"One of the most important aspects of technology in education is its ability to level the field of opportunity for students." – John King, U.S. Secretary of Education.
EdTech is an ever-growing field with new opportunities and challenges emerging every day. As technology advances, so does the way we learn and teach. EdTech businesses benefit from the subtle skill of integrating technology in education, producing fruitful results. The KPMG analysis shows that there have been tremendous advancements in the digital learning sector over the past five years.
EdTech can personalize learning and cater to each student's individual needs. On the other hand, it can be challenging to keep up with the latest technologies and ensure they are being used effectively. So, let's dive deep into it!
Challenges the EdTech Domain Faces Every Day
Averse to Change
Education and technology still don't weave in very well in many educational institutes. The general resistance of administrators and instructors has led to the slow adoption of technology in educational houses. While the education sector must constantly seek fresh approaches to develop and improve, it may be beneficial to see if newly developed ideas and technologies help the industry move forward and be more relevant. EdTech firms entering or stabilizing in the educational sector must first comprehend the industry and issues it faces to offer solutions in the education technology field successfully. The primary role of education technology should be to show the actual value of its service or product, including the problems it will help address, the assistance it can offer, and the possibilities it will create. Only then can we see the higher adoption of EdTech!
Lack of Knowledge, Skill, and Seamless Digitalization
Any sector to thrive and survive needs resources that keep up with world trends, future requirements, and up-and-coming technological developments. The early days of EdTech faced several difficulties, including a lack of technical knowledge and abilities and an inability to compete with other businesses. However, the times are changing, and EdTech companies are investing in top-notch resources and systems that develop innovative digital learning applications. They help companies to achieve greater effectiveness and results.
Infrastructure and Technology Improvements
If we remember when we first began developing EdTech solutions, online communication, video buffering, and internet connections were all extremely uncommon. The educational industry required a technology boost to scale new heights and enable smooth adoption.
For EdTech solutions, high bandwidth is often needed because video buffering and powerful analytics are commonly required. High-speed broadband and a dependable device are necessary for an EdTech product to function, and India still hasn't wholly commoditized this pairing for its sizable population. Slowly, we would see EdTech companies developing applications that address these issues, and the technology around connectivity would also improve and give EdTech another edge to perform.
Challenges Schools & Educational Institutes Encounter Every Day
Access to High-quality Education and Instruction
Educational systems, quality, and output differ in every country and each state. There is a vast difference between learners and educators, and geographical and economic aspects also significantly affect how children receive an education. The scarcity of educators and trainers is far greater in the interior or rural areas, which naturally reduces the scope of education. Mobile technology and internet connectivity have reasonably reached everywhere now. The technology coupled with connectivity could deliver good quality education on a scale, barring no one. It could disseminate lessons from qualified educators to many learners through prerecorded or live classes, enable distance education for learners in remote areas or during school closures, and distribute hardware preloaded with educational materials. A combination of initiatives drawn for specific regions and their needs will change the educational scenario soon.
Driven by Exam Anxiety
Traditional education is still dominated by exam anxiety rather than a passion for learning. Learning is often not enjoyable for students. The educational system created for generations tells children to take numerous examinations or assessments throughout their academic careers, from kindergarten through higher education. Additionally, parents have once gone through this cycle themselves; they have certain expectations from their children that they try hard to fulfill. Many times, curricular activities, hobbies, or play are sacrificed to stay focused on their studies. There could be a few ways technology could reduce this exam or test anxiety – increase learners' engagement through video tutorials for self-paced learning, interactive lessons, or presenting exercises as games or gamifying the practice. The technology could get students out of traditional instruction and allow practical exercises they learned during the classes.
One Solution Fits All
Conventional schooling takes a one-size-fits-all approach. There is a small room for personalization. The learners are unlikely to get much from "one-size-fits-all" instruction, in which a single educator delivers education deemed appropriate for the middle or top class. The technology could help these learners by providing them with instructions and practice opportunities that adjust to the pace and the level of preparation of everyone; through computer-adaptive learning or live, one-on-one tutoring. Technology can diagnose students' initial learning levels and assign them to instruction and exercises of appropriate difficulty. Individual educators cannot be expected to provide individualized instruction to all learners in the class simultaneously, leaving room for technology to be uniquely positioned to supplement traditional teaching. Moreover, the recent developments in the speed and quality of videoconferencing, even in remote areas, can help educators provide personalized education via real-time one-on-one tutoring.
Classroom Teacher-Student Ratio
With 1.3 billion people and 359 million youth, India faces significant difficulty with its teacher-student ratio in school. The balance of teachers to students is 1:10 globally, but it is 1:40 in India. However, the teacher-student ratio is improving in private schools, but the affordable ones are still far off in the journey. Not only in India, but we can also see that this problem of teacher-student ratio is a significant problem, especially in developing and highly populated countries. One of the many ways technologies could help educators is by bringing in blended learning. It combines face-to-face and online instructions, primarily done to equalize the ratio. That could mean implementing engaging, computer-based lessons that can assist students in understanding concepts faster and better.
It is correct to say that EdTech is a powerful tool that has the potential to transform education. As we continue to explore its possibilities, we must also be mindful of its limitations. But, with careful planning and execution, EdTech can help us create more engaging and effective learning experiences for all students. It is becoming a necessity that we consider EdTech an excellent option for a better education system. Stay tuned for more such blogs!
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