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In recent years, the education market has undergone significant changes. Artificial intelligence is already actively used to create educational courses, and traditional learning management systems (LMS) are gradually being replaced by new forms, such as capability development academies. This opens new horizons for corporate training, offering innovative solutions and approaches. The future of education promises to be interactive and adaptive, which will significantly improve the quality of learning and increase employee productivity.
How Learning Will Become "Ultra-Personalized"
In the article "Three Trends Unlocking the Potential of Artificial Intelligence for Learning and Development in 2023," Juan Naranjo, Senior Manager of Corporate Learning at Rogers Communication, examined the possible consequences of the development of neural networks and algorithms. He analyzes in detail how these technologies can transform approaches to employee learning and development, improving their effectiveness and adaptability in a rapidly changing world. Naranjo emphasizes the importance of integrating AI into corporate training, which will allow companies to optimize learning processes and improve the quality of employee training.
Companies today provide not just training, but a complete educational experience. Very soon, automated processes for designing this experience will become a reality. In the future, learning may become ultra-personalized, which underscores the opinion of expert Naranjo. These changes in education open new horizons for a personalized approach to each learner, making learning more effective and tailored to user needs.
Learning personalization is becoming more efficient thanks to meta-learning. Artificial intelligence analyzes learner needs and company development goals, delivering personalized content. This allows users to find relevant experiences that contribute to their skill development and career advancement. The use of AI in educational processes helps tailor learning to individual needs, increasing its effectiveness and efficiency.
Personalization of learning has two sides, and this year, the second is particularly relevant. This level of personalization is based on a deep understanding of each student's biology. It's important to know the optimal time for learning, creative activity, and focus on tasks. This approach allows for tailoring educational processes to individual needs, which promotes more effective learning and improved performance. Experts emphasize that taking students' biorhythms into account can significantly improve the quality of education and make it more accessible and comfortable.
The level of personalization of learning can be significantly increased by the use of smartwatches. According to expert Juan Naranjo, these devices can track a user's various biological rhythms and provide recommendations on the best time frames for studying. This approach improves information retention and accelerates learning, making learning more effective. Integrating technology into the educational process opens up new opportunities for personalized approaches and improved learning. Today, numerous fitness accessories are available on the market that can assess the difficulty level of exercises and determine the optimal type based on the user's condition. These devices take into account parameters such as sleep quality, heart rate, and other biometrics. 2023 may be the year when similar technologies will be actively used in the field of education, allowing the educational process to be adapted to the individual needs of each student.
What features will a smartwatch for studying have?
Juan Naranjo's idea isn't new. It was mentioned back in 2020 by educational technology visionary and expert Elliott Macy. His work raised important questions regarding the development of educational methods and technologies, making this topic relevant today. Innovations in education continue to attract the attention of specialists, and ideas like those voiced by Macy remain relevant for discussion and implementation in modern educational practices.
I envision a future where smartwatches become powerful and personalized devices capable of streamlining learning, collaboration, and workflow support. These devices will collect and analyze individual data, providing users with dashboard access throughout the workday. Smartwatches will improve employee productivity by providing immediate feedback and customized notifications, making them an indispensable tool in the modern workplace.
Smartwatches are multifunctional devices, and Elliott Macy predicted a number of interesting features. These devices not only track time but are also capable of performing a variety of tasks. For example, they can track physical activity, measure heart rate, and monitor sleep quality.
Furthermore, smartwatches can notify users of incoming messages, calls, and calendar events, allowing them to stay connected without constantly checking their smartphone. Some models offer GPS navigation, making them ideal companions for athletes and travelers.
It's also worth noting that smartwatches can integrate with other smart home devices, allowing you to control lighting, temperature, and other comfort settings right from your wrist. With all these capabilities, smartwatches are becoming an essential element of the modern lifestyle, combining style and functionality.
- A timely reminder to study. Technology can recognize whether a person is tired or perhaps overly anxious—clearly, it's not a good idea to study in this state. And at the appropriate moment, the watch will remind you: it's time to open the right course or material and learn something. Incidentally, a device with similar functions already seems to exist, but not in watch form, but as portable headphones or a headband. It was created by the Russian startup Neiry. The idea is that electrodes embedded in the gadgets are placed on the scalp and constantly record an electroencephalogram (EEG), capturing, according to the developers, states of fatigue, anxiety, and stress, flow of consciousness, and even measuring cognitive load.
- Always accessible knowledge and its search. Searching for and finding the information you need will become even easier—an algorithm will do it for you. Macy gives the following example: an employee needs to learn more about a new client—a large corporation. While they're having lunch, the watch app will scan relevant social media and find a colleague who can be asked for insider information about the corporation, since they've worked there. This example can also be applied to training: for example, if an employee needs knowledge on a certain topic, the smartwatch will "find" a colleague who understands it and can help. This makes peer-to-peer training easier.
- Digital coaching. New technologies will allow for real-time tracking and feedback on skill development. This way, even in the same program, participants will receive different feedback and be able to adjust their application of these skills in practice.
- Assistance with public speaking. Macy notes: "I'd be happy to be the first user of a smartwatch app called 'Better Speeches.'" "It would include a range of gentle vibrations that would remind me of timing. The app would 'listen' to key phrases I entered in advance and advance slides or play the right video for me at the right time. And one day, it could sync with listeners' watches and report in real time whether they are interested or bored."
- Organizing educational and professional experiences. Experiential learning (such as simulations and extensive practice) is growing in popularity, and smartwatches could be a reliable assistant in this, according to Macy. He suggests using them as an "experience guide." The expert does not reveal exactly how this will look, but suggests that learning experiences could be designed with such technologies in mind.
Elliott Macy suggests that in the future, learning and development departments in companies will be able to develop apps for smartwatches. In doing so, they will need to consider not only their usefulness for the work process, but also important ethical aspects, such as the confidentiality and accuracy of the data being processed. This requires a careful approach, as the use of technology in a corporate environment requires compliance with security standards and the protection of personal information.
Also explore:
- 7 global trends and risks in the development of EdTech technologies
- 6 most promising technologies for corporate training
- How the content of corporate training has changed in two years