When I was a kid, I had the opportunity to study in multiple cities and different educational boards. As a child, I didn’t discern the differences, but upon finishing high school, the disparities between the ICSE Board (Bihar) and HSC/SSC Board (Maharashtra) became clear. The disparity was largely created by one simple thing: experience.
I distinctly recall ICSE board books being larger, boasting better print quality, and filled with colorful illustrations of plants, objects, animals, locations, and diagrams, compared to the mostly monochromatic and text-heavy HSC/SSC books.
As I studied Commercial Arts, the importance of visuals in explaining concepts and ideas became even clearer. I learned how imagery could express emotions, evoke desires, and awaken people. Simply by adding a layer of imagery, the reading experience elevates significantly. In education, this adds substantial value as young brains form the foundation of our future personalities.
With the advent of digital technology, avenues for learning expanded further with the addition of interactivity. Interactivity is crucial for learning and contextual understanding. The education system is evolving, endeavoring to incorporate these technologies to keep pace with the fast-paced world of technology. One key technology that I believe will propel the world of education to new heights is augmented reality.
I envision the future of education becoming more hands-on, practical, experiential, and interactive. This marks the rise of the BEES (a term I believe encapsulates this evolution best).
BEES stands for Blended Experiential Education Systems. These systems will amalgamate the physical and virtual worlds. We will witness a surge in wearable technology, including but not limited to mobile devices, VR headsets, portable projectors, spatially aware bands/rings, and many more.
While these technologies have largely existed in the realm of fiction and sci-fi showcases in movies and comic books, advancements in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning signal clear growth and scalability in such technologies.
Here is an example of how VirQ Tech envisions augmented reality chemistry interactions:
Even META, during its transition into the Metaverse, had ambitious plans for AR integration:
Augmented reality, with its interactivity, adds a creative dimension to learning. Through gamification models, learning can be made more enjoyable, with greater recall value due to its experiential nature. More students will experience and understand the integral concepts being taught, rather than memorizing facts solely to pass exams with good grades.
The Blended Experiential Education System represents the most advanced and successful form of the education system, helping students understand concepts more deeply.
It’s fascinating to see that educational content creators are already adopting these technologies. Here’s Learning and Technology with Frank exploring its courses optimized with AR for Metaquest 3:
The INSIGHT HEART on Apple Vision Pro, developed by AnimaRes, is exceptional and takes the experience to the next level:
In conclusion, the Rise of the BEES is inevitable. We only need to wait and watch to witness how this amazing BLENDED EXPERIENTIAL technology will revolutionize the EDUCATION SYSTEM. I will continue updating this space with more information in the future.