What Is EdTech And How Does It Affect The Education Industry?
With technology reaching the stage it is at, it is hard to ignore it any further. Technology is now being used in all kinds of fields, ranging from archaeology to agriculture. The use of technology is undeniably beneficial and the education sector is one of the biggest fields that can immensely benefit from the use of technology.
EdTech stands for Education Technology and includes everything that relates to technology being used in the field of education. It can be as simple as the use of a computer to teach math or English to elementary students or it can be as complex as professors of prestigious universities using advanced software to help solve complicated equations.
EdTech is not something that is new to the education industry. The use of technology in the education sector is something that has been used for a while although it would not be wrong to say that the idea has gained much more popularity in recent years and is now being implemented more than ever.
What Is The Future Of EdTech And How Can It Be Used In Classrooms?
It can safely be said that EdTech is not going away anytime soon. An increasing number of schools and educational institutions are implementing the use of technology into their system and rapidly moving towards partial or complete digitization.
- Shaping Teachers:
In the coming years, the popularity and demand for teachers is almost guaranteed to increase. The education sector can use EdTech to its advantage in shaping future teachers who will belong to the newer generation and be inherently different from the teachers of the past. One of the biggest uses is offering online classes which does not require the student and the teacher to be present at the same location at a particular given time.
- Making Learning Immersive:
A number of studies conducted have found that including the use of technology in teaching students has a positive response as it encourages participation and holds the attention of the student for a longer period of time. The use of technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality is widely being implemented in classrooms as it helps simulate real life scenarios which holds more value for the student.
- Technology That Is Mobile
The huge leaps made in the technological industry are undeniable, no matter what kind of technology you consider. These advancements have made it extremely easy to implement and use EdTech in classrooms. Technology such as smart boards, tablets, projectors, AR and VR headsets are extremely handy and easy to carry around which means that they are not limited to one particular classroom and can be set up in different places.
- Tailored Lesson Plans:
Studies have found that students tend to get frustrated when what they are being taught is of no interest to them. The use of EdTech allows educators to find out what a student is actually interested in. This increases the overall productivity of the student as well as the level of interest that they show in the classroom. It also takes into account the different pace at which students absorb and understand information which allows teachers to make plans which are suited to the student.
- Online Assessments:
One of the biggest benefits of EdTech is that it helps students with online assessments. This is a massive benefit for students as it provides a better learning process while also allowing customization and flexibility. It can even help students with essay writing service UK and college essay writing help which are a big of any student’s education.
- Digitizing The Curriculum:
One of the most important things when considering EdTech is digitizing the curriculum. The industry has already faced a lot of digitization as the use of electronic devices has gained popularity in the past decade. Institutes have adapted in different ways, using websites, applications and even social media to their benefit. Digital education is the way going forward as it has uncountable benefits for all parties involved.
The benefits are not only limited to the six listed above. There are a number of other advantages of using EdTech in classrooms, almost too many to list down. The use of technology in the education sector speeds up all processes considerably which in turn saves time and allows the individual, be it the teacher or the student, to be more efficient and productive with their time.
The use of technology is also saving costs. An estimated four trillion dollars are globally spent by education and training industries. The use of EdTech can substantially lower this number and allow all this resource to be focused on a different area such as research and development or to solve the installation costs for some technologies which can be quite high at times in some cases.
The Implementation Of EdTech Has Become A Need Rather Than An Option.
Looking at how far technology has come along in a few short years and looking at fast advancements are being made, one can easily realize that technology will play a huge part in education going forward. In fact, it already is. Ignoring technology and sticking to the outdated, traditional methods of teaching which have remained unchanged for decades certainly spells doom for any institution that wants to stick to the old ways.
The time and money saved by using technology has a much higher payout in the long run along with having many other benefits for students, teachers, institutions and all other parties involved. Staying in touch with the current and upcoming methods of learning and teaching is important for any teacher or institution to be successful. Students should also use technology in a positive manner. The use of mobile phones and other gadgets can be regulated so that students do not spend all of their time on social media or playing video games which would be counterproductive.
