Modern Education Trends in 2021

Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, and Machine Learning were some of the hottest trends in 2020, and needless to say, they will continue to make their way as modern trends in 2021. Education trends have drastically changed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person or on-campus learning has been replaced by online classes. As students adjust to these changes, the educators can make the process fun, creative and easy through various technological and digital solutions.

Automation of administrative tasks will help streamline processes for educators and save time. As more and more students shift to mobile technology, powerful mobile data solutions are required to meet the ever-growing demand. Blockchain technology will help with the safe and secure storage of students' academic records. Robotics learning, 3D printing, and the utilization of big data will provide more immersive and creative ways of learning for students. In this article, we will share some of the top trends for EdTech and also share some of the technologies that help keep the trends up to date.

Modern Tech Trends in Education

Accessible education

Education should be accessible to everyone around the globe. EdTech can help reach remote areas that are commonly ignored. Digital textbooks and online learning will become more common in 2021. Digital learning helps reduce the costs of transportation and also has a wider reach. When it comes to translation, digital textbooks also help reduce the time and money that is usually spent on hard copies or physical versions.

Personalized learning programs

With the advancement in technological tools, personalized learning has become more and more popular. Every student is different and requires a targeted direction from the teacher to achieve their goals. In traditional classrooms, teachers don’t have the time to focus on each student individually. With EdTech, the teachers can free up their time by grading quizzes and assignments online. This will save their time that’s usually spent in grading and testing. Teachers can also use modern technological tools to create lesson plans that are more personalized to each student.

Demand for digitalization

As the landscape of the world continues to change, there is more demand for moving businesses online. May it be universities changing their curriculum to fit digital learning, or teachers conducting their classes online, the vast majority of learning has shifted online. Digital learning can be in the form of PowerPoint presentations or whiteboard lessons. Educational websites such as Udemy, Coursera, edX also fall under digital learning. With the rise of digital learning, they will soon eliminate the need for handwriting lectures as students will receive materials that they can interact with in real-time. The lesson plans will be available online and stored in a digital cloud.

Security

While remote learning comes with many advantages, there is a downside to it too. The digital world is highly prone to cyber-attacks and malware. With the rise of EdTech applications, there is also an increasing demand for security. While teachers and students continue to interact online, their privacy and security can be at stake. Improving the mediums of communication and adding an extra layer of security to applications can help eliminate the risk of data breaches and ransomware attacks.

Optimization

The learning experience should not be linear for each student, rather diversity in learning situations and experiences is paramount to inclusive education. Optimizing education and learning to create more functional and inclusive education materials is a necessity in the digital age. From adaptive digital learning platforms to immersive communication systems, technology in the classroom is evolving at an unprecedented rate.

By optimizing technology in classrooms, teachers can utilize various digital tools to customize learning based on students’ needs. A well-crafted lesson plan with a personalized learning experience will help drive a better learning environment for students. The above-mentioned trends are some of the highly demanded trends that will shape education in 2021. The following technologies will help drive the EdTech sector and keep it up to date with the latest trends.

Technologies transforming EdTech

AI and ML

The application of artificial intelligence and machine learning is seen in most industries today. The education sector is not behind! AI-based apps such Nuance, Cognii, Quizlet, Kidaptive, and Querium are applying machine learning systems to improve education.

AI can automate basic administrative tasks in education, such as grading. Teachers can now automate the grading of multiple-choice questions and even the fill-in-the-blank questions. The idea of automating comprehensive text writing is not far behind. Teachers can make use of AI tutors to automate learning and receive feedback on student’s performance. The AI systems can help in students' progress monitoring and alerting teachers when there is an issue in a student's performance.

EdTech AI solutions can also be used to identify the problems students face while learning and then systemize them to improve their educational environment. With customization, ML solutions will help save time and increase efficiency.

Robotics

In EdTech, robots are used in designing flexible teaching and learning systems. These systems are designed to benefit all students including those with disabilities. Apple’s Siri is an example of a smart robot or personal assistant. Students who are visually or physically impaired can give voice commands to Siri when completing their homework and assignments. Smart learning platforms like Ryobi are using robots and AI to help with early-age learning and neurodevelopment. Robotify is another great example of learning through virtual robots. Students are using these platforms to learn coding and STEM in a fully virtual world.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Internet of things (IoT) includes devices that are connected to the internet like computers, e-books, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, etc. In EdTech, teachers can use interactive whiteboards to connect to the local network and provide an immersive and connected learning experience for students.

Learning management systems (LMS) are also actively used by educators. LMS helps teachers administer and track the use of the EdTech devices in real-time. Some of the more advanced applications can also track data and identify learning gaps. Augmented reality (AR) is also becoming increasingly popular in the education sector. AR can help increase engagement, curiosity and promote visual learning through animation and 3D models.

Blockchain

Blockchain technology provides a secure and centralized identity tracking system for students. Students transferring credits, enrolling in a class, checking out library books, or taking standardized tests, can use blockchain’s centralized ID system to streamline and centralize their data. Many students have to spend money every time they send out their transcripts or diplomas to accepted schools. With blockchain, students or candidates can send a link to their schools or potential employees using digital blockchain documents. Blockchain can also be used to issue diplomas. Students will be able to secure their diplomas in an ethereal blockchain that will be available for instant verification.

Big Data

Many professors now consider big data to be an essential tool for measuring institutional performance. Big data helps analyze and monitor a student’s performance and increases the graduation rate. Big data helps create better outcomes for students and educators. Online course companies such as Coursera, edX, Udemy, are using big data analytics to improve teaching and student learning. For example, Coursera offers a dashboard where teachers can see when students are most likely to stop engaging with a video. EdX is finding ways to use big data to teach complex concepts.

3D printing

Learning through 3D printing in the classroom is a creative process for educators to engage students and help them learn complex concepts and skills. When working with science subjects like biology, chemistry, and physics, students can use 3D prototypes to grasp concepts in depth. 3D technologies are inspiring teachers to not only produce better learning outcomes with EdTech but also generate higher exam scores and higher college/university acceptance rates.

Conclusion

EdTech uses technological processes and resources to facilitate learning performance. The application of EdTech in various industries has transformed them effectively. The education sector has seen great demand for optimization, digitization, personalized learning, and accessible education. The adoption of technological tools such as robotics, the Internet of things, and AI is helping students and teachers achieve these demands.

StarNavi helps schools, universities and school districts create education technology solutions of all kinds. We are helping educators through our tech-driven solutions for all age groups. Contact StarNavi to get the education of the future.

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