The inanimate projectors and the chalkboards are a passe’ when you talk of the recent developments in education technology. Gone are the days when the world dreamed of making teaching-learning interesting and gripping with virtual reality and digital technology playing its part.
Popularly known as EdTech, the education technology leverages digital prowess to enhance the learner’s performance and facilitate learning manifold. It allows teachers to create customized lessons and increase classroom participation. Automated text message homework reminders and hybrid learning models are aligned to increase family involvement and combine online onsite instructions; while creating digitally accessible classrooms. Teachers make use of EdTech to help with routine tasks such as automated grading for objective assignments. The excerpts from Fortune Business Insights reveal the Global EdTech and Smart Classroom Market size is projected to reach a whopping USD 433.17 billion by 2030; growing at a CAGR of 18.3% during the forecast period 2023-30. With such high stakes levied on the enormity of the edtech industry, the time is ripe to get a grasp of it.
Purpose of EdTech Technology:
The popular EdTech platforms are a rage in today’s times. They utilize digital technology that facilitates student learning, enhances learner engagement, and improves their performance. Numerous types of technologies and tools are deployed to make technology work wonders for the education field.
Positives of EdTech Technology
- Games and apps facilitate student engagement and increase collaboration
- Provides targeted instruction and customized activities for each learner
- Automated text messaging offers ample opportunity for easy homework reminders and encourages familial engagement
- Teachers can create podcasts and videos of their classes for future reference
- Digital tools can conveniently automate repetitive tasks such as attendance or grade tracking
Negatives of EdTech Technology
- Digital technology interferes with socialization and smartphones distract students from their lessons
- Students completing unsupervised quizzes or tests may be more tempted to cheat
- Leads to increased risk if cyberattacks on the school’s networks
- If used ineffectively, the harder technologies can lead to a tiff situation between the students and the teachers
- Can possibly aggravate existing disparities and exacerbate inequality for those without access
- Technology issues may arise due to poor internet connection or troubleshooting installation issues and others
Types of EdTech Platforms:
It is not a far-fetched dream to enable and facilitate our children with the most advanced educational tools and platforms for their easy access to quality education. Listed below are some of the popular EdTech platforms and tools in the education industry so far.
- Immersive technologies help create new experiences by destroying borders between real and simulated or virtual realities.
- With continuous digitalization of all spheres of life, coding, and technology has resulted in automating a gazillion of tasks and simplifying many others. It offers great tracking performance and allows for an engaging environment.
- Learning management systems are eLearning business solutions powered to target the companies that offer education services, organize courses, and seminars, etc.
- Language learning software allows for differentiated level-based learning, flexible learning plans, round-the-clock learning, new forms of content, in-depth report generation, and gamification.
- Software for pre-school children is relatively a new phenomenon as it requires apps that target group’s age and low-tech skills.
- STEM education is strengthened by more and more industries going through digitization. STEM apps offer the possibility to study at any time and from any location; while making memorizing different materials easy to comprehend and learn.
- Socio-Emotional Learning apps target personalized learning; and offer better assessment and performance-tracking capabilities. It gives a better understanding of the student’s needs and paves the way for a convenient form of communication.
- Online courses from the most trusted education technology companies around the world are a clear win-win for modern education technology solutions.
Ways to Use EdTech Efficiently:
- Pick a tool or platform that resonates with your desired learning goal
- It should complement the lesson pedagogy and material
- Do not use it for the heck of using it
- Do not get overwhelmed, learn the new education technology one step at a time
- Seek help or assistance whenever needed
- Choose a tool or a platform wisely that fully supports and complements your learner’s goals
The education sector has massive opportunities for growth today. Evidently, education technology has evolved over the years. This calls for an innate urge to level up your learners’ learning game by adding some of the most popular and targeted ed-tech platforms at their disposal. By making the most of the tools designed by the best edtech companies, our learners can amplify their learning manifold; making themselves active participants in this ed-tech revolution. Utilizing futuristic education technology for the betterment of the learning community alongside amplifying career opportunities for the teaching fraternity is the beginning of an enlightened era, indeed!