The top five edtech trends set to transform education in 2021

2020 was a big year for the education sector, with Covid-19 completely transforming the way we teach and learn. While schools and education facilities around the world were forced to close, educators had to adapt quickly by embracing new, remote teaching practices. Similarly, parents and caregivers have had to make adjustments in order to support students during homeschooling.

Thankfully, education technology, or edtech, has made the transition to remote and hybrid learning much easier for many. Not sure what edtech is? Essentially, it’s technology that helps transform traditional methods of teaching and learning, providing new ways of delivering and sharing knowledge and improving learning outcomes.

As many schools around the world prepare to reopen, there are a few edtech trends we expect to see more of this year.

Hybrid learning

Hybrid learning is a form of blended learning, which involves finding the right mix of online learning – whether it be a module or lecture completed online within a physical classroom setting, or an online module or task completed remotely – and face-to-face learning that works best for teachers and students.

Using technology such as tablets, smartphones, laptops and computers, teachers can adopt videoconferencing platforms and other online tools to conduct lessons that involve a combination of online and face-to-face activities.

One of the greatest benefits of hybrid learning is the flexibility it affords both students and teachers. It allows teachers to conduct lessons remotely if needed, and provides students with the opportunity to tend to their coursework, no matter where they are taking classes from.

A hybrid learning approach can also be a more effective use of time than traditional in-person learning. Teachers are able to share online modules or tutorials to be completed before an in-person or online class, providing students with the time needed to read through or practice certain concepts or ideas. This way, they can spend valuable class time discussing things in more detail, after they’ve already developed a baseline understanding.

Artificial Intelligence

While artificial intelligence (AI) is far from a new concept, it’s increasingly being used within education.

AI can be used to transform testing and grading processes within schools, with algorithms saving time by checking exam results and assignments far quicker than any human could. Some educational institutions have plagiarism checkers in place, or utilize AI to identify the main learning issues a student is facing. After learning issues are categorized, the teacher can focus on improving the student’s knowledge of a certain topic or concept.

Gamification

Gamification is the practice of applying game-design elements and principles to non-game contexts. It’s becoming more and more popular within education settings, as it can make lessons more fun for students and motivate them to engage with different material.

There are many aspects of games that are relevant and can be applied to classroom learning. Not only are games usually structured with set problems to solve, they also promote teamwork, communication and creative thinking.

Gamification in learning often involves taking game-based elements such as point scoring and teamwork, and having students complete a series of tasks, so that they can be rewarded with score tables or advance to new levels. This method of learning can help motivate and inspire students in the classroom.

Immersive learning through Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) provide students with unique opportunities to experience immersive learning. Aside from typical use cases of VR and AR allowing students to virtually experience field trips beyond school grounds, there are some exciting emerging uses of the technology.

With VR headsets, students can concentrate on their studies in a focused, virtual space, without distractions from the outside world. For example, companies like Microsoft have developed Immersive Reader products designed to allow students to practice their reading.

As more and more companies express a need for soft skills in future employees such as problem-solving, collaboration and teamwork, VR and AR create scenarios for students who require extra assistance to develop these skills. There are a number of VR companies facilitating situations where students can learn to work, talk and collaborate with other peers or people in a variety of different settings, helping them to work on their soft skills within a safe environment.

Robotics

Who wouldn’t want to spend time in class building a robot?

Robotics is continuing to gain momentum in the education sector, as developing and coding robots provides students with the opportunity to foster new, practical skills such as creativity, design and analysis. In a world where coding is an increasingly in-demand skill, robotics provides students with a fun introduction, by building their strategic problem-solving, computational thinking, higher-order thinking, and logical and analytical reasoning.

With this variety of edtech continuing to develop, 2021 is set to be an exciting year for education.

Interested to see how Airtame can be used within an education setting? Check out our education page today.

Interested? Let’s talk.