The EdTech Trends of 2020
Edtech is constantly evolving and despite the current pandemic slowing down the working economy across the globe, there are still a number of new trends which all edtech fans should follow. Don’t worry, Digital Influx are here to give you an insight into this decade’s popular trends to help teachers and students alike.
A recent survey by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt claims that 83% of teachers are optimistic about using digital learning alongside their own teaching. Edtech is playing a major part in the rapid evolvement of digital learning, particularly in Australia who is seeing a variety of online teaching methods from web-based school management platforms like Compass, and online-tutoring like Cluey. But which Edtech trends are designers following to help further adapt digital learning?
The Trends
Learning Platforms
Learning platforms are frequently used in universities and are becoming a popular trend in schools in 2020 as they allow students to access all course materials, submit assignments, and check grades; perfect for remote learning.
At Digital Influx Academy, we are the midst of launching our very own edtech product which teaches kids to understand empathy, provides children with fun, educational games, uses problem solving and active learning. When designing our product, we too followed these trends.
Data Privacy
In order to keep student data safe, edtech companies must follow the data privacy standards established by FERPA, COPPA, and SHERPA.
Educators should follow this trend and choose edtech companies wisely based on their commitment to data privacy as it is the law to secure student online safety.
Al
As we progress into 2020, tech platform Al will be used more to help personalise learning. Al works as the foundation for creating digital tutoring like Querium and Kidaptive’s Adaptive Learning Platform. Not only will such educational platforms provide kids with engaging remote learning perfect for this era of a global lockdown but will also help reduce teachers’ stress by giving them insights into weakness areas for students.
Student and teacher wellness
Ever thought that tech could help remove the stigmas around teacher burnouts and student anxiety? Well check out Mind Moose who echoes the modern phenomena by teaching pupils about mental health. Students are encouraged to progress in areas such as self-awareness and self-esteem, emotion management, problem solving, resilience development and brain science through short animations. Pupils can also earn awards when progressing.
Collaborative Technology
Collaborative edtech tools create a more personal way of learning through chatbot platforms and apps familiar to kids such as Facebook and Skype. Pupils can learn by messaging each other which helps teachers to moderate online discussions, and gives feedback while saving teachers’ time.
Video Based Learning
It’s no secret that since the world’s governments were encouraged to enforce lockdowns, schools everywhere have decided to turn to online recorded lessons to keep their students learning. But how affective can online learning be? Read about this new trend to find out.
Surprisingly, remote online learning has proven popular among kids as some teachers have combined learning with pupils’ favourite home-time hobbies. Teachers can use both YouTube and TeacherTube, and BrainPOP to create educational videos. So, designers and teachers, ditch the standard pre-recorded Zoom videos and follow this fun trend to keep your students engaged.
Machine Learning
Hold your horses, the futuristic robot world we’ve all only imagined from episodes of Futurama is steadily approaching. Over the next decade, education designers will be following edtech trends by creating a digital analysis platform which will predict a student’s academic future. To help online course providers, teachers will foresee who may be at risk of dropping their courses. Machine-learning -web platform Netex Learning, enables teachers to design a curriculum for the day and test whether it works. This will improve results and maximise enjoyment among students.
Mixed Reality
Following the murder of George Floyd and the explosion of Black Lives Matters supporters, parents have advocated that schools adapt their curriculums to teaching racial history rather than merely teaching British victories. And what better way to learn about and truly empathise with harrowing subjects such as slavery than by virtually reliving them? Rumii, a virtual reality software, digitally transports students to East China and Africa to learn about the Great Wall of China and the Egyptian Pyramids. Education designers should follow this trend to help educate students on racial discrimination.
For more info, email us at info@digitalinflux.com or message our media pages.
Author: Tilly O’Brien.
