The most recent EdTech trends in 2021 and beyond are being transformed by emphasizing connection, flexibility, and student-centered learning. Let’s take a look at the most current top ten educational technology trends.

What Is Educational Technology, and Why Is It Important?

Many people understand that EdTech is the use of technology to enhance education. It’s true, but it’s not enough. EdTech is described by the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) as “facilitating learning and increasing performance via the creation, use, and management of suitable technology processes and resources.” Educators who use EdTech, on the other hand, have a considerably narrower understanding of the term. It is claimed to be a notion for digitalizing traditional book teaching and learning. The significant difference, according to them, is the manner information is conveyed (due to technological advancement) to make instruction more effective. In a nutshell, EdTech is integrating technology with Microsoft office student NZ into education to provide better teaching/learning experiences that result in more significant learning outcomes.

Process of Teaching and Learning

To begin, EdTech improves how instructors educate, both online and offline. Students may study whenever and wherever they choose, rather than needing to attend a particular class at a given time. Second, EdTech alters students’ approaches to learning. For students, EdTech makes learning more enjoyable and exciting. When we are interested in learning, we understand better, remember better, and apply our information more effectively in real life. Finally, technology makes education more thoughtful and more effective, therefore better meeting the requirements of students. True educators provide learners with important information, both in theory and in practice. On the other hand, Savvy educators can design lessons based on what students desire to learn. To summarize, EdTech does not imply that instructors must become IT, specialists. But, indeed, instructors can only accomplish these exciting things with technology, which is why we need EdTech in our lives.

Following educational trends is probably not anything new for a creative instructor, but rather something necessary. It is up to you to choose the most appropriate “trendy” assistance for your teaching and training, even with this list. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the ten most recent educational technology trends that you should be aware of if you’re considering a career in this field.

#1 eLearning

Because of the fast expansion of COVID-19 and school closures, distance learning became the number one 2021 educational technology trend overnight. As a result, there is a growing need for online instructional platforms. eLearning refers to education or training that is provided online. It may be slide-based online exercises or an online course that assists a company in training workers in essential abilities. eLearning is a method of delivering instructional material to learners through computers, laptops, tablets, or cellphones. Not only are you saving time, but you’re also opening up new opportunities for participatory learning. Rather than being trapped in a passive experience, learners may pick and select what they need to learn fast and effortlessly, no matter where they are. They also learn by engaging directly with on-screen information, such as moving material from one location to another. Furthermore, eLearning decision-making situations allow learners to make their own decisions about what they will study next. The remarkable aspect of online learning systems is their variety. You may educate your students in real-time (synchronous) through live stream or group meetings utilizing Zoom or Microsoft Teams, or you can use recorded (asynchronous) methods with a variety of media and digital functionalities to enhance courses. A solid online learning platform may also be coupled with a Learning Management System (LMS) to monitor your students’ progress.

#2 Video-Assistive Learning

Video-assisted learning has grown in popularity as a classroom presentation in recent years. The “video day” is no longer a television mounted on a trolley and carried into a classroom. Every day may be a “video day” with the internet and digital gadgets. This tendency is also thriving in remote learning settings, where students study through computer displays. Ones, particularly animated videos, may significantly enhance courses and make the material more understandable. It increases student results while decreasing teacher burden.

#3 Blockchain Innovation

Blockchain’s Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) provides many advantages to education, particularly data storage. Every time new data is added, another “block” is added to the system. Thus storage is theoretically infinite. The data will be encrypted and disseminated among many machines in the system at the same time. It decentralizes and transparently transacts data. Blockchain technology is used to validate knowledge in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and ePortfolios. DLT technologies will provide solutions to eLearning organizations’ authentication, scalability, and pricing issues. Furthermore, it may assist student candidates in publicizing their achievements throughout the job-searching process.

#4 Big Data Will Grow in Size

To meet the requirements of learners, the learning experience must be customized. And, with the success of COVID-19 and online learning, we now have more data than ever before. Instructional Designers have access to important information regarding learners’ experiences, allowing them to modify and deliver the course appropriately. You should search for information such as the course subject, learner enrollment, learner performance (duration per course, completion, test result), and learner feedback (rating, survey).

#5 Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is the “in thing” in the US EdTech industry right now. People anticipate that by 2022, AI will be the dominant trend, growing by more than 45 percent. So, why is the movement exploding in one of the world’s biggest EdTech markets? First and foremost, AI can automate fundamental educational tasks such as grading. Teachers may now automate the grading of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions. As a result, computerized grading of student writing may not be far behind.

Conclusion

Finally, we recognize that there is a lot to take in when discussing educational technology developments. However, bear in mind that technology has infiltrated education and wholly transformed the teaching and learning process. The eLearning is an educational technology that improves the accessibility and convenience of education and alters learners’ learning habits and aspirations to study. But there is good news: you do not have to sail alone on your EdTech ship since you have us help you bring out the actual value of learning, inspire learners, and make education more relevant and robust.