It’s been a big year for EdTech. As the severity of the coronavirus pandemic grew, educational institutions across the world began to look at how they could provide their services remotely. For more tech-savvy establishments, it was a relatively simple shift, for others, it was a dramatic transformation of their operations.
If this had happened only a decade ago, the global education system might not have been able to cope. But EdTech has made some impressive leaps in recent years, fuelled by technologies such as the cloud, AI and big data, and world-leading technology companies, such as telecommunication giant Huawei. Huawei is committed to building the bridges that cross the digital divide, and its Smart Education solutions use innovative technology to improve teaching and equalise educational experiences.
EdTech can make education more accessible with distanced learning, and with more interactivity and the option to personalise teaching, it can also help make learning more engaging and effective. And now, with educational institutions and students embracing digital learning – many for the first time this year – the scales are tipping. In 2020 and beyond, there is real potential for the widespread digital transformation of the education system.
Huawei’s offering uses infrastructure and tools such as the cloud, mobile networks, and smart devices to accelerate digital transformation – for example, the efficient rollout of virtual teaching during the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, advanced and emerging technologies such as AI and big data serve to enhance experiences both inside and outside the classroom. With one connected ecosystem bringing all of these offerings together, educational institutions can offer a diverse and tailored range of options to students from interactive classroom learning to remote tuition.
Enhancing the classroom and campus environments
As technology touches all aspects of our lives, it’s no surprise the classroom is increasingly becoming a hub of technology. Not only are there real benefits to be had from a more interactive and smart approach to learning, but teaching young people tech literacy is essential in a world that is increasingly reliant on it. Many of today’s students in schools and higher learning institutions will be tomorrow’s data scientists and app developers.
Smart technology in classrooms can cater to many needs, abilities and subject matters. It can allow for engagement and interaction at a more complex and bespoke level than traditional methods. For example, interactive boards are widely used in classrooms nowadays to promote interaction between teachers and students, and solutions like Huawei’s IdeaHub can help make this even more efficient and productive. IdeaHub innovatively incorporates an interactive whiteboard with 4K UHD projection, video conferencing and popular educational apps. It’s easy to hook up to the institution’s technology system, supporting cloud deployment and cross-network, cross-enterprise interconnection.
Huawei is also working closely with partners to transform education campuses into smart technology hubs. With Wi-Fi for schools, universities and colleges providing intelligent wireless networking, students can access their learning from wherever they are onsite, making for a far more integrated and engaging experience. One example of this is Huawei’s recent cooperation with ETH Zurich to run a wireless campus programme which will not only change its traditional office business but also bring its teaching and learning environment to a new level.
Increasing access and flexibility with remote learning
With the rise of online tuition, education is no longer limited to the physical classroom, meaning that geographical location and timezone aren’t such barriers to learning. Not only can onsite students continue to access resources outside of the classroom, but those students who could never make it into the classroom in the first place can find online options that work for them.
And, if a lesson can be broadcast online to a thousand students as opposed to being taught to a select group in person, institutions may be able to offer more affordable options to students who might otherwise not be able to enrol in education. This is crucial in an era where tuition fees are rising, making education inaccessible for many. Through affordable online teaching, a low-income student living in a small town with limited local education options may be able to access the same resources as a student in a major city, equalising education opportunities in a way that simply wouldn’t be possible without technology.
Anthony Xu, president of the Education Industry of Global Government Business Unit of Enterprise BG Huawei, explains Huawei’s role in this: “During the comprehensive digital transformation of the education industry, Huawei integrates key technologies such as 5G, Wi-Fi-6, cloud, and AI, and works with partners to provide smart education solutions, facilitating education informationization and achieving education equality.”
With education taking place in spaces outside of the classroom, there is also opportunity for a more collaborative and bespoke approach to learning. Educators can consult with students and parents to create an environment that works for them – whether that’s catering to different educational needs and abilities or socio-economic backgrounds.
The most topical testament to the power of remote learning is, of course, the global response to the coronavirus pandemic this year. “Multiple online teaching solutions enable students to continue learning when schools are closed, and ensure home learning effectiveness during the pandemic. The Safe Campus Solution provides a safe environment when the focus switches to recovery,” says Xu. Part of the digital ecosystem Huawei is building for educational campuses, the Safe Campus Solution offers cutting-edge onsite security technology to protect students.
Whether you’re a partner helping educational institutions enhance their onsite learning, branch out their offering online, or both, Huawei has the tools and capabilities to make that possible. With customers in over 70 countries and regions servicing over 850 million students, Huawei Smart Education is embracing the new era of intelligent education, offering wireless networking, instruments to schools, universities and colleges, and initiating different partnerships to promote smart education.
