Transformative Technologies Are Leading the Path of Futuristic Learning

Maikel Alendy, Associate Director of Instructional Learning Technology, FIU Online

Can you briefly talk about your role at FIU Online?

Florida International University (FIU) is located in Miami, Florida. I am the associative director of instructional learning technology, in charge of managing the learning design innovation team. The team is made up of instructional designers and faculty specialists, and is responsible for researching, procuring, and training the educational technologies that we deploy across our online or hybrid classes. The team also suggests creative ways to apply digital alternatives to traditional face-to-face learning activities.

I am also a faculty fellow at our honors college, where I am the curriculum committee’s co-chair for higher-level courses. I teach 4 to 5 courses per semester and serve the FIU’s scholarship, academic integrity, student conduct, and ungraduated research committees, where I am the faculty advisor for the student health organization.

What are some of the recent trends in the edtech space, and what direction is the space taking with digital tools?

A lot of things changed after the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, edtech mostly meant data analytics—acquiring student data and leveraging AI and machine learning tools to better support teachers and learners. However, due to the pandemic, edtech’s role evolved beyond analytics to address learners’ lack of connectivity through more sophisticated web conferencing tools.

Edtech solutions are also embracing mobile-first designs to address ease of use among learners. The new designs are resulting in learning management systems (LMS) that can be fully accessed and used on smartphones, with faster load times and efficient operation even with the low connection.

What are some of the methods that you employ to engage with your students better?

Our communication methods with different learners depend on different generation groups. Grouping people by generation helps us honor their cultural diversity, technological impacts, and other factors. One of the strategies we have employed is fostering aesthetic values. For instance, we hired a visual design manager 4 to 5 years ago to embrace the principles of multimedia learning. The visual designer showed us the impact of presenting information that leverages media to create the best learning experience and ensure that our students keep coming back and enjoy being in the learning space.

"To move the edtech needle in a transformative, innovative, and meaningful way, we must get the faculty, administrators, and tool developers to communicate with each other so they can create something powerful and inclusive."

We have also curated tools on adaptive learning techniques. One tool that we love in FIU is PlayPosit, an interactive video tool. We use feedback mechanisms in the tool to curate formative assessments for learners instead of the usual summative assessments. With the PlayPosit, students get redirected with instant feedback and different resources to help them learn as they progress through a lesson. Another feature of the tool is that it is timely and customized, so learners can jump to different parts of a learning video and get feedback or answers to the questions posted.

Is there any technology that you are excited about in the future?

The future of education rests on its ability to make learning accessible for all, and promote social mobility. We are excited about leveraging AI and augmented reality with personalized and relevant feedback. Since augmented reality is a low-cost and impactful transformative tool, it can be embedded using a smartphone. Technology has a real chance of becoming a powerful learning tool that learners can use everywhere to learn from wherever they are.

What advice would you like to give to your peers or industry leaders?

Our biggest problems are that some of the largest and oldest institutions don’t have enough communication and investment to build the technological infrastructure to acquire student data and make informed decisions. Universities should spend money on expanding technological competencies right now instead of physical infrastructure, like new buildings, because the future is online.

To move the edtech needle in a transformative, innovative, and meaningful way, we must get the faculty, administrators, and tool developers to communicate with each other so they can create something powerful and inclusive.

EdTech

Augmented Reality

Learning Management

Machine Learning