In the last three decades, technology has had a significant impact on almost all industries and aspects of human life. People can now communicate and interact with family and friends, sometimes continents apart. However, the effects of technological innovations on any industry are always disruptive. For instance, the predicated commercialization of self-driving automobiles in the transport industry threatens to eliminate millions of employment opportunities all over the world.

The invention of chatbots through artificial intelligence and machine learning models has threatened thousands of jobs in the sales representative and customer care departments. The birth of the internet just two decades ago and the rise of social media platforms are transforming the way business organizations operate and forced them to change their traditional modes of doing business into digital ones. The education sector has also not been left behind. Technology is transforming the fundamental processes in the education sector. In this article, we are going to highlight how technology has changed education so far.

Mobile learning content

The rise of mobile applications for learning such as random name picker iPhone app, has revolutionized the process of teaching and learning in the 21st century. The advent of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets has enhanced the accessibility of learning material since almost everyone in institutions of higher learning has a smartphone. Leading tech firms such as Microsoft and Google have put a lot of emphasis on mobile devices. A recent study carried out by Google indicated that over 45% of all the people who browse the internet daily are using tablets and smartphones. This means that mobile devices will be a critical component of e-learning. Content providers have also been urged to create sites that have been optimized for mobile use.

Flexibility 

One of the most significant ways that technological innovations have transformed the education sector, is by making the learning process more flexible. Online courses have made it very easy for students to learn at their level of understanding and during their free time. This has improved flexibility as compared to the traditional brick and mortar class where students must adhere strict timelines schedules. Technological innovations have made it easier for students to learn from anywhere in the world. This has eliminated the time and resources that were previously used to travel long distances to attend the physical classes. Online learning has also made the access to learning materials easier since the lecturers can send notes through a class email.

New content

The development in technology has enabled students to have accessibility to new learning materials more efficiently. For instance, learners can access e-books from online databases and websites from any geographical location and at any time of day and night. Moreover, many famous test books have their digital versions found on the internet. All a student needs to do is to download the book and access the content on the mobile device or computer. Although many digital textbooks that are found online are usually not in a complete form, they play a critical role in the learning process. E-books continue to transform the way students use and access learning content as they continue to study.