Education technology makes online, remote and digital learning possible. With education technology capabilities regularly growing and expanding, the future of edtech is limitless, and the future of education is set to rely on technological solutions more and more with each passing year.
Education technology research
According to a summary of 126 evaluations of the uses of education technology compiled by J-PAL North America, educational software programs have demonstrated strong potential in improving learning outcomes and overall academic achievement. Additionally, providing children with access to education technologies has been proven to significantly improve digital literacy, preparing children for the technological demands of future education and employment opportunities.
Education technologies that provide children with options for personalisation and self-pacing have been found to improve test scores by the same amount as effective tutoring. This is likely due to the potential to individually tailor learning materials and timetables to respond to specific areas of strength and weakness.
Research shows that children engage better and benefit more greatly from education when their families are heavily involved in their learning, and digital technologies play an important role in making this engagement possible. With the help of education technology, children and their families can work together to approach new concepts and challenges, able to access sophisticated educational tools and learning materials in a home environment and from anywhere in the world.
Research into the effectiveness of education technology is still in its infancy, but early information shows promise for education technology as a high-value teaching and learning resource for many years to come.
Education technology in the classroom
Education technologies are important classroom integrations when it comes to teaching children twenty-first century skills.
Using technology, teachers can bring more lessons and learning resources to students than ever and are able to access worldwide educational content at their fingertips. Take students on a virtual trip around the world with digital museum tours and research activities, or access international lessons and resources that help students engage with new ideas and concepts.
In developed countries, like Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, education technologies are becoming increasingly prominent in standard classrooms. Students are taught to use computer systems to locate, record and communicate information and are specifically instructed in IT and digital literacy. In these countries, education technology informs teaching practice across most subject areas, and digital learning systems are frequently used for both traditional classrooms and at-home learning.
The changing face of learning
Education technologies are changing the way we approach learning, improving resource accessibility and bringing digitisation into classrooms. Where students once relied predominantly on print-based resources to obtain and record information, they now increasingly have access to laptops, computers and tablets.
Education technology has also brought about a rise in gamification of learning materials. Many digital education tools and resources provide game-based activities that promote high levels of student participation and engagement, helping children develop a love of learning.
One of the biggest changes marked by the advent of education technology is the power of students over their own education. Once, teachers held the answers, and students waited to be told what they were, but education technology provides children with opportunities to self-guide their learning, searching for answers to their questions and contributing more to their learning experience.
What’s next in education technology?
The future of education technology is bright and busy, with lots of new and innovative edtech resources beginning to emerge.
Tools like Let’s teach! Primary that offer 100 percent online, 100 percent offline or blended teaching modes are an important part of education technology’s next step. LTP’s versatility means that education technology can be used as an integral part of many different kinds of traditional and virtual classrooms.
In the years to come, virtual school solutions are expected to rise, and digital technologies are expected to improve the accessibility of education for children based in remote areas or from marginalised backgrounds.
Education technology advancements will improve the capacity of education materials to be personalised and tailored to suit the academic needs of individual students and their learning environments.
In the not-so-distant future, exciting developments are likely to bring artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) to standard classrooms, providing children with opportunities to engage with places and experiences they might not otherwise have access to. AI and VR will make education more immersive, promoting participatory learning.
Looking forward
Education technology is set to experience rapid development, meaning that there’s never been a more exciting time to incorporate technology in the classroom.
Edtech advancements will provide children and teachers with new and unique opportunities to learn and engage with diverse subject areas and educational activities. With classroom technology, anything is possible, and students can develop and practise the skills they’ll need to participate in our tech-centred modern world.
