Technology was already advancing rapidly, but nowadays, with the fusion of AI and other high-tech tools, the overall pace of technological development is now 100 times faster compared to the past.
Just 18 months ago, a robot with human-like appearance and basic movements took four years to complete, but today, a version of the same robot capable of ironing, cooking, house cleaning, and even acting as a real assistant through AI can be developed within months.
While it may not be a reality yet, items like a classroom teacher, course instructor, or a news anchor on television will likely be added to the list mentioned above in the near future.
Future Teaching: Holographic Avatars Taking Over University Classrooms
Loughborough University (a public university in the UK) has started using holographic technology, commonly used to bring back deceased or retired singers, to bring guest instructors from around the world into their classrooms.
This technology, offering students the opportunity to have a physics lesson from Albert Einstein or a design workshop from Coco Chanel, has garnered significant interest among students. Prof. Vikki Locke, the director of postgraduate studies at Loughborough business school, states that students “absolutely love” the technology.
The holographic units, sold by LA-based Proto, are used by major companies to make meetings more efficient and reduce corporate travel needs. David Nussbaum, the founder of Proto, claims that his company has the potential to bring back great thinkers of the 20th century from the dead. The company could create holograms of thinkers like Stephen Hawking, allowing for interactive use through connections like books, lectures, and social media.
The introduction of holographic technology into the university curriculum is officially planned for 2025.
This technology could contribute to sustainability strategies by reducing the need for flying in guest speakers and facilitating international research collaborations. David Nussbaum, Proto’s founder, envisions introducing smaller and more affordable holographic units, aiming to provide students with experiences similar to “Wonkavision” in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Beginning of a New Era in Education
Holographic avatars could revolutionize teaching, guest lectures, and interactions, providing a closer and more effective learning experience than ever before. Supported by artificial intelligence, this technology signals the beginning of a new era in education, offering students more interactive, realistic, and unforgettable learning experiences.
While these may seem experimental for now, they are sure to spread from primary school classrooms to university lecture halls in the near future, transforming education through such tools.
Of course, we are aware that there are both significant advantages and disadvantages to this new approach.
Speaking specifically about Turkey, currently, there is no such thing as “equality in education.”
Imagine 500 fourth-grade students from all provinces. Even within these 500 classes, each class’s education on the same curriculum is not the same. While 100 classes may learn the same topic by 90%, another 100 classes may only grasp 70%, and the remaining 300 classes may learn even less. Reasons for this situation include teacher inadequacy, lack of experience or contribution to education by teachers, etc. However, a central hologram accessing these 500 classes and imparting the same topic to each one equally is one of its significant advantages.
On the other hand, the disadvantage is, as you can predict, the decline, or perhaps the end, of traditional education, leading to a diminished need for teachers.