There is no dissension that technology as truly digitalized the world with the impact of educational software in the society as one of the evidences of the fact. With this massive growth and systemic change in the way we see and understand things generally in the society, education has too benefited from these new perspectives and it is thence navigating unique horizons that will fit modern needs.
The ES is a term used for any computer software which is made for an educational purpose. It encompasses different ranges from language learning software to classroom management software to reference software.
Innovation in technology has opened up numerous opportunities in every sphere, and the education industry is no exception. The implementation of new technologies has reshaped the educational sector, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when everybody studied online, we could feel all the benefits of using educational software. According to statistics, the global eLearning market will reach $167 billion in 2026.
So far so good, in this article, we need to share the impact of educational software in the society. One of these impacts are that:
Eased Teachers’ Workload
One very key thing which the educational software has done is that it has relieved teachers of many of the engagements which give stress and put their teaching skill at a disadvantage. The software can automate many processes of secondary importance and help teachers focus on their key activities. For instance, special tools provide access to student information, give grades for test assignments, check the homework, and handle other time-consuming processes.
It Tracks Student’s Progress and Academic Excellence
Tracking and reporting on the learner’s progress is another key function of online education software. It enables offering more personalized content based on the experience and achievements of a particular student. It also helps you improve the course or program content to make it more suitable to the needs and expertise level of most students. If you provide the reports to the learners, it makes your online school look more responsible and professional.
Reduced the Cost of Education
This is probably one of the most substantial benefits of educational software for schools. In times of economic crisis caused by a pandemic, cutting costs is a priority for any business. And going online is the most popular way to achieve it. Businesses save costs on rent, taxes, learning materials, etc. The innovative technologies let the users learn from home, and the only expense is the internet access and the course or program price.
It Organizes Content With Access
You can store all the materials and structure them in one safe place. This way, you keep all the vital information and can easily create different courses. Moreover, all the team members can access it if you use a cloud-based LMS. It is an ideal option for teams who work together at the same school or other educational institutions.
Team members also have unlimited access to the materials from any device to perform the necessary tasks or learn new information. Moreover, even the international teams and audiences can use eLearning as the time zone difference is eliminated.
It has Enhanced Student Engagement and Performance
Cutting-edge technologies like AI, AR, and VR are a trend in the educational industry. Mobile learning software is an ideal solution targeted and designed according to the needs and interests of different student categories. There has always been a problem with pre-school and primary school learners, but the gamification of the process and use of various activities improve interest. Out-of-the-box assignments improve creativity and keep the children engaged and motivated longer.
Impact of Open Source Software on Education
Apart from the significant development that has taken place in the business world, the impact of open source software on education is no less talk of the town.
1. Security
Open source software has publicly available code. This means that it’s available for everyone to see and inspect. Open source community members then gladly intervene in the code and suggest changes to it. A lot of times, the suggestions make the app more secure. All in all, open source software has the whole community behind its back as contributors.
2. Flexibility
A big challenge that universities have when it comes to digital transformation is the complexity and uniqueness of their systems. From a technological point of view, this makes it harder for universities to adopt technologies that are not built with their specific requirements in mind. Moreover, almost 70% of public sector employees believe that their digital skills are poorer than those of their private-sector colleagues, making them harder to adapt to completely new systems.
Since open source software is free to inspect and use, it can also be easily modified to match the exact needs of its users. This is often of critical importance to universities whose complex IT infrastructure requires a high level of flexibility when adding new solutions.
3. Cost-effectiveness
The cost of open source software varies, but it is cheaper than proprietary software as a rule of thumb. Users usually opt for free trials or install community versions of the software at hand, which is usually free. Thisgives higher education institutions a good insight into how a specific open source software would fit into their complex infrastructure. Furthermore, open source software customization can be done in-house and doesn’t have to be expensive. On the other hand, proprietary software vendors usually charge extra for customization.
