SUSTAINABLE STEM EDUCATION IN THE IOT ERA: BALANCING THE PARADOX OF APPLICATIONS, BENEFITS, AND CHALLENGES FOR BETTER PROSPECT

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) has changed multiple facets of life,
especially in education. This research examines the Sustainable
STEM Education in the IoT Era: Balancing the paradox of
applications, benefits, and challenges for better prospect. IoT
devices enable dynamic, real-time interactions and foster
collaboration between educators and learners, enhancing
classroom engagement, deepening students' comprehension, and
optimizing resource allocation. The applications and benefits of
IoT in STEM education encompass smart classroom, management
of Alumni data, Electronic-Learning, digital library, security
system, students' health monitoring, students' attendance system,
digital whiteboard, data resource management and integrated
learning, along with convenient access to resources with IoT
technology, enhancing administrative effectiveness, enhancing
teaching productivity, enhanced facilities optimization, enhance
students' understanding, boost students participation, increase
parental involvement, remote monitoring, reforming STEM
teaching methodology and so on. Nonetheless, the deployment of
IoT in education brings about various challenges, such as high
expenses, security issues, insufficient internet connectivity, and
health hazards. To tackle these challenges, it is crucial to
formulate strategies that deal with these problems, improve
human resources' knowledge and skills in IoT technology, and raise awareness regarding the advantages and drawbacks of IoT
technology. The future of IoT in STEM education looks bright,
with possible uses in intelligent learning settings, advanced
laboratories, and monitoring student health. As IoT technology
advances, it is essential to leverage its potential to develop more
streamlined, impactful, and student-centered learning
environment designed to prepare learners for success in the
digital age era. This study suggests allocating resources for
teacher training, adopting strong cybersecurity protocols,
formulating strategies to tackle challenges, enhancing awareness
and teamwork, overseeing and assessing IoT application,
creating educational content based on IoT, setting up governance
structures for IoT, and encouraging partnerships and
collaborations.