For several years, the media and the internet have been rife with a new buzzword: edtech. Everyone keeps talking about it. Educators can’t shut up about it while students now have to learn about it. But that’s not where it ends. This trendy term has also birthed the rise of Brighterly.com as well as several edtech tools and platforms.
Thus, it’s important to ask the one question that’s burning on everyone’s mind. What exactly is edtech? Is it just a trendy buzzword that will eventually fizzle out after a couple of years? Why exactly do we need it in modern classrooms?
If (like everyone else) you’ve been wondering about this, this article will show you everything you need to know about edtech and how it works. Let’s get down to brass tacks, shall we?
What Is Edtech?
Here’s the first thing you need to know about edtech: it’s not a random buzzword being thrown around for fancy. More importantly, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
With that out of the way, it’s time to dig deep for a technical definition of edtech. The word “edtech” is derived from the fusion of “education” and “technology.” Put simply, edtech is the integration of technology into teaching to make learning more engaging, inclusive, and accessible for students. It’s the tiny intersection where technology and education meet and shake hands.
A few decades ago, the classroom as we knew it was simplistic and traditional. Blackboards, desks, and matching chairs were the order of the day. However, with edtech becoming more prominent, blackboards have been swapped for computer screens and VR technology. In the same vein, the traditional classroom setting has now been replaced by virtual teaching sessions.
The major implication? Education is changing with the times and it’s certainly for the better.
How EdTech Impacts Education
With the rise of new edtech tools, both students and teachers alike can enjoy a seamless learning experience. Here’s how edtech benefits these two sects:
For Students
Unlimited access to learning
Before the rise of edtech, learning was pretty much straightforward. Students went to school, took down notes, and went home. However, this traditional system certainly had its drawbacks. Any further questions or academic problems had to wait until the next day of school. Plus, students could only learn at the pace of their teachers or school library.
Well, not anymore. With edtech, students can now learn without having to be at school. Whether it’s on a bus, train, or at home, students can now gain access to resources through the internet and edtech learning tools such as Canvas. Teachers can also post resources and assignments for students to peruse at home without being limited by their location.
Personalized learning
Learning used to be a one-size-fits-all process. Several students crammed into one classroom, all learning at the same time and pace. While this method certainly worked for a few students, what it meant was that learning wasn’t exactly inclusive and accessible to all. Slower students often got left behind and had to suffer academically for it.
Thankfully, edtech is changing all of that by providing students with a personalized learning experience. With edtech tools, the learning experience can be customized to fit students’ specific strengths, skills, and needs.
For instance, students can use video content tools to learn instead of relying on traditional lessons. What this means is that they get to learn at their own pace by pausing, rewinding, or replaying lessons. This way, students don’t have to miss out on anything.
More engaging lessons
Every student can remember at least one boring lesson in their lifetime where they either fell asleep or zoned out halfway through class. Well, not anymore. With several learning apps, websites, and tools, students can now have fun while learning.
For instance, instead of learning about maps and places in a Geography class, they could go on virtual field trips to see for themselves.
Collaborative learning
Another way edtech benefits students is by fostering collaboration between them. Sure, traditional classrooms already did this with group projects and assignments. However, edtech certainly takes it a step further. Using cloud-enabled devices and apps, students can solve problems together instead of doing it alone. In the same vein, students could also use social media apps to collaborate on projects/assignments and discuss any problems they may be having.
For Teachers
Asides from students, teachers can also enjoy using edtech in their classroom. If you’re a teacher, here’s how edtech can help you:
Classroom management
Managing a classroom full of kids is no walk in the park – even for the most experienced teachers. Luckily, there are tons of ways that edtech could help you manage your classroom.
For instance, with virtual classrooms and conferencing tools like Microsoft Teams, you can organize students into breakout rooms where they can collaborate on classwork or group projects. It certainly beats shushing each group for speaking too loud or spying on another group.
EdTech tools and apps can also help you send reminders to parents and students about upcoming assignments and deadlines. This way, you can fend off the classic “dog ate my homework” excuse.
Basically, edtech helps you manage your classroom and create an organized, less chaotic environment for all.
Automated grading
Every teacher’s worst nightmare is having to pore over endless piles of scripts and grading them until your back gives out. Fortunately, with AI tools, you can spend less time on grading and focus instead on other things. Using machine learning, some apps can easily analyze answers for objective assessments and do the grading for you. This way, you’ll have more time to focus on your students and give them the learning experience they deserve.
Final Thoughts
EdTech has revolutionized the education sector and made learning more accessible for everyone involved. Whether a student or a teacher, edtech tools can brighten your experience and make the learning process more productive. Of course, there are several technological challenges that may occur, but in the long run, edtech’s benefits certainly outweigh its cons.
