Interconnecting devices in schools can make them more conducive for learning and safer for your students. For example, imagine an IoT-enabled school bus. Not only does Wi-Fi connectivity make transportation safer, it also enables real-time checking of mechanisms and monitoring passengers.
IoT-enabled smart schools are becoming more common, especially in industrialized countries. Facilitating the exchange or sharing of information among various devices, sensors, and security systems can help make learning more efficient, interactive, and collaborative.
What is the IoT & how does it work?
The IoT, or Internet of Things, is the interconnectivity between smart devices, sensors, software, robotics, and other technologies. It allows the exchange or sharing of information across different platforms via the Internet or internal communication networks.
IoT facilitates communication, work, healthcare, security, entertainment, and education. For example, printers in school can be hooked up to an IoT system. Teachers, students, and other employees can remotely access these printers via their smart devices. They can print materials that they need even if they are not within the immediate vicinity of a printer, and a queueing system can allow for multiple users.
The almost ubiquitous presence of smart devices, sensors, and physical objects inevitably led to the evolution of the Internet of Things. A smartphone, for example, can easily be paired with any Bluetooth® speaker. In many cases, there is no central planning involved. However, when it comes to offices and schools, the Internet of Things can be designed more efficiently.
The IoT in education
Education can greatly benefit from the Internet of Things, which can cover different aspects of education. These include instruction or classroom lectures, laboratory activities, class records, collaborative projects, access to school facilities such as the library, and school security.
Benefits of the IoT in education
When it comes to classroom lectures, teachers have a wide range of options in teaching or facilitating their lessons. This can include audio-visual presentations using projectors or smart TVs that can be wirelessly connected to a smartphone or laptop, or smart boards that can be used to present various interactive materials while having access to the internet.
Similarly, lab projects and lessons can be conducted with the help of the Internet of Things. For example, a bacterial incubation experiment in biology can be remotely and constantly monitored for a span of several hours or days using webcams and other types of sensors.
Class records can be conveniently and securely stored on a school server. Teachers can submit grades to the registrar without the need for printing them, and students can view their grades using individual accounts registered to the school web portal.
Examples of IoT in education
Various devices in schools can be connected to the Internet of Things. These devices help facilitate classroom lessons and projects. Here are some examples:
1. Smart board
Smart boards can be used as a normal whiteboard. You can write on them using whiteboard markers. However, they have other features that allow them to be used as a multimedia device. Smart boards are actually similar to smart TVs, but with subdued backlighting. You can edit and manipulate images, and use smart boards as computers for file storage and transfer. They can also be used as a document viewer and web browser.
2. Laptops & smart devices
Some schools issue laptops and other smart devices, such as tablets, to teachers and students, and these devices can be connected to the existing smart devices and sensors within the school and classrooms. For example, they can be used for audio-visual presentations by wirelessly connecting to a projector and sound system.
3. Smart classrooms
Smart classrooms include Wi-Fi internet access and ethernet connectivity. These classrooms have built-in smart devices, such as projectors, smart TVs, printers, smart boards, and sound systems. Both the students and the teachers can have access to these devices.
Case Study: White Mountain High School
Students at White Mountain High School in New Hampshire, US, have recently collaborated to build an Internet-connected greenhouse using the Arduino Education Explore IoT Kit.
Find out how they work with remote sensing applications that allow them to do things like automate lighting, regulate temperature, adjust humidity, and check on the greenhouse from their phones in this case study.
The impact of IoT on education
The Internet of Things has a positive impact on education in several ways, which include instructional and administrative aspects. It facilitates learning and teaching at various levels, adapting to the challenges and prospects of the modern, technologically advanced world.
IoT projects in education
Collaborative and interactive learning becomes more interesting and efficient with the IoT. Many of the projects can be facilitated by IoT systems, including engineering projects that require 3D modeling. Students can use software to create digital structural models that can then be transformed into prototypes or physical models.
1. Interactive digital presentations
Along with the audio-visual presentations using slides and projectors, teachers and students can also use other platforms. For example, smartphones can connect with smart boards during presentations. Wearable devices can also be used to enhance learning through interactive augmented reality.
2. Learning to use new technology
Using smart devices, including A.I. enabled devices, facilitates the learning process. This is not only in terms of academic lessons, but also in terms of being tech savvy in operating new high-tech devices.
3. Learning to understand key interests
With the aid of IoT integrated smart devices, students can explore their interests and passions more effectively. Learning can become more interactive, collaborative, and information-rich. This means that students have more fun and can get more creative while they’re learning.
Drawbacks of IoT in education
Despite the many advantages of IoT in education, there are also a few drawbacks. One of the more serious drawbacks is the issue of cyber security. Despite firewalls and encryptions, there are still risks of unauthorized data breaches. From class records to financial matters, some areas of the system can be vulnerable.
Another threat is the possibility of virus infiltrations in the system. It can go undetected but can cause damage in the system. Malware can be mischievous in several ways; as simple as malfunctioning printers or as serious as identity theft.
Over-dependence on technology could also hamper solid or long-term memory. Students may become too reliant on the technology to have crystalized knowledge about theoretical concepts, for example.
Summary
IoT in education offers a wide range of advantages that have a positive impact on both learning and administrative aspects of education. Nonetheless, there are also some possible drawbacks that can threaten data security.
Are you an educator looking for IoT resources for high school? Take a look at Arduino Education’s Explore IoT Kit and how it can support your hands-on IoT lessons.