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Digital learning tools and technologies have dismantled geographical barriers, offering educational resources to students regardless of their background or location.
Today, the potential of technology in the classroom is immense: it supports personalised, student-focused learning, reduces the time teachers spend on administrative tasks, and helps students develop essential digital skills for their careers. Although online learning is an inevitable part of our routine, a study by Pew Research reveals that 65% of teenagers still prefer to have in-person contact as part of their studies.
At the same time, studies have demonstrated significant gains in business operations through personalised blended learning approaches. As per a study by the American Heart Association, e-learning is said to increase employee productivity by up to 25%. Also, e-learning improves staff retention rates in businesses by between 25% and 60%. So, no wonder 40% of Fortune 500 companies have integrated e-learning into their operations, as per Skill Scouter research.
Technology enables people of all ages to take charge of their education, enhancing opportunities for self-directed and customised learning. With online courses and educational apps, people can learn at their own pace and adjust their learning experiences to meet their specific needs.
How technology is impacting education
Technology has deeply influenced education, transforming conventional teaching practices and redefining the modern learning environment. Several crucial aspects underscore the transformative impact of technology on learning.
Information accessibility
The internet has emerged as an extensive reservoir of knowledge, offering students and educators never-before access to a broad array of information. Online resources, educational websites, and digital libraries have broadened learning opportunities far beyond traditional textbooks.
Captivating learning
The incorporation of technology has transformed education into a more interactive and engaging experience. Virtual simulations, educational games, and multimedia presentations grab students’ attention, making complex concepts easier to understand and the process more enjoyable.
Administrative efficiency
Technology has streamlined administrative functions in educational institutions. Digital systems for enrolment, grading, and communication improve efficiency, enabling educators to concentrate more on teaching and addressing students’ individual needs.
Learning flexibility
Online education platforms and digital resources offer adaptable learning options. Students can progress through materials at their speed and from different locations, accommodating various schedules and personal learning styles.
Modern assessment techniques
Technology has brought forward new approaches to assessment. Digital quizzes, online assignments, and instant feedback systems provide a more dynamic and diverse way of evaluating students’ comprehension and advancement.
What’s interesting is that EdTech is most popular among 25-34-year-olds, who make up 28.39% of all EdTech users. The same study claims that 56.35% of EdTech users are male. As technology continues to evolve, its role in education is likely to expand, offering even more opportunities for transformative change and improvement in the learning experience.
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What are the top trends in education technology?
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Gone are the days when students sat at their desks in silence. Modern educational technology is shaking up learning by making it more collaborative and interactive.
Augmented AR and VR are at the forefront of this transformation, enhancing teaching methods and making lessons more engaging and fun for students.
Virtual reality can bridge the gap between the classroom and the outside world. Kathy Schrock, an online adjunct professor at Wilkes University and an independent educational technologist, highlights VR’s potential to boost visual literacy, tech skills, and audience engagement.
Classroom set of devices
Schools are shifting away from the “bring your own device” (BYOD) model, eliminating the need for students to visit technology labs for computer access.
Google Chromebooks are now predominant in U.S. classrooms, with over three million in use as of 2014, and this number is steadily increasing.
As Chromebook usage grows, so does the importance of teaching digital citizenship. In today’s online-dominated world, students need to be educated on cyber safety and responsible online behaviour.
Redesigned Learning Spaces
In many classrooms today, you won’t see traditional rows of desks facing the front of the room. Educators have shifted their focus to creating environments that reflect real-world workspaces, foster collaboration, and enhance student learning.
Modern technology has played a key role in this transformation. Today’s classrooms feature SMARTboards instead of chalkboards and SMARTdesks arranged in collaborative pods.
Students now participate in virtual field trips and create their own media content, moving beyond passive learning. These revamped learning environments are equipped with integrated technology, helping students learn to use these tools effectively to achieve their goals.
Additionally, many colleges and universities are developing informal learning spaces on campus, recognising the value of continuous collaboration and learning beyond traditional class times.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is already making a huge impact in education. Deakin University in Australia implemented IBM Watson to develop a virtual student advisory service that is available around the clock.
This AI-powered service handled over 30,000 inquiries in its first trimester, allowing human advisors to focus on more complex issues. AI is also used through chatbots, which, using Natural Language Processing similar to Siri, can assist with homework questions, guide students through processes like financial assistance, and reduce the workload on staff.
Additionally, AI applications in education include personalising learning experiences, assessing curriculum quality, and providing one-on-one tutoring. The goal of these technologies is not to replace teachers but to enhance and support their roles.
Personalised learning
Personalised learning is now more feasible than ever, with various educational options allowing for tailored education experiences. Blended learning exemplifies this personalisation by shifting some control to students, who engage in discovery-based methods rather than traditional direct instruction.
This approach lets students make choices about their learning pace and environment. Similarly, adaptive learning technologies enable students to influence their learning journey by adjusting the timeframe and path based on real-time data.
These technologies track student interactions, providing instant feedback to modify the learning experience as needed. Tools like Osmosis, developed by doctors for medical students, enhance studying through evidence-based methods like questions, flashcards, videos, and adaptive spaced repetition. This level of personalisation transforms education into a “choose-your-own-adventure” experience, enhancing student interest.
Gamification
The integration of gaming into classrooms merges play with learning, making complex subjects more interactive. Advances in gaming technology are enhancing educational games across various fields.
The immediate feedback provided by these games keeps students motivated and helps them refine their skills. While these innovative technologies and learning methods offer exciting opportunities, they also require ongoing IT support.
As educational institutions adopt these digital trends, a team-based approach to technology support is needed to meet growing student expectations and ensure effective responsiveness.
What the research says about educational technology
Every three years, the OECD administers the PISA assessments to 15-year-olds globally, evaluating their skills in math, reading, and science. What sets these tests apart is their comprehensive approach; they not only measure academic performance but also gather insights from students, principals, teachers, and parents about their attitudes, behaviours, and available resources.
An optional survey for students on information and communications technology focuses on their use of technology both in the classroom and for homework, as well as in other contexts. Over 340,000 students from 51 countries participated in this ICT survey, yielding a comprehensive data set for exploring critical issues regarding technology use in education. Key questions addressed include:
- How extensively is technology being utilised in schools?
- Which technologies are positively influencing student outcomes?
- How do these practices differ across various countries and regions?
The latest results reveal key findings that address these questions and indicate potential connections between technology and student outcomes.
Finding 1: Device type matters
Evidence indicates that different devices have varying effects on educational outcomes.
After accounting for factors like student socioeconomic status, school type, and location, the use of data projectors and internet-connected computers in the classroom is linked to nearly a full grade-level improvement on the PISA assessment (roughly 40 PISA points represent each grade level).
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Finding 2: Geography matters
A closer examination of the reading results reveals that the impact of technology on educational outcomes differs significantly across countries and regions.
However, in the United States, students with laptops score 17 PISA points higher than their peers without laptops. This suggests that students and teachers in the US may be leveraging laptops differently than other regions.
This variation could be linked to the learning curve associated with using new technology. One way to gauge this learning curve is by looking at device penetration—71 percent of US students report using laptops in the classroom, compared to a global average of 37 percent.
A similar trend is observed with interactive whiteboards in non-EU Europe. While interactive whiteboards generally appear to negatively impact results in most regions, they are associated with a 21-point improvement in PISA scores in non-EU Europe, equivalent to about half a year of learning.
Finding 3: The impact of technology use by teachers vs. students
Globally, the best reading outcomes are observed when only the teacher uses the technology. Some improvement in science is noted when both teachers and students use digital devices.
However, when students use devices exclusively, the results are significantly poorer across all subjects. This trend is also evident in science and math. Regional variations provide further insights.
In the United States, students experience a substantial gain (equivalent to three-quarters of a year of learning) when either the teacher or both the teacher and students use devices.
In contrast, students who exclusively use devices score significantly lower (about half a year of learning) than those who do not use devices at all. In Europe, the exclusive use of technology by teachers is also linked to improved outcomes, though the effect is less pronounced.
What do these findings mean for students, teachers, and educational systems?
According to the World Economic Forum, worldwide spending in the Education sector will hit $10 trillion by 2030. Nevertheless, technology needs to be utilised effectively to have a positive impact. The fieldwork indicates that simply introducing technology is not a panacea.
Its implementation should align with specific learning objectives, and the selection of software must be integrated with the existing curriculum. Teachers need to adapt their lesson plans to make the most of technology and should actively engage with the technology themselves or collaborate with students rather than allowing students to use devices independently.
Another question in the ICT survey asked principals about their schools’ capacity to use digital devices. Across the globe, students showed improved performance in schools equipped with enough devices connected to high-speed internet, adequate software, and online support, and teachers who possessed the necessary skills, professional development, and time to effectively integrate technology into their teaching.
Additionally, technology needs to be appropriately aligned with the instructional environment and context.
Third, adopting technology involves a learning curve for both educational systems and individual students. It’s not surprising that systems with more developed use of educational technology experience more positive outcomes.
The United States, with its advanced and extensive education technology market, benefits from software that is well-integrated with curricula. Similarly, students who only use technology sporadically may end up spending more time learning how to use the technology itself rather than using it as a tool for learning. Addressing this learning curve is essential for effective technology reform programs.
How can we help you?
Simply having an idea is never enough. You will need a skilled team to thoroughly validate your idea and help you take it from theory to practice.
At Altamira, we deliver smart EdTech experiences that drive measurable outcomes. We think beyond the boundaries of the ordinary, being creative, accessible, and inclusive.
By bridging education and technology, we empower learning with brand-new solutions.
Whether you need assistance at any phase of your project, we create a commercially viable and feature-rich web and mobile EdTech solution that resonates with user needs:
- Customised education software development
- School management systems development
- Learning management systems
- Gamified services for education
- Professional training platform development
- eLearning portals development
- Live virtual classroom development
- Educational app development
- Advanced assessment tools
Get in touch to learn more and get a free expert consultation.