At the beginning of this year, we made some edtech predictions for 2022. We guessed that remote/hybrid learning would stick around, that the educational metaverse would take shape, and that esports (including scholastic esports, like digital robotics!) would continue to grow in popularity. While the year isn’t quite over yet, we’re happy to report that we haven’t been too far off the mark in any of our predictions! That said, there’s all sorts of innovative technology trending in K-12 education right now. Let’s take a closer look at the popularity of edtech in K-12 classrooms and the edtech that has defined 2022 so far.
via Giphy
Did we forget any significant K-12 edtech trends below? Want to share how technology has positively impacted your classroom? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!
Edtech is becoming more and more commonplace
Between distance learning solutions necessitated by the pandemic and the increase in technology used in the workforce, finding edtech in classrooms is more common than ever before. In a study conducted by the EdWeek Research Center, researchers found that around half of the teachers surveyed reported their students using some sort of edtech for 1-4 hours daily.
via EdWeek Market Brief
In regard to this data, EdWeek Market Brief reports “Teachers’ answers didn’t vary significantly based on whether they were in a low-poverty suburban district or high-poverty rural one.” This suggests a consistency in technology use that may be at least partially explained by “districts’ scramble to create the infrastructure to support remote learning” which “has eased some of the inequity in access to this technology.”
In the same study, 41% of high school teachers reported that their students spend 5 or more hours a day using edtech, a higher percentage than middle school or elementary school teachers reported.
via EdWeek Market Brief
With the significant amount of time that each age group is spending on edtech, now let’s take a look at what types of technology students are engaging with, and why many schools are placing emphasis on technological literacy.
Edtech is preparing K-12 students for the industry demands of tomorrow with immersive solutions
While covering a panel at ISTELive 2022 called “The Future is Now: Embedding Immersive Technology into the Classroom” Taashi Rowe writes for EdTech Magazine, “The panelists emphasized that drones, robots, VR and browser-based tools can empower students to become creators by building their analytical and computational skills. These technologies also expose them to industry-standard tools.” This panel included industry experts Amber Roesken and Jessica Elzen from The Douglas Stewart Company, James Riley from itopia, and Corey Gordon and Akilah Willery from CDW•G.
Rowe writes “Panelists also noted that giving students access to these technologies could support effective workforce planning, as they would learn to master tools they could use in future careers.” Even if students don’t end up in a job where they need to use drones or robots every day, by becoming familiar with these immersive technologies, they are still gaining important skills that prepare them for their futures. We’ve written before about how game-based learning and other edtech cultivates 21st-century skills, also known as future-facing skills.
While students use technology in the classroom, they are also learning collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and more – all skills that apply to any career path they may take in the future! Earlier this month, we also touched on how esports are trending in the K-12 classroom. They also teach students invaluable skills like teamwork, leadership, and more. While edtech in the classroom can be a wonderful tool for cultivating future success, it also does a lot for students in the present too.
Edtech is keeping students safe and connected
Some important K-12 edtech runs in the background, or becomes so integral to remote classrooms that students and teachers may not even think about it! In her article on 5 K–12 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2022, EdTech Magazine writer Rebecca Torchia outlines the technology that’s on the rise in classrooms. One of those is artificial intelligence, which is being used in educational spaces for a whole variety of purposes, from classroom management to cybersecurity. Another rising edtech star is cloud technology, which “exploded in popularity following the shift to remote learning” and allows students to work together, even from afar. Edtech is giving students more ways to work asynchronously and stay safe online.
Between the metaverse giving students new virtual space to learn, and game-based learning resources that make remote learning a breeze, technology in K-12 classrooms is not going anywhere. There are so many ways technology can aid student learning and prepare them for a successful future. What’s your favorite K-12 edtech trend? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!
Ours has got to be game-based learning – there are so many benefits to playful learning backed by research. Do you have an idea for an educational game aimed at a K-12 audience? Reach out to us today for a free consultation!
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