Learning how to build an Internet of Things ecosystem and understanding how data is collected and examined is critical for students as they prepare to enter the workforce, as careers in automation and technology require proficiency in those areas.
However, academic institutions must do more than teach the status quo; they must prepare the next generation of college graduates to become innovators and push beyond the current standards and practices. Academia is the place to begin finding new ways to collect and interpret data by improving the IoT ecosystem and digging deeper into data while encouraging imagination and creativity.
Improving the IoT Ecosystem
The IoT ecosystem comprises interconnected devices, networks, cloud, users, and software that allows for the movement of data and its analysis. Educational leaders must take the initiative to integrate IoT technology and interdisciplinary collaboration into the curriculum at all levels, empowering students to harness the power of data and innovation to tackle real-world challenges and drive positive change in their communities.
From elementary school to college, immersing students in IoT-related technology while also breaking down silos in education to merge disciplines will produce optimal outcomes. Using computers and mobile devices is part of everyday life for young children in the 21st Century, so it is an excellent time to pique their interest in understanding how they are built, how to write operating software, what's needed for cyber defense, and ways to network these devices together and store the information they collect. After an introduction to the basics of the hardware and software that make up the IoT, the next step is to teach students the importance of collecting data and how to interpret it. Analysis is the opportunity to utilize math, statistics, probabilities, and social sciences to understand the impact of data-based decisions on a community.
Read this article in full in our Integr8 Playbook, “Transformative Synergy: Exploring Big Data and IoT,” here.
