SEC-S19W6 | Digital Applications in Learning

Hello, It's Zoom.

I'm your favourite AI-powered collaboration app, capable of making your meetings with people from different states and countries possible without having to book flights for a physical meet-up. I have all the features you need to make teaching a huge success.

I became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, where everyone got to use me for virtual learning, video conferencing, meetings, etc. If you need my services, I'm always available to render them with ease. Reliable and fast video conferencing. The pleasure is yours.

screenshots from my app manager

The world is advancing in such a way that mostly everyone is virtually based. They live online, study online, make money online, and even make purchases online without going to a physical establishment for this purpose. Just imagine the advantages of crypto over traditional banks.

Who knew crypto would replace traditional banks in providing easy, fast, and reliable transactions? You can hold a lot of money on the space and even get to grow your money virtually without having to go to financial establishments to go through all the procedures for this, of which access to funds is sometimes denied.

The masses exchange their dollars for local currencies online. Digital money, as my mom will call it. Now let's match this comparison with the subject matter, Digital Applications in Learning.. Last week, we talked about virtual/digital learning in general and saw its importance and how it can improve the educational system.

Now, we'll be highlighting some applications that make this virtual learning possible. I'll be specific with an application known as ZOOM.

The use of digital applications is a technological development that has proven effective in enhancing learning and teaching. Without these applications, learning and teaching even remotely can't be done. Take, for example, the use of the popular video conferencing application - Zoom.

_{pictures from play store where I got to search for the app.}

This app wasn't as popular as it is now, 5 years ago. What transpired? The pandemic that shut down everything made people look for applications that could support their work with others virtually since in-person meetings weren't possible. I came to know about this application that year, and here are some of the application features that I feel will affect the future of education.

I can remember a time when I said that in the next decade, physical establishments won't be readily available as learning would be done virtually, as in other countries where crises are on the rise. Before explaining how this can affect the future of education, I want to show off some important features that this application has to enhance teaching as a teacher, learning, and meetups.

As a teacher, using the Zoom application will help you see your students virtually in their abode, and they will get to see you. In light of the prevalence of crises, you may be wondering how you can teach on Zoom effectively as a teacher. Here are some features that can help you:

You must first download the app via the Play Store and then sign up to create an account. After creating an account, you then create a meeting link as the host to start the Zoom meeting or class. You can share the meeting link or Zoom ID with your learners who will join the class. This is an example. Features like the sharing of screens, seeing participants, chat feature, whiteboard, and the likes of them.

• Screen Sharing: This is a feature where teachers can share their screens for learners to view in the absence of a whiteboard, which may not be that effective for teaching due to the fonts and zooms needed. This screen sharing makes it possible for learners to have a clearer view of what is being taught, and the teacher gets to use materials on his or her phone to explain concepts.

	Screen Share icon helps a teacher navigate her contents

• Online whiteboard is used in place of a physical whiteboard to teach learners. You get to use texts and online markers to create or inscribe information for your audience to view clearly. You get to zoom in and out.

• Chat button: You get to chat with your learners virtually when class is ongoing, as you may not want a rowdy audience when the microphone is unmuted. You get to hear everyone's response in the class, as most may be more comfortable texting than using voice.

	The chat button is at the far right end

• Note icon: Learners get to use the note pad to note down things without leaving the space, which you as a teacher can do as well.

As to these applications affecting the future of education; I would say that these digital applications will get to the brim..

• There are areas where learning physically can't be done and the utilisation of these applications can promote this. It will reach remote areas which expands access to quality education.
• In future, these digital applications will improve in such a way that it tailor education to individual Students'needs and learning styles which encourages personalized learning. They'll be lots of ungrade on integrating stimulations, gamification via these applications and Hands-on learning experiential learning .

Yes, it can, and it is already doing so. Despite the fact that it's a social media platform where you get to create contents and engage in people's contents, you can learn a lot from Steemit, ranging from cooking, sewing, programming, and crypto as a whole.

Let's take instances because I'm actually relating from experience. Steemit taught me crypto trading, and I'm not an amateur in the space. I've gotten to know the basics, and it's really helping me financially.

How? Check out the Steem Alliance group; you get to learn basic trading strategies that you would have paid money to learn, but it's free, and these aren't just video contents from people who explain theories. You get to see live applications and the results of trades. Just as YouTube does such, Steemit too is helpful.

	Steemit has taught me the robes of crypto for free

Screenshots from my bybit

When it comes to cooking, you can learn people's strategies for cooking a particular meal, how it is well prepared, and some useful ingredients therein. I also learnt how to cook from Steemit. Aside from this, the various contents, engagement challenges, and teaching classes have taught me how to improve my writing skills and creativity in general. I got to know some useful tools through Steemit, like tools used for checking plagiarism and the like.

	Cooking skills and social life is improved

There are ongoing tutorials on Steemit that you can benefit from. Though it may not include face-to-face virtual contact with the learner, it gives you a glimpse of what to expect and how it's done.

The use of digital applications cannot replace face-to-face learning completely because, most times, learning physically, where you get to see the teacher's mouth and also see him in person, has the power to transform your learning skills. Not everyone loves virtually learning, as they may not understand unless someone shows them how to do so physically.

Relating to my experience, there's this crypto class I had to attend physically because I couldn't completely understand what was done online. There are tutorials you may encounter for the first time, and you may not get them right virtually unless someone uses his or her hands to operate them for you to see them physically on your phone. Some basic reasons include:

Not all students have equal access to an internet connection that's good, Battery problems and a faulty device, and this may interrupt the student's following of the class while it's ongoing. Watching recorded classes may not be that helpful for students who are dull, as they may not get the opportunity to ask questions they don't understand.

Hands-on learning is not as effective virtually compared to physical projects and experiments in the laboratory. This is where digital applications suffer, as they don't get to practice this in real life because of a lack of working space and tools.

	You get to do everything virtually and won't be exposed to hands-on experiments related to science

Like a science experiment, it may not be possible virtually. Even though it's possible, it may not be as effective as a physical classroom where you get to see students do these things and they learn from you.

Social learning is not that effective in that students learn from peers, develop social skills and interactions, and also build interests. The fact that you're not seeing your peers physically may contribute to dull learning. The isolation of learning is a different ecosystem on its own and can cause a lack of interest in studies. This is when case studies come in where digital classrooms or applications can't replace face-to-face learning completely.

	Digital Applications can't offer you social learning opportunities

These are a few reasons why digital applications can't override face-to-face learning completely.

In conclusion, the world has evolved technologically to ensure that learning can be done in both physical and virtual ways, which has helped a lot of people in this era. Those coming from long distances, workplaces, or may not have the opportunity to attend a physical class abroad, these applications provide an opportunity where this can be done effectively and remotely.

I invite @whizzbro4eva, @usoro01, and @mentor2fine to participate.

Original pictures are mine