Educational Technology Trends In 2021 and beyond

Big Data, Machine Learning, and the IoT were the three most significant trends affecting educational technology in 2020. However, distance learning has won overall because of the COVID-19 pandemic, making face-to-face learning too risky.

The latest EdTech trends in 2021 and further into 2022 are being revolutionized, focusing on connectivity, versatility, and student-centered learning.

What is Educational Technology and why it is important?

With the rapid progress of technology, educational technology has been developing rapidly. EdTech incorporates advantages and opportunities of current and future technologies to enhance how we learn. It includes improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.

The increased exposure and significant investment in educational technology over the past few years have led many to believe that 2021-2022 will be a critical inflection point for EdTech's success – especially for the education sector.

At its core, EdTech integrates technology into education to build better teaching/learning experiences that result in higher learning outcomes.

Why is it relevant?

Educators have been making a move to educational technology (EdTech) for the past ten years. Although this shift has increased the use of video and instructional tools, it has not become a mandatory part of education.

Novel Teaching Methods

Instructors are increasingly turning to technological innovation in the classroom for several reasons. With EdTech, the ability to apply multimedia in addressing diverse learning styles is possible. Moreover, online courses can provide students with a means of learning at their own pace.

Improve Collaboration between stakeholders

Technology has made it possible for every person on the planet to remain connected. Students and teachers connect, exchange ideas, share opinions, and make changes together.

For example, eLearning is an educational tool that makes it easier for students to collaborate and share information. Instead of being in a classroom, students can join virtual groups and discuss learning material together. In this case, teachers become more accessible and help students develop themselves. This collaborative learning approach encourages students to share what they know and ultimately helps them acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

Process of learning and teaching

Educational technology trends in 2021-2022 are to create EduTech systems that make learning more fun and exciting for students. Educators use EduTech to enhance engagement, motivation, communication, and collaboration in the classroom and at home. Lastly, technology makes education more innovative, more effective, thus, satisfying learners' needs more. Competent educators bring valuable knowledge to learners, both in theory and in real life.

In today's world of education, teachers have a hard job due to many reasons. To make lives easier, educational technology is needed to explore all possibilities.

Top Ten Educational Technology Trends

1. eLearning

Because of the rapid spread of COVID-19 and school closures, distance learning is the top educational technology trend. Online platforms such as online courses are used by businesses to train their employees.

E-learning represents a paradigm shift in the way we learn. It's self-directed and goal-based, so learners aren't limited to a curriculum set by the institution. It can be more interactive, collaborative, and authentic than traditional learning, saving time for students and institutions.

In this way, actors interact with on-screen information through a combination of dragging content, browsing, and making their own choices on what they will learn next. In many cases, the learner makes decisions and sees the consequences of his or her actions.

Technology in 2021 eLearning will create an increasingly immersive way of learning. Courses will include podcasts and live streaming videos while delivering a fun and interactive experience.

Although educational technology has been around for some time, it is staying green and continuously developing. Educational technology, such as online courses, is used by educators to make learning more effective. This is why more educational technology is produced today.

The nature of online learning platforms is trending toward variety. Teachers teach students in real-time using Zoom or Microsoft Teams or use recorded methods with various media and digital functions to provide more enriching lessons. Teachers can use an excellent online learning platform in tandem with Learning Management Systems (LMS) to keep track of their student's progress.

2. Video-Assisted Learning

Video-assisted learning has paved the way for more engaging classrooms. It encourages students to explore and create while creating a seamless connection between the home and school environments.

As learners are increasingly exposed to and rely on digital tools, mobile technologies, and videos, their interest in enrolling in a blended learning program increases. As the potential for transforming teaching methods increases, the number of schools offering blended learning programs also rises.

3. Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology is a highly secure digital ledger that has the potential to change our world fundamentally. Transactional data shared in a blockchain can be encrypted and distributed across multiple computers in the system. In doing so, it becomes decentralized and transparent. The potential applications for blockchain technology extend beyond just financial services and include elections voting and health care.

Blockchain technology is used in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and ePortfolios to verify skills, knowledge, and accomplishments. The DLT systems will help students achieve certifications far more quickly while providing significantly reduced costs.

4. Big Data Will Get Bigger

To serve the demands of the learners, learning needs to be more customized. COVID-19, coupled with online learning, has boosted the industry's data to a whole new level. Instructional designers are armed with enough information to provide a course in an ideal format. Some information you should look for is the course's topic, learner enrollment, learner performance (time per course, completion, test result), and learner feedback (rating, survey).

5. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI and machine learning are rapidly changing the educational landscape. By augmenting educators' capabilities with sophisticated technologies, AI can engage students more closely and enhance teaching experiences. According to a recent report, by 2021, AI will become "in thing" in the US EdTech market. This article explores some of the most exciting ways AI and machine learning are changing education.

As a result, both learners and educators will benefit from AI. For example, students could get help from AI tutors when teachers are too busy to take care of everyone. Also, AI-driven programs can give both learners and educators helpful feedback. That's why some schools use AI systems to monitor student progress and to alert teachers when there might be an issue with students' performances.

6. Learning Analytics

The landscape for learning analytics is becoming more and more sophisticated as time goes on, which allows for a more in-depth understanding of how students learn.

As educational technology increases, it's essential to know what is happening in the classroom. Educators need to be cognizant of the latest trends to prepare their students for a successful future. In addition, teachers can pinpoint what knowledge was not effectively delivered, which allows for a more effective educational experience. Moreover, learning analytics help educators identify issues with students, which allows for more specific and targeted interventions to help students realize their full potential.

7. Gamification

The current trend in the field of educational technology is the gamification of classroom activities. Gamification simplifies and streamlines the learning process as it allows students to be involved in exciting games throughout the classroom environment while making interactive and fun use of educational tools.

Gamification is making considerable waves in education. K-12 education is seeing the most tremendous adoption, with kids getting excited about fun educational applications. Higher education and corporate training aren't far behind.

8. Immersive Learning With VR And AR

Since Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) came to education, the classroom has undergone a tremendous change. Some of the significant changes that have been seen in classrooms are in regards to experiential learning.

Virtual reality (VR), an artificial environment designed to make users feel as if they were indeed present in that setting, and augmented reality (AR), real-world surroundings whose elements are supplemented by virtual components, are both on the rise in education. For example, VR is pretty helpful when you are attending a medical training course. In detail, VR creates a chance for students to experience real-world surgeries in a low-risk environment.

9. STEAM

STEAM-based programs are the new trend in EdTech. The development of this latest educational trend provides a meaningful integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math principles to solve real-world problems through hands-on activities and conceptual design.

In terms of the advantages, there are many successful aspects of STEAM; for instance, it increases students' curiosity about the world around them. Moreover, it gives students a safe environment to express their ideas and think outside of the box. Their comfort with hands-on learning also makes them better collaborators with others.

10. Social Media In Learning

These days, it's becoming increasingly common to see students spending time online. And now, more than ever, technology is one step closer to impacting learning and teaching in the classroom – from social media to augmented reality.

It is often said that today's students are tomorrow's workforce, and therefore educational institutions are increasingly considering integrating emerging technologies in their pedagogy. Social media, for instance, can be employed by educational institutes for various purposes such as enhancing student-teacher interaction, sharing educational tools among the students, and so on. TED-Ed creates lessons worth sharing and posts them on YouTube, where people can easily access, find, and share educational videos with their friends.

Social media is here to stay, and its impact is undeniable. Its expansion in the educational sector has provided a channel for collaboration and knowledge sharing, leading to an improved learning experience.

Conclusion

Technology has found its place in the education space; the choice is not even an option anymore. This is especially true of learning, and eLearning has taken the forefront in providing a tool that not only increases accessibility, convenience, and flexibility but also enhances understanding.

But here is good news. You are not alone in your quest to innovate the classroom with educational technology. Contact us today for a tailored consultation on how you can bring classrooms into the digital age.