Overview of EdTech: Redefining education
The landscape of education has been significantly revolutionised with the incorporation of technology. EdTech is the acronym for education technology, which refers to the implementation of new technology in the classroom to create more dynamic and inclusive educational spaces. From tablets and laptops to online learning platforms and interactive whiteboards, technological advancements have redefined the classroom experience by making it more interactive, accessible, engaging, and immersive for both the students and the educators.
Digital classroom and its advantages
Digital classrooms can be defined as the usage of electronic platforms of devices such as mobile phones, laptops, projectors, social media, and multimedia to offer productive learning to students. The need for digital classrooms has significantly increased after the pandemic, which has accelerated distance learning.
Increased engagement- The increasing penetration of the internet has replaced the traditional teaching method of using blackboard and notebook with the usage of digital interactive and engaging platforms where the students can learn quickly and rapidly as well as obtain notes from these platforms. Interactive whiteboards, multimedia resources and educational apps captivate the attention of the students, converting the lessons into memorable and dynamic experiences.
Personalised learning – Technology allows educators to fulfil the individual learning requirements and paces of students. In the adaptive learning platforms, the strengths and weaknesses of the students are assessed to deliver them customised content which can fulfil their specific needs.
Collaborative – Technology empowers the collaboration between educators and students across the world, navigating the geographical distance. The students can prepare for a globalised future in terms of integrating diverse perspectives into the learning through online projects, virtual classrooms and collaborative platforms.
For example, the Indian government has introduced the Swayam project through which free online courses are offered to students across the entire nation, enabling the students to accomplish their educational goals from anywhere, breaking down the location restrictions.
Cost Saving – In the educational landscape, online resources and digital textbooks are considered quite cost-efficient in comparison to traditional printed materials. Additionally, online courses and digital classrooms decrease the requirements of the extensive physical infrastructure, which leads to a substantial reduction in the overall educational costs.
Current trends shaping the landscape of EdTech
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the ability to shape the way teachers teach and students learn. AI-enabled tools are accountable for offering personalised and tailored learning experiences in line with the unique needs of each student, supporting them to make progress at their own pace. In addition to that, AI is being used by educators for the automation of administrative tasks which leads them to emphasise more on teaching and improved communication with the students. As per the National Education Policy ( NEP) 2020, artificial intelligence should also be introduced in the curriculum as a contemporary subject at relevant stages.
Virtual and Augmented Reality
Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) technologies are also recognised as two of the most promising additions to the context of EdTech. The application of AR and VR technologies helps the students to gain immersive virtual experiences towards the educational scenarios, enabling them to better understand and engage with complex concepts rather than depending just on textbooks and lectures.
For example, the researchers of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) are working towards the development of virtual reality-based education models for application in rural schools. As the preliminary step towards this initiative, the project coordinators of IIT Madras, Dr. Merin Simi Raj and Dr. AvishekParuihave have designed the first AR-based mobile application named “MemoryBytes”, which has the capability of capturing the history of the transactional Anglo-Indian community across 500 years.
Learning Analytics
Learning analytics are subjected to gather, analyse and interpret the data generated by the interactions of the students with the digital learning circumstances. The educators benefit from these insights in terms of monitoring progress, identifying patterns, and making informed decisions regarding the improvement of learning outcomes.
Potential issues related to the context of EdTech
Digital divide- Though there is no doubt regarding the substantial opportunities presented by EdTech, the usage of technology in education also poses certain unique challenges. Primarily, the inequitable access to technology leads to the formation of a gap in learning opportunities. There is concern regarding the accessibility or affordability of technology because of its high cost.
Data privacy and security – Additionally, there is the potential for the misuse of the student data assimilated by educational technology institutions. Cyber attacks can occur in online learning platforms, making them vulnerable to data privacy and security.
Teacher training – Onboarding talented faculties with expertise to smoothly operate the EdTech platforms is another crucial challenge in leveraging technology in education. Supporting educators to become capable of smooth technology incorporation requires effective training and professional development programmes, which can be costly and time-consuming.
Tech overload – The efficiency of technology in tailoring education as per the individual requirements of the students is still being researched and is one of the subjects of debate. In order to offer effective design lessons, there is the requirement of a thoughtful balance between traditional methods and technology. Hands-on activities and face-to-face interaction are significant for the comprehensive learning experience of the students. Therefore, excessive reliance on digital classrooms and online courses can create a gap in the practical exposure for the students, leading to depriving them of a holistic learning experience.
Contribution of World Bank Group to EdTech
In the developing world, the World Bank Group is recognised as the largest financier of education. The respective body is working on educational programs in over 80 nations for the improvement of the quality of education and offering lifelong learning opportunities for everyone. The World Bank Group associates with organisations and governments worldwide to support timely research, innovative projects, and knowledge-sharing activities about EdTech to ultimately reduce learning poverty in education.
FAQ
What is EdTech?
EdTech is the acronym of education technology which refers to the implementation of new technology in the classroom to create more dynamic and inclusive educational spaces.
What are the advantages of digital classrooms?
There are a lot of benefits of digital classrooms, including ease of accessibility, increased engagement of the students, flexible learning, affordability, personalised learning, navigation of geographical barriers and many more.
What modern technologies are shaping the landscape of EdTech?
Artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and learning analytics are some modern cutting-edge technologies that have been introduced in the context of EdTech.
What are AR and VR?
The application of AR and VR technologies helps the students to gain immersive virtual experiences towards the educational scenarios, enabling them to better understand and engage with complex concepts rather than depending just on textbooks and lectures.
What are the challenges of integrating technology in education?
Data privacy and security issues, inequitable access to technology, high cost of technology, difficulty in balancing online and traditional learning methods, and lack of proficient educators are some prominent issues related to the incorporation of technology in education.
How does the World Bank Group contribute towards education?
The World Bank Group, the largest financier of education in developing countries, is working on educational programs in over 80 nations to improve the quality of education and offer lifelong learning opportunities for everyone.
