Technology in education is not a new trend, but in the wake of the global pandemic, it has truly gained its momentum. As many countries around the world had to impose nationwide lockdowns in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, educational institutions had to seek alternative ways to continue teaching and learning. That’s when educational technology came into the spotlight.

It was all those e-learning platforms, online courses, chatbots, and virtual assistants, electronic textbooks, and myriads and myriads of personal gadgets that helped the education system to keep going. However, those technological advances are not all that EdTech has to offer.

What Is Educational Technology?

EdTech is a practice aimed to improve the educational process through the development, application, and management of various tech tools and media resources. It also refers to a field of study that deals with the complex process that includes appropriate equipment, procedures, strategies, and algorithms for enhancing the instructional design and teaching-learning approaches.

Though EdTech places a strong emphasis on technology, the tools it utilizes are not restricted solely to high-tech appliances. It does include state-of-the-art devices like laptops, interactive whiteboards, overhead projectors, iPads, and cell phones. However, it should not be thought of as being synonymous with them. It also encompasses an array of software developments, such as mobile apps, computer programs, cloud-based services, and games. Moreover, EdTech covers the solutions for organization and personnel management, namely the learning management system (LMS) and training resource management system (TRMS).

What Is the Role of Edtech?

Modern forms of knowledge acquisition go far beyond conventional classroom experience, so the education system has to adapt to the demanding needs of society. As EdTech is concerned with the ongoing search for new and effective ways of organizing the teaching-learning process, it can be used as a springboard to propel industry transformation.

Educational technology already offers a wide range of products and solutions that can help universities, schools, and training centers to improve productivity both on the instructor and learner’s side. It can also shield the education system from possible collapses, like the one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis has highlighted how important it is to ensure the continuity of the educational process under any circumstances. And technology can help to create a connected environment that will link students to their teachers and educational content wherever they are and any time they need them.

In addition to facilitating non-stop training and improving performance, EdTech may have other potential implications both in the fields of teaching and knowledge acquisition. Here are just a few ways how EdTech is influencing the educational ecosystem to create a more engaging, inclusive, and individualized learning experience:

For Students…

EdTech equips people with life skills they are going to need for their future. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, mobile software developments, VR and AR-aided solutions, and robotics are already shaping the way we’ll live and work over the next decades. According to the Dell Technologies report, 2030 will mark the start of the new era of human-machine partnerships. It means that today’s learners must already acquire the know-how to utilize all those new tech appliances to thrive in the upcoming labor market.

To succeed in the ever-changing global environment, students should also develop their resilience and adaptability skills. The recent rush to blended and online learning was a perfect way to test and train those qualities. Moreover, wide-scale adoption of virtual studying platforms and cloud-based services bolsters social learning, promotes collaboration, and boosts learners’ engagement. Students can work together on home assignments, complete group projects, create and co-edit blog posts, podcasts, or videos.

Technology saves students demanding and tedious tasks that often impede their progress. For example, if you struggle to come up with the ideas for your admission essay or simply need someone to edit your paper, with just a few clicks, you can find a professional writer who will help you to nail that task. Experts at DoMyEssay can make any writing assignment an absolute breeze.

For Educators…

Just like their students, educators also have to deal with the chores that divert them from their main mission. And EdTech has the capacity to reduce teachers’ workload. It offers solutions that can abridge some of the most time-consuming processes, like lesson planning, grading, and record-keeping. It also provides efficient classroom management tools that help to increase students’ learning experience and their educational outcomes.

There are also special apps and platforms that monitor students’ progress and identify the areas of improvement. The data is then relayed to educators who craft a proactive and personalized plan to help that is meticulously tailored to different learning styles and proficiency levels.

Educational tech is also a massive driver of redefining the role of the teacher altogether. With the aid of digital content and tools, educators are moving away from being the dispensers of ageless wisdom who attempt to hammer the concepts into their students’ heads. Instead, they become mentors who guide the next generation on their learning path.

Also Read: How Tech Is Improving Teaching & Learning?