Education has deployed, more than ever, technology in the way it teaches. Without going any further, during the pandemic, we have seen how this has been paramount in the educational environment and that it has come to stay. This post tells you what EdTech is, the term that perfectly defines the new ways of learning. Keep reading!
This, associated with changes in consumer habits, has also changed the way students learn, giving way to a new era of EdTech or EduTech to create motivation in students by facilitating preparation, teacher training methods, and essay database creation.
What is EdTech?
Educational technology or EdTech refers to an area of technology dedicated to developing and applying tools (including software, hardware, and processes) aimed at promoting education.
Put another way, EdTech is a study and practice of facilitating learning and improving performance through the creation, use, and management of appropriate technological processes and resources.
While this developing field may appear to be a specialized niche, its implications are far-reaching and affect many population segments.
This influx of educational technology tools is changing classrooms in several ways:
- EdTech makes it easier for students to stay engaged through different forms of learning.
- IoT devices are increasingly in demand for their ability to create digital classrooms for students wherever they are
- Machine Learning and Blockchain tools are also helping teachers
By that year, it has become more accessible to apply EdTech in institutions, improving education on complex concepts to understand or teach through hands-on activities, especially in the scientific field.
Why is EdTech Important?
As we have already told you, the growth of new technologies has changed consumer habits, and vice versa. It is more than enough reason for educational models and methodologies to have been forced to evolve towards EdTech.
So far, there have been several tools that have helped EdTech in its development:
- Virtual Reality
- Robotics
- Open Online Courses
- Webinars
- MOOCS
- Blended Learning
- Practical Methodologies
- Artificial Intelligence
- Innovative Methodologies
- Know Your Student
- Generation of new learning media.
- Development of educational materials.
- B2B tools for professional education.
- SAAS platforms as a student environment.
- Educational mobile applications
- Marketplaces for private tutoring teachers.
One of the advantages of EdTech is to merge theory and application, developing through technology a learning-by-doing system.
What is Know Your Student?
Know Your Student or KYS arises to verify the identity of students and in conjunction with electronic signature and authentication professors. Its various applications allow it to perform a digitized, agile, and simple form of bureaucratic processes that were previously slow and can now be done remotely.
It is similar to the already existing Know Your Customer, a remote people verification procedure.
How does KYS or Know Your Student Work?
It is a quick and easy process, which can be done from any device with a camera:
- You enter the requested data.
- It shows the front side of your ID card.
- Shows the backside of your ID card.
- Show your face.
- Smile at the camera.
In this way, the student, teacher, or user of any organization in the education sector is registered. It is thus incorporated into the organization’s database.
Benefits of EdTech or Educational Technology
Now that you know a little more about what Edtech is, here are its benefits:
Technology provides more immersive learning.
The digital world is full of resources that can enrich any classroom, engage students on a deeper level, and provide interactive experiences to shed new light on their understanding of many topics.
Imagine, for example, a geography teacher using Google Maps on a digital dashboard to take students on a virtual tour of the Andes. Or a data teacher using a 3D simulator.
There is a wealth of software available for use in many subjects, from Big Data platforms to Marketing applications.
Virtual and Augmented Reality are also part of immersive learning, providing more sophisticated lessons to students. Their application can help to experience through projections.
Personalize learning for each student
One of the most significant drawbacks of traditional education is that a single teacher or professor prepares classes for different students. It means that styles don’t consider the different types of students within the classroom, translating into students who may fall “behind.”
Fortunately, technology can help with the diversity of learning styles by allowing teachers to track students’ progress individually and in real-time.
Some platforms can collect information from each student as they work on their assignments and suggest areas for improvement to teachers. In this way, digital learners can move at their own pace while teachers can focus on students who are struggling with a particular task.
Technology provides easy access to more learning resources.
Today’s students have become accustomed to searching for information online whenever they have to solve a problem or learn how to do something.
In doing so, they are used to interacting with search engines, e-books, educational and how-to videos, and online platforms and forums. These should be present in any classroom to take advantage of students’ familiarity.
In this case, teachers can use online tools to allow remote access to students, use streaming to provide tutorials, and even use gamification elements in educational software to provide centralized resources more efficiently and engagingly.
EduTech adds fun to learning.
Many students get bored during lectures, especially in more traditional classes. They are used to technology being a central part of their daily lives.
Only the inclusion of technology can boost their interest in classes. However, technology can do much more than being present: it can bring fun into the classroom.
Gamification elements are one of how you can establish greater engagement with students. Interactive videos and robots are also among the most commonly used alternatives.
Educational technology increases collaboration.
Today, technologies help connect the world in many ways, from connecting people on the other side of the world on a video call to allowing different people to work on the same project online and simultaneously.
These collaborative capabilities can also have a significant impact in the classroom. Online tutoring and small classes are ways in which technology can democratize student participation.
The technology itself can be a goal that fosters collaboration. For example, a teacher might encourage students to create a website on a particular topic, which teaches them about the issue and how to create a website as a team.
Conclusion: EduTech better prepares students for the jobs of the future.
Traditional education may be excellent at providing fundamental concepts on essential subjects, but it is becoming increasingly out of touch with the reality of the workforce.
Today, most jobs require technology skills of varying degrees. At a minimum, all jobs require some digital literacy that most students need to learn, and academic education can help with this through technology.