After selecting Gartner Report’s “Gartner Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2018” (https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/gartner-top-10-strategic-technology-trends-for-2018/), I chose to select Trend #3: “Intelligent Things” to focus on with respect to its training and educational implications. First off, let’s start with a basic definition. “Intelligent things” can be defined as a machine’s ability to use data analytics or AI to either function autonomously, respond to cues without prompting, or improve its function over time. One of the more popular examples is the “Nest” thermostats that automatically adjust your house’s temperature based on season, and history of usage. Now think of these implications from a training and learning perspective.
Market
Some interesting statistics from Forbes.com (Columbus, 2018):
- Machine learning patents grew at a 34% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) between 2013 and 2017, the third-fastest growing category of all patents granted.
- International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts that spending on AI and ML will grow from $12B in 2017 to $57.6B by 2021.
- Deloitte Global predicts the number of machine learning pilots and implementations will double in 2018 compared to 2017, and double again by 2020.
Needless to say, the market is growing exponentially.
“Interoperability”
My experience within the commercial training and education field, this is a game changer. “Interoperability” is one of the buzz words of late, especially in the military and team training environments. I was at a trade show last winter (http://exhibits.iitsec.org/) where smart machines and interoperability were all the rage. Multiple systems connected and talking to one another, allowing air and ground operations to talk and coordinate operations, all in a simulated, video-game like experience. As Gartner contributor Kasey Panetta states, “As intelligent things proliferate, expect a shift from stand-alone intelligent things to a swarm of collaborative intelligent things. In this model, multiple devices will work together, either independently or with human input” (2017). This shift has already been in development for some years now.
Market Status
With respect to the Cube Analytical Framework from our weekly reading, this is going to be a commercial shift in the collaborative simulation and training market which is still in its infancy in terms of market status, with very quickly developing and competitive commercial market, but my initial thought was how this applies to the K-12 or even post-secondary education streams?
Implications for Training and Education
After some digging, I found that the use of “Intelligent things” can be used to add value in all areas of teaching, training, and educational development mostly in the organizational, infrastructural, and administrative aspects:
- create an open ecosystem of educator resources and centralized databases, much like the Google suite of tools
- collect and analyze assessment data and general data analytics (http://www.educationandcareernews.com/sponsored/how-interoperability-is-shaping-the-classrooms-of-the-future)
- improve sharing of student-teacher information and communication
- increase efficiency (and cost) of school districts due the sharing and communicating of systems
- allow teachers to step away from traditional teaching methods and adopt online, collaborative, constructivist teaching methods, to better prepare students for a connected world
However, do these mechanisms allow deeper learning from a student perspective, or just easier learning on the part of educators/developers? In time I hope the solution will incorporate both aspects.
Take away questions:
- Do you see any other potential benefits of “Intelligent Things” in your place of work? What about drawbacks?
- Does your school, district or professional workplace implement any “Intelligent Things”? If yes, how does it help your day-to-day?
As similar reports are updated regularly on Gartner’s website, I will most certainly consider revisiting this site and others similar to stay abreast of the newest edtech trends and areas of development.
Cheers,
Reg
References
Columbus, L. (2018, February 18). Roundup Of Machine Learning Forecasts And Market Estimates, 2018. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2018/02/18/roundup-of-machine-learning-forecasts-and-market-estimates-2018/#15f2a1062225
Panetta, K. (2017, October 3). Gartner Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2018. Gartner. Retrieved from https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/gartner-top-10-strategic-technology-trends-for-2018/
Teicher, J. (2018). How Interoperability Is Shaping the Classrooms of the Future. Media Planet: Education and Career News. Retrieved from http://www.educationandcareernews.com/sponsored/how-interoperability-is-shaping-the-classrooms-of-the-future
