It is a time of ever-evolving technology. From having a phone tethered to landlines to complex devices that can be held in the palm. Using them for everything from communication to exploring the world beyond our doors. With technology advancing in the home, it was inevitable to see a shift in advancing technology in the classroom. However, this shift has gone above and beyond just using computers to write notes and attending classes over video calls.
Technology and innovation have been a steady force in the classroom, transforming how students engage and discover. According to Purdue University, technology has always been a factor in human education. From the early days when over-the-radio classes were introduced, to almost every student now brings in laptops that connect to the Wi-Fi. Technology in the classroom has constantly adapted to meet the ever-changing demands, paving its way to learning and teaching more immersive and digital learning experiences in the current decade.
Texas State University is actively incorporating cutting-edge technology into its classrooms to enhance both research, and student success. The university has been expanding its curriculum in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging media technologies. This effort gained momentum during the pandemic, as the shift to online learning pushed faculty, and students to explore advanced technology and systems. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) stands out in this effort, offering courses that provide hands-on experience with tools such as Virtual Reality (VR), 360 Video, and Drones. These classes equip students with practical skills to approach media and storytelling through innovative, and immersive methods.
Check out some insight into the Emerging Technology across Texas State below.
This rise of emerging technologies in the classrooms reflects a global trend towards more interactive and technology-driven education. According to the 2023 UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, 65% of students in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries now have teachers skilled in using digital devices with 50% of the world’s secondary schools now connected to the internet for learning. As access to technology continues to expand, these tools are being integrated into education as early as elementary level courses. Further equipping students with innovative skills from an early age.
Texas State is among the many universities embracing the future of technology in education.
In addition to VR and drones, universities around the nation are expanding their curricula to include new technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning and robotics. According to the USF Sarasota-Manatee, AI is becoming a mainstream tool in education, helping students prepare for the rapidly evolving workforce. Institutions like the University of Florida and Stanford have formed a partnership in the industry to explore the potential of AI with advancing entertainment and developments in healthcare.
The future of education lies in innovation. Listen to the story below as experts share their experiences with emerging technologies and its impact on learning.
Dr. Nicole Stewart, an assistant professor who has just recently joined the Texas State team, is providing expertise in VR for this new generation of students. Her interest in VR began during the pandemic, highlighting how this technology is becoming an integral part of education. Reflecting on her experience teaching in VR, she explains, “The moment I put this headset on at home… I immediately said, ‘I need to teach with this.‘ That was all it took. I realized how amazing it would be to teach a class inside virtual reality.”
For many students, this type of technology was initially seen as unlikely to be a substitute for the more traditional distance learning tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. However, many are surprised by how quickly that mindset can change when thinking of it as a tool for storytelling and collaboration. Graduate student David Nunez was initially skeptical, having never donned a headset before attending his first VR class. His opinions changed after using the headset for the first time. Saying, “At first, I didn’t think VR had the potential to be more than a fad… But after working with it, I realized how many opportunities there are… VR opens up new ways of telling stories that go beyond traditional 2D screens.” Nunes’s experiences reflect a larger trend emerging. VR is no longer a tool for entertainment, it is transforming how students learn and create.
Students are no longer bystanders in their education, but rather active participants in their own stories.
To learn more about the experiences students and professionals are navigating with these technological advancements, check out the vodcast, “Technological Developments” hosted by Emma and Desarae below.
VR is not the only technology taught that is transforming the classrooms. Associate Professor Dale Blasingame is an expert in drone technology, having incorporated drone-based courses into his course load for several years. Drones allow students to create visually compelling narratives from rarely seen perspectives. Like VR, drones come with their own set of challenges, particularly for students who have never flown one before. Blasingame explains, “Most students have never flown a drone… There’s an intimidation factor at first because drones are expensive, and students are worried about crashing the school’s equipment. But once they get the hang of it, they realize how easy it is.”
Blasingame emphasizes the importance of starting the class with six weeks of safety and ethics training, ensuring students understand how complex the rules and regulations are around flying these types of devices before they have a chance to even touch the remote. Despite these challenges, students have found some innovative ways to use drones for video they could not have achieved with more traditional video recording tools. For example, one student surprised Blasingame during a trip to Palo Duro Canyon by suggesting they film a dramatic shot of the student standing at the top of a lighthouse.
In both VR and drone classes, students gained access to new opportunities for content creation and storytelling in a way that traditional tools cannot. Blasingame notes that there are often students who walk away from his drone course with either marketable skills and want to fly drones for their careers in media or just add something more immersive to their portfolios. He explains, “Some students take the drone class because it sounds cool, but others see it as a step toward a career. For those interested in real estate or law enforcement, drones are becoming a critical tool.”
As new jobs emerge, students find themselves balancing all the new skills they master to stand a chance in this new technology-forward landscape. With the increasing number of tech jobs being replaced by AI and automation, experts from the Pew Research Center are all in agreement that there is still room for the human way of thinking in these future jobs. However, they require students to learn these skills before entering the workplace and preparing themselves for more diverse roles.
Emerging technologies are becoming more common in classrooms, their impact on students’ future careers cannot be exaggerated. These technologies give students hands-on practical experience that prepares them for jobs in media, technology, and beyond. Nunes reflected on his own experience learning VR, calling it essential to his future, “VR will give me the opportunity to connect with people in ways the world has never seen before… Whatever business venture I pursue, I believe VR will be used as a form of communication.”
Students Alan and Parker walking towards their afternoon biology class at the Supple Building at Texas State 
Female students, Denna and Cindy, heading to one of their lab classes, reviewing the posters outside on their way back from lunch. 
First semester engineering student Jenifer just finished her class at the Roy F. Mitte building, and is heading to her next class at Supple 
The Roy F. Mitte building is often used for classes ranging from Engineering to Physics 
In the Roy F. Mitte building, there is a Magnetic and Electric Spectroscopy Lab that host a shared research operation between a handful of scientists 
Walking around the Supple building, Physics student Nick was reviewing a last minute lecture before his presentation today at Ingram Hall 
Down the way from Roy F. Mitte, and across the road from Supple is Ingram Hall, a building that host some of the more unique tools for technology students 
On the bottom floor, away from the classrooms lay the Ingram Hall Makerspace that provides Engineering students with the tools to create. 
The Ingram Hall Makerspace is a hub for innovation at Texas State University. Where authorized students work on cutting-edge projects with advanced tools and technologies. 
On their way from an afternoon class near the Makerspace in Ingram Hall, students Angela and Katie were going over a project in the halls before heading home for the day
From taking that leap of faith of trying new complex tools to learning new essential skills for the ever-emerging technological landscape of media. Professors like Dr. Stewart and Blastingame are offering opportunities to learn in immersive, and engaging environments, helping students prepare for this future of media and storytelling. These experiences are shaping how students interact with emerging technology in the classroom, readying them for careers in an increasingly digital world.
