IoT – Technology in “Smart Education”
Remember, IoT refers to the networking of physical objects through the use of embedded sensors they can collect and transmit information. The question now is, in what sense can the IoT help make education become “smart”.
We could transfer suggestions by G. Schwartz, Manager Industrial Products EY Austria from Industry 4.0 into education and refer to “IoT asks for an integrated view considering processes, data and devices“[1]. In this sense, using IoT in education could not only have impact on training/ learning delivery but on the whole process at a school, from administration to building maintenance. Since this project concentrates on Andragogs, the following considerations will refer particularly to training/ learning aspects of relevance to them in general, leave out any other aspects and benefits IoT could bring.
Already today, we can see physical spaces enhanced by digital and context-specific components that facilitate better and faster learning at school or training institutes. This development is referred to as smart learning environments (SLEs). SLEs allow for learning approaches which can switch between formal and informal settings, independent learning and group learning, varying learning times and places, and analog and digital learning formats. This means to pave the way for synergies between the physical and digital world. Many schools have already Learning Management or Learning Content Management Systems or Virtual Learning Environment Systems set up in this sense.
Let’s come back to some of the aforementioned devices: students’ laptops, smartphones, keys, watches etc. These devices could connect to the internet. They could communicate directly – also via Wifi/ bluetooth – with peers’ devices or a smart learning environment implemented at school.
Using this connection could allow getting access to learners via IoT referring to them. This could be used to access students’ performance tracking from their school/course entrance to their assessment and/ or validation of learning. It could support individual or automated feedback up to students’ mentoring. For learners it could mean to receive eventually personalised learning pathways and access to specific learning content. Andragogs, they could connect new content offered via authoring tools or adapt existing contents. Smart learning environments may adapt themselves to learners’ needs by taking information from the environment – IoT -, processing it, and using it to initiate appropriate steps such as learning recommendations.
While today, most online education platforms already offer to enter and (re-)use or reshape training contents for individual asynchronous or cooperative, synchronous learning, algorithmes can be used to analyse data and show (performance) results, suggest next steps etc. in the near future. So, the next steps in „smart education” could be that IoT inform automatically and suggest further identified learning contents available and/or monitor behaviour and hence the transfer of learning into work by communicating with other smart devices at the work place (or at home), trigger respective next steps. And, these smart devices could then communicate back to the smart learning environment system at school.
The Andragog could be supported by IoT in his/ her work also in another scenario in which data about student performance taken during lessons as well as from assessment tests enable the system – and with the system also the educators – to personalise further learning as per students’ interest as well as capabilities or ressources. Connected systems could act as intelligent tutors which detect distraction and the desinterest of students immediately. The students could be provided more engaging content for continued learning.
[1] (in INDUSTRIE MAGAZIN May2020)
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The following examples should help initiate further ideas of benefit for training/ learning processes:
- Heating systems can analyse how many learners are in the room/ movement detecting systems see in case learners move more than in other sessions. So, the system could regulate the room temperature individually which could support learners concentrate better during the learning session.
- The school’s smart education system could be connected to an implemented entrance control system which in turn communicates with learners’ devices like laptops once they enter the school/ training centre. Collated data could be analysed to present learning contents based on learning sessions all learners have already accomplished; or, it could suggest learning contents to each individual specifically helping avoid repeating the same contents over and over again. This would particularly help in situations where learners do not come to class every day, where training takes place weekly/ in blocks each month or similar which very often is the case in adult education.
- The smart education system could use analysed data based on a learner’s performance as well to suggest a specific pool of follow-up activities be presented by educators.
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The Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to transform adult training by profoundly altering how data is gathered and interfaced with users and automate processes. IoT refers to the networking of physical objects through the use of embedded sensors, actuators and other devices that can collect and transmit information about real-time training activity.
When IoT is combined with technologies such as user mobility and data analytics, it brings a new paradigm into education. IoT enables institutions to:
- Create new ways to learn by supporting more personalized and dynamic learning experiences such as immersive digital textbooks and game-based learning,
- Change how Andragogs deliver lessons and test achievement with smart audio-visual equipment, digital video recorders for lecture capture, and online testing,
- Simplify operations for administrators by proactively monitoring critical infrastructure and creating more efficient, cost-effective processes for HVAC, lighting and learning environment management,
- Provide a safer environment for adult learners and Andragogs with digital surveillance cameras and smart door locks
Example components related to Smart Learning Environments – Smart Boards
In some schools, digital Smart Boards have substituted black/white boards. Embedded IoT sensors can connect them to the Internet like they can connect any digital device to the Net.
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A Smart Board or interactive board is a large interactive display in the form of a whiteboard. It can either be a standalone touchscreen computer used independently to perform tasks and operations, or a connectable device used as a touchpad to control computers from a projector. It can be used in a variety of settings in classrooms at all levels of education.
Usually, a smart board is connected to an attached computer, like e.g. a mouse, to act as a Human Input Device (HID). The computer’s video output is connected to a digital projector to project images on the interactive whiteboard surface. The user then calibrates the whiteboard image by matching the position of the projected image on the smart board, i.e. by using a pointer, as necessary. After this, the pointer or other device may be used to activate programs, buttons and menus from the board itself, just as one would ordinarily do with a mouse and a computer. If text input is required, the user can display an on-screen keyboard or, if the software provides it, utilize handwriting recognition (which is a specific software). This makes it unnecessary to go to the computer keyboard to enter text. Thus, a Smart Board emulates both a mouse and a keyboard. The user can conduct a presentation or hold a class almost exclusively from the whiteboard.
In addition, a smart board can be supplied with software that provides tools and features specifically designed to maximise interaction opportunities. These generally include the ability to create virtual versions of paper flipcharts, pen and highlighter options, and possibly even virtual rulers, protractors, and compasses e.g.
Andragogs might use such interactive boards for training activities like:
- Running software (e.g. a web browser) which is loaded onto a connected computer. It could also connect to the learners’ or one learner’s digital device and provide screen sharing functionalities for example;
- Capturing and saving notes written on the board;
- Controlling the computer via the board using click and drag, markup language or other which annotates a computer program;
- Using a survey system to conduct quizzes live in class, publishing a poll and capturing feedback onto the smart board;
- Carrying out formal assessment
Similarly, an interactive video wall could be used, involving all – or some – learners e.g. into presentations, interactive work.
Example component: smart table or dynamic desktop
(Coffee) Tables at home which have IoT sensors, a touchscreen surface or an interactive screen like smart boards/ desctops, can be used for audio and/or video presentations or lessons; they can be used like computers e.g. with cloud based software saving data and details via cloud based services, or connected smart devices like computers.
Equipped with motion sensors they can be used for manual exercise like conducting musicians, assembling mechanical parts etc.. As a complement IoT device, learners could practice basic, repetitive manual work, they could train their reaction pace and concentration. Results from these activities could be communicated to the school system via the internet e.g. Smart devices, like smart phones, could communicate with them directly and then share details via the internet also with other systems.
This kind of components could be complementary to other digital learning devices, like computers, graphic tablets e.g.
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Example component: Smart tracking systems
Education institutions often find attendance tracking as well as data management challenging. Conducting manual attendance and creating records happens to be a a time-intensive task for administrative staff and teachers who have to spend valuable time on non-teaching responsibilities. Smart tracking systems can support these administration tasks in an efficient way.
The use of technology like connected devices easily detect learners’ presence and classroom performance data can be shared within minutes. Digital registers not only create daily in-out attendance logs but can generate a separate report for each learner.
Besides tracking learners, these systems can also help keeping track of the working hours for teachers (or other school staff) with the help of biometric, access card points. It eliminates the need to calculate working hours, leaves, and working days for the staff – including Andragogs.
With an advanced attendance gadget, IoT can make both data collection and analysis easy. Andragogs can add the necessary records and send data directly to the central office and administrators can access related data at the same time.