Digital twins, a virtual representation of a physical object or system in real time, have emerged as one of the most innovative technologies of the last decade. Originally used in more industrial or energy sectors, these virtual models are now finding increasingly relevant applications in academia.
Exploring how digital twins are impacting education and research today, one can get a glimpse of how these sectors will be transformed in the future.
Digital twins vs traditional teaching
One of the main benefits of digital twins in education is the ability to perform advanced simulations. Students in scientific or medical areas can interact with virtual replicas of complex systems, allowing them to experiment and learn in a hands-on way, eliminating the risks or costs associated with manipulating real systems.
For example, in medicine, digital twins can be used to model human organs or systems, allowing medical students to practice surgical interventions in a controlled environment. In engineering, students can explore and adjust the design variables of a structure or machine before physically building it, which improves both theoretical understanding and practical skill.
These same twins applied to research fields allow academics to perform real-time analysis on complex phenomena and processes. This is particularly useful in disciplines such as physics, biology, climatology or engineering, where experimental conditions can be very difficult to replicate in a traditional way.
For example, researchers studying climate change can use digital twins to simulate the effects of various environmental policies on global ecosystems, without the need to experiment directly with the real environment. Likewise, in the field of civil engineering, digital twins make it possible to monitor the state of infrastructures such as bridges or historic buildings, providing real-time data that can be used to predict structural failures and optimize maintenance.
If we focus exclusively on the educational field, digital twins also offer the potential to personalize education. By using data collection technologies, it is possible to create a “digital twin” of each student, which can monitor their academic progress, identify areas of difficulty, and provide personalized recommendations to improve their learning. In addition, this approach allows the pedagogical content and methods to be adapted to the individual needs and abilities of each student.
The Future in Academia
In the future, using digital twins, a new way of studying will be created and it will allow for a much more immersive and dynamic educational experience. Another advantage is that all this could be implemented on remote education platforms.
For example, virtual labs could replace or complement physical labs, providing students and researchers with the ability to interact with 3D models of real systems locally or remotely, which is especially relevant in geographically isolated areas or in times of global health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
All this is even applicable to the youngest members of the family, who using simulations and interactive scenarios, immersive virtual environments will be created and young students will be able to interact with real-world situations, make decisions and experience consequences without risks, developing practical skills in a fun and effective way.
Even digital twins could also revolutionize teacher education. Instead of using abstract models or theoretical examples, future educators will be able to experiment with interactive virtual models that simulate classroom situations and real educational scenarios. This will not only provide them with a deeper understanding of the topics they teach, but will also improve their pedagogical skills by experimenting and simulating different teaching methods.
Digital twins, The today of tomorrow?
Digital twins have the potential to profoundly transform academia. Currently, they are already improving the way students learn, researchers research, and educators teach. As technology evolves, the integration of these virtual models at all levels of education will increase, offering new opportunities for personalization of learning, global collaboration, and research innovation. If properly managed, digital twins could redefine the academic landscape in the coming decades, becoming an essential tool for the education of the future.
