Various aspects of the education sphere have been, and continue to be, positively affected by the integration of internet connectivity into the learning environment. Numerous technologies and tools have made both learning and teaching processes far more multifaceted, engaging and effective. This is especially thanks to the adoption of the Internet of Things, or IoT. Essentially, IoT refers to a system of interconnected devices and machines that are equipped to correspond and share data with one another over a wireless network without the intervention of human beings. Here are some examples of how connectivity and IoT can modify, or have modified, the education sector.

Interactive whiteboards

Interactive whiteboards are a notable example of how technical innovation has impacted the way students are educated, as well as the way educational information can be retained. These devices can engage students more thoroughly thanks to their interactive features, as well as enrich the learning experience thanks to visuals you wouldn’t see on the ordinary chalkboard.

Added to that, the information displayed on an interactive whiteboard is stored on the device, meaning it can be easily retained and, if need be, shared to other people’s devices. So, instead of relying on a blackboard or traditional whiteboard to teach your material, you can make use of information that is both enriching for students and easily transferable from one person to another. Nashua’s very own multi touch interactive whiteboards allow for educational material to be displayed with enhanced visualisation and this material remains readily accessible for analysis, sharing and modification.

Internet connectivity and QR codes

A QR code is a barcode that can be digitally read by your smartphone. Applications such as SnapScan and Zapper incorporate these codes, giving consumers an alternative method of paying for products. But this technology has also found a place within the education sector, thanks to the intervention of education and training provider Media Works and Excom Publishers. Both have collaborated on ‘Bubbles’, which are short online video lessons that are accessible by scanning QR codes that have been added to certain text books. These videos help to enhance the educational experience for the learner and hopefully give them better understanding of the material being taught.

What’s great about this innovation is that it can go hand in hand with internet connectivity. A stable internet connection can enable seamless access to these videos. A learner won’t have to watch one of these online tutorials while worrying about using up data. With a reliable wireless internet solution in place, technological innovations such as ‘Bubbles’ can thrive within the learning environment.

RFID wristbands

Internet connectivity won’t only help students. Teachers can benefit from it as well. They need to ensure that all students are making the right amount of progress. For various reasons, absenteeism can occur and some students might fall behind. Certain IoT applications could assist teachers with regard to this issue, namely wristbands equipped with RFID tags that can analyse relevant information about each user. RFID technology has proven useful in apps such as UberEats, enabling you to track where and how far your order is.

So, with the use of RFID wristbands in a classroom, “a teacher can see promptly how many students attend the class today using his or her tablet/smartphone. Moreover, using such devices, a teacher can mark the level of performance of each student to understand [the] weak sides of each student.” These wristbands are also great for identifying and keeping track of students at special events and on school trips.

IoT can lend a helping hand to the education sphere, with the possibility of teachers being better enabled to keep track of their students’ performance. Added to that, reliable internet connectivity can make various technologies thrive within the learning environment. Innovations like ‘Bubbles’ can be more easily accessible, while interactive whiteboards can be incorporated into the learning experience.