4 Tech Trends to Enhance Education in 2016

The technologies of tomorrow are already being tested in select classrooms today, laying the seeds for the future of how students could learn. Check out these 4 tech trends below that are enhancing education in schools!

Virtual Reality (VR)

First Google Cardboard, then Samsung Gear VR and now Oculus. The VR realm has exploded! The VR technology allows students to test the waters of different careers. Giving students a better idea of what they want to do when they grow up and minimizing educational expenses for years spent figuring out what exact career path to take.

Image Source: Pixabay.com

 

3D Printing

3D printers have already broken through in education, helping students bring their ideas to life or put their hands on concepts that previously lived only in textbooks. But 2016 could prove to be a huge year for the technology as the devices become more affordable

Image Source: Pixabay.com

 

Wearables

“Wearables not only assist students, but also offer many benefits to educators. From pinging students’ GPS locations during a field trip to recording point-of-view lessons, teachers have more options to monitor and engage with students. And this engagement can also translate to communication between educators, giving them more options for collaboration,” according to the K-12 Tech Decisions blog.

Image Source: Pixabay.com

 

Robots

Companies have proved that kids educational robots not only succeed in delivering results, but do so in ways much more engaging than through current ed tech initiatives. Take a look at some of the best educational robots on the market today: http://tech.co/top-5-kids-educational-robots-ces-2015-2015-01

Image Source: Pixabay.com

 

Source: http://www.edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2015/12/5-tech-trends-could-supercharge-education-2016

3-D Printing is Quickly Changing the Future!

 

What is 3-D Printing?

3D printing, also known as Additive Manufacturing, is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file.

How Does 3-D Printing Work?

From a digital file, a 3D object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the entire object is produced. 3D Printers can use a wide range of materials, including plastics, resins, metals, ceramics and more.

3D Printer- Image Source: Pixabay.com

 

How is 3-D Printing Currently Being Used?

From at-home repairs to medical to ecological developments, 3D Printing has an undeniably wide range of possibilities for which it can be used and could profoundly change our world.

3D Printed Prosthetic- Image Source: Pixabay.com

 

Aviation companies like Airbus are now producing thousands of cheap, light-weight parts for their jets with 3D printing. Medical professionals can quickly produce molded casts and prostheses for their patients.

 

 

 

To learn more about the advances of 3D Printing please watch this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5AZzOw7FwA

 

Resources:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5AZzOw7FwA

http://www.3dprinterhelp.co.uk/what-materials-do-3d-printers-use/

http://3dprinting.com/what-is-3d-printing/