EduTech paves the way to a brighter future for our students

Classroom teaching methods had remained much the same for centuries;

Students would come to class, sit down at a desk facing the front of the room, pull out their books and listen to the teacher’s every word.

This is the way it was- a simple, effective way of getting students to learn by listening, and a tried method by which you could test a student’s progress and keep them out of trouble.

But, how many disciplines remain largely unchanged in the same way that traditional teaching practices have?

Not many. Not many at all.

photo credit larvalsubjects.wordpress.com

It’s no surprise then that, since the ushering-in of the technological age in the latter half of the 20th century, those involved in the education sector have been trying to apply new technologies to classroom learning, as well as analysing these centuries-old teaching methods and asking a very important and perhaps long-overdue question;

Is this really the best way to teach our students?

Many industry experts say no, and there are some exciting new developments in the world of Education Technology that are revolutionising the student experience and as well, changing the way we think about teaching as a society.

Rise of EduTech

Though a drop in the ocean in comparison to investment in other sectors, the years 2004–2011 saw a 70% rise in private investment for EduTech development globally, signalling the beginnings of a sizeable push to develop real, practical tech that can be applied to the classroom in a way that further improves the learning experience of students.

More recently, the fruits of many years of hard work and investment have begun to be seen, as according to StartupMuster, 2017 saw EduTech make up roughly 15% of total investment in Australian startups, up more than 3.5 percentage points from the previous year.

The advent of new technologies has meant for the opening of a market for new innovative tech, and according to all accounts, improved learning and retention in students, while lessening the paperwork burden for teachers and school administrators.

In a talk for TedX called ‘Technology in Education’, seasoned educator for Hillsborough College in the US, Joel Handler, challenged the audience to think of how ubiquitous tech is changing the learning process for students, stating that ‘Whereas the teacher has always been the ‘sage on the stage’, always ordering (traditionally), with the implementation of education technology, teachers are (becoming) the ‘guide on the side’.

Emerging datasets also show promising signs of the benefits of EduTech too.

Harvard’s Personalised Learning Collaborative at the Centre for Education Policy Research found in 2017 that the implementation of Intelligent Adaptive Learning processes integrating DreamBox tech in the curriculum directly caused significant gains in overall mathematics retention and achievement.

It doesn’t stop there- a year-long study of the Mechanics Course at the University of New South Wales confirmed that the use of engaging technology platforms reduced average student failure rates from 31% to just 7% per year.

With more and more startups being incorporated every year, the number of EduTech-focused companies is also set to increase- as more investment pours in, we are likely to witness in the coming years and decades, great leaps in innovation that further empower teachers and students alike.

Several Australian EduTech startups are already making a serious mark in the industry, including Melbourne-based curriculum and analysis platform, Verso Learning- utilising high-impact learning strategies as well as unique ways to analyse a students progress, Verso Learning is encouraging the use of deeper and more effective learning techniques as well as providing practical support and personalised guidance to teachers.

Another important startup planting their flag in the EduTech arena are the likes of SeeSaw- a communication app which allows for the daily monitoring of a students progress as well as providing a simple and effective portal for communication between teachers and parents.

Change is coming

It seems clear that EduTech is poised to change not just the look of a classroom, but also the style in which students are taught, and the way educators analyse progress in the E-learning sphere, as the Market for EduTech is undeniably robust, with new tech entering the fold on a daily basis.

Students at EduTech conference 2017 Dublin, Ireland

But a permanent change in Classroom learning methods will require significant investment in the EduTech sector, which many see as the responsibility of Government to ensure enough progress is being made.

According to Sir Ken Robinson (renowned Author and expert on Education Technology), it is ‘up to Governments around the world to have the courage to buck the trends of standardisation in Education’, as it seems blatantly clear that teachers are ‘incredibly excited by the seemingly limitless possibilities of education technology tools to extend the walls of their classroom’.

The future of EduTech looks bright, but like any field of innovation, will require big investment and constant improvement if it is to disrupt the traditional ways we teach our students truly and as well, bring to the table methods of teaching that truly belong in the 21st century, in order to fully unleash the potential of our students and teachers.

Educator and industry blogger, Janelle Cox said it best; ‘By embracing and integrating technology in the classroom, we are setting our students up for a successful life outside of school.’

Earlier this week, I sat down with Frances Zubreckyj- celebrated educator (St. Peters College, Adelaide) with more than 35 years teaching experience in the sector, to discuss the applications and benefits of EduTech in the classroom-

How would you describe the transition from traditional teaching methods to implementing education technology in the classroom?

The use of technology in classrooms has made many aspects of teaching easier. Communication with families is enhanced. Traditionally, it was easy to have a conversation with parents before or after school, however, increasingly more children are accessing after school care or are rushing off to play sports. Learning can be shared through learning platforms (See Saw app, Keystone, or SEQTA) enabling teachers, parents and students to reflect on aspects of the learning, rather than waiting for a parent interview or sending a “test” home to be shared. Immediacy is definitely a positive.

Technology provides opportunities for authentic learning. Students are able to reach out to experts in the field and share their results with the wider community. Some of the skills are the same, but there are a host of new skills that are required. Information literacy is essential, and teacher librarians are perfectly placed to support students and class teachers with these skills. A study by IT Trade Association CompTIA, just released this month, around 75% of educators believe that technology has had a positive impact on the education process. Teachers are now learning to teach with emerging technologies (tablets, iPads, Smart Boards, digital cameras, mac books), while students are using advanced technology to shape how they learn.

What are some examples of the benefits of technology in the classroom?

• Preparing students for the digital future. These 21st-century skills are essential in order to be successful.
• Improved retention rate.
• Technology enables students to learn at their own pace.
• Technology changes by the minute and educators must keep up to date with these changing technologies in order to best prepare students for this ever-changing world.
• Immediacy — feedback, access to information, communication
• Engagement — students naturally enjoy using technology. We do need to ensure that they are taught information literacy skills as it is often assumed they know how to use technology as they are “digital natives” but this is not the case.
• Ease of communication
• The reach of technology — allows greater access to information, able to share their learning, content creation
• Curation of information

Has the nature of classroom learning changed such that the application of education technology is now essential to student learning?

Education technology has enabled 24/7 access to learning resources and information which reflects the way families and students interact with learning.

Parental expectations around communication and assessment are well supported by the EduTech platforms.

Name and briefly discuss drawbacks resulting from the use of technology in the classroom.

Equality — equal access to the internet. While there is an assumption that students and parents have access to the internet, this is not always the case. Schools still need to ensure that they support student and families in more traditional ways, provide access to technology where possible.

Socialisation — there still needs to be limits on technology use to ensure communication between students. Children’s eyes need a break from continually using a screen. Addiction can be an issue.

What do you see as the future of classroom technology and its application?

I think flipped classrooms will be used more. Allowing students to access some of the core knowledge at home before coming to class. This would allow the teacher to provide more practical and hands-on learning.

More collaboration among students, and with experts.

Curation of information by students

The impact of VR and AR technology, enabling students to experience new learning, worlds etc.

What’s next

The best chance to check out the latest innovations in education technology will be at the International EduTech Conference in Sydney, June 2018.

It is where the industry’s leading experts converge in a week of tech and innovation, where improvements in classroom and student learning tech are put on display for all involved in the sector to see.

The conference will host more than ten-thousand targeted prospects, including personnel from all aspects of the decision-making chain, ie. Educators, industry leaders, management, ICT teams, designers and software builders.

Attendees can head to several of the masterclasses, hosted by more than 250 exhibitors at the conference as well as 230 world-class speakers in the industry, many tech demonstrations, with a focus on gender equality and diversity in the sector.

Register your place at the conference here: www.edutech.com.au/Registration.stm