Trends in educational technology in 2020 – 2021

Big data, machine learning and the Internet of Things were the most important educational technology advances in 2019. (IoT) On the other hand, distance learning has become the dominant trend. The COVID19 outbreak has had a significant impact on the way we teach and learn. Due to social alienation, students have to get used to distance learning via digital platforms; Despite the reopening of some schools, the trend is expected to continue until 2021.EdTech trends in 2020 and beyond will be driven by a heavy emphasis on connectivity, adaptability, and student-centered learning. Let’s take a look at the top 10 latest trends in educational technology.

What is educational technology and why is it important?

Many people define EdTech as the application of technology to improve education. It is true, but it is not enough. The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) defines EdTech as “developing, using and promoting educational communication and technology”. and manage appropriate technological methods and resources to support learning and improve performance. ”On the flip side, educators who use EdTech have a much easier understanding of the term a consequence of technological advances in order to improve teaching effectiveness raise.

Simply put, EdTech is the practice of integrating technology into education to enhance the teaching/learning experience and thus improve learning outcomes.

For example, several hospitals use animation to train new caregivers through online safety courses

Why should it make a difference?

There are several reasons why educators prefer EdTech to traditional teaching methods using paper. the and pencil. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most common educational technology benefits you can see right here:

Innovative Teaching Techniques

Because technology is made by people, it’s also creative as a teacher. Use it Teachers can use EdTech to present multimedia such as animation and live video to allow for a variety of learning approaches. In addition, EdTech enables teachers to create online courses that students can access at their convenience and in their preferred location.

Improving Collaborative Education

With advances in technology, everyone can now stay connected. Students and teachers work together to participate, discuss, express themselves, and respond to situations.

For example, eLearning is a collaborative education system that enables students to share and discuss knowledge. Instead of sitting in a classroom for 30 minutes and listening to the teacher’s presentation, eLearning students can join an online group/platform and study with their classmates. When we are interested in studying, we learn better, remember better, and apply materials better in real life. After all, technology is making education smarter and more effective, so it can better respond to student needs. Real educators provide students with relevant information, both in theory and in practice. Smart teachers, on the other hand, can create lessons based on what the students want to learn.

In summary, EdTech does not mean that trainers have to become IT, experts. These wonderful things can only be achieved with technology by educators, which is why we need EdTech in our lives.

In 2020/2021 these are the top ten current trends in educational technology.

If you are an inventive educator, keeping up with educational trends is probably nothing new to you, but rather a must-do. Even with this list, it depends on that you choose the most suitable “modern” help for your teaching and training.

1. Distance education

Distance learning quickly became the highest educational technology trend in 2020 because of the rapid rise of COVID-19 and faculty closures. As a result, there’s a greater need for online educational platforms. eLearning is that the term wont to describe education or training that’s delivered electronically. it’d be slide-based online exercises or a web course that helps an organization teach employees in necessary skills.

eLearning provides learners with educational content via PCs, laptops, tablets, or smartphones. You’ll not only save time, but you will have additional possibilities for interactive learning furthermore. instead of being in an exceedingly passive experience, learners may choose what they have to find out quickly and easily, irrespective of where they’re. they will also learn by interacting with on-screen content directly, like dragging items from one spot to a different. Furthermore, eLearning decision-making situations allow learners to create their own choices about what to review next.

Learners absorb knowledge through eLearning through reading or seeing content, which changes the way education is delivered. Many eLearning courses now include animation, audio, and videos, providing a multimodal and hands-on learning experience.

Finally, despite the very fact that eLearning has been around for a protracted time, it’s still evolving and growing. Educators are leveraging technology to boost learning results. As a result, more online and blended learning courses are now being produced.

The notable aspect of online learning systems is their diversity. you’ll be able to either teach your students in real-time (synchronous) via live stream or group meetings using Zoom or Microsoft Teams, otherwise, you can use recorded (asynchronous) methodologies with a range of media and digital functions to counterpoint lessons. a robust online learning platform may additionally be employed in conjunction with a Learning Management System (LMS) to trace your students’ progress.

2. Video-Assisted Instruction

In recent years, video-assisted learning has risen in popularity as a classroom presenting method. A television on a trolley being wheeled into the class isn’t any longer thought to be a “video day.” With the net and digital devices, on a daily basis may well be a “video day.”

This idea is additionally gaining steam in distance learning, during which students study through computer displays. Videos, especially animated ones, are a beautiful method to supplement lectures and make content more clear. It improves student progress while requiring less work from the educator.

3. Blockchain may be a distributed ledger technology

The Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) from blockchain offers a slew of benefits to education, particularly in terms of information storage. Because each new piece of information adds another “block” to the system, theoretically the storage capacity is limitless. At the identical time, the info is encrypted and distributed among other machines within the system. It decentralizes and makes data exchanges more transparent.

Blockchain technology is employed to validate skills and knowledge in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and ePortfolios. DLT systems will address the difficulties of authentication, size, and price for eLearning companies. It also can help student applicants publicize their accomplishments during the job-search process.

4. Big Data is just visiting get bigger

The learning experience must be customised to fulfil the stress of the scholars. And, thanks to COVID-19 and also the rise of online learning, we now have more data than ever before. Instructional Designers have access to relevant data regarding learners’ experiences, which they will use to personalize and deliver the course in an appropriate way.

The Data Science Full Course is prepared on the same principle which helps learners understand the increasing importance of Data.

The course’s content, learner enrollment, learner performance (duration per course, completion, test result), and learner feedback are all things to test for (rating, survey).

5. AI stands for AI (AI)

In the US EdTech sector, AI is currently the “in thing.” AI is anticipated to become the foremost popular trend by 2021, with a rate of quite 45 per cent. So, why is that this trend usurping in one in every of the world’s top EdTech markets? First and foremost, AI can automate basic educational tasks like grading. Teachers may now grade multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions using an automatic system. As a result, computerized grading of students’ work may be on the horizon.

Furthermore, AI has the potential to help both students and instructors. When instructors are too busy to worry for all of their pupils, AI tutors could also be ready to assist them. Additionally, AI-driven systems can provide useful feedback to both students and educators. As a result, some schools utilize computing (AI) systems to track student development and inform teachers when there’s an issue with a student’s performance.

As a result, it isn’t unreasonable to believe that AI is also useful equipment within the classroom. Meanwhile, why not use AI to help your students in getting more out of their educational experience?

6. Analytics for Learning

The field of learning analytics has exploded in recent years, particularly in pedagogy. Educators may use learning analytics to assess and report student learning using just the net. they’ll be able to better comprehend and maximize learning as a result of this.

Teachers can increase their students’ knowledge and skill development by reading insights from their students’ learning processes. Teachers, as an example, may identify which type of content (text, photographs, infographics, or videos) pupils like and utilize it more in their subsequent sessions. Furthermore, teachers are ready to identify which elements of data weren’t taught properly and improve them for the following time. Furthermore, learning analytics assists instructors in identifying groups of children who could also be experiencing academic or behavioural difficulties. Teachers could also be ready to devise a method to help pupils in realizing their full potential as a result of this.

7. Gamification

Gamification is that the most appropriate educational technology trend if you’re seeking a way to create learning more enjoyable and fascinating. there’s no reason why kids mustn’t participate actively in classroom games. While participating in interesting gaming activities, students may learn and practice. Learners have the benefit of gaming features since they assist to make a pleasant and positive learning environment.

Gamification is most typically utilized in the K-12 education sector. It’s because children become immediately engrossed in gaming videos or in achieving greater game scores. However, this doesn’t negate the need for enjoyable components in instruction or business training to extend student engagement.

8. Immersive Learning Using video game and Augmented Reality

Since the introduction of computer games (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to education, the classroom learning experience has changed dramatically. The growing desire for experiential learning is propelling the event of VR and AR learning.

Traditional ways of learning became considerably more interactive. While VR creates a virtual experience, AR enhances the looks of a true image. As a result, they aid within the explanation of adverse topics that plain graphics or perhaps hands-on investigations within the lab couldn’t. When attending a medical training course, as an example, VR is really beneficial. in additional detail, video game allows trainees to practice real-world surgery in a very low-risk setting.

9. STEAM

STEAM-based curricula have replaced STEM-based programs because of the new EdTech standard. This new EdTech trend uses hands-on learning activities and artistic design to tackle real-world issues using significant Science, Technology, Engineering, Art (the new element), and Math material.

When it involves the advantages of STEAM, the primary is that it encourages children to become more inquisitive about the globe around them. Furthermore, it provides a secure atmosphere for college students to speak and experiment with their ideas while thinking outside the box. Hands-on learning also makes it easier for pupils to cooperate with others.

10. the utilization of Social Media in Education

Have you ever considered using social media within the learning process? Why not convert social media into a powerful instrument to spice up learning when every student, young and old, spend such a lot of time on it?

It was from this that the concept of using social media for education arose. Many educational institutions have begun to use social media as a communication tool for college kids to readily engage with each other. Students may exchange study resources, have group discussions, and quickly remark on other people’s posts. Even an animated educational film has the potential to become viral on social media. TedEd is a superb illustration of this tendency! This group makes instructional films that are worth sharing and uploads them on YouTube in order that people can simply locate, watch, and share them with their friends.

Social media is here to remain, and it’ll help to foster a culture of cooperation and sharing, leading to a much better learning environment.

Conclusion

Finally, we recognize that there’s plenty to require when it involves educational technology developments. detain mind, however, that technology has infiltrated education and completely transformed the teaching and learning process. eLearning, particularly, is an instructional technology that not only improves education’s accessibility and convenience but also alters learners’ learning patterns and desires.

But there’s good news: you will not be sailing alone on this EdTech ship because you will have us on board to assist you to bring truth worth of learning to light, inspiring learners, and making education more relevant and empowering.