How IoT can change the world of Education

The Internet of Things is dramatically taking over the world and is only expected to continue to grow. By the end of 2022, 14.4 billion devices will be connected to IoT.

Over 1.2 million students drop out of high school every year in the United States alone. That’s a student every 26 seconds — or 7,000 a day.

There should be a way to connect IoT, which is growing rapidly, and education, which is on its downfall.

What is IoT?

IoT uses sensors to collect data and uses that to communicate with other devices. Home automation is one of the best examples of IoT. Smart homes or IoT-based home automation systems are becoming popular day by day. In a smart home, consumer electronic gadgets such as lights, fans, air-conditioners, etc., can be connected to each other via the internet. This interconnection enables the user to operate these devices from a distance. All this can be done just with the power of IoT.

Why is Education important?

Education develops critical thinking. This is vital in teaching a person how to use logic when making decisions and interacting with people (e.g., boosting creativity and enhancing time management). Education helps an individual meet basic job qualifications and makes them more likely to secure better jobs. While many people might not need education to enter the workforce, the increasing number of people dropping out due to poor teachers, not understanding concepts, not feeling safe in school, etc., is concerning and needs to be dealt with.

“Children can’t focus on one thing for more than a few seconds!” — teachers all over the world are complaining.

But is that really the case? Teachers think so.

The education sector is one of the most adaptive and effective in deploying IoT devices to its usage to make education more collaborative, interactive, and accessible to all.

What solution does the modern IoT industry have to offer?

• Interactive Screens

Start with a screen built into teachers’ boards and students’ desks. This will allow the teacher to eliminate the tedious and time-consuming need to write something on the whiteboard at the front of the classrooms

• Webcams in classrooms

These could be installed to broadcast lectures online and organize virtual classrooms. For example, teachers could show the delight of the Eiffel Tower and show its pictures, or they can excite kids more by letting them see the attraction through a video tour.

• Personalized Learning

Devices connected to the cloud would allow professors to gather data on their students and then determine which ones need the most individual attention and care. These statistics would help teachers improve student engagement and adjust their lesson plans for future classes.

• Smart classrooms
• Combine all of the above technologies into one coherent system. This classroom will be able to identify students, record their attendance, and and control devices such as interactive whiteboards.

What companies are already doing

Smart Cards by Magicard →Engineers of Magicard designed a comprehensive all-in-one IoT solution that takes the effectiveness of classrooms to the next level.

• Time and attendance cards: The use of smart cards allows educators to verify whether students are in the right class at the right time while also helping them monitor absence and sickness
• Logical access cards: By adding a logical access application to a student card, schools can track whether students use e-learning resources and whether they submit essays and other assignments on time

LocoRobo →

LocoRobo provides IoT solutions that help school children learn visual coding, Python coding, and Java coding:

• LocoDrone is a device that allows learners to explore real-world coding and robotics through modern aerial technology. By using LocoDrone, children can get familiar with sensor data analysis and develop data visualization skills.
• LocoWear is a wearable device that can be strapped anywhere on the body to collect motion data. Using LocoWear, educators can immerse students in project-based learning and multi-disciplinary lessons in programming, anatomical motion physics, statistics, and data analysis.

These products address two key problems we see in education:

1. Lack of students’ interest in learning
2. Lack of practical knowledge

Summary

— The merging of IoT and Education can impact the future of schooling for years to come

— Using IoT in classrooms with allow students to get personalized learning, have interactive screens, and have a more enjoyable expierence

— There are already some companies starting to integrate the two however it is still small and has the potential to become huge