This month on the blog, we’re all about the future, and everything new that 2022 will bring to game-based learning! Only time will tell for sure what will happen in the industry, but in the meantime, it’s fun to make some predictions of our own. Join in on the conversation on Twitter or Facebook and let us know what you think is in store for ✨the future of EdTech.✨
via Giphy
Remote/Hybrid Learning as a (Possibly!) Permanent Solution
In case it isn’t clear already, this is very much just a prediction, given that what we know about the COVID-19 virus, and how our understanding of it tends to change as often as every day – that’s the scientific process for you! With many scientists predicting that the COVID-19 pandemic will eventually become endemic, we may be looking at classrooms that are hybrid or fully remote becoming the standard for the next year or so. There are pros to digital learning, such as an increase in individualized learning, more options for students with disabilities, increased flexibility and technological literacy, as well as cons: isolation, learning loss, technological difficulties and glitches. All of this, understandably, makes distance learning a hot topic, and some believe hybrid is the happy medium that students need. Educational infrastructure is changing rapidly due to the prevalence of distance learning. But one thing is for sure: game-based learning and gamification can be an excellent ally for teachers in the hybrid and remote classroom. As the pandemic continues to sporadically reduce in-person options, the need for engagement goes up, so does the need for meaningful play.
Further reading: Video Games and Remote Learning (Podcast)
The Metaverse Becomes an Educational Reality
With the longevity of distance learning, companies like Roblox have an increased interest in simulating togetherness with partners like Project Lead the Way and us! We expect that the definition of being “in the classroom” will expand even more this year as the metaverse takes shape in education. The metaverse, to put it very simply, refers to a digital universe, often in VR, and it is often referred to as the “next iteration” of the internet. It holds a lot of potential when it comes to learning for multiple reasons, a couple being that it can make an educational space accessible in ways a physical space is not and it allows students to learn a new facet of technological literacy and future-facing skills that may, in the future, be crucial for the classroom and the workplace alike. But the metaverse for learning isn’t all futuristic – classrooms across the country are leaning into it now, from educational metaverse classrooms in Dallas to the first fully-VR course in Stanford University’s history. The metaverse for learning is emerging and breaking new ground, and we’re curious to see how it continues to develop and evolve in 2022!
Further reading: The Metaverse: What It Is, Who’s Making It, and Why It Matters
Esports is Going for the Gold
Hopefully we don’t sound like a broken record, but the need to connect and find community in this time of physical distance is important to many people, students included! Esports were already on the rise pre-pandemic; they had a particular opportunity to grow in popularity as physical sports schedules were disrupted or canceled altogether due to social distancing precautions. It is unknown exactly how esports and the metaverse may interact in the future, which is an exciting front itself. Many are predicting that esports will continue to rise in revenue, viewership, and expand to other platforms beyond the PC, such as mobile devices. Colleges and universities are set to embrace esports this year more than ever, and scholastic esports in K-12 education are also gaining ground. With our foray into digital robotics with the FIRST® Global RoboCo Challenge in late 2021, we predict that the future is full of robots, along with more educational opportunities within esports!
Further reading: CEO Interview: The Past, Present, and Future of Scholastic eSports
That’s all for now when it comes to our 2022 EdTech predictions, based on the many trends we’ve seen impacting our organization and the world of EdTech at large. Looking to hop on a trend with an educational game? Let us know!
Check out previous years’ EdTech Predictions: