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Forbes Technology Council

While technology has drastically altered most industries in recent years, one of the biggest impacts has been in the education sector. From online courses to automating feedback and scoring, opportunities to learn are now more accessible than ever for more people across the globe.

Information technology (IT) professionals sit on the cutting edge of these new technologies and have the power to influence the next big thing in ed tech. We asked members of Forbes Technology Council how leading IT executives can leverage technology for education. Their best answers are below.

1. Personalize The Education Experience 

I think the biggest benefit of technology in education is that it can be adjusted to the personal needs of the student. The pace of introducing new information; the modality — visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic; the number of repetitions. Even the level of abstraction could be adjusted according to the results that the student shows. – Stefan Petzov, Swisscom

2. Looked At Education Through The Lens Of Distributed Cognition 

Edwin Hutchins’ theory of distributed cognition (dCoG) explains how people, their environment and tools can be thought of as a single cognitive system. Educators can observe human learning through the lens of dCoG to create digitally enhanced learning experiences that maximize the interaction and communication of people, their environment and tools (e.g. hands-on activities, simulators, games). – Jeremy Williams, Vyudu Inc.

3. Use Computer Modeling To Encourage Visual Learning 

The old adage “seeing is believing” can find great application in the visualization of complicated data models. Computer modeling can help college students visualize how RNA regulates gene expression or assist a team of coders trying to hunt down a line of errant code. – Timothy Chaves, ZipBooks Accounting Software

4. Complement Traditional Learning With Tech-Based Tactics 

It is vital that technology is deployed to complement the learning taking place in the classroom, both in regards to textbooks and personal development. This generation has more of an intuitive relationship with technology than any previous generation. Leverage that while ensuring that the development of interpersonal skills does not suffer as a result of excessive screen time. – John McDonald, ClearObject.com

5. Automate Energy And Maintenance To Drive Sustainability And Lower Tuition Costs 

Disruptive technologies are redefining the possibilities for sustainability, cost efficiency and access to higher education on an institutional level. Cutting-edge cognitive technologies offer an automated, self-adaptive platform for continuous carbon and cost improvement, allowing leaders to turn the money saved on energy and maintenance into scholarships and lower tuition costs across the board. – Nitin Ranjan, Elutions

6. Shorten The Student Feedback Loop 

Nothing speeds up learning processes more than shortening the feedback loop. Creating software that checks the code quality of our developers and provides instant feedback motivates them to improve their skills with every iteration of submitted code. Shorter feedback loops build experience and improve employee satisfaction. The same tools can be leveraged in other areas of education. – Maxim Garkavtsev, Qarea Limited, Testfort Inc