How the edtech disruption is revolutionizing the education of tomorrow?
Educational technology, abbreviated as EdTech, plays a vital role in the development of students' critical thinking. With emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and the internet of things, edtech has evolved radically, driving an enhanced learning experience. In the face of COVID-19, the education landscape has been affected drastically. As this pandemic has changed entirely the social behavior and living of individuals majorly owing to social distancing, it has altered the way we teach and learn. However, edtech makes it possible for students to continue learning, making distance learning one of the edtech trends that rule the industry in 2021 and beyond.
Edtech typically is the integration of technology into education to create better teaching and learning experiences to derive higher learning outcomes.
EdTech Impact on Education
Educational technology provides tools and techniques to advance learning. Many institutes and universities are actively turning to this rapidly evolving field to deliver enhanced and seamless education to students. Considering a report, total edtech funding from 2019 to 2020 grew from around US$2.4 billion to US$4.2 billion. Approximately 87 percent of the funding was accounted for by the United States, China and India.
The most substantial advantages edtech provides include interactive education, increased student engagement, improved digital literacy, grading automation, more collaboration, dynamic progress tracking, performance measurement, improved communication, more research-oriented education, and much more.
Edtech Trends Redefining the Future of Education
The future of education will be quite interesting as various new education technologies are coming to the industry. Here are the top edtech trends set to redefine the education of tomorrow.
Virtual Learning
Virtual learning provides computer-based, internet-based learning. It facilitates remote learning that helps teachers who are not physically present in the classroom, instead, they interact with teachers through the internet. Virtual learning supplements by a human instructor that doesn’t direct student's instruction, but help the students by providing tutoring or additional supervision.
Mobile-First Approach
As smartphones have significantly become an integral part of our lives, mobile devices are now being utilized for learning processes. Mobile learning is providing always-on access to education and delivering the kind of content or information students can engage with. Indeed, research from the University of KwaZulu-Natal found that 92 percent of students believe it is easier to use their mobile devices to improve their access to information.
Video-Assisted Learning
Video-assisted learning allows students to garner knowledge, competence and skills via audio-visual instructional resources. This learning approach offers benefits to both students and teachers by enabling increased student engagement, active group discussions and always accessible visual content. As per the research, 70 percent of teachers use video in the classroom multiple times per week.
Blockchain
Blockchain is one of the most technological breakthroughs in the education sector. It can be used to securely store academic documents and student academic data like marks of a particular examination, leaving certificates, course completion certificates, scholarship applications, etc. Blockchain is used in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and ePortfolios to validate skills and knowledge. Moreover, a blockchain system can address the problems of authentication, scale, and cost for eLearning agencies.
Robotics
Robotics applications in the modern education sector can help design more flexible education systems that will benefit all students, especially those with physical disabilities. Educational robots can support students in skills development. These robots can even be used to bring students into the classroom who are not able to attend the lessons. Countries like China have begun adopting robotic assistance in classrooms.
Apart from these trends, immersive learning with VR and AR, gamification, personalized and adaptive learning are some other edtech trends that are poised to revolutionize the education sector in 2021 and beyond.