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Big data, the Internet of Things, and cloud technologies have been revolutionizing education for years.

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus, the need for cloud technologies and remote learning has grown. 

Online tutoring has become the vital EdTech trend to learn them all. 

In 2021 and beyond, students expect schools to provide exceptional user experiences, from personalization to real-time communication with educators and peers.

Here are a few EdTech trends that are revolutionizing education.

1.Virtual Reality

Extended reality brings experiences to life for students. With virtual reality and augmented reality, schools can deliver more than the acquisition of information. These tools provide experiential learning, allowing students to learn new concepts by living them.

With VR, educators can bridge the gap between dull theory and practical knowledge. Students are actively engaged and immersed in the learning process. They participate rather than listening to teachers passively. 

A pair of VR headsets can benefit physical education, language immersion, and skills training. For example, during their ACLS certification training, healthcare students can experience real-life emergencies and prepare for them.

2.Cloud Technologies 

Cloud technologies in the education industry are growing at an astonishing rate. According to statistics, education-oriented cloud computing is expected to reach $25 billion by the end of 2021.

The rise of cloud technologies has made education available to all students, irrespective of their location or industry. No matter if they are learning remotely or in a traditional classroom, cloud-based EdTech tools allow them to stay connected 24/7. 

With cloud platforms, they can upload/download educational materials, connect with educators, and communicate with peers in real-time. These features are essential in the mobile-first era, where many students rely on their mobile devices. 

Most importantly, cloud tools enable remote learning. Schools can now create virtual classrooms for their students, allowing them to participate from different locations. 

Even renowned universities, such as MIT, Yale, or Harvard, offer massive open online courses (MOOCs). Students can attend lectures, connect with teachers, and use digital educational material for free. That way, schools can attract global students and reduce infrastructural costs. Above all, they can minimize infrastructural costs and attract global learners. 

3.Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is not a sci-fi concept anymore. It is our reality. We use AI in a wide range of everyday activities, from online banking to marketing. Education is no exception.

Artificial intelligence is transforming the traditional classroom experiences in multiple ways. Here are some of them:

  • Personalized learning processes

AI analyzes each student’s behaviors. It learns what a student does (not) know and focuses on their specific skills, needs, and problems. 

Based on this data, it creates a personalized study plan for each learner. Its goal is to make the learning process more relevant and targeted while reducing the knowledge gaps.

  • Task Automation

Artificial intelligence and automation are changing the traditional role of a teacher. Administrative tasks, such as grading or providing feedback, take a lot of time. With AI, teachers can automate these processes.

  • AI chatbots

We know that AI chatbots play a significant role in digital marketing and customer service. However, we can also use it in classroom settings.

No matter if a student is learning online or offline, AI chatbots act as a 24-hour source of information. They provide students with faster feedback and encourage their independence in the learning and research processes.

4.Adaptive Learning

With the rise of EdTech solutions, learners’ habits have changed. They have become more demanding. In 2021 and beyond, learners expect materials to meet their needs, requirements, and progress. 

That is where adaptive learning technologies shine. For instance, ScootPad is a perfect example of a tool encouraging personalization and adaptive learning. Namely, its founders understand that not everyone can acquire and understand every concept at the same pace. ScootPad relies on real-time analytics technologies to helps learners with exercises, assessments, and comprehensions. 

With so many e-learning platforms adopting adaptive learning, these technologies are expected to reach massive adoption in the next few years.

5.Social Learning Platforms

The popularity of social learning has grown over the past few years. The goal of these technologies is to encourage learners to collaborate with their peers and maximize document transparency.

Social learning tools offer multiple communication and collaboration features. They include video tutorials, instant chat, and communities and forums. That way, learners can exchange information and experiences. Scores, assignments, and lesson responses are available to everyone.

Moodle is a perfect example of a social learning platform. It uses a workshop that is designed for peer assessment activities. Learners can submit assignments that are distributed among other students. They have the opportunity to assess tests based on a previously determined grading scale. The tool also offers chat, forums, media embedding features, and direct messaging.

6.Blockchain Technologies

Blockchain relies on the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) that benefits the education sector on multiple levels. Every time new data is needed, it adds another block to the system. That means your storage is limitless.

Blockchain also helps schools protect student data. Namely, all data pieces will be encrypted and distributed across multiple computers in the system. That makes data sharing decentralized and more transparent.

7.Learning as a Service

With the rise of mobile devices and the cloud, streaming services have gained momentum. With Amazon Prime Video or Netflix, users can receive highly targeted and relevant user experiences. These platforms allow you to subscribe to a package and get unlimited access to their digital content.

The same applies to online learning. 

There are many virtual learning platforms, such as Udemy or Coursera. They improve the affordability and access to learning materials. Students can find courses that meet their needs, irrespective of their location. Most importantly, by shifting to online learning, they will reduce expenses.

Over to You

The EdTech solutions are growing at an astonishing pace. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and cloud technologies allow schools to attract wider audiences and provide exceptional learner experiences. Above all, they enable remote teaching and deliver highly personalized learning. To gain a competitive advantage and attract new students, educational institutions need to stay on top of these trends.