The term “edtech” was first coined in the late 1990s to describe a new form of educational technology.
Edtech is derived from combining two words: “education” and “technology.” It is short for “educational technology.”
It has come to encompass any tool that can be used as an educational resource, from textbooks to computer programs.
The rise of edtech reflects society’s growing interest in using technology for education, as well as openness towards change and innovation in education systems. In this article we will explore what edtech is and why it matters so much today.
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Why is Edtech important?
Edtech has become ubiquitous in all aspects of our lives, from transforming how we learn about history to how we get prescriptions for our mental health – and everything in between.
From online learning platforms to MOOCs, edtech has revolutionized the way we interact with information and knowledge.
Edtech signifies a wide-sweeping movement towards digitalization and technological integration in education.
One aspect of this is the transformation of textbooks: with new technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and gamification, textbooks are becoming more interactive and engaging.
With these technologies, students can learn about a country’s history through a virtual tour of places that had significance in their past (AR), the solar system in on visual display right in front of them (VR), or they can compete against other students to answer trivia questions correctly (gamification).
These technologies can make learning more fun for children and help them learn better than before. Teachers can also use these technologies to plan lessons.
How Does Edtech Help Students & Teachers?
For Students
Improved Collaboration
Learning is becoming more collaborative and social, with the use of platforms like Google Docs. In these online environments, students can work together to learn and complete projects.
Students can use cloud-based applications to submit their homework and engage in real time conversations about their thinking processes and for any assistance they require.
All Day Access to Learning Resources
Educational resources are available 24/7 and can be accessed from any type of device – whether it’s a laptop, phone, or tablet.
Connected technology is providing students Wi-Fi and cloud access to complete work at their own pace without being limited by the constraint of needing to be in a physical classroom, whether they’re at school, on the bus, or at home.
Customized Educational Courses
Edtech provides personalization in an educational environment with personalized learning paths for every student.
Video learning materials allow students to learn at their own speed and because they may watch and pause the lectures, they can help pupils fully grasp the teaching. Teachers may use analytics to determine which pupils had difficulty with certain lessons and provide further assistance on the topic.
Rather of relying on stressful testing to assess academic achievement, schools are now using apps to track overall aptitude.
The amount of data collected is also important, as it offers insight into the effectiveness of your program. Constant measurements display learning patterns that teachers may utilize to develop particular learning plans based on each student’s strengths and shortcomings.
Less Class Skipping
Teachers can now create lessons that are interactive and engaging using some new technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and gamification.
In some instances, innovative students have utilized technology to increase classroom participation by chatting with classmates from all over the world via video, requiring students to submit homework assignments as videos or podcasts, and even gamifying the resolution of issues.
For Teachers
Automated Grading
One of the ways that Edtech is helping teachers is by automating grading and other aspects of the teaching process. This enhances efficiency, eliminates guesswork, and increases accuracy.
Grading has never been easier thanks to artificially intelligent tools. These applications employ machine learning to analyze and score responses based on the assignment’s requirements.
Classroom Management Tools
Classroom Management Tools are designed to keep lessons running smoothly, keep students on task, and make sure that everyone learns without distraction.
Apps have been created to send parents and children reminders about tasks or homework.
In the classroom, incorporating management tools has created a less-chaotic, more collaborative atmosphere.
Paperless Classrooms
Technology can allow you to go paperless with classes which means there is less paper waste being sent to recycle centers.
It also reduces the amount of time spent on lunch breaks for teachers who have to copy homework from one notebook to another.
No More Guesswork
Sometimes when it comes to grading, there is a lot of on-the-spot assessments that are done. Technology has provided the opportunity to eliminate some of this guesswork and enhance learning with automatic marking schemes.
Evaluating Teachers
Technology allows teachers to keep records which can then be used by administrators or other stakeholders in the school system when evaluating a teacher. This will make sure that certain strategies have been implemented for specific students and allow them to determine where these methods succeeded and failed so they may adapt according to individual student’s needs.
Teaching Multiple Learner Types
When it comes to teaching multiple learner types, EdTech allows teachers to do this more easily by providing online resources as well as different learning styles tools that enable instructors to tailor their teaching methods to their students.
Lesson Plans
Edtech allows teachers to create and implement online lesson plans that are interactive and fun, so that students more easily understand the curriculum in a way that is engaging and not monotonous.
It can also be used to assess how well this teaching method has worked based on the data collected from student analytics.
Teacher Training
Technology allows teachers to upload videos of themselves during training workshops or teacher’s meetings with other colleagues for further collaboration.
These videos can then be watched by teachers who may not have been able to attend in person.
This allows them access to information as if they were there without having to constantly fly back and forth between locations which saves money and time while increasing knowledge-sharing among peers.
Some Examples of Educational Technology
Instructional software
There are many different types of educational technology on the market, but instructional software is one of the most common uses for this tech in the classroom.
These programs can be used to provide lesson plans and assessment feedback, among other things.
Learning management system
Learning management systems are a great way to keep all your material organized and allow teachers to communicate with each other and students.
Educational games
Educational games are a fun, non-traditional way to teach concepts like math or science.