Edsys SEO, Author at Edsys

Posted on December 30, 2017 by Edsys SEO

The subject of spreading knowledge is now poised to look up to these trends that will make waves until the end of 2017. Given the fact that teachers are constantly trying to reinvent themselves to offer the best possible education to their wards, here is a long list of education trends that will make teaching and learning as interesting practices. Keeping in mind the innate interests of students, education will be imparted employing the most modern techniques that will appease to both the learning and teaching sections.

So, here are the exciting trends connected to education that will become the talk of the town by the end of 2017.

Students Will Take On Center Stage

Given the technological advancements that are supporting every sphere of human life, education is another important space that is poised to register a fillip in 2017 on account of technology. With numerous advancements making their way into the lives of students, knowledge-seekers will be in a position to acquire a host of skills that will prompt them to compartmentalize information into important and insignificant data.

The year 2017 will see students wear the sash of information evaluators when they can make the most of digital literacy, civic education and media learning. This way, they can also come under intelligent creators of relevant content. They will be in a better position to evaluate information and their multiple sources. This development will make students stand in good stead by demonstrating what they know to the world at large through the creation of important content. Not only that, they can support their content with an evidence that a particular piece of information is worth learning and knowing about.

The Evolution of Seamless Learning Spaces

It is a thing of the past when education was confined to learning and memorizing within the four walls of a classroom. In the recent years, there is a paradigm shift in acquiring knowledge through multiple online sources. Emerging as a phenomenon linked to blended learning, students can bank on their smartphones to teach them about any topic under the sun.

You as a seeker of relevant information can enter into interactive online sessions as a part of educative forums conducted by subject matter experts in various fields and specializations. You can enroll yourself with an e-learning course that will help you gain knowledge alongside bestowing you with a course-completion certification. You can learn at your own pace and from the comfort of your study room with a 24/7 access to video tutorials, course material and online lectures. By the end of 2017, students will have numerous opportunities knocking on their doors promising them learning through real-world connections; the simulation-learning made possible with Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).

The Omnipotent and Omnipresent VR and AR

By the end of 2017, we would be successfully becoming a part of the first generation of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality learning apps. These apps will bring in an excitement to learning through real-world simulation. These unique apps which teach students about everything and anything under the sun, will become the new buzzwords of learning.

With this trend catching up, the day is not far when more and more people connected to education will begin to bank on these technologies. These technologies aim at improving student-teacher engagement in a recreated environment which is so stimulating. And by 2017, you can expect a rush of technological innovations that will prompt more players to make an impactful entry into the arena of educational startups; employing state-of-the-art technologies.

Many More Good Alternatives to College

Not all students are cut out for college education. This is a well-known fact that is often heard in the teaching circles. In line with this ideology, the year 2017 will register a push to alternative and unconventional options that students can consider. They can sign up with a vocational school that imparts skill-based training. There are umpteen opportunities that are attracting the student fraternity in the form of on-the-job apprentice trainings. With the digital marketing industry growing by leaps and bounds, a plethora of career-progression options can unveil in the form of startups from students blessed with entrepreneurial skills.

The Unique Amalgamation of “Learn While You Play”

Alongside the popularity of AR and VR leaning apps, the year 2017 will notice a rush of learning games. You can actually get serious with your education by playing games. The world of game-based learning is expanding and thus promises you to lay hands on plenty of novel and interesting games. Promising the perfect blend of excitement and learning, 2017 will have more and more teachers treading the gaming path. This will introduce students to the fun element that can make learning a pleasurable experience for life.

Clarity Will Lead to Mastery

By the end of 2017, teachers will be employing strategic ways to include formative assessments to learning. They will begin to bring in feedback systems supported by a process of self-assessment. This will pave way for students to assimilate knowledge after gaining clarity about their learning goals. With these changes, the learning process is poised for a major overhaul coming in the form of intrinsic motivation. Grades will no longer become the only yardstick to educational excellence.

The time is ripe for students to become masters in their chosen subjects by doing away with the grading system. They will strive to gain holistic information from various sources in tune with their learning objective. Thus, it will be interesting to witness this change when grades will come more under scrutiny in 2017 than they had been in the earlier academic years.

“Compulsory Learning”Leads To “Choice Learning”

By the end of 2017, the educational curriculum of all types of students including the K-12 students will be skewed towards “choice learning’. Typically curated according to the learner’s choice, educational curriculum will register a sea change. Tag this with the emergence of debates about the advantages and limitations of choice learning in various educational contexts and you have a holistic learning model. Leading to the prominence of choice programs in schools, this learning trend will favor the student community to specialize in the subject that interests them the most.

Digital Badges – The New Age Academic Credentials

Gone are the days when teachers used to send report cards home for the scrutiny of your parents. Tagged as yardsticks to assess your academic performance in school, the new age academic credentials are currently gaining prominence. Bestowed in the form of a digital badge, this is a validated measure of the skill, quality and interest that a student has in his chosen subject. This is an academic credential that is easy to issue, earn and display across the internet. With the popularity of digital badges picking up from the beginning of 2017, the end of the year will witness a dramatic progress when these badges will become promising instruments of academic assessment.

Parents On the Pedestal

The school is indeed the second home of students. And their first home is where their parents will act as guiding light, constantly guiding them to tread the right path. The year 2017 will mark the beginning of a revolution with schools going the extra mile to engage with the families of their wards. They will make use of personalized and supportive technologies as a part of parent-inclusive techniques.

Schools will be seen taking the recommendations of parents by engaging them with parent interviews and surveys. Going one step ahead, 2017 will see great traction coming in the form of inviting parents to step in as educational contributors. Parent engagement will be the topic that will occupy the minds of schools’ administrators so that a holistic pattern of learning emerges with parent involvement and participation. The day is not far when parents work in tandem with teachers to churn out the best supportive pattern of teaching to students.

Machine Learning Will Make An Impressive Debut In Education

The concepts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning will seep into the educational sphere with more and more students interacting with computers. These two unique concepts will become the buzzwords of 2017 with the emergence of case studies and applications that will be facilitated by these technologies. This will pave the way for a new beginning of educational research.

Educational Conversations Facilitated by Siri and Cortana

The year 2017 will witness a host of podcasts, blog posts and educational conversations revolving around these virtual assistants tagged with the names of Siri and Cortana. It will be during this time that these virtual assistants will play a significant role in classrooms by bringing in learning experiences stemming from a new thinking process. With this, individualized and personalized learning techniques will percolate into the teaching sphere. Along with these trends, the emergence of computerized personal assistants for learners will ensure that the conversations continue and grow until the end of 2017.

The Teaching Arena Will Get a Makeover

If you are concerned about the growing rate of teacher attrition, then the year 2017 will provide a strong retort to this global predicament. Schools will invest in the direction of improving teacher experience alongside paving the way to entirely alter the identity of teachers. This will be the time in history when teacher workspaces will be built in accordance with the cultural scope of startups. Progressing towards a functional, supportive and collaborative makeover, teachers will prompt the management to bring in innovative technologies that can be used to demonstrate their importance. As an add-on to this trend, the year 2017 will register a higher traction with teachers being awarded the tag of heroes and most-valued educators.

Conclusion

Giving due importance to all the facets of education, the year 2017 will see a major change when it comes to helping students taken on project-based learning. State-of-the-art technologies will make their strong presence felt in imparting knowledge, attracting students to learn their own way so that they can enjoy a sustainable career progression. Along with technology, learning which is supported by the timely and regular intervention of parents and teachers can be seen as the most promising trend that students can make by the end of 2017.

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Edsys SEO

Now is the age when a rush of technological advancements is changing every sphere of human life. Speaking of one such innovation is the field of Augmented Reality (AR) which is extensively finding its use in the field of education. Introducing a fun element to learning, here are some mobile applications that allow teachers to employ creative teaching techniques in classrooms.

The Multi-Faceted AR Apps for Imparting Knowledge

1. AR Flashcards – Montessori Teachers’ First Choice

Montessori and preschool teachers enjoying their role of interacting with and teaching toddlers and preschoolers can look up to the AR Flashcard Animal Alphabet AR mobile app. This is an app that can lay a strong foundation for kids who are taking baby steps into learning and recognizing alphabets and animal names. This innovative teaching app which is sure to excite the senses of both the teacher and the learner comes in the form of cards. Students will be excited to juggle with these cards which come with the alphabet along with the corresponding name of an animal. In this manner, these flashcards come in as unique instruments attracting the attention of first-time learners.

The teacher can point his/her mobile at a printed flashcard that will result in an eye-catching 3D image of an animal on their screen. Then, the tutor can prompt students to tap the animal. When they do so, the students will get to hear the name of the animal and the alphabet the name begins with, that is given out by this intelligent app. Compatible with both Android and Apple phones, this AR app also allows you to save the pictures of all the 26 animals by tapping the “Screenshot” button on the phone.

AR Flashcards Space, as the name suggests, is a novel mobile AR app that is again meant for preschoolers and toddlers. Teachers can use this app when they are planning to conduct an introductory class about celestial objects. This is a befitting app that allows students to be taught with the help of 3D images depicting the various planetary objects along with their names. The “Info” button comes handy to explain interesting trivia about these objects belonging to outer space. This app can be downloaded on all the iOS and Android devices that come with a camera.

If you are looking to introduce your toddler into the world of colors and shapes,the free AR Flashcards Shapes and Colors app is one of the best choices. Tagged as a fun-filled teaching app, this cutting-edge AR technology makes teaching exciting. There can never be a dull moment in the lives of both teachers and students when both of them can make the most of the innovative technology of AR. The app that helps to teach students about various colors and shapes, comes with a color bar at the top of the screen. Teachers can simply press a button for the color and the shape to change. This app can be downloaded from either Apple iStore, Amazon Appstore or the Google Playstore.

2. Chromville Science – A Beginner’s Guide for Anatomy

Compatible with both Android and Apple phones, Chromville Science offers the perfect amalgamation of AR technology and high-quality educational content. Incorporating the concepts related to 8 Multiple Intelligence concerning the different learning stages of young children, this teaching app supports students who are interested in human anatomy. Teachers can make the class interactive by downloading this app on their mobiles before they can start printing the coloring pages. Now, it is for the students to color the templates according to their liking.

This is the spadework that should be done before you can start the app. The next step is to start the app. Teachers can prompt their studentsto tap the “PLAY” button which will again allow them to “SELECT” the correct character. The last step is to “PRINT” the colored pages which are in .pdf format.

Chromville Science is a perfect teaching app to unlock the inquisitive side of students. It is through such creative teaching techniques that students will grasp knowledge going by the maxim that “A picture is worth a thousand words”. They will be able to recapitulate nuances of a subject when they are exposed to pictures rather than subjecting them to black and white information.

3. Anatomy 4D – Your “On the Go” Anatomy Teaching Tool

Anatomy 4D AR App is aperfect aid to students, teachers and medical professionals. All in an attempt to unveil the knowledge about the enigmatic human anatomy and the heart in particular, this mobile app can be used to conduct an interactive class about the various parts of the human body.

You name the human system and teachers can access 4D images in the app explaining the same in detail. From the skeletal system to the muscular and digestive systems, those interested in anatomy will have information about various human systems on their fingertips.

Downloading this app onto your Android phone is an intelligent move before teachers can “PRINT” the huge collection of images that are enlisted under the “TARGET LIBRARY” section. This section lies embedded inside the MAIN MENU which is made accessible to mobile users. Once the image is printed, the teacher should place the printout out on a levelled surface and scan the image, using her phone. This completes the job of the teacher and the onus now shifts to students when the app delivers an unimaginable and life-like 4D image of the human part the teacher earlier scanned. The “ZOOM IN” option is an add-on from the app for students to enjoy a closer look at every organ that makes up a particular human system under study.

Helping mobile users to embark on a virtual journey, the Anatomy 4D app is a perfect teaching app to understand every bit of information concerning various body parts and their interconnections.

4. Unravel the “Under Water” Secrets through the Barcy AR App

Teachers looking to stimulate the imagination of students enamored with the water kingdom can now do it the smart way. The Barcy AR mobile app allowsstudents to imagine being a part of the stunning water world. Compatible with iPhones and Android devices, the Barcy AR mobile app throws light on the various types of marine animals with an imaginary submarine ride as a compelling attraction of this app.

Simulating the unfathomable depths of a water body, this app turns a discussion into a visual treat when students begin to enjoy the sight of marine creatures they are not familiar with. Giving the students the freedom to design their favorite marine character, teachers can harp on the ill-effects of water pollution alongside offering ways to avoid the same. This app which introduces students to various swimming techniques can excite them to register for swimming classes as a move towards “healthy and happy” living.

5. Elements 4D – An Easy Way To Master Chemistry

Elements 4D is an awesome app that provides an easier way to memorizing the periodic table of elementsand chemical reactions. The app features a collection of 4D cubesthat can be prepared by printing the special element blocks on a letter-sized paper and then, cutting them out and folding them. The blocks can then be held in front of any device camera to see the elements in augmented reality. Students can use the cubes to learn about 36 different elements, their names, atomic weights and structure.

They can also try bringing two different element cubes together to see if they react. After selecting one element, the next step is to introduce the second reactant. Then, teachers can move the two blocks close to each other until they establish a contact. If both the reactants are chemically active elements, the app demonstrates a chemical reaction. If nothing happens, you should alter one of the elements that can result in another chemical reaction.

6. Arloon Geometry – An AR App That Makes Geometry Interesting to Teach

Arloon Geometry is the next in the list of stunning teaching apps, employing the state-of-the-art Augmented Reality technologies. Offering a collection of multiple 3D models that explain various geometric shapes, teachers can handhold students above the age of 11 years to learn geometry. Allowing the class to interact with different geometrical figures, this app can strengthen knowledge about spatial visualization-a mental ability of students to visualize 2D and 3D figures.

The long list of topics that can be taught by this app is simply fascinating. Teachers can discuss geometric shapes like prisms and pyramids while going into the depths about their respective properties. Formulae to calculate their areas and volumes are also provided. The app follows a step-by-step process to arrive at a solution using the area or volume formula.

AR comes into play when students will be able to make comparisons between different geometric shapes in a virtual environment. Enabling students to understand various geometric shapes from different angles, AR steps in by making these multi-dimensional images look like plane surfaces. A star attraction of this app is the fact that its educational content is in line with the curriculum of schools. To sum it all, this app is a stunning tool that promises the perfect blend of textual content and graphic representations.

7. The Metamorphosis from a Pupa to Butterfly Clearly Explained by an AR App

Life Sciences teachers have a novel tool to excite their students. Life of a Monarch ButterflyAR app,which is compatible with iPads, can be downloaded by teachers who wish to tread the path of creative teaching. Tagged as an interactive app, an iPad dock VGA adaptor and a projector are the accompanying gadgets that are needed to make the most of this educative app. Teachers will excite students by projectingthe life-like simulations of the transformationsfrom an egg into a beautiful butterfly, on a screen.

Science teachers who wish to conduct their classes through video presentations can bank on this teaching app. The app which employs the AR feature follows a step-wise instructional pattern. After the successful completion of a lesson, students will be able to access a pop-up styled book which has a summary of all the important points of the chapter.

Teachers will be able to deliver practical sessions to their wards when the app isteamed with video presentation. Notwithstanding the intelligent quotient of a particular student, this teaching app can help smart students and the below-average ones. This app gains strength from the fact that the educational content is backed by graphical and life-like representations and thereforeis unique.

Coming under the umbrella of a digital storybook for teachers, this app helps teachers delve deep into the enigmatic natural wonders that surround and excite mankind. This teaching app is a perfect bet for students to visualize the beauty of nature that cannot be experienced by the naked eye.

8. History Teachers Make You Go Down Memory Lane With Augmented Reality Freedom Stories

A history teacher who wants to explain the ancient parables talking about the conditions of people of bygone eras can bank on Augmented Reality Freedom Stories AR app. History lecturers can use the app to take students to go down the memory lane about the incidents connected to the period when the US/Canada Underground Railroad was being commissioned. Going back to the time when Harriet Tubman, an American humanitarian who resolved to grant freedom to the American slaves living in Canada, it is through this app that a history class can be made even more exciting.

Teachers who possess an iPad or an iPhone can download and install this AR app along with the flash cards that come with it. Once installed, teachers can print these flash cards. The next step is to launch the app and point the image that is depicted on each of the cards to your device’s camera. This is when students will be thrilled to witness the glory of ancient stories come to life through AR.

9. Star Chart – An Exciting Visual Aid Simulating Outer Space

A classroom discussion about stars and their constellations, planets and the solar system, and the moon is incomplete without the Star Chart AR app. This app is compatible with multiple devices including Android Tablet, iPad, iPhone, Android phone and Mac Desktop. However, all the above mentioned devices should come with a built-in compass so as to enjoy all the AR features of the app.

This high-tech teaching app can transport them into the captivating world of outer space when students begin to enjoy the stunning looks of the entire universe. Teachers will also be able to demonstrate how to calculate the astronomical distances between a particular star, moon or planet from the Earth.

The app can also be used by students aged between 7 and 18 years to view all these celestial objects even when the sun is shining bright. Teachers can simply point their device to any outer space object for the class to know whether it is a star or a planet. Students who are curious to know the placement of their star sign can use this app to view their star.

Once the teacher holds her mobile to the sky, she will be able to excite the visionary senses of her entire class. It is then that all the students will begin to watch in awe the beauty of the outer space unfolding in front of their eyes. This phenomenon comes in the form of 3D images with visual effects.

Additionally, this app allows teachers to manually set their location to visualize how the sky appears from any corner of the globe. All thanks to the Star Chart AR app, teachers can present the look and feel of everything and anything that happens on the ever-expansive blue sky to their inquisitive students.

10. Aurasma – An Innovative AR Teaching Tool

If you are a teacher who is driven by the zeal to employ the state-of-the-art teaching practices, then you are just a step away before you can achieve this. Simply download the Aurasma AR app, an educative tool specially designed for teachers and you are all covered. This app allows creative juices to flow by engaging students of different ages.

Compatible with iPhones and Android devices, this app helps in the creation of online AR content called “Auras”. Teachers can share the created content that is saved on their phones by connecting with the Aurasma Studio-a free online interface that allows teachers to create and publish their AR content. This app conveniently helps teachers to upload images, videos and animations that can be used to impart education to knowledge-seekers.

Conclusion

Technology aided teaching has become an indispensable part of the lives of every student and teacher. Apart from the use of multimedia technologies, the most modern advancements in the teaching sphere come in the form of AR tools. These apps allow students to experience the look and feel of real-life situations and thereby, transport them into an imaginary world while remaining in their classrooms.

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Edsys SEO

An efficient school management system is a key component for any school that seek better efficiency and productivity. It is high time to move on from the conventional data keeping methods and adopt an advanced system that handles all school operations at one place. The popular school software comes with different modules that handle multiple functions without compromising on quality. Whether it is expense handling, financial reporting, data management, performance tracking of students or human resources,a quality system proves vital to the organization. There are online smart class software and in-house applications that serves the role. Each option has its own merits and demerits. Here let us have a look at why the web based application is preferred over the stand alone apps.

No installation needed:Unlike the in-house application, there is no need for any installation when you go for online school management software. So one can save the associated time and cost. As no software is required, there would be no concerns about the incompatibilities or software requirements. All you need is a quality internet browser and a stable internet connection. There is no need of installing the software in every machine that happens with an in-house application and no more worries about server.
Minimal in-school tech support required:The technical support if any would be provided online by the support team of software in most of the cases. So the school management need not have to afford any technical team to deal with the software functionality. In fact, faster deployment without any technical assistance is the key for choosing the online software over other stand alone models.
Accessibility despite location:The web based software can be accessed irrespective of where you are. This gives the convenience of using the software at the comfort of your home with the need of only an internet enabled device. The data can be accessed remotely by learners and other users with consent. Most of the modern software is optimized for mobiles making it easy for students to access it during travel also. The complete access to the system is assured irrespective of whether they log in from their tablet, laptop, desktop, or a smartphone.
Complete automation:The software will have different modules to manage diverse sections such as time table, attendance, library, exams and a lot more. The complete process can be automated with the web based technology. In addition to the automated monitoring of performance, the swift report generation and data updates add to the enhanced functionality. Advanced tools such as MyClassHelper even sends out automatic reminders on events and activity updates.
No need for special hardware: The hardware interdependency is not a concern when you use web based software to manage your school operations. No other hardware need to be bought in addition to the device used for accessing the software. Once you sign up with the software, you just need the login credentials to continue using it.
Real time management:With a steady internet connection, the overall data management can be done real time. As the online smart class software would be upgraded to the latest available versions automatically, accessing any information would be really easy. The real time management of the operations allows you to record any time. The information related to school activities can be managed or accessed anytime with just a few clicks. A popular web based tool, Edmodo offers real-time feedback and content sharing. Using Kickboard, academic as well as behavioural performance of students can be assessed by teachers in real time which is really helpful during field trips.
Better and quicker communication: With a proper internet connection, this online platform assures faster communication between teachers, students, parents and management staff irrespective of where they are. Better and quicker communication between departments makes the overall functioning of the institution smooth and transparent. Proper communication between the co-workers also contributes to enhanced productivity of the institution. EYFS system features a user friendly interface to perform real time data sharing and communication with minimal time and effort.
24 x 7 access: As the software would be working round the clock, there is no time restrictions to update or access any information. Moreover, communication between administrative management and parents/teachers can be made anytime. Some may use single software to manage multiple schools under a group or society that functions from different locations. And in such cases, time zone would never be an issue if they function from different parts of the world.
Better backup options:The online smart school software will have cloud based backups assuring timely access, update and retrieval of data without any delay. As the vendor is solely responsible for the backups in the web based software, you don’t need to worry about the additional hardware or memory for saving data.
Streamlined administration:With a more organized approach with updated technology, administrative costs can be reduced to a great extent. The streamlined operations with the system assure only minimal errors while effectively handling the day to day operations of the school. The school activities such as staff attendance, library records, progress reports as well as weekly test reports can be managed well online. Moreover, prior information about upcoming events would be send as reminders to everyone with just a click helping them to prepare their part beforehand.
Online admission and registration:The school staff as well as the parents can find it really easy with the overall admission and registration process online. As the admissions will be internet based, new candidates can learn more about the courses online and perform registration from their homes. Some tools even have options to perform online tests for particular students who fail to reach the venue. There are also options for online polls and forums to discuss on topics that need a joint decision. Software like Classmatrix performs online results declaration in addition to admission and biometric attendance management.
Online payment:Parents need not take off from their office hours to reach school and pay the fees as payments can be done flexibly online. Similarly, the online system makes it convenient for the management staff to synchronize the payment of fees and fee dues management pretty easily. Most of the advanced applications offer secure payment options such as PayPal or internet banking.
Parent portals:There would be online parent portals as a part of most of the web based software which is designed to enhance parent’s engagement in the students’ progress and learning curve. Parents can log in to their accounts to learn about their child’s activities within the school. This is also a platform to intimate them about the upcoming events in the school and share information regarding fee payment and dues. There would also be discussion forums where they can contribute their ideas and express their concerns.
Unparalleled efficiency:A proper sync among every individual that are part of the school is the key to its proper functioning. The online school software serves as a collaboration tool among teachers, parents, students and other staff despite time and place thus assuring unparalleled efficiency.Most of the online applications allow free trials before signing up with the actual subscription to let them analyze if the system goes well with their requirements. Its advanced features assure enhanced quality control and supervision and better informed decision making.
Enhanced security:Unlike the stand alone applications that need timely upgrades and constant monitoring to ensure good data security, the web based applications have enough features to provide good data security by default. For the cloud enabled software, the service provider takes the role of updating the system on time and enabling security fixes. With unparalleled security, there are only minimal chances of data theft and are less vulnerable to virus attacks. In addition to remarkable security measures, the privacy of their user base is also well maintained.
Improve staff productivity:As most of the school operations are automated, the additional workload of the teachers and other staff would be reduced to a great extent. This in turn saves their time for other tasks that need manual intervention thus improving their productivity. They can be free from the time consuming tasks thus contributing more on quality teaching and personality development.
Cost effective choice:Unlike the in-house applications, the school need to pay for only the service providers. As most of these systems would be cloud based, there is no need to spend for the individual desktops and other additional network hardware expenses. The in-house systems might benefit from less cost over the period but cannot escape from the huge initial payment to set up the application. Also, there is no cost involved to correct errors with outdated software with the online systems. In fact, cost predictability is a key benefit for the web based school management software.

The online smart class software is an asset to your school that not only reduce the need for administration resources but also improve transparency of the whole process. With just an internet-ready device with updated software, you can effectively collaborate beyond classrooms. Utilize the free trial options to learn about its efficiency in serving your individual needs before signing up with the system.