When it comes to the world of education and teaching, things are changing rapidly through technology. This has led to a unique transformation process that requires adapting many strategies, policies, and practices fitting with the new standards. There have been many recent trends in education, new applications and programs that will help both kids and teachers. Together, these will make the learning process more transparent and engaging, while also looking at everything from a much more modern perspective.

Although the difficulties of the lockdown and the instructions provided on how to convey information openly and engagingly were unclear, edtech has offered teachers fresh opportunities, such as being able to offer lessons remotely and thus achieving learning goals. Online resources considerably replaced the physical availability of textbooks, exercise books, and class notes. Thus, students shifted from regular books to online ones. Many resorted to documenting management software or even Google Classroom to upload their class notes for after-class reference. 

From learning apps to assistant teachers, smart classrooms are already here to stay. The world of education will soon be one in which entire lessons and platforms are integrated with digital tools. To gain some insight into the future of educational technologies, here are the top 5 EdTech trends predicted for 2022 by experts.

📍 Modern e-Learning Platforms

The convergence of technology and education is producing a massive shake-up in the way learning institutions operate. Simply put, online degrees are here to stay, and as many online degrees are coursework reliant, educational institutions have come up with creative ways to engage students online. 

While there are plenty of education platforms, innovative e-Learning platforms advance the art of learning. They are designed using cutting-edge learning theory and game models. These innovative methods and tools include gamification, social networks integration, visual narration and collaborative communication. They offer a list of features that cannot be found on other platforms like Wikipedia integration, e-Commerce tools, forums and quizzes. These innovative learning tools are not just perfect for students but also for teachers and educators. 

As online education continues to evolve, so does its dedication to providing quality learning experiences. Virtual labs are just one of the trends in online education that go beyond traditional textbooks and connect students with their environment. 

📍 Gamification

Gamification for educational purposes has become quite popular recently. The approach involves using game mechanics (such as points, badges, levels) to increase engagement for learners of all ages. Gamified learning does not necessarily mean developing games; it may also refer to adding elements of games into existing courses or making gamified versions of existing applications. The difference is their high complexity and sophisticated level of interaction in comparison with the early games. Modern technologies allow creating more elaborate scenarios, as well as collecting, storing, and processing data on users’ actions.

Gamified learning is not just about providing rewards for students’ knowledge acquisition. It is an effective way to make activities more engaging, motivate students to take specific actions and improve their performance. At the same time, it can also help boost positive emotions and build self-confidence. By focusing on multisensory learning, Square Panda’s learning platform teaches young learners to read in an enjoyable way that reinforces home and classroom learning.

📍 Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality

Opportunities to apply Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are expected to surge in the near future. These technologies could push the envelope across the education spectrum, and major companies and small startups alike are eager to make the most of this. For instance, Google Classroom VR is a platform that brings together Google’s tools with immersive educational experiences. It offers teachers and students humanized collaboration tools as well as fun and engaging educational activities. In addition, it is also designed to help students improve their attention span by providing a more immersive experience with the help of Google Cardboard technology.

A virtual, augmented reality classroom is a great idea that will help add extra vim and vigour to learning. With the introduction of such classrooms in schools, students will no longer find an excuse not to attend classes. They will be more likely to participate and learn using VR and AR technologies because they are getting to use such new gadgets and tools. The Virtual Reality course at Stanford lets students experience the potential of VR through hands-on interactive activities. The course combines conventional and virtual reality to allow students to be fully immersed in VR environments.

📍 AI-powered Programs

Today’s learners are becoming more tech-savvy and eager to learn on cutting-edge learning devices. Edtech has made the use of Artificial Intelligence ever more prevalent and is helping redefine the possibilities of education. This development has made a considerably different approach to instructing and empowering learning. 

Artificial Intelligence-driven programs are currently tasked with the end goal of changing what it means to be an educator for young, curious minds. This new tech is ready to help educators push new boundaries, and it can also help enhance what educators are doing today. Educators and different learners could take in more by using AI innovation to its fullest extent.

📍 Chatbots

For more than a decade, chatbots have been synonymous with customer service and customer experience. However, the adoption of chatbots in Edtech is relatively low compared to other industries like e-commerce, retail, and healthcare. While introducing this new concept to education was inevitable, the shift happened in recent months, where several educational institutions started deploying chatbot solutions. Students may encounter many of these when making education-related queries, such as clarity on admission dates, courses offered, or even to access course curriculum. Chatbots are starting to become the ideal solution for a comprehensive supporting ecosystem.

Several educational institutions use AI applications like chatbots, robots and predictive analytics to bring competencies into their teaching and learning processes. So, setting up a chatbot would ensure that there is increased accuracy as well as efficiency.

The Future of Edtech

While aspirations have definitely grown for the industry, many educators are still struggling to make the full use of technology as they seek to realize these dreams. The reason being that they are not fully aware of the latest educational technology trends and just how they can play their part in the smooth implementation of technology in the classroom. Many aspects need to be considered before outlining an action plan. 

With the emergence of innovative tools in education, a real and positive change is imminent in the status quo pertaining to the standard approach to education. Education technology has been evolving at a faster rate than ever before. The upcoming years will be termed an era of disruption, as these technologies will undoubtedly disrupt several educational organizations by making them more student-centric, flexible, and collaborative.

Education is a great enabler, and key to unlocking the benefits of India’s demographic dividend. However, to realise its full potential, we need to focus on addressing the cost and reach of education by embracing technological innovation. At Square Panda, we leverage cutting-edge technologies to create accessible, inclusive, and easily replicable learning solutions that can be deployed and scaled up across India. Know more about our work: ecce.squarepanda.in