Intel’s Tech Learning Lab is touring the country and providing students with memorable learning experiences that might otherwise be hard to come by in traditional classroom formats. The lab includes virtual reality, augmented reality, state-of-the-art personal computers, and the Internet of Things whiteboards that gives students and teachers an opportunity to experience how these technologies can enhance the learning experience. Additionally, learning workshops are offered in the areas of artificial intelligence, coding, and robotics.
The value of this initiative is that it aids educators and academic institutions in preparing their students for the future. Currently, these technologies have not been widely adopted into the day-to-day classroom experience despite their widespread use in our day-to-day lives. Technology becoming an integral norm in the classroom can help fortify the learning that is already taking place in the classroom. Imagine our students being able to experience the world’s biomes through virtual reality, or learning the names and locations of celestial bodies through augmented reality. They would be able to view the flora and fauna for each biome, as well as visualizing exactly where a star fits in a constellation for themselves. Allowing them to connect these new experiences with their own prior knowledge which helps to make the new learning real for them. What a powerful tool to help bring dimensionality to the classroom! Furthermore, as the job market is increasing in its demand for skilled workers in science and technology, educational institutions will need to seek solutions to meet this demand. Although, information and knowledge can be acquired by listening, proficient skill acquisition is accomplished by doing. Hands-on learning, like those experienced in Intel’s Tech Learning Lab, are an excellent way to increase our students’ skill levels. Allowing our students the opportunity to immediately apply the knowledge they have acquired through practice and convert it into a proficient skill is invaluable to them. These skills can increase their self-efficacy as learners and motivate them to pursue the next challenge, which is a skill in and of itself.
Intel’s Tech Learning Lab, addresses a very great need for educators and academic institutions to connect their students to new learning that will be meaningful and applicable in the 21st Century.
This is a sponsored post from Intel.
-Amanda
