12 Hot Trends in Educational Technology


We’ve covered the top 12 trends in educational technology to watch.

If you’re an educational blogger, we have a list of 101 blog post ideas, to help you get your creative juices flowing.

Use this list below to augment your teaching curriculum.

1. Alternative Schooling

Code schools allow students an interactive interface to learn online.

Traditional learning is slowly being faded out as new technology develops and is implemented to improve academic settings. For instance, code schools offer a short video that the student follows up with attempting what they watched. This method creates a more hands-on approach to learning that allows students to feel engaged and excited about new material. In addition, this method incorporates a student’s passion for technology and media.

2. Efficient Classroom Layouts

Due to increased educational technology classrooms can now be redesigned to incorporate more tactile learning.

Students can physically manipulate a teacher’s lesson, zoom in on different biomes, and paint without a mess on interactive smartboards. Classroom layouts are no longer restricted to being center focused on the teacher’s desk as they can now be focused on an interactive board that allows participation of the entire classroom.

“Incorporating new spatial arrangements and technologies means creating an environment that is actually part of the cognitive process,” Pam McQuesten said in her latest book,Cognition in the Wild, about education and technology.
However, there are various approaches including computer based classrooms, focused reading with kindles, and increased collaborative work within classrooms as students interact through technology. Desks can be arranged to work in pairs, larger groups, or even entire classroom activities as technology allows a greater amount of resources to be available


3.  Kindle Reading

Kindles allow students a wider variety of options.

When completely a reading assignment in class, teachers have to worry about if they have enough books for every student and if they have a genre to satisfy every interest.

This can be difficult for multiple reasons including: schools often receive limited funding, student interests are so varied it is difficult to find a book for everyone, and teachers must plan their lessons exceptionally early to allow time for delivery.

One solution to this is the opportunities technology offers in terms of resource availability.

For example, when students engage in kindle reading as opposed to traditional reading, they have more options from both reduced prices and absence of delivery time.

4. Analytical Studies of Education

Modern technology allows companies to study the efficiency of various products and teaching methods.

For many years, people have argued over which method is more effective; however, these arguments have rarely been based in scientific research and have depended solely on teacher observation without record keeping. Technology being implemented in the classroom allows tests scores to be compared against teaching methods and products.

This is critical to the development of education because it allows school systems to better utilize their time and investments. For example, companies can begin monitoring the effectiveness of software program and hinder the sales of programs found to be futile.

One key to future success for analytics, and in particular learning analytics, will be the degree to which “openness” becomes a priority; as based upon the findings by Purdue University.

5. Adaptive Learning

Technology is capable of personalizing the learning experience to the individual needs of the student.

Teachers, for many years, have faced the struggle of building a lesson plan that addresses the needs of the individual. However, this can be difficult since some students are tactical learners while others may be auditory or visual. In addition, some students master subjects more quickly than others only to need more time on the following lesson.

Both of these problems are correctable with modern educational technology. For example, virtual learning software can create curriculum based on the strengths of the student, possibly focusing more intently on math where the student struggles while offering less reading since the student excels in that area.Providing a personalized pathway  helps students to focus on the areas of greatest need — aligning learning with their own interests or career trajectories.

6. Independent Learning

Students can learn more independently allowing for growth of personal interest.

Many times teachers notice that students appear to only be interested in learning when it is required. This can result in several negative consequences including shortened retention rates and an external locus of control. When an external locus of control develops may feel as though their day is completely planned for them and their actions have little impact.
However, new technology encourages students to take a more active role in their education. This is critical because when students are more mentally focused their memory improves and their sense of power over their day rises.

7. Media Literacy

As educational technology expands, not only students improve media literacy, but also the community.

As students learn the proper way to interact with media interfaces, the general knowledge of the entire community is raised. When the individual is improved, the individual has the capability to improve the community. A student learning useful information about technology in school creates the possibility for them to educate their parents with important skills that can be translated to the job market.
A current trend spreading not only through education, but through society, is to have an adapt understanding of various media platforms. Students, as well as accountants or businessmen, are now needed to understand excel and proficiently use it. This trend will only continue to expand and grow as our dependency on technology does.

8. Alternative Assessment

As analysis of testing grows, we are beginning to learn that the standard form of testing is not accurate.

For many years we have followed the same linear path for testing understanding and intellectual growth. This method often encompasses a multiple choice section and possibly a short response portion. However, this method is very finite in what is considered correct. As our society grows to be more subjective due to diversity, it becomes increasingly harder to create finite answers.
Modern educational technology is allowing school systems to create new models for testing that allow the subjectivity of the question to be considered. As an educational culture we are beginning to learn that if a test is designed around my specific train of thought then you might not do as well, vice versa also being true.

Another issue not commonly addressed is the inability for teachers to cover every resource on the test: Michigan State University concluded that between 50 and 80 percent of what was measured on the tests was not suitably addressed in the textbooks.

9. Collaborative Information

Institutions are now capable of sharing information.

From subscriptions to educational magazines, learning videos, educational technology, access to learning platforms, and general accumulated knowledge, institutions are now able to interconnect and share this information.

The ability to share information benefits not only the students intellectually and diversely, but also aids those who run the institution.

This allows schools and companies to save financially and grow knowledgeably as they learn what has and has not been effective in other programs.

One program that has gained surmountable success has been the MIT Open Course Ware.This program has offered students access regardless of their institution and has raised the question whether or not open access is financially hindering big business.

10.Cultural Exposure

Our culture has placed a large emphasis on being open-minded; technology allows students to access diversity making this a possibility.

We are seeing a growing educational trend that is not academic, but social. Educational growth expands beyond the classroom and also encompasses our ability to function sustainably within society. As our county grows more and more diverse, it is critical to be exposed to various cultures while young.

Technology allows students to communicate with those of other cultures, watch videos in other languages, and see places across the globe that have significant connects to a specific ethnicity.

This is critical for the emotional and mental growth of the student because it allows them a better building base to function in a society of diversity.

11. Flexible Scheduling

When education is dependent on technology and not a specific classroom, students are able to learn more freely.

In a traditional school scenario, students are confined to learning within a specific timeframe. However, this can pose various problems because of the structure of our society.

For example, parents are beginning to work less based on the 9-5 schedule as business expands globally. Due to this, children may be spending less time with their parents if they work of the evening.

Some parents have even learned how to start a mommy blog, as a way to augment their salaries and spend more time working from home.

However, education based on educational technology allows them to set their own schedule and study independently. While there may still be a set time period for teacher interaction, their overall day has become more flexible. Socially it has become a major trend for people to work more individually as opposed to being focused on group aspect.

This is especially important since the percent of the population working or looking for work–for all mothers with children under age 18 was 70.1 percent in 2014.

12.Student Innovation

As the average intelligence continues to grow, students are expected to accomplish more and more to be considered high achieving.

Student innovation is a rapidly growing educational trend as technology plays a stronger part in academics. Students are now capable of impressive feats such as writing their own code, designing websites, and working with companies to improve their interface.

New technology is being developed not only in research facilities, but in typical high schools where students are encouraged to go beyond the median and reach the further limits of their capabilities.

This created limitless ideas and possibilities for younger children. What will be possible when they are at the ending of their secondary academic career?

Students are given greater access to materials than ever before, this allows students to reshape ideas and create new ones; ultimately, the idea of innovation has been changed forever to where students can make more from less.


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