These three ideas for the future would be costly but only for the first-world
countries. As these ideas are implemented, today’s system of technology and
education will already be outdated. But without a doubt, the entire world will be
interconnected, whether it be through the internet or a different medium. Even so,
there is no guarantee of a better education, only of better opportunity to educate
larger groups of people, possibly at lower costs.
A few examples of today’s automated resources are the Nest, a learning thermostat, and the
smartphone app If This Then That (IFTTT). The app allows users to set commands based on
circumstances, e.g., if it will rain tomorrow, give me a notification. Or if I take an Instagram photo,
set it as my background. Schools could implement this sort of function to their registration system
and online services, e.g., if you’re a sophomore in engineering you need to take one of these three
classes. Academic advisors and registration could be cut down significantly. Professors will upload
class schedules directly into students’ digital calendar and provide notification for due dates and
syllabus changes. Assigned books will be ordered when a student enrolls in a class and delivered
digitally or physically based on a student’s preference.
This ties to , the act of turning something that is traditionally
not a game into one. It’s like getting a gold star for a good job, but better. A contemporary example
of this is the web app HabitRPG. It takes after other role playing games by giving characters
magical abilities, experience points and health. The users can gain powers and experience by
completing self-assigned tasks. If the tasks are not completed by the due date, the user loses health.
This system could be implemented for homework assignments. But the in-class application is far
more exciting. Imagine automated tracking of class participation, class grades and work speed.
This carrot-and-stick system would motivate students to earn points by actively engaging in the
classroom, and finish their quizzes as quickly as possible with the highest accuracy. Performance is
public via game points or badges. A student who can actively brag that he outscored his classmates
in attention, or is the fastest quizzer in the school, will feel the euphoria of a job well done, and the
other students will feel the stick of motivation to outscore their competitor.
GAMIFICATION
is naturally the next step in this process. Internet giants such as Google
Imagine this system implemented for research and studying. A site where all the best commentary, study guides
and analysis for Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar are readily available to every British lit major in the world. This goes
beyond Google, which only links you to articles based on their popularity and your search history, not their
academic integrity. Every freshman in American History 101 will be able to communicate and tap into the work
of those students who learned before them. It makes research easier and gives it the excitement of a hunt.
What new, untapped piece of information is out there that can be posted?
CURATION
