Whether we realize it or not, the Internet of Things (IoT) is prevalent in many aspects of our daily lives. From digital bus timetables to smart TVs, IoT is everywhere.
It’s predicted that between 2019 and 2030, the number of IoT connected devices in the world will grow from 7.6 billion to 24.1 billion, making it an inevitable part of our future.
Not only does the IoT make our lives a lot easier, but it’s also set to improve the economy, boost business competitiveness, and enhance our overall quality of life.
Since digitalisation is an innovative, inevitable area with broad scope, pursuing a career along this path is set to be highly beneficial. That makes it an essential area for students to get to grips with.
What does IoT mean?
IoT stands for Internet of Things. It’s any network of devices that’s connected to the internet and used for the exchange of information, data collection, or controlling a process. Watch our video to find out more:
Think of how you can now control the heating in your home or see who’s ringing your doorbell from your phone. The options for how IoT is used really are limitless, and it is (or will be) an essential tool across many industries.
The reason the IoT is so helpful is because it allows for greater control over certain environments and processes. IoT networks offer options for automation that you can’t have when devices aren’t connected.
How does the IOT impact our lives in everyday things?
The connectivity of smart gadgets, “dumb” electronic devices, and mechanical devices is a daily convenience that many of us take for granted. It was science fiction just a few decades ago, but it’s now a reality of everyday life.
From connecting home security cameras to your cellphone to the connectivity of automated drones to a central programming hub, the Internet of Things helps not only in making our lives convenient, but also more secure. It allows us to be virtually present in many places at once.
For example, your smartphone can be connected to your home’s HVAC system. You can set the parameters to make your family as comfortable as possible, even if you are at work. You can also ensure their health and safety when you are overseas or traveling.
What do IoT devices do?
In short, IoT devices use their connection to the internet to transmit data. These devices could be everyday essentials, such as lighting, speakers, doorbells, and thermostats, which can be centrally controlled from a computer or smartphone.
Why should IoT be incorporated into education?
As well as the many benefits that IoT systems can have when implemented into school buildings, the topic of IoT itself is something that future generations will be closely reconciled with, making it an important subject for students to engage with now.
4 benefits of teaching IoT at high school
Studies have shown that 60% of students find at least half of all of their lessons boring, and half of all high schoolers are of the opinion that what they learn in school isn’t relevant to real life. By implementing IoT into their education, experts believe that children will be better connected to their education and the world around them.
In an article for the World Economic Forum, Harvard graduate and CEO of Code.org, Hadi Partovi, said, “Some of the topics we teach today will no longer be essential in the 2030s: handwriting is increasingly obsolete, complex arithmetic is no longer done by hand, and the internet has replaced the need to memorize many basic facts.”
He also suggested that the modern-day essential skills are problem-solving, creative thinking, digital dexterity, and collaboration.
By teaching high-school students about the IoT, each of these essential skills will be developed and stimulated. From this, several benefits can be easily identified.
1. Enhanced student engagement
Interactive technology requires students to create a solution to a problem posed in class. While this may sound complicated, students using kits such as the Arduino Student Kit found it simple and familiar.
As one student told us, “The physical kit is very clear and easy to understand, even for first timers. Coding in the IDE felt very familiar and I immediately was able to recognize similarities to other popular coding languages. But even for a student who doesn't have that level of comfort with code, the Arduino functions are all very logically named.”
2. An adapted environment
In the age of remote learning, enabling students to learn from home is crucial. Arduino products allow educators all over the globe to give their students a hands-on experience despite the restrictions of the pandemic.
In fact, with the Arduino Cloud for schools, you can have students connecting devices, visualizing data, and controlling projects from wherever they are.
3. A real world connection
Many students have gone on to then try their own IoT experiments at home, such as mood lighting, temperature controls and tools that monitor the moisture in their houseplants, which allows them to reconcile elements of their education that are useful in real world situations.
4. Limitless possibilities
Incorporating IoT into high school education has endless possibilities. As well as ensuring a varied lesson planning procedure, it also offers promising future developments, with some software engineers beginning to use IoT-based applications to help disabled children with language and speech issues express themselves faster and more clearly.
How will IOT impact the future?
The future is now! What was once a dream of futurists and science fiction writers is now a reality. It is virtually ubiquitous; from robot vacuum cleaners to industrial machinery, we have found an efficient and reliable way of integrating devices and machinery via internet connections.
In the future, it may be possible for a patient to be operated upon by a surgeon halfway around the globe. Our system of education will also be significantly improved through the IoT systems. For example, school children can easily have virtual tours and learn about fascinating places by using robots as their eyes and ears.
The interconnectivity of devices will significantly be entwined with entertainment, transportation, exploration, and education. It would be transformative and revolutionary.
Want to get started with IoT? Watch how a US high school used the IoT to build an automated greenhouse, and discover the Explore IoT Kit.