How technology will shape the future of education

New technologies like AI, machine learning, and educational software aren't just changing the field for students, they're shaking up the role of educators, creating philosophical shifts in approaches to teaching, and remodeling the classroom.

With an influx of new learning models available, traditional educational methods are bound to evolve in the next decade. To get a better sense of where things are heading, Business Insider has taken a closer look at technology's developing role in the field of education and outlined the advances that could be spelled out for the future.

Adaptive learning software is quickly replacing the role of textbooks in the classrooms and students are tackling subjects with the aid of tailor-made computer programs that assist their needs.

With technology making it easier than ever before to query Google or effortlessly calculate a math problem, educators are determining the types of knowledge students need in order to thrive in a technology-saturated workforce.

While educational models of the past focused on providing students with the requisite skills to turn them into skilled workers, the educators of today are more concerned with teaching students how to learn on their own.

With educators better equipped at understanding a student's learning process, classrooms are being formed around small groups, with students who match each other's skill level working together.

With adaptive technology assisting individuals at every skill level, students are better equipped to learn on their own.

The internet is a powerful learning tool that provides unprecedented access to information around the world in a variety of formats, such as video, online games, blogs and even archived material. Equipping schools with Wi-Fi that is fast, secure and safe will help teachers to maximise the value of the internet in their own classrooms. It also provides students with an opportunity to approach a task more creatively, to enhance their understanding of the material.

Virtual reality, or VR, with brands such as Oculus, Samsung and Google taking the stage to bring virtual reality to life. Its benefits for gaming are clear, but it is also being heralded as an innovative learning resource, capable of immersing students in their chosen subject. 

Technology such as Google Cardboard or Samsung Gear VR only require a phone and a special app to work, making VR more accessible to schools. Virtual science labs, for example, could allow students to experiment without open flames or dangerous chemicals, while virtual language labs could allow students to have a conversation with a native speaker without leaving the country.