Content: introduction effective interactive technologies and their role in enhancing discourse competence of learners

2. Evolution of education: how interactive technologies reshaped learning
Since the beginning of the pandemic, education is moving online, and students are starting to feel the lack of communication with teachers and peers. Interactive learning technologies have the power to immerse students in the familiar classroom atmosphere without leaving their homes.
Online Education Trends
Online education trends for 2020 show that part of the market is leaning toward interactive digital learning, such as game-based learning, VR, and AR technologies. While others will require interactivity to be successful, like hybrid homeschooling

Game-Based Learning

The idea of learning through play dates back to the mid-19th century. Game-based learning relies on games specifically designed to educate using highly interactive and engaging content that is aligned with the curriculum.

Games have been used to learn a variety of subjects, including:

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  Typing, with software like TypingClub: a game featuring different keyboard layouts and finger positions. The game stores a user’s results and compares them to past performances.
  
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  Math, with games such as Math Snacks: this game includes a series of activities that support math curriculum. It addresses aspects such as scale factor, ratio, measurement, etc.
  
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  History, as exemplified in Mission US: an adventure-style game where players assume the role of people during various critical points of US history.
  

These games are popular as they offer a safe environment to attempt something new and fail. For some children, it can be frightening to fail in public settings like the classroom, while failing in a game has comparatively low stakes.

VR And AR In Learning

AR technology is becoming popular in schools due to the interactive experience it adds to education. It helps children visualize abstract concepts and enhances their understanding by presenting fun facts and 3D models of these concepts. One example is AugThat, an AR application that supports the elementary school curriculum by offering 360-degree 3D models of different virtual environments, such as our solar system.
Similarly, VR helps students understand lessons by immersing them in new cultural sites and historical settings. For example, with Google Expeditions, kids can observe dinosaurs from the safety of the classroom. Another exciting instance of VR in classrooms is inMind2, a game that allows children to understand the chemistry behind human emotions. Players witness and investigate how teenager John grows into an adult and how human chemistry shapes him.

Teachers Adapting To New Roles

The historical role of a teacher in the classroom was to lecture knowledge for their students to absorb. Educators had an authoritative role, and their expertise and opinion could not be challenged. Their responsibility toward students was generally limited to presenting material and preparing fair assessment tests.
The advent of online technology has accelerated the educational trend of teachers as mediators, which emerged in the last century. They guide students working in groups and teach them to think for themselves instead of passively receiving knowledge from others. This is relevant both in the physical classroom and online.

Hybrid Homeschooling

Before the pandemic, homeschooling was not very popular. Even though 7% of American parents believed it was a good idea, they lacked resources, time, and confidence to try it with their own children. During the pre-pandemic period, some educational establishments recognized the value of homeschooling and allowed students to study partially from home. One example is Regina Caeli schools, which encouraged attendance only two days a week.
Nowadays, the concept of homeschooling is more relevant than ever, and the hybrid version offers relief for parents while still limiting the days of school attendance. In such settings, interactive technology is a valuable learning resource for kids and their educators.

Interactive Learning Technology Augments Online Education

Interactive learning is a hands-on way of transferring knowledge as opposed to passively listening to a lecture or reading assigned material. Children might perceive passive learning as boring because their opportunity for involvement is minimal. This type of education also has limited options for assessing student comprehension. On the other hand, interactivity captures students’ attention, involves them in discussions, and stimulates critical thinking.
In a conventional school environment, educators generally alternate active and passive methods of teaching. As the pandemic is forcing us to rely on online education, many teachers feel it is important to simulate the familiar school atmosphere as much as possible.

Benefits of Interactive Learning Technology

The interactive part of online learning allows kids to receive feedback, personalized advice and directions, and offers a cheaper substitution to private tutoring.

Focusing On Child-Led Learning

In a conventional school environment, teacher-led learning prevails over student-led education. Online interactive technology promotes the overlooked student-led experience allowing everyone to learn at their own pace. It helps children develop self-awareness and understand their strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, they will associate learning with a feeling of independence.

Ensuring Kids Understand What They Read

Kids who are struggling to understand a particular topic can be hesitant to ask for help. If they are studying online from their houses, the teacher cannot see their puzzled faces and will not be able to step in to help. Interactive technology presents a solution employing 3D cameras, which recognize facial cues and eye direction. After picking up signs of confusion or disinterest, the educational program can either slow down the lesson, repeat the explanation, switch to another theme, or alert the teacher.

Giving Kids An Early Start On Education

Preschool-aged children and even toddlers who display curiosity toward learning do not need to wait for the first year of school. They can already use interactive technology to learn how to read, count, draw, etc. Furthermore, there are interactive programs, which use AR to help kids immerse themselves in the concepts they are trying to learn.

Saving Money And Time For Parents

With the help of online interactive learning, children can receive exciting educational opportunities at home. Parents are no longer required to drive their kids to tutoring locations, nor do they need to pay excessive fees for private tutors.