Does technology today, specifically digital tools used for education and organizations, suffice? Selwyn et al. (2021) stated, “the future is not something to be predicted but to be made” (p. 105). As a result, I chose to delve into the issue my organization, and I are facing. Our work is done with people all over the globe, but in the past, teams worked together on projects via phone calls, back-and-forth emails, and even travel. Throughout the pandemic, our company learned that its employees could still collaborate efficiently through tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. In addition, through various digital tools, people discovered it was still possible to work cooperatively and cohesively without needing to meet face-to-face.
With that, moving back to a hybrid working style has proved that nothing beats face-to-face interaction. Using virtual technologies, people cannot engage with each other in the same way, and it is just not as realistic. In 2030, I believe that people will be able to collaborate virtually without feeling like there is a gap like they are staring at a computer screen. I am hopeful that automation and artificial intelligence will develop even further, making virtual learning and work seem natural and in-person. Today’s conference tools will be more advanced, more developed, and more robust, so collaborating online will become more accessible and realistic.
Reference:
Selwyn, N. (2021). Ed-Tech Within Limits: Anticipating educational technology in times of environmental crisis. E-Learning and Digital Media, 18(5), 496-510. https://doi.org/10.1177/20427530211022951