Computer Science has improved things for the better, especially regarding Educational technology developments and trends in 2022. Educators in 2020 and 2021 pioneered a staggering amount of ed tech solutions for their classrooms. There’s more acceptance for asynchronous learning.
According to data provided by LearnPlatform, during the 2020-2021 academic year, school districts with more than 1,000 students visited an average of 1,449 ed tech items online each month. As a result, they’re witnessing increased technology-burned instructors and students.
However, the solution isn’t to completely abandon technology. Rather, it’s to find the perfect mix of tools to help children learn more effectively.
Educators and IT managers in K–12 must incorporate technology tools and trends in meaningful and deliberate ways that make their life simpler such as;
Educational Technology Trends Of 2022
1. eLearning
The paradigm for Online and asynchronous learning has been very clear. Until the early 2000s, schooling was conducted in a lecture hall with a teacher in charge. Any other sort of learning was dubious at best, and physical presence was a no-brainer. Then came the internet. And the rest, as they say, was history.
Now that inexpensive e-learning solutions for computers and the internet are available, higher education or not can be aided from nearly anywhere using a decent hybrid learning application.
Technology has progressed to the point where the geographical divide can be crossed. This is done by using technologies that make you feel like you’re in the lecture hall.
E-learning allows you to distribute content in various formats. Including videos, slideshows, word documents, and PDFs. Users can also participate in webinars (live classes) and communicate with lecturers via chat and message boards.
The Research Institute of America claims that eLearning improves retention rates by 25 to 60%. It’s also very scalable, allowing the best instructors to reach a large number of pupils at once (or at different times, in the case of on-demand pre-recorded courses). And for a fraction of the price of typical in-person classes.
It’s no surprise that this business is anticipated to reach $1 trillion in revenue by 2027.
2. Innovative K-12 Homeschooling Startups
As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, homeschooling has become an even hotter subject in recent times. However, homeschooling has grown in popularity in the United States for several years.
Homeschoolers account for 3.4 per cent of all school-aged children in the United States. However, many homeschooling is still done with pen and paper. They used curricula that might be costly or out of date.
As a result, Jones, writer at PapersOwl.com, says that “it’s not surprising that a number of ed-tech businesses are stepping in to provide innovative, tech-enabled homeschooling alternatives for students, just like students are seeking our paper writing services”. He went on to say that “tech has radically changed the system of learning and tuition and this is all for the better.”
Prisma is one of them. Prisma differentiates between teacher and facilitator/coach roles. The difference is providing a mix of in-person and live online learning experiences. In the process, it promises to unlock the potential of learners.
Primer is a second example. This startup aims to create a “full-stack infrastructure” to assist parents in homeschooling their children to mainstream remote learning.
A tool to assist parents in navigating local rules. A learning management system and a collection of curated academic materials are all part of the platform.
Outschool is another intriguing homeschooling ed tech startup. Outschool operates by linking students with teachers for live virtual learning in small groups.
3. Gamification
For years, Gamification has spread into classrooms. With hackathons and online games becoming a staple of the business school experience. On the other hand, Gamification has the potential to provide innovative ways to instruct students in the future.
Gamification can help students stay interested in their asynchronous learning experiences. This is a barrier for online schools since there is no in-person requirement, and students’ busy lives may interfere with their learning.
With worldwide education, the gamification industry is anticipated to increase by 29% between 2021 and 2027. It’s certain to be one of the hottest ed-tech trends to watch in the coming years.
4. AI-Enabled Adaptive Learning (and Admin)
Adaptive learning is a high-tech approach to tailored learning. Digital learning interfaces can adapt to students’ requirements in real-time. Thanks to AI, it gives the lectures and activities required to bridge knowledge gaps and reinforce ideas.
Everything is done at the student’s own pace. Intelligent teaching solutions that are automated and intelligent have been increasing for some years.
In 1924, the first “teaching machine” was invented. However, computing capacity (both in the cloud and on local devices) has only lately grown powerful enough to use AI for this purpose. Creating nearly limitless opportunities for customized learning.
Thinkster, an AI-powered math tutoring service, offers a 90% increase in arithmetic results for grades K-8. Thinkster also purchased SelectQ, an AI-based adaptive learning solution, in April 2020.
SelectQ uses technology for SAT prep instruction. Adaptive learning is also included in the ROYBI Robot. It was named one of Time Magazine’s greatest innovations of 2019.
The ROYBI Robot employs machine learning to personalize its instructional content to the kid engaging with it. It considers the child’s assimilation style and emotions.
In at least 21 U.S. states, artificial intelligence is also being used to assess essays. Albeit, the results aren’t always perfect. AI-enabled chatbots are also becoming more widespread. The chatbot-like Duolingo, for example, employs adaptive learning to teach multiple languages.
5. Accessible Education
In the United States, 86.6 percent of homes have broadband access. However, in rural regions, the figure is substantially lower. Another issue is device availability. Smartphone learning may be able to assist with both of the aforementioned issues.
Admittedly, mobile phones are less expensive than laptop computers. In addition, instead of requiring a wifi connection, they may rely on mobile data service. However, not everyone can fund a dedicated extra mobile device, much alone a subscription.
As a result, local PBS networks show classes for pre-K through 8th graders on television in several areas. In contrast, some libraries provide curbside book delivery. Simultaneously, several ed-tech professionals are urging the FCC to use its E-Rate program to bring dependable internet connection to families.
Free academic materials are highly beneficial for homeschoolers and underprivileged populations. Open Educational Resources (OER) and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) provide no-cost academic resources and software usage. It allows students and educators access that would not otherwise be possible.
6. Google Everything
Google has made inroads into the academic system. Chromebooks have become the typical student-learning device due to their inexpensive cost and simplicity of use (and upkeep).
And there is no better compliment to Chromebooks than G Suite. This suite of tools includes popular programs like Google Docs, Sheets, Gmail, and Forms, which both instructors and students may utilise. (There is also a free version.)
Google provides a digital environment for students and teachers to engage, assign and turn in assignments, and do other things. On the other hand, Google Assignments is a service that helps teachers produce and grade courses more rapidly.
Finally, Google Cloud Platform is available to colleges and institutions. It provides cloud storage and processing capability for research and other purposes.
Google Classroom and Google Assignments are both available in G Suite.
7. Accelerating Investments in EdTech
In 2020, global ed tech venture capital investments will exceed $10 billion, up from $500 million in 2010. According to some estimates, an extra $87 billion in investment is expected over the next decade.
According to EdSurge, a very good educational software product category in the United States from 2014 to 2018 was post-secondary goods. Curriculum items are competing for second place with “other” products.
CommonBond (which has raised $1.6 billion in investment since 2011) and CampusLogic ($192.8 million) are two well-funded post-secondary edtech startups. However, because both companies focused on student lending and deposit aid, they are more fintech than edtech.
Another well-known school that combines ed tech with money is Lambda. Instead of charging its students directly, it employs income-share agreements (ISAs) to generate revenue based on a percentage of its graduates’ future wages.
While these Western businesses are interesting, most of the largest ed tech “unicorns” are now based in Asia.
Will the United States and Europe step up the pace? Or will American and European investors spend more on international ventures?
8. Tech-Enabled Immersive Learning
One of the biggest edtech trends is Extended Reality (XR). This refers to augmented reality, virtual reality, or related technologies with the actual world. One reason for its rapid fame is cost.
The cost of a standalone VR headset is now cheaper than ever. It is predicted to fall further to $200 by 2023. (and even lower for mobile-based VR units). More schools may use the modules as a regular curriculum component because the modules are less expensive.
In addition, the entire value of AR in education is estimated to reach $5.3 billion by 2023. But how might these technologies be employed in the classroom? One method is to improve the visual process of learning.
Students may use AR to see 3D representations of dinosaurs, chemical compositions, the human form, and other topics. Adobe Aero, for example, makes it simple for anybody to create AR objects. While many schools consider VR to be a cost, it may potentially be utilized to save costs on physical devices.
Conclusion
These are unquestionably essential educational technology trends to keep an eye on in the next 12 months. As the world of education continues to develop for the benefit of both students and instructors, making things easier and big data available.
Since the beginning of 2020, the EdTech market has witnessed a considerable and quick transformation, with demand and innovation being spurred in part by the effect of the coronavirus pandemic.
Consequently, students of all levels now have access to interactive and hybrid learning spaces. The adoption of sophisticated technologies such as AR and AI will promote more immersive and deeper learning until 2022.
