Technological growth in Education.
Education has significantly progressed from the traditional four-walled classrooms it used to be in, into something more engaging and interesting.
The introduction of technology in education has been a game-changer in helping us embrace new ways of learning.
According to research from Statistica, In 2015, 49% of students worldwide reported that they had taken an online course in the past 12 months.
Also in 2016, about 81% of college students believed that digital learning technology, including virtual classroom chat, helped them boost their grades.
Another report showed that, as of Summer 2020, 93% of US teachers reported conducting at least some of their teaching online.
So you can Immediately spot the huge influence Edtech has had on the educational landscape so far, for both learners and teachers.
But what really is Edtech? Well, that’s what I’d be explaining in this article today.
Also, I’d be sharing with you the several ways Edtech companies are contributing massively to helping us learn better and easier.
There’s a fun fact at the end of this article, stick through to the end to check it out.
WHAT IS EDTECH ?
‘Edtech’ is an acronym for Educational Technology.
It refers to the use of computer hardware and software to enhance various learning processes in the education sector.
Investors and firms in the education industry are aware of the sector’s trajectory. And are putting a lot of money into it.
EdTech is predicted to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.1% year-on-year through 2027.
This article will outline the 5 ways Edtech startups are contributing to making education easier and more accessible.
1. Promoting Research
EdTech startups are investing heavily in research tools, such as making the internet more accessible. This is huge for promoting research amongst students.
They can complete research projects without spending hours in the library. And they can easily use the internet to publish their work for the world to see.
2. Adoption of Self-paced Learning
Self-paced learning can improve students’ memory performance and knowledge retention.
Edtech startups are making learning easier for students by introducing an online curriculum that is exclusively designed for them.
Some students take a considerable amount of time to absorb an idea. While others pick up new concepts in seconds. And it is clear this is the gap Edtech startups are closing up.
3. Promoting Collaboration
Edtech startups are doing a good job in preparing students for the real world.
And teaching them how to use online platforms to collaborate with each other is one way.
Zoom and other video conferencing tools are used for collaboration purposes during classes.
Not only can students discuss and chat on these platforms.
They can also share documents and notes — which is not any different from what happens in the real-world work environment.
4. Saving More Time For Teachers
The old conventional way was for teachers to spend thousands of hours writing lecture notes and grading student performance over the course of a term.
It wasn’t a bad practice, of course, but Edtech startups showed us there is a better way to get the job done.
They provided teachers with technology and the Internet, which will help them find free lesson materials and lesson plans.
In addition, they’ve also exposed them to apps and programs designed to grade students.
This has given teachers enough time to devote to other aspects of their lives.
5. Cut Cost On Expensive Textbooks
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, textbook prices increased more than 3 times the inflation rate from January 1977 to June 2015.
This is a huge increase of 1.041 percent.
To organize this, Edtech startups introduce us to the subscription model of getting textbooks.
Publishers allow students to choose subscriptions on a monthly or semester basis. Where they can get e-books for half the price of a paperback textbook.
And this, combined with the internet, gives students access to more up-to-date resources than the old printed textbooks in the library.
Conclusion
The idea that “education is for everyone” seems to be validated by the involvement of technology.
And the fun fact I talked about earlier is to let you know that I am a product of an Edtech startup.
I’m currently learning to be a Full-Stack Web Developer while also working as an apprentice content writer with the same company.
Click here to check them out