6 Ways Tech Has Helped Create A Global Classroom

Collaborative education and learning across borders is not a new concept.

12:24 20 January 2021

However, technology has made the process more seamless in recent times. In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, technology has rescued the education sector from total collapse. It has allowed millions of students worldwide to continue their education while maintaining physical distance from other peers.

Technology has created an environment of accessibility and facilitation to come together for virtual lessons. Educationists have lauded technology, time and again, for boosting global academic awareness and boosting international collaborations. Keep reading to explore how technology has helped the creation of a worldwide classroom.

Tech has made education accessible

A decade ago, students who aspired to graduate from a foreign university had to pay enormous amounts of money. There were numerous barriers, including student visas, hefty tuition fees, and accommodation costs. Millions of students couldn’t actualize their dreams of graduating from a prestigious international institute because of varying socio-economic conditions.

Today, students from developing countries worldwide can now enroll in full-time degree programs from multiple prestigious universities. Students no longer have to encounter financial burdens in their quest to acquire a degree. Students who were previously disadvantaged and had to drop out of school or college now find it easier to continue.

 

Professionals who wish to explore career advancement opportunities or change their fields entirely can explore numerous learning options. Technology has helped eliminate these barriers by making education accessible for a considerable chunk of the global population. For instance, IT enthusiasts can explore an online computer science bachelor’s degree without giving up their jobs. Education in healthcare has become so diverse; there are now several online courses available in non-traditional healthcare. Nurses and practitioners who want to opt for a non-clinical career path now have numerous options at their disposal.

 

Technological tools have given birth to the global classroom, making education incredibly and amazingly accessible to people from all walks of life. People from low-income backgrounds and developing countries have access to better learning and career advancement opportunities.

A boost in global awareness

 

Establishing international links for a well-rounded educational experience is a widespread practice adopted by institutions worldwide. Technology has played a crucial role in increasing global awareness and facilitating connections. Previously, students had to wait for the yearly exchange trip to learn about other cultures and explore diversity. But the days of seeking foreign pen pals are long gone.

 

Today, schools and universities rely on a broad range of technological tools to expand the minds of their students. Technology has promoted ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity by boosting awareness and creating a multi-cultural global community.

 

Encouraging global collaborations

 

As mentioned above, previously collaborations between schools were limited to foreign exchange trips and good penmanship. Technology gave birth to numerous tools that allow schools to enrich their curriculum with foreign cultural exchanges.

 

Online video conferencing and data-sharing tools have made it easier for institutions worldwide to collaborate and offer their students unique networking opportunities. For instance, the Sackville School has a long-standing tradition of communicating and collaborating with European schools. The institution has partner schools throughout the world and relies on technology to create meaningful learning experiences.

 

Sackville uses virtual meeting tools to hold fascinating science experiments and mind-opening discussions with students worldwide. This Sussex-based school is certainly not the only institution that uses technology to boost communication, collaboration, and innovation. Institutions quickly realized that global partnership is reliant on technology.

A global education marketplace

 

Technology has created a global marketplace for the education sector, allowing institutions to expand their target market. Schools based in the United Kingdom or China can attract students from all over the world via exchange programs and online courses. Countless tools open up endless opportunities to learn about the world and interact with the global community.

Tech giants, such as Microsoft and Google, are partnering up with universities to offer accredited certifications to aspiring professionals. Google’s Classroom is immensely popular amongst freelancers seeking to polish their resume with in-demand skills. Google certifications on social media marketing and web development carry a lot of weightage on a professional’s resume and marketability.

 

By creating a global marketplace for education, technology has offered numerous educational products to address modern-day job market demands. Much like education in philosophy was rendered redundant by the industrial revolution, the tech revolution demands a tech-savvy skillset. Technology has stepped in to provide certifications in data analysis and web development to help professionals expand their skillsets.

In simpler Marketing 101 terms, technology is addressing the educational needs of consumers throughout the globe.

 

Digital media learning experiences

 

Digital media is the defining factor of the global classroom, as it fosters collaboration to reduce the participation gap. It is pertinent to note that before the COVID-19 crisis, there existed a massive participation gap in digital media learning experiences. A few years ago, not everyone had access to devices and gadgets, especially in underdeveloped countries.

But technological evolution has ensured a smartphone in the hands of thousands across the world. While the digital divide is still there, it is less prominent, and the participation gap has reduced. Technology has allowed students worldwide to participate in digital learning experiences with full zeal.

 

Technology has given birth to a global culture defined by digital media interactions. The learning experiences of students, in and outside the classroom, are defined by digital media tools. And this learning is not limited to trivial tasks. But in fact, technology has facilitated the creation of highly sophisticated global networks to promote cultural diversity in educational experiences.

 

Facilitating academic & professional development

 

A technology-rich learning strategy is powerful and has wide-ranging impacts on academic and professional development. The international community has actualized the real power of tech tools during the ongoing pandemic. Our intricately wired world boosts an abundance of opportunities for learning and academic advancement.

 

Virtual panel discussions and tools such as Facebook Live allow institutions to harness digital technology for global learning. The potential that technology offers is incredible, and educators are seizing every opportunity to expand global learning opportunities. It helps students analyze international news, cultural values, and global issues in multiple languages and perspectives. Students are now able to dig deeper and expand their awareness of sensitive and pressing issues.

 

Conclusion

 

Technology and global media literacy have facilitated the creation of the global classroom. Technological tools and digital media have worked wonders to enhance cross-cultural understanding by representing multiple communities and reflecting on their contexts. Students have access to a world of educational resources in the form of e-learning tools and digital libraries.
More importantly, technology has given a distinctive voice to every educator and learner. Students and teachers can freely open the floor for seemingly controversial and meaningful debates that are usually unacceptable in the average classroom.