emphasize repetition and memorization;

– transition to on-demand, move forward training methods that help the student bridge specific skills gaps in real time.

LAS will satisfy the most demanding training needs:

–  reduce costs and save time with easily customizable dive scenarios.

– improved coordination of individuals and teams through access to performance indicators;

– co-training teams using telepresence;

– analysis of the emotional state of students using biometric IoT sensors.

 

– VR / AR in training. An important consideration is how AR technologies support and afford meaningful learning. The use of AR has become more accessible as it no longer requires specialized equipment and may easily be used on mobile devices. Most people now own mobile devices, and the use of these devices has increased, thereby enabling greater access to AR. The applications for mobile AR in education are increasing rapidly, and the feasibility of mobile AR has increased due to advances in mobile technology. The education related AR applications are now more commonly found on mobile devices.

 

– Artificial intelligence. The next major focus of digital learning will be the reconfiguration and optimization of delivery, powered by AI that is able to learn from experience and improve the efficacy of human and machine learning. We will not dwell on specific technologies for a long time; we have launched a series of articles on technologies in education “Education technologies: how to make your project useful and engaging?”, stay tuned for updates on our blog.

 

– Adaptive learning will receive another round of development and popularity. This is a learning process using special algorithms to build an individual learning path that meets the unique needs of the student. The number of students is constantly growing, and the world, which entered the pandemic, was forced to completely switch to distance learning. Therefore, educational technologies will receive intensive development, which will, on the one hand, adapt to each individual student, and on the other, will be scalable. Adaptive systems just allow you to adapt to the pace of different students. Or offer them teacher assistance when they need it, and not their classmates.

 

– Online schools are a way out for those who want to get an education in another country, live remotely, have limited opportunities, etc. Even “yesterday” mixed “classrooms” were in demand, where there is an opportunity for students to be in the audience, and the teacher may be from another country, or some students and the teacher in the audience, and some students online. There are lots of modern schools now fully operational online. These are ordinary schools, for ordinary children, with teachers, a blackboard, bells, diaries, assignments.

The student is assigned a specific value teacher who helps to build a learning plan for the child or helps the child determine the directions, further build a learning plan, and motivates to follow it. An individual approach to each student, taking into account his abilities and talents, which is ensured by various forms of individual consultations: online consultations on each subject weekly; video conferences, group consultations in the form of a daily advisory chat; full-time consultation with the teacher. Group work – during the lesson, children have the opportunity to gather in separate online rooms. A virtual imitation of campuses, group work, practice in unique emitted real conditions, holograms of teachers, and many other technologies that complement the educational process so much that the need for an offline component is rapidly declining.

Distance learning frees up more of your own time for visiting various interest groups, developing individual talents, completing various courses, or traveling.

One of the most important issues of online learning, which has not yet been fully resolved, is the assessment of knowledge on how to evaluate students, and the point is not so much in honesty as in getting real feedback, the lack of which makes learning ineffective. A child cannot compare his achievements with those of other children. It is as if locked in its own online space. The only criterion for its success is the result of the evaluation by the teacher. Sometimes it’s just the number of points scored in the test. But the child also needs a more detailed description of his response. Here, distance learning has significant advantages over a regular school, where the teacher and student are limited by the time of the lesson, and the teacher simply does not have time to give a qualitative assessment of the student’s efforts. In an online school, this is possible. Neither the teacher nor the student is limited in time. An important role is played by the dialogue between teacher and student. Both written and oral online communication. The student needs to receive quality feedback. This additionally stimulates him.

 

– Alternative to university education. School graduates are increasingly refusing to receive a classical diploma in favor of alternative education. The main reason was the changes that the labor market is experiencing. People need to spend less and less time on training and formalities like sitting in an audience. The historically formed educational system does not satisfy the demands of the modern economy, which has a need for personnel who have undergone quick training. Moreover, the further, the more universities will lose relevance, because modern teenagers are distinguished by dynamics and multitasking. For six traditional university years, they can master several professions and try a lot. For this generation, six years is a long time. And in connection with quarantine, the issue of alternative education has become more acute.

Demand is growing for a variety of platforms with educational courses and lectures, both paid and free. They have become one of the relevant alternatives to dusty university audiences. The student determines the goal for himself, selects the “path” and the algorithm, selects a set of courses and a project that needs to be completed. The training is accompanied by pear-to-pear components and people working in the industry who carry out mentoring functions and gradually integrate the future specialist into the industry.

 

In essence, as we see the educational process can become a people-less process. We can definitely note a niche where people have not yet come up with any solutions and robots, artificial intelligence and algorithms cannot completely replace a person in the near future, these are teachers for preschool children. There are a number of reasons and justification for this, but this is a separate topic for research.

Only flexibility will help survive and flourish. By removing some of the barriers that people around the world may face in accessing education, EdTech startups already offer a wide range of educational opportunities in both developed and developing countries. This makes the knowledge of the highest class available to an increasing number of people, finally, there are technologies that will allow you to educate different children in one group so that each will have their own unique learning path, according to the characteristics of the brain, perception of information and individual inclinations. 

No business succeeds when it stands still. The same goes for teachers, students, and entrepreneurs in the field of e-learning. It’s important to stay up to date with current facts and trends, study the data that shows how, when, and where your audience spends time on the Internet, and benefit from it. Due to the fact that the virus will not recede – school, universities, courses need to have time to develop an online learning process over the summer, summer has to be hot in every sense, there is no time to relax.

 

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Education technologies: how to make your product useful and engaging? Part.1 Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality

Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality

Are you trying to decide which direction to take your new tech business? The field of educational technology and programs is an excellent choice. After researching this topic, we offer our recommendations here. 

One Thing is Clear

Our research shows educational products are a very promising option for development, and over time the popularity of such virtual solutions will only grow.

Every year the number of EdTech tools for the education system is increasing, and as a result of the rapid spread of the virus, the market has grown 10-15 times in the last 30 days. This growth is because teachers, educational institutions, and companies that use new technologies gain advantages over their opponents. We have prepared an impressive list of cutting-edge educational technologies that can attract even more consumers to these products. 

In this article, we will begin to consider virtual and augmented reality. In the following parts, we will analyze in detail a complete list of these technologies.

 

Virtual and Augmented Reality Technology 

Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR). Virtual and Augmented Reality technologies are seeking to reach their peak. International Data Corporation estimates that in 2019 the market volume was 16.8 billion dollars, and by 2023 the market volume may reach 160 billion dollars. These forecasts do not take into account the momentary rapid growth of the market. 

Many of these AR/VR developments have been successfully applied to education. Images, sounds, and the immersion effect only accelerate information learning. Business coaches, teachers, and students can learn different disciplines with AR and VR-enabled devices.

 

Virtual Reality in Action

VR videos are gaining popularity, with 360° viewing angles that can be viewed through virtual reality glasses. This immersive learning experience attracts students much more than what they are used to in their day-to-day presentations and lectures.

 

Using VR To Introduce Concepts and Experiences

Many of these virtual ideas have already been implemented in the classroom. For example, an American school for elementary-aged students has created a virtual excursion: a tour of the classrooms and corridors of a middle or high school. This helps school children learn about the new place in advance. This allows students to feel more comfortable with the idea of moving from elementary or middle school to the next level in an immersive, low-stress environment.

 

Travel, Experimenting, and Fighting Crime

Some schools use virtual reality to create an experience. Students ride on roller coasters, walk in an amusement park, drive a car. A school in Ireland has recreated selected historical sites using 3D modeling software.

Students in the Czech Republic already use VR controllers for biological and chemical experiments. For example, they penetrate the human eye and manipulate their parts to understand how they work. In addition, the British University has created a virtual space for criminology students, where they hunt for evidence to solve a crime.

 

Virtual Reality in Business

VR is also ideal for the HR field. It allows large corporations to create their own worlds. Worlds in which you can create complete training scenarios: repair, installation, disassembly. This allows large-scale training of new or inexperienced employees to work with real objects without the objects themselves.

 

Augmented Reality in Action

Augmented Reality Technologies (AR) can design digital information (images, video, text, graphics) on top of device screens and combine virtual objects with the real environment. Augmented Reality can work at the level of visual images and the level of sensations. This technology will actually develop and will find a wider application than VR. AR has not yet reached the peak of its capabilities. 

 

Augmented Reality in the Classroom

As an example of the potential use and technology effectiveness, a series of experiments was conducted in which one group of children was shown visual material with AR during the lessons, and for the second group, the students were shown visual materials using posters and diagrams. 

It was revealed that in the group where augmented reality was used, children’s percentage of information assimilation approached 90%. In addition, the level of discipline increased, and it was possible to keep the attention of about 95% of the audience. The results in the group with two-dimensional examples showed all indicators were half or three times less.

Using AR technologies allows you to create micro-applications with interesting content without restrictions. You can expect to see many quests, immersive shows, and simple educational videos in the future using AR technology. 

 

Augmented Reality in Special Education

AR technologies can also play an important role in educating children with physical, social, or cognitive disabilities. After all, AR technologies can create an opportunity for an inclusive learning environment tailored to everyone’s needs and capabilities. For example, augmented reality gloves that mimic the touch and allow visually impaired learners to hear the teacher and feel the objects they need.

Adding Modern Technologies is no longer just an idea … it’s essential

Modern technologies help to inspire, involve, and motivate students and facilitate the educational process. But the real value of technology is to personalize learning for each learner – creating an adaptive learning environment. Modern online learning systems must listen to the needs of society and quickly implement changes using new technologies to effectively reach the potential of learners and employees and maximize understanding and business benefits.

 

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Is it worth developing an online educational project?

Is it worth launching new educational projects in a new reality and investing in existing ones? How will the online education market change during and after quarantine and pandemic? Such issues began to arise from our customers due to the announcement of quarantine. 

We are interested in developing our customers’ business and do not stand aside. Our marketing and business analysis team conducted their own research (for our clients in the field of education) and formed the top market trends.

Let’s first determine what reality we are in. It can be clearly defined as a situation of uncertainty. In such a socially significant sphere as education (secondary and higher), distance learning will gain more and more popularity. As for online training services for business, and private persons they also will not stand still. Some enterprises, unfortunately, have now suspended or reduced their activities. Others try, if possible, to adapt to remote work. People found themselves in difficult situations, but this is not a reason to panic. Many perceive the current situation as a new opportunity to improve their own professionalism, to obtain a new specialty.

 

Who needs online training? And is society ready to pay for distance education?

  1. Using the latest technology provides teachers and students around the world with amazing new opportunities for online education. And this means that the need for the development of educational projects will grow and require new approaches to their filling and communication between students and teachers.
  2. The main audience of online training services is small and medium enterprises and ordinary people. Most of the private audience are people of medium or high income. They are now working, have savings, and are considering investing in education. Moreover, it is unlikely that anyone is currently planning holidays abroad.
  3. People will look for online training opportunities in order to gain additional skills and become a valuable specialist in their own company, or find another, higher-paying job.
  4. SMEs are now in limited operation mode and are more than ever interested in expanding the knowledge and possible functions of their staff. Companies employees and entire businesses who have switched to remote work are interested in improving their digital literacy, personal effectiveness, and consider online training as an opportunity for pumping personal qualities. This means that in the near future a decline in sales in the online education market is not expected.

It is also worth noting that some types of distance services are seeing increased demand for their products. If you were planning to launch your own educational product, start now. The situation of uncertainty is not a reason to postpone your plans for later.

 

What online services are in demand in the market?

  • Training programs. Modern professions that make it possible to work remotely: IT specialties, designers, online consultants, online sales. People actively master these specialties in order to find remote work or part-time work on freelance.
  • Separately, it is worth noting the training of professions in the field of online education. The industry has a noticeable shortage of personnel and a high demand for technical administrators, methodologists, and producers. Therefore, training services in these areas is a great investment.
  • Internal online training systems for companies. Educational services that allow companies of any level and field of business to quickly integrate new employees into the workflow, adapt to innovations or organize new business processes for current employees.
  • Financial knowledge. Online courses where people are taught to plan the budget and effectively manage the company’s money and personal income in current realities are very important.
  • Online courses on sports and a healthy lifestyle. Of particular interest are personal online training with a trainer or drawing up a personal healthy lifestyle program. In conditions of quarantine and the intensity of modern life, such services will become increasingly relevant. And people are willing to pay for such individual lessons.
  • Upbringing and children’s development. Such courses have always been particularly popular and very relevant during quarantine when parents must figure out what to do with a child locked with them in four walls and forgetting what walks and games with peers are. Entertainment products are also popular – for example, online modeling or painting lessons for children. Online lectures for teenagers using troubling topics.
  • In the field of psychology, there is a high demand for online courses on how to maintain self-control, how to get along in the family, and avoid stressful situations in family isolation (this is an urgent problem while quarantining).
  • Time management and personal effectiveness. Many specialists who switched to remote work were not ready for the features of such work and were looking for courses where they would be taught how to work more efficiently and competently in managing their time. Also, various time tracking services should be included here.

This is just a small list of online educational projects that are relevant now and will gain more and more popularity in the nearest future.

 

What can be done to make your products in high demand?

  • Practice-oriented training. Please clearly communicate the measurable and concrete results that students will receive using your online service.
  • Focus on successful cases. Tell in your communication how the life of your students has changed after training.
  • For vocational training services, consider providing employment assistance. People who are in search of work, consider courses where during training they can take an internship in companies and after graduation receive job offers.
  • Offer short courses (1 to 3 months). Long-term programs are less in demand in a situation where people do not know what tomorrow will bring them.
  • Project training. Your service will attract more attention if students study and develop their own, working project. By the end of the training, students will receive a ready-made project, ready to be launched on the market, or already started during the training process.
  • Offer an inexpensive product or a profitable package. The issue of price in a crisis becomes painful, and people even longer decide to buy expensive educational products.
  • Pack your courses under quarantine. How to be effective at remote work? How to play sports at home without equipment? How to find a new niche for the business? How to optimize resources or costs?
  • Open the asynchronous learning format. Most often, services only practice synchronous learning (when a student listens to a course with a group and the lessons open sequentially, one after the other). Offer people the opportunity to learn asynchronously and access all learning content at once. This will be a very popular service for students who want to quickly learn, for example, a new skill. Asynchronous learning allows students to design their own learning schedules.
  • Consider the option of installment payment for training, offer the sale of training “parts”. Depending on the orientation of your service, this way you can attract more customers who want to study.
  • Try to show why your product is worth the money. A potential audience always has this question. And you’d better answer it than your clients will go to think and find convincing arguments.

Pay your attention. You need to talk to your audience. Talk to them on your educational service website, in reviews, in articles, in advertisements, speak at online conferences (a great opportunity to declare yourself and your product). Remove objections, talk about the opportunities that your products provide at this particular time. In conditions of total uncertainty, there is nothing worse than silence. Provide new products in response to market demands, and then no economic crisis will stop the development of your project.

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