"SEC-S19W6 | Digital Applications in Learning"

“Business is in your blood.”

These were my dad’s words.

From a young age, I was always the one looking for that extra income. If there was money to be made, I was there.

Over the years, I have advised many entrepreneurs and business owners not to mention schoolchildren. Yes, kids are forever knocking on my door for ideas for their entrepreneur’s day or debutants for their fundraising projects. Then I also had those non-profit organizations, charities, schools, and other educational institutions asking for ideas and help.

This past week was no different. This time, it was closer to home. It was my stepson who had a project for his business science. They had to create a product that they could present with a full business plan. Of course, like with most school projects, the parents always sit with them. He told the other two boys who were on his team not to worry, as he was sure that I “would come up with something.”

I truly cannot understand how a teacher can expect them at their age to put together a complete business plan. Best of all, my stepson “forgot” about the project and only told me two days before it was due. Boys! Or is this the youth in general?

Well, back to school for me, and back to the drawing board; it was for us. Yes, I had to help him, or he would never be able to finish the project in time.

We came up with a solution for mobile users whereby they can take photos, store them, and later print them in book format... PHOTOBOOK!

Of course, we were excited, but my husband was not impressed with us. As a developer and system analyst, all he could see was work. He would rather let us do something that we can make. Well, I had a surprise for him. It was time to put Daddy to work.

We had to come up with some good ideas for why Photobook would work to convince him, plus we had to brainstorm with the business plan in mind.

As we sat in front of the computer, I told him that maybe there would be something on CANVA. Behold, we found a complete business template that fits his product to the “T”. All that he had to do was do his planning, research a few things, and then add them to Canva.

That brings me to the question of how I see technological developments affecting the future of education.

Well, I can tell you that I was blown away and was pretty much made aware of the fact that the classroom extends far beyond a blackboard and desks these days. It is now a personal domain, especially with technology improving each day, and there is only one word for it: better!
Technology can only improve the future of education.

I can think of FIVE good reasons why I say this, based on what I have seen my stepson do with this project of his and how technology can revolutionize education in several ways and, in the process, make it more adaptable, engaging, and effective.

1. Better Prepared

By using technology, he was better prepared than most of his friends, and this in a shorter time.
Even educators can use it not only to their advantage but also to the advantage of the learners by creating material they can review anytime and anywhere. There is no doubt in my mind that this can lead to a high-quality education.

2. More Information

Gone are the days of expensive textbooks with limited information. He now had access to a wider range of information, which included things like updated statistics, which was crucial to his business plan.

3. Enthusiasm

Oh man, he was so excited, as he not only had to learn something new related to his schoolwork but also technology. His engagement with Canva was fun, and it increased his enthusiasm and participation. It was his task and no longer mine.

4. Lifelong Learning

Canva gave him the opportunity for continuous learning and skill development beyond formal education. He subsequently used it for two other projects.
As for the search for information, there is not one book on this earth that could give him what he was looking for in the blink of an eye.

5. Digitally Empowerment

He learned how to use technology efficiently and responsibly, and by doing this, he learned to leverage digital tools for his growth and not mine.

There is endless potential for using technology for education. I cannot help but think about children who have never seen the inside of a classroom. Using digital tools, a far wider audience can be reached, which can only result in better education for everyone.

Technology is here to stay, and its advantages outweigh the disadvantages, provided that it is well-monitored.

Now over to Steemit as a platform for a learning application. Can it be used?

My answer is no. Steemit is not an application, and it is also not a tool.

A tool is a piece of software or hardware created for a particular purpose. It frequently has a limited, specific purpose, whereby an application or app, as most of us know, is a standalone software program designed to perform a broad range of tasks or functions.

Steemit is an information platform when it comes to the sharing of information, and this is what makes it so unique. The learning on Steemit never stops. You can read ten different posts about the same topic, and you will find that each one of them shares something new.

Since the very first day I rejoined Steemit, I’ve been using it as an avenue to teach; hence, the reason why I was so excited about the fact that it was included in Season 19 of the Steem Engagement Challenge. I would like to see communities capitalize on this and add teaching and learning to their offerings.

In conclusion, do I think the use of digital applications can replace face-to-face learning completely? NEVER!

We only need to ask ourselves one question: Why does AI have a face?

People, especially children relate to a face, which is also the reason why online teaching has shown potential growth over the last few years—a 900% increase since 2020. (According to Reallygreatteachers.com)

By incorporating technological advancements, education can be more personalized, engaging, and accessible, empowering learners and educators to reach their full potential.

It seems that business is not only in my blood but also that of my stepson, and that is due to technology. He told me I can use his images provided that I share my earnings with him. Cheeky!

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