An abstract representation of large AI language models.
A range of technological innovations, currently at different stages of development, will complement each other and integrate digital, physical, cognitive and social realities in ways never seen before. Such interaction calls for an unprecedented interconnection between educational, digital, environmental and industrial policies, leading to a different vision of the future of education.
The JRC report on The Future of Technology in Education: Emerging Trends and Policy Implications identifies technological innovations with high potential to impact, in the medium and long term, pedagogical practices and education delivery more generally.
While the seven liberal arts – grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy – have long formed the basis of education, in the age of generative artificial intelligence, basic skills such as writing, mathematics, communication and knowledge about the world, need to be rethought.
The report analyzes key developments such as new communications infrastructures, immersive technologies, digital credentials, data or generative artificial intelligence (AI) taking into account the way students learn and develop new knowledge, attitudes and skills.
The next internet
New wireless communications infrastructures that comply with the 6G standard are poised to create a completely new paradigm of synchronization and blending of physical media with digital media. The so-called “next Internet” that will emerge from such developments will harness a wider range of frequencies and rely on a pervasive, AI-powered network of high-precision “sensors.”
This will intertwine perception, space, and action in unprecedented ways through usable representations of the physical world. This in turn will amplify the educational potential of the already sophisticated virtual worlds that we are already beginning to see, as shown in the recent JRC report: The next generation of virtual worlds: the social, technological, economic and political challenges facing the EU.
Faster networks, improved computing capabilities, and lightweight devices will enable immersive technologies such as virtual worlds, augmented reality, and holograms to simulate learning situations that would otherwise not be possible due to the safety risks and high costs associated with real-life experiences.
Emerging technologies are also reshaping learning assessment and competency certification processes. Distributed and decentralized systems, such as blockchain and micro-credentials, that confirm completion of short-term training or courses, are gradually gaining ground in a world where continuous development and upskilling is becoming more common.
Data in education
As the so-called data transformation of education continues to gain momentum, large-scale data about education will play a central role in transforming the knowledge society. In recent years, detailed data about learning processes has been increasingly collected by providers of digital learning platforms.
However, ethical concerns about the processing of personal data and potential misuse must be carefully addressed. There has been much discussion about the potential problems associated with the uncontrolled flow of data to commercial entities, and the need to evaluate the benefits and harms of “data transformation” for education.
What about artificial intelligence?
AI systems have reached a level of maturity where they can imitate and even outperform humans at certain tasks. The analysis underscores the lasting impact that generative AI can have, as the use of automatic video captioning, subtitling, video summarization and highlights extraction, along with text-to-animation and artificial audio-to-video would provide many opportunities for pedagogical innovation and enhanced accessibility. .
It will be necessary to make informed decisions about which activities can be “delegated” to machines, and which ones we as humans should retain, to make the most of new learning opportunities.
Skills and assessment
Up to two-thirds of current jobs will be exposed to AI-based automation in the coming years. It will have a significant impact on vocational education and training, and will lead to rapid changes in the labor market.
More research is needed to understand how AI, especially generative AI, will impact assessment and how it will impact incidental skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving.
The authors highlight the need to critically evaluate the impact of emerging technologies on teaching, learning and education in general, recognizing their potential role in widening the digital divide and the risks of commercial interests that dominate this sector. It highlights the importance of regulating technological innovation to allow diverse educational visions to flourish.
The report opens a new scope of work for the JRC's Digital Skills and Education project, which will examine in more detail some of these trends and innovations in a series of upcoming studies.
Related links
On the future of technology in education: emerging trends and policy implications
Next Generation Virtual Worlds: The societal, technological, economic and political challenges facing the European Union
