6 Emerging Trends in Education and Mobile Learning
STEVE VOSLOO

Overlapping of education trends and mobile-enabled opportunities

The brief for the panel stated:

We keep being told that technology is going to transform centuries-old teaching paradigms, but traditional approaches seem to have real resilience and staying-power. Is this the moment of transformation? Why is this technological innovation different for education than previous moments (for example, the rise of television or the popularity of personal computers)?

I don’t believe that technology is the single driver of education transformation, although it is certainly a key influencing factor. Education is under pressure to change because of a number of factors. Recently, a United Nations task team led by UNESCO produced a think piece on education and skills beyond 2015 – key points listed below. In all of these instances, mobile learning is well suited to supporting these changes.

• The think piece highlights that with the increase in access to information, and production of knowledge (both underpinned by technology), there is a questioning of the very notions of the authority of traditional bodies of knowledge controlled by legitimate educational institutions. Mobiles provide a new, and sometimes only, access channel to the internet for many people.
• The piece predicts there will be a shift away from teaching in a classroom-centred paradigm of education to an increased focus on learning, which happens informally throughout the day. A core feature of mobiles is that they support ‘anywhere, anytime’ learning. Because they are personal and always at hand, they are perfectly suited to support informal and contextual learning. Mobile has a role to play in bridging the formal and informal learning spaces. But this requires change in both spheres. More work is needed here. The NMC Horizon Report 2013: K-12 Edition report highlights this as a significant challenge.
• Learning that is time-dependent and location-dependent is not an option for everyone anymore. Again, anywhere, anytime learning speaks to the changing needs of people.
• The piece also predicts that there will be an increased blurring of the boundaries between learning, working and living. Mobiles already support skills development in a range of fields including agriculture and healthcare, and provide paying job opportunities for mobile-based ‘microwork’.
• In addition to education basics such as literacy and numeracy, the piece says, there will be a need for digital and information literacy, as well as critical thinking and online communication skills. These skills are increasingly important for entering the job market. With the guidance of teachers, mobiles provide a medium for developing these skills for millions of Africans who go online ‘mobile first’ or even ‘mobile-only’.

Lastly, I see that the world outside the education institution is changing at a rapid rate, where technology underpins how people communicate, socialise, play, do business, pay for goods, or even farm. This change exerts a pressure on the static nature of education inside the schools walls. A relevant quote is from a forthcoming Prospects Journal edition on mobile learning: “Mobile learning is no longer an innovation within institutional learning but a reflection of the world in which institutional learning takes place,” Traxler & Vosloo, 2014.

Mobile learning itself is a trend

It is on the one-year horizon for the NMC Horizon Report (along with cloud computing). Devices are easy-to-use and pervasive. Device uptake is already huge, and will only grow. A huge amount of mobile apps and services bring education content to mobile devices. App development and programming is being taught in some schools.

Social media bigger than ever, and growing

The NMC Horizon Report says that “Social media is changing the way people interact, present ideas and information, and communicate.” Social media has grown beyond anyone’s expectation. This is where (young) people are “living” online, and they connect via mobile. According to Flurry Analytics, overall app use in 2013 posted 115% year-over-year growth. The segment that showed the most dramatic growth in 2013 was Messaging (Social and Photo sharing included), with over 200% growth.

Pearson Labs explain that

“over the past two years, there has been an ongoing debate about whether or not social media should be used in school. But now the debate is over – estimates place the number of teens using social media for learning anywhere between 80 per cent and 98 per cent, and our own discussion on this last year showed an enthusiastic teaching community. Now that social media use is prevalent in most schools, the debate shifts, to how to educate children about how to best use social media?”

Education response:

• From an education perspective, we must include socialness in learning experiences. Peer-to-peer support and connectivity, tutoring, knowledge sharing.
• We must also prepare young people on how to navigate this space. Teach and practice digital citizenship. Use social media in the classroom.
• Policy approach: change from Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to Responsible Use Policy (RUP).

The rise of learning analytics and efficacy

• Learning analytics is on the two- to three-year horizon for the NMC Horizon Report.
• Rise of big data and analytic techniques to make sense of it and to help us gain insights about student behaviour and learning.
• This has benefit for educators: can inform instructional practice in real time as well as aid in the design of curricula and platforms that personalise education.
• This has benefit for learners: can suggest resources to students and highlight study areas that need extra work.

Better formative assessment, adaptive learning and personalisation via mobile

• How do we create personal learning experiences even in groups of large classes? How do we cater to different learning styles (visual, text, etc.)? We must get this right on mobile – and we will as adaptive learning engines, more computational power and seamless learning (across multiple devices) become a reality.
• However, in my opinion it is not being done very well right now. The Horizon Report highlights this as a significant challenge, saying that “there remains a gap between the vision and the tools needed to achieve it.”
• As Sir Michael Barber, Chief Education Advisor at Pearson says, there needs to be a shift in focus from the improvement of schools to the progress of individuals. Monitoring and enablement of learners, powerful combination of teachers and technology (not technology replacing teachers).
• But education institutions are not responding enough to the changes needed to curricula to recognise newly learned skills.

New models of education

• The NMC Horizon Report says that “New models of education are bringing unprecedented competition to traditional models of schooling.”
• The rise of MOOCs is an example.
• Distance education, underpinned by mobile access, will grow. A blended learning approach is still recommended.

SOURCE: 6 Emerging Trends in Education and Mobile Learning. (2014). Retrieved August 18, 2016, from http://edutechdebate.org/2014-ict4edu-trends/6-emerging-trends-in-education-and-mobile-learning/

Summary: Top 10 ICT Trends in 2015: are you ready for digital transformation?
By Kevin Bloch, Cisco Chief Technology Officer, Australia and New Zealand

One of the best parts about my job is that I get to spend a lot of time listening to some very smart people, both internally within Cisco and externally. As we touch so many parts of the global technology industry and market, it puts me in a fantastic position to see what’s coming down the track. So, each year around this time, I take the opportunity to offer some predictions for the year ahead (which, incidentally, is Cisco’s 30th birthday).

It will probably come as no surprise that the biggest theme you’ll hear about this year is digital transformation, which is essentially underpinned by the Internet of Everything (IoE). In the next twelve months, enterprises will spend more than $40 billion globally, designing, implementing and operating the Internet of Things (IoT). Already thirty-eight percent of technology spend is outside of IT.

SOURCE: Summary: Top 10 ICT Trends in 2015: Are you ready for digital transformation? (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2016, from http://blogs.cisco.com/digital/summary-top-10-ict-trends-in-2015-are-you-ready-for-digital-transformation

TOP 10 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY TRENDS IN 2015

1. 5G

As the next step in the continuous innovation and evolution of the mobile industry, 5G will not only be about a new air interface with faster speeds, but it will also address network congestion, energy efficiency, cost, reliability, and connection to billions of people and devices. In 2014 we heard of new antenna/RF technologies (Massive MIMO, wider bandwidths), proposed deployment of small cells in higher mmWave frequencies, shorter transmission time intervals, reduced latency, and possibly new modulation methods beyond OFDM. With a 2020 commercialization horizon, 2015 be the year when we move from these concepts to technology trials and standards development. And we shall see if/how this year’s ITU World Radio Conference (WRC-15) tackles 5G’s spectrum aspects.

2. FIBER EVERYWHERE

2014 was the year of “fiber everywhere” propelled by efforts to improve connectivity and address demand increases from the use of high definition video, 3G/4G, streaming, podcast and other broadband services. This increased demand exposed existing bottlenecks in the communications infrastructure, and the solution that the doctor prescribed was a fresh new round of investments and activity in fiber (FTTx). In developed markets, FTTH/FTTC dominated deployments, and will continue to do so into 2015. In the backbone network, Carrier Ethernet is well underway and it will continue to make inroads towards 100/400G switching hardware deployments, and around Tb/s of bandwidth.

3. VIRTUALIZATION, SDN & NFV

The “software-ization” of Telco continued throughout 2014. The year saw open source going main stream with the news that Midokura and Microsoft, the last two major players with closed source solutions, released their source code and went open. In 2015, the adoption of OpenStack, OpenDaylight, OpNFV for software and services, and Open Compute for hardware will support more virtualized, more open source network computing platforms and architecture.

4. EVERYWHERE CONNECTIVITY FOR IoT & IoE

Over the last year we have seen heightened interest in the Internet of Things (IoT) and of Everything (IoE) including several acquisitions by major players such as Google’s purchase of Nest Labs for $3.2 billion. Bob Metcalfe, inventor of the Ethernet, said that the power of a network increases proportionally by the square of the number of users (Metcalfe's Law) which puts IoT –forecasted to be 50 billion connections by 2020- in a powerful and strategic position. The challenge that IoT faces is that everything sits in isolation thus an IoT standard is a must, and many see this happening in 2015.

5. COGNITIVE NETWORKS, BIG DATA

Communication systems handle volumes of data generated by embedded devices, mobile users, enterprises, contextual information, network protocols, location information and such. It is a vast amount of information: A global IP backbone generates over 20 billion records per day, amounting to over 1 TB per day! Processing and analyzing this “big data” and presenting insights in a timely fashion are becoming a reality with advanced analytics to understand the environment, to interpret events, and to act on them. This is a positive development that helps unleash the intelligence in communication systems where networks are no longer labeled “dumb pipes” but as smart cognitive networks.

6. CYBERSECURITY

2014 was most remarkable for demonstrating that everything connected to the Internet can, and will be hacked. On daily basis we heard of retailers (Target, Home Depot, Neiman Marcus), financial institutions (Chase), technology companies (Snapchat, eBay, Sony) being hacked. No one is cyber-safe, and the road to the future leads through new cybersecurity technologies beyond current perimeter firewall-like defenses. The coming year will bring significant changes in the industry as it responds to recent increases and sophistication of cyberattacks. We will see better solutions to protect devices and endpoints, advances in the default use of encryption, in authentication schemes, and in BYOD solutions.

7. GREEN COMMUNICATIONS

It is being reported that communications technologies are responsible for about 2-4% of all of carbon footprint generated by human activity. This highlights the need to focus on managing these numbers, and Green communications is doing just that. The trend is tackling first mobile networks because of their high energy use. Basestations and switching centers could count for between 60% and 85% of the energy used by an entire communication system. Environmentally friendly batteries, renewable energy sources, and intelligent management of the power systems are some of the proposed solutions. Besides this mobile network focus, there is a 2015 and beyond trend to manage total energy usage, compute-to-consumption ratios and performance KPIs for best in class green operations.

8. SMARTER SMARTPHONES, CONNECTED SENSORS

The indisputable rock-start of devices is the smartphone, and its future can’t be brighter. In 2014 we saw that only a few days after the iPhone 6 was released, there are already articles being written about the next-generation iPhone 7. Size, shape, and capabilities of these ubiquitous communication devices continue evolving, and so are prices which, driven by cost and performance improvements in digital technologies, are falling rapidly. The average selling price of a smartphone went down in 2014, and we expect this to continue in 2015 with low-cost OEMs such as Xiaomi and Lenovo leading the trend.
Beyond smartphones, tablets, connected sensors and body-worn wearables will also make headlines. Connected sensors will find their way into vehicles (smartcards), into urban areas (smartcies) and into our infrastructure (smartgrid).

9. NETWORK NEUTRALITY, INTERNET GOVERNANCE

The Internet has been operating since its inception under “open” principles, i.e. an open standards-based network that treats all traffic in roughly the same way, i.e. no connection blocking, bandwidth transparency, universal connectivity, and best effort service. Can these principles be sustained in a new word of data-hungry applications and services? Is regulation needed to prevent traffic throttling, unfair raise of fees, and construction of preferential high-speed Internet lanes? In 2014, Network Neutrality (NetNeutrality) discussions covered these questions in the context of ISPs transit and peering, and CDNs. Governments and institutions around the world will continue working on it during 2015. They will also be working on the Internet governance transition plan as current ICANN framework is set to expire in October.

10. MOLECULAR COMMUNICATIONS

Molecular communication is an emerging paradigm where bio-nanomachines (e.g., artificial cells, genetically engineered cells) communicate to perform coordinated actions. Unlike traditional communication systems which utilize electromagnetic waves, molecular communications utilize biological molecules both as carriers and as information. The advantages provided by this “molecular” approach to communications are size, biocompatibility, and biostability. Examples of applications are drug delivery system (DDS), bio-hybrid implants, and lab-on-a-chip (LoC) systems. This trend is not ready for mass market but with an approach so radically different to Today’s communications, following its developments is a must.

SOURCE: IEEE Communications Society. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2016, from http://www.comsoc.org/blog/top-10-communications-technology-trends-2015

New Trends in Information and Communication Technology
by Oneil Williams, studioD

As the world pushes full speed ahead into the digital era, IT and communication technologies continue to push the boundaries of what people once considered possible. Devices are getting smaller and yet more feature-rich, and individuals and companies large and small are finding smarter ways to streamline operations by enhancing their IT infrastructure.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is being hailed by industry analysts as the next big trend in information technology. Companies want to ensure employees have the ability to access and synchronize data both inside and outside their company walls in a safe, effective and timely manner. Technology firms like Microsoft, Dell and HP all offer resources that companies can use to reduce IT costs and give employees greater accessibility to proprietary company applications no matter where they are. Google extends cloud computing resources like Google Docs to personal computer users who can also take advantage of this IT shift. International Data Corporation says that revenues for enterprise cloud applications reached $22.9 billion in 2011 and are on track to hit $67.3 billion in 2016.


Smartphones and Tablets

Whoever believes that mobile phones are just for talking probably doesn't own a smartphone or is not taking full advantage of its many features. ABI Research, a market intelligence company, predicts that 1.2 billion smartphones will enter the market from 2012 to 2017. As the years progress, smartphones have been getting noticeably smaller and thinner. In the tablet market space, Apple's iPad continues to showcase incredible demand with 15 million iPads shipped in the first quarter of 2012 alone. Users want mobile devices that can not only entertain them but also perform the many functions that were once only possible on a PC.


Mobile Wallets

In conjunction with the rise of mobile technologies, companies like Google, Visa and MasterCard are bracing for a rise in mobile payment technologies or mobile wallets. Juniper Research, a U.K. based research firm, predicts that payments using near field communication-enabled technology will be at $180 billion by 2017. Smartphone manufacturers are ensuring newer phones that hit the market will have NFC capabilities so that consumers can happily swipe their phones to make a payment instead of using cash or credit cards.

Server-Centric Computing

The demise of your work PC may wreak enough havoc with your personal or business data to cause you to burst into tears. In many instances, the documents, applications and files stored on that PC can never be recovered. Many companies have transitioned to a server-centric -- or '"thin client" -- environment to prevent these types of scenarios from occurring. In a server-centric IT environment, all files, applications and programs reside on the server instead of your PC, allowing your workstation to serve more as a display terminal rather than a storage unit. While this technology is not essentially new, the proliferation of employee mobile devices connecting to a company's network has caused IT departments to revisit this technology to more effectively secure and manage company applications.




SOURCE: New Trends in Information and Communication Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2016, from http://techin.oureverydaylife.com/new-trends-information-communication-technology-1380.html

10 Global Trends in ICT and Education
BY ROBERT HAWKINS

In the spirit of the new year and all things dealing with resolutions and lists, I submit below my first blog posting for the EduTech blog (checking off a resolution) with a discussion of 10 Global Trends in ICT and Education for 2010 and beyond (joining the crowded space of lists in this new year).
The list is an aggregation of projections from leading forecasters such as the Horizon Report, personal observations and a good dose of guesswork. The Top 10 Global Trends in ICT and Education are:

1. Mobile Learning. New advances in hardware and software are making mobile “smart phones” indispensible tools. Just as cell phones have leapfrogged fixed line technology in the telecommunications industry, it is likely that mobile devices with internet access and computing capabilities will soon overtake personal computers as the information appliance of choice in the classroom.

2. Cloud computing. Applications are increasingly moving off of the stand alone desk top computer and increasingly onto server farms accessible through the Internet. The implications of this trend for education systems are huge; they will make cheaper information appliances available which do not require the processing power or size of the PC. The challenge will be providing the ubiquitous connectivity to access information sitting in the “cloud”.

3. One-to-One computing. The trend in classrooms around the world is to provide an information appliance to every learner and create learning environments that assume universal access to the technology. Whether the hardware involved is one laptop per child (OLPC), or – increasingly -- a net computer, smart phone, or the re-emergence of the tablet, classrooms should prepare for the universal availability of personal learning devices.
4. Ubiquitous learning. With the emergence of increasingly robust connectivity infrastructure and cheaper computers, school systems around the world are developing the ability to provide learning opportunities to students “anytime, anywhere”. This trend requires a rethinking of the traditional 40 minute lesson. In addition to hardware and Internet access, it requires the availability of virtual mentors or teachers, and/or opportunities for peer to peer and self-paced, deeper learning. 5. Gaming. A recent survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project per the Horizon Report found that massively multiplayer and other online game experience is extremely common among young people and that games offer an opportunity for increased social interaction and civic engagement among youth. The phenomenal success of games with a focus on active participation, built in incentives and interaction suggests that current educational methods are not falling short and that educational games could more effectively attract the interest and attention of learners.
6. Personalized learning. Education systems are increasingly investigating the use of technology to better understand a student’s knowledge base from prior learning and to tailor teaching to both address learning gaps as well as learning styles. This focus transforms a classroom from one that teaches to the middle to one that adjusts content and pedagogy based on individual student needs – both strong and weak. 7. Redefinition of learning spaces. The ordered classroom of 30 desks in rows of 5 may quickly become a relic of the industrial age as schools around the world are re-thinking the most appropriate learning environments to foster collaborative, cross-disciplinary, students centered learning. Concepts such as greater use of light, colors, circular tables, individual spaces for students and teachers, and smaller open learning spaces for project-based learning are increasingly emphasized.
8. Teacher-generated open content. OECD school systems are increasingly empowering teachers and networks of teachers to both identify and create the learning resources that they find most effective in the classroom. Many online texts allow teachers to edit, add to, or otherwise customize material for their own purposes, so that their students receive a tailored copy that exactly suits the style and pace of the course. These resources in many cases complement the official textbook and may, in the years to come, supplant the textbook as the primary learning source for students. Such activities often challenge traditional notions of intellectual property and copyright.
9. Smart portfolio assessment. The collection, management, sorting, and retrieving of data related to learning will help teachers to better understand learning gaps and customize content and pedagogical approaches. Also, assessment is increasingly moving toward frequent formative assessments which lend itself to real-time data and less on high-pressure exams as the mark of excellence. Tools are increasingly available to students to gather their work together in a kind of online portfolio; whenever they add a tweet, blog post, or photo to any online service, it will appear in their personal portfolio which can be both peer and teacher assessed.
10. Teacher managers/mentors. The role of the teacher in the classroom is being transformed from that of the font of knowledge to an instructional manager helping to guide students through individualized learning pathways, identifying relevant learning resources, creating collaborative learning opportunities, and providing insight and support both during formal class time and outside of the designated 40 minute instruction period. This shift is easier said than done and ultimately the success or failure of technology projects in the classroom hinge on the human factor and the willingness of a teacher to step into unchartered territory.

SOURCE: 10 Global Trends in ICT and Education. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2016, from http://blogs.worldbank.org/edutech/10-global-trends-in-ict-and-education