COVID-19 has impacted almost 90% of the world’s education systems. So, it should come as no surprise that the industry is more reliant than ever on EdTech to deliver exceptional learning experiences.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for pretty much everyone. But no industry is being hit harder than education. EdTech systems are being harmed on a global scale – impacting the lives and learning experiences of almost 90% of the world’s student population.
And, as governments impose another round of lockdowns to combat the spike of COVID-19’s second wave, many institutions are being forced to close again. Or, at the very least, repurpose their traditional learning experiences.
With seemingly no end in sight, the reality is schools and universities can’t stay closed forever. Learning must continue – even if students, teachers, and faculty members aren’t allowed to leave their homes. Fortunately, the evolution of EdTech is making this possible.
And that’s good news, because education has lagged behind almost every other industry in moving to technology-driven outcomes and business models. For example, less than five percent of the average college’s budget is allocated to IT spending. Meaning it’s one of the least digitized (and least innovative) fields out there.
After decades of stagnation, COVID-19 is pushing the industry to reimagine itself. EdTech provides the means to make necessary changes – and, in many cases, has already changed student learning experiences forever.
EdTech’s eLearning Evolution
eLearning isn’t new. Before COVID-19, many institutions were adopting EdTech that prioritized digital learning experiences. What today’s global pandemic is doing, however, is accelerating this trend. Whether you consider curriculum development, learning apps, virtual tutoring, video conferencing, or student-focused software, the use of digital education tools is surging like never before.
Lockdowns and stay-at-home orders are forcing you to move classroom experiences online, making remote teaching and learning the norm. Whether you accept this reality or not, EdTech is an integral component of modern education.
It’s likely that student experiences will never be the same after COVID-19. Today’s virtual learners can find information with the click of a button and consume it faster. So, what sense does it make to cram everybody back into a classroom environment that offers far less interactivity? Expect eLearning to continue to evolve – widening the world’s student audience as EdTech makes learning more and more convenient.
Blended Learning: Coming to Your School Soon
COVID-19 is proving that EdTech-fueled hybrid education models work. And they deliver tremendous benefits, too. As you’re already seeing, blended learning – a mix of digital and face-to-face experiences – is driving the industry’s evolution.
Blended learning is more than a Zoom call or email. It’s a digital education resource built from scratch to satisfy the needs of today’s virtual students and teachers. And that means more than simply transferring traditional lesson plans online.
Plus, it’s a model that can be used again whenever disaster strikes. After all, if COVID-19 taught us anything, it’s that you need to be ready for whatever unexpected event comes next. With blended learning, educational leaders like you will be much more capable of capitalizing on future opportunities and improving everyone’s learning experience.
A New Way to Train Teachers
The sudden shift to EdTech and online education is making one shortcoming obvious: teachers’ unease with remote learning. The COVID-19 crisis is opening the industry’s eyes to today’s new teacher community needs. To be as helpful as possible for your students going forward, educators need new training and tech-focused skills.
For many teachers, the classroom experience is everything they’ve ever known. But technology is making online learning a permanent fixture at almost every institution. And these professionals need to be comfortable with using these digital tools. Otherwise, your students will suffer – and your educators won’t have the confidence they need to be successful.
The Priority of Student Engagement
Being in a school building offers a certain level of interactivity. It’s easy for students to talk to teachers, with each other, and with faculty members that can help them the most. But new devices and alternative learning methods are making EdTech an even more engaging solution.
Digital tools and online education are much more flexible and accessible. Plus, many students feel far more likely to interact remotely rather than in-person. After all, how many of your students are growing up in front of a screen 24/7?
If your goal is to maximize collaboration and the student experience, institutions must continue to take innovation to a new level. And EdTech is your best opportunity to make the evolution COVID-19 started a priority.
The current pandemic is posing new and serious challenges to education. That said, this disruption – as damaging as it is – may be the push the industry so sorely needed. EdTech is helping education rethink the traditional learning experience. It’s making the industry question how to do things better. And it’s forcing institutions to prepare for a more innovative future.
If you want to make the most of your EdTech evolution, get started by scheduling your FileWave software demo today.
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