Since college students are actively studying competing for a place in the job market, it’s no surprise new tech trends often appear among them first. The latest in digital communication and security hardware can help you improve the way you access information, experience new ways of learning, and even protect your dorm and belongings. If you’re looking for upcoming technology in education, these trends are on the bleeding edge.
E-texts
The rising cost of textbooks (or the inconvenience of heavy backpacks) is driving up the use of e-books at almost every university. A four-year study conducted by Aimee deNoyelles and John Raible at the University of Central Florida found e-text use was up to 66% of students in 2016, growing year over year. As students get more familiar with digital technology, e-books are becoming a preference.
Many institutions are jumping on the bandwagon. Florida recently launched a $656,000 program to drive up the use of e-texts in state universities. The University of Indiana reports that e-texts saved its students $3.5 million in the 2016–2017 academic year, making information access more affordable and more convenient.
Video Learning and Virtual Reality (VR)
Video has been in classrooms for decades, but developing technologies in video communications are opening new doors for students in 2018. Video education tools like Google Expeditions already provide advanced VR-powered learning tools for teachers across the globe, offering digital tours of far-off historical sites and ecological hotspots. VR in college classrooms provides new ways for students to learn and experience the material.
Video also continues to enable distance learning. Video lectures allow professors to teach in a more engaging way to students taking online courses, which has increased the effectiveness of these types of courses. With distance learning, a college education is more accessible and affordable, especially to people in countries that lack wide offerings of higher education.
Dorm Room Security
Students in universities have already adopted AI techs like Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri. Now, the latest in home security is making the jump to college dorms. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 27,500 criminal incidents at universities in 2015, an increase from 2014. The risk of losses to personal property is enough to push many students to install security cameras in their dorms.
New smart security cameras offer advanced features like smartphone compatibility and cloud storage that allow you to stream the feed to your phone when you’re not in your dorm room. Voice controls and IFTT compatibility let them link up with other smart devices as well. Remember to do your research and find the system that works best for you.
The Next Big Trend
A lot of our modern digital world traces back to university laboratories and messy dorm rooms. The next big trend in the tech world at large might start somewhere on your college campus this week. But for now, these technological tools are shaping the college experience—at least until next semester. Who knows what innovations might be waiting right around the corner.
Remember to check out GradGuard on social media for all of your college tips and hacks.
