As we look to the future while acknowledging the past, one thing is sure: technology will continue to impact and change the way people teach, train, and learn. Online and blended learning has grown significantly since the turn of the century and is now widely used across K-12, higher education, and corporate settings. As leaders and facilitators of online and blended learning we must embrace emerging technologies and consider ethical considerations as we progress into the future.
AI to Individualize Education
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rather new technology that
will soon be utilized to increase educational outcomes. In the next
decade, educators will embrace the capabilities of systems like ChatGPT and
Microsoft Copilot to reshape the educational landscape. AI will be used as personal tutors and
learning guides. Learning management systems will integrate AI seamlessly so
that learning can be individualized for each student. Gaps in learning will be remediated
faster and more efficiently with adaptive learning systems, customized learning
paths, and experiences powered by AI. Students craving more will be able to
explore their education with agency and control. Learning will become
more individual and accessible than ever before.
However, AI will not be able to replace nuanced instructor
feedback or peer-to-peer interaction that is needed to create social presence
and engagement within online courses. According to the Community of Inquiry Framework social presence is the ability of people within an online
learning community to be their authentic selves and to connect. Although technology
can facilitate social presence by allowing immediate and interactive
communication in online learning (Vickers & Shea, 2023), a human must be
behind the communication for it to be effective. Designers and educators will
continue to find technologies that enhance communication and social presence
online, and AI will serve as a tool to augment feedback and provide guidance
but ultimately will not be able to replace the human aspect of learning and
teaching.
Immersive Learning
In the future, the technologies of augmented reality (AR)
and virtual reality (VR) will become large scale and will enhance the
learning experiences of online and blended courses. AR and VR can improve
online education by delivering course content and concepts in ways that would
otherwise be very difficult or impossible (Childs et al., 2023). Readings and video
lectures in the future will be replaced or augmented by immersive simulations.
These simulations will allow students to experience their
learning in an interactive manner. Imagine history students using VR to walk
through 3D reconstructions of significant events in history. Then utilizing AR
to simulate a classroom discussion about their shared experience in real time
while meeting online. This is just one powerful example of the many ways these technologies can be applied. The implementation of immersive activities will make online and blended education more accessible and inclusive as
AR and VR allow educators to go beyond the current methods and models used today.
The Next Decade for Educators
The role of educators will evolve with the implementation of
AI, VR, AR, and adaptive learning experiences. Educators will shift from
content and lesson providers to mentors, learning designers, and facilitators
of collaboration and engagement. This shift will occur in both online and blended
models of education across K-12, higher education, and training environments. Educators
will rely less on explaining and delivering content and more on designing
experiences that can be universally accessed by all learners within
their specific context or environment. Teachers and trainers will be able to devote
more of their energy to the building and maintaining of learning communities. Social
presence and engagement will increase, and learners will be empowered to make
meaningful connections while educators facilitate interaction.
Considerations and Future Challenges
The future of online and blended learning is exciting, but
it also presents ethical considerations and practical challenges that must be
addressed. Educators and institutions will need to teach students the
responsible use of AI. Academic integrity and critical thinking skills will
need to be emphasized when implementing AI in educational settings. Data
privacy issues will need to be tackled through policies and institutional guidelines.
The digital divide will need to be eliminated so that all learners regardless
of zip code or socioeconomic status will have access to an education that meets
their needs and provides them with tangible skills that can be transferred to a
career.
Conclusion
In my 16 years of public education, I have seen technology advance
in the classroom. When I first started teaching overhead projectors and transparencies were considered effective use of technology. Today, we have
interactive touchscreen panel TVs that can be drawn on and interacted with in
ways we once thought impossible. Individual laptops have now replaced
traditional pencil and paper. What was once an entire reference section in the library
is now just a simple online search. Learning management systems such as Canvas are
now widespread. Advancements in technology have made education more accessible
and effective than ever.
As we look to the future of education filled with AI
integration, let us remember the calculator. When calculators were first
introduced math teachers protested in fear that it would ruin
mathematical thinking, but it didn’t. Instead, calculators have allowed
students greater access to mathematical concepts. Students no longer have to focus on tedious
computation to get through a problem. With the aid of a calculator, students now
can fully focus their thinking on mathematical reasoning. I predict AI will have
much of the same impact in the future. It will free us up to think less about
certain trivial things and more about ways we can innovate and create a better
world.
References
Childs, E., Mohammad, F., Stevens, L., Burbelo, H., Awoke,
A., Rewkowski, N., & Manocha, D. (2023). An Overview of Enhancing Distance
Learning Through Emerging Augmented and Virtual Reality Technologies. IEEE
Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, PP. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2023.3264577
Vickers, J. C., & Shea, P. (2023). Future Directions for
Social Presence. Social Presence in Online Learning, 191–206. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003447023-22