How closed-loop is redefining Ed-Tech?

While there have been significant technological advancements in recent years, with billions of dollars invested in integrating technology into schools, the impact of digital transformation on student outcomes has been minimal to date. Even when teachers have been successful in integrating hardware and software into the classroom ecosystem, they frequently fall short in their attempts to use the new technology to gauge student achievement. Technology does, however, have the potential to improve every element of teaching and learning when it is carefully incorporated into every stage of the educational value chain by redefining the education system in student-centric ways. We are at the dawn of an era where teachers have the opportunity to harness technology to dramatically improve the teaching workflow and methodology enabling greater interaction and insights while also improving student achievement.

To fully achieve this promise and significantly improve student outcomes in primary and secondary education – Technology must work in tandem and in close collaboration with a closed-loop educational system through new education policy. This technology-enabled education system entails a closely coordinated set of academic goals, benchmarks, curriculum, tests, interventions, and professional development, by redefining learning & teaching using technology.

Open loop system – The problem and solution to overcome it

The current education system is a one-sided, open-loop system that relies purely on input with little reciprocation from the learners. This model has numerous flaws, making predicting classroom outcomes challenging for the heterogeneous population. Because the teacher is unable to track the pupils’ learning, the teaching-learning process remains open ended.

“Education remains one of the few sectors that information and communications technologies have not transformed,” says Tom Vander Ark, former Executive Director of education for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. One rationale for this failure is that technology spending remains a minuscule part of total education spending and budget allocation around the world, trailing considerably behind salary and other current expenses.  Education has received significantly less funding than other industries where technology has had a greater impact.

Moreover, a lack of steps to train instructors to use instructional technology and digital tools in higher education has made them hesitant to use newer technologies in their classrooms. Hence, they rely on traditional methods of teaching.

These learning strategies deprive students of the enormous wealth of digital resources that can arouse their curiosity, increase their engagement, and expand their knowledge. So, to fully utilize technology, educators, educational institutions, and policymakers must adopt a comprehensive strategy and integrate it into a closed-loop instructional system.

The Closed-loop system

According to a survey conducted on a group of students, about 60% agreed that the closed-loop system was a good way to encourage fact retention and practice. The closed-loop approach to education offers a holistic approach to driving student learning and engagement. It begins by defining specific goals, setting a tailor-made curriculum and instruction to accomplish those goals, and selecting instructors who can teach the subject.

Setting specific goals is the first stage in developing a closed-loop system. This stage clearly defines what students will study and the knowledge and skills they should possess by the time they graduate. In addition to this, they should possess 21st-century abilities such as critical thinking, collaboration, and knowledge from mountains of information. The University of Phoenix uses a similar virtual simulation program built by Toolwire to help students in its Axia College IT program acquire problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, redefining management education.

The next stage includes creating a curriculum enabling teachers to accomplish these goals by accessing educational resources available online. Curriki, a non-profit organization committed to using technology to improve the quality of online education, and free distribution of world-class educational materials for grades K-12. So, instead of depending on a single textbook, today teachers can tap into resources generated by the world’s top universities to educate students.

Today, technology has made it possible to create incredibly dynamic and collaborative learning environments. Video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Hangouts, Skype and many more, allow learners to gain exposure to classes led by leading teachers remotely and also interact with distinguished teachers across the globe, redefining technology role in education. The instructor does not need to be physically present in the classroom to record or stream lectures, dramatically expanding his or her potential to reach pupils globally. Megastudy, for example, provides students in Korea with recorded lectures from star lecturers.

Technology can greatly expedite the assessment of student achievement by providing real-time input on how pupils are doing. Students receive instant feedback on their progress throughout the program, while teachers acquire a real-time view of the subjects that are problematic to individual students and the class as a whole. This knowledge enables teachers to better customize their in-person teaching time to their students’ urgent requirements.

Realizing the full potential of the closed-loop instructional approach requires combining all the elements into a seamless system, by redefining education through technology. Therefore, educational institutions must adopt closed-loop education systems to offer students the opportunity for self-evaluation and improvisations suggested by the teacher in the learning techniques, turning static teaching into dynamic teaching for team learning, increased productivity, and recall practice with improved technical communication.

A dependable partner who is familiar with the technology and the regional market environment is necessary to close the gap in bringing closed-loop-based solutions to developing nations. I believe Integra, a company with over 28 years of experience in the field, will be the best fit to close the gap by developing market-appropriate learning objectives and the best instructional strategies for teachers and students.

Source/ Ref: World Economic Forum – New Vision for Education.