Some Amazing EdTech Tools for Educators

Some Amazing EdTech Tools for Educators

Like every other sector, technology has revolutionized and played a crucial role in the field of education too. A number of tools have been introduced to provide a seamless learning environment to students enrolling in school, colleges, universities or any other educational institute. These software and technologies were widely adopted during the time when pandemic hit the world, allowing teachers to connect, communicate and deliver academic content to their students, remotely. Even now such tools are being used inside classrooms to provide an interactive learning experience to them. In this article, we will discuss some of the latest tools that educators are using today. So, keep reading!

1. Screencastify

Today's kids have got more technological exposure so they enjoy watching videos and at the same time internalize what they see. Through Screencastify educators can make engaging videos which they can share with these young learners in the classrooms. They can also watch them at home through the hybrid feature and later you can give them one on one lessons in class to clear the concept. This tool allows you to create virtual field trips, record, make changes and share video assignments with pupils. This tool is available as a free Chrome extension. You can post the video through the Watch Page, keep a track of the number of views and check who watched it. 

2. Google Workspace

Google Workspace is one of the best tools for teaching and learning. You can work on projects and make interactive slideshow presentations through Google Slides and Google Docs. Google Forms also allows you to create online surveys and quizzes to get feedback and know how much the students have learned and understood the concepts. Other than that, with the help of Google Drawing teachers can create visuals i.e. diagrams and charts for the students and classroom. In this way, they can better comprehend topics. All these tools are free if you have a Gmail account. Plus, you do not have to install Microsoft Office or PowerPoint in order to create professional documents.

3. Headspace

Every individual is dealing with stress and anxiety and some of us are unable to handle pressure including the students. Headspace is a useful tool for social emotional learning that can be used in the classroom to teach students how to control their emotions. Students can learn meditation techniques and ways that can help them to relax and sleep better. It has a 14-day free trial for which you can sign up.

There is an endless list of EdTech tools to enhance the learning skills of students. These tools and platforms can prepare them for a tech savvy workplace with which they might work in future.

 

EdTech Trends

As a kid, we used to wake up drowsily at the sound of an alarm clock for school, worrying about the homework that was left undone the night before. Later came a time when we began to carry our own smartphones and covered all the syllabus one night before the exams through online YouTube lectures. We all grew up too fast and along with us, the technology made progress too. The market for EdTech is growing rapidly and will experience a surge of more than 200 billion till the year 2027. This drastic increase in EdTech was mainly because of the Covid-19 pandemic but now this new system of education has become a norm. Let’s have a sneak peek into EdTech and see how it is impacting our education system. 

What is EdTech?

Recently, a number of schools, universities and educational institutes have started to incorporate and introduce computer hardware and software in order to help and facilitate learning. This shift from the conventional methods (i.e. black/white boards) to highly advanced technology (i.e. tablets and laptops) is known as e learning or EdTech. Some major examples are Google Classroom, Zoom or other mobile apps which are used to interact and learn remotely. In classrooms, EdTech is used in the form of projection screens and tablets (to take digital notes rather than pen and paper notes). Even lectures are recorded and uploaded for the ease of students. Remotely, various learning management systems (LMS) or course management systems (CMS) such as Edmodo, Nearpod, Moodle and Blackboard allow students to access course material, documents and other information. They can even submit their work online through these systems by simply uploading them.

Now let’s move on to the tech trends that are dominating in education sector and see how technology is reshaping the process of learning:

1. Adaptive Learning

Previously, the idea behind the traditional learning system was that all students should be exposed to the same information and should follow the same steps and pace for learning. This was a flop to much extent, since each student has different aptitude and comprehending abilities, so the education system must cling to individual student’s needs. With Artificial Intelligence and the introduction of data science such issues have been eliminated. Adaptive learning provides customized material and resources to the learner. This not only helps to improve their overall performance but also makes them aware of their skills and talents which they can better utilize in future.

2. Gamification

Gaming has become a part of the modernized approach in schools and educational institutes. Kids and even adults today are very much into gaming and entertainment. This promotes a healthy competition among students, since they get involved in highly interactive and engaging activities. Such activities enhance their performance and provide them with supportive and creative content or information which can be useful in real life situations. This also allows them to think beyond their usual limits, unlike the traditional rote learning system. Also, games provide them with quick feedback so that they can work on and improve their skills.

3. AR, VR and MR

The incorporation of Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality in various sectors such as marketing, healthcare, education and entertainment has positively influenced them. These budding technologies have the potential to improve students’ learning capabilities by providing them access to virtual information. They can later practice and implement what they have learned in a simulated environment. Students can apply their knowledge in the real world as well. Through this, the rift that existed in the process of learning (because of traditional textbooks) will be eliminated.

4. Remote learning and redesigning physical spaces

Students can virtually connect with their instructors, access online courses (YouTube, Coursera and Khan Academy) and attend virtual conferences without their physical presence in lecture rooms/classrooms. Even in classrooms and universities, smart devices such as smart desks, multimedia tools, and smart boards will open doors to new and boundless opportunities.

As more and more smart devices are pouring in, EdTech will continue to dominate. With these EdTech initiatives students will grow in intellectual terms.