TheInternetofThings(IoT)impliestheconnectionofthemanyphysicaldevicesallover the
world to the internet. These devices all collect and share data.
InternetofThings(IoT)continuestoplayasignificantroleinthecontextofInformation and
Communication Technologies and the development of society. This development, will no doubt,
revolutionize theteaching and learning process by enhancing learning outcomes through the
provision of more rewarding learning experiences, improved operational efficiency, and by
gaining real-time, actionable insight into student performance.
According toAldowah,Rehman,Ghazal,andUmar (2017),IoTwilldramaticallychange
thewaycollegesanduniversitiesworkandaugmentstudentlearninginseveraldisciplinesandat any
level. They believe that IoT has the potential for educational institutions (if they are prepared) to
experience widespread and successful implementation by leadership, staff, and students.
The evolution of the global Internet has created a smaller world where global
communication among people happens in real time; however, with the emergence of IoT
Aldowah, et al. (2017), argues that “human-to-human communications have been transformed
intocommunicationbetweeneverythingandeverythingthatreferstohuman-to-human,human- to-
machine and machine-to-machine communications altogether.As a result of it, IoThas been
able to capture all spheres of human life like security and privacy provisioning, health care,
recycling, environmental monitoring and so on”.
Kiryakova,Yordanova andAngelova (2017) writes that the Internet of Things affords
manyopportunitiesforlearningthroughtheconversionofpersonaldevicesintotoolsfortraining as they
provide easy and quick access to educational resources and activities. “The IoT can help
to create an interactive and innovative learning environment that corresponds to the new
pedagogicalparadigmsandchangedneedsandexpectationsofteachersandlearners”(p.83).
Thereisanincreasingdemandforuniversitiesandcollegestodigitizetheircontentand activities,
and the current pandemic has highlighted the need for this to happen more swiftly.
This will no doubt enhance the work of academics and researchers and eventually reduce
operational costs. Implementing new technologies and programs is not without risks and as
McRae,Ellis,andKent(2018)points out,privacyisamajorconcern,particularlytheriseinthe use of
digital assistants and the fact that “always-on” devices are constantly listening pose privacy
implications. Security is also another major issue especially with the tracking of GPS location
on smart phones.Additionally, there are also security concerns regarding the authentication of
data collected by the various devices.As Bian,Yoshigoe, Hicks,Yuan,He,
Xie,andModave,(2016)reminds“Security,whileseparatetoprivacy,isoftenconsideredtobe a related
issue”Addressing these challenges and issues to ensure security in IoT devices and services
should be a fundamental priority (Agarwal, andPati, 2016, P.7).
(NewInternationalVersionBible,1973/2011,2Timothy3:17)reminds that“theservant
ofGodmaybethoroughlyequippedforeverygoodwork”.InternetofThingsisoneoftheways of
equipping educators for work we do.
References
Agarwal,S.,&Pati,S.(2016).Studyofinternetofthings.InternationalJournalforScientific Research
& Development, 4(05), 4.
Aldowah, H., Rehman, S. U., Ghazal, S., & Umar, I. N. (2017). Internet of things in higher
education:astudyonfuturelearning.InJournalofPhysics:ConferenceSeries(Vol.892, No. 1,
p. 012017).
Bian,J.,Yoshigoe,K.,Hicks,A.,Yuan,J.,He,Z.,Xie,M.,...&Modave,F.(2016).Mining twitter to
assess the public perception of the “internet of things”. PloS one, 11(7),
Kiryakova,G.,Yordanova,L.,&Angelova,N.(2017).Canwemakeschoolsanduniversities smarter
with the internet of things? TEM Journal, 6(1), 80.
McRae,L.,Ellis,K.,&Kent,M.(2018).Internetofthings(IoT):educationand technology.
Relatsh.betweenEduc.Technol.studentswithDisabil.Leanne,Res.,1-37.
New International Version Bible. (2011). New international version online.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+4%3A13&version=NIV(Origin
al work published 1973)
