The pandemic not only changed the traditional methods of teaching, it also spurred the education technology (Ed-Tech) revolution up to its competition before time.
In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has drastically changed the lifestyle of everyone across the globe. Every sector of the economy is affected by this change. The lockdown has surfaced as a threat for some sectors and a boon for some. The dynamics of education all over has seen dramatic changes. In the light of the pandemic, thousands of schools and millions of students and teachers have had to switch to remote learning overnight. Thanks to the world of Ed-Tech and e-learning that came out as the knight in shining armor and made things easier, replacing the conventional paper-and-pen pedagogy for the better.
The Covid-19 pandemic has sparked the world with remote learning. In the mid of April 2020 when the virus was at its peak, the closure of nation-wide schools across 190 countries impacted 90% of total enrolled learners globally. There has been a major learning curve for students, parents, and educators moving their teaching and learning online.
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The pandemic not only changed the traditional methods of teaching, it also spurred Ed-Tech to its competition quickly. Technology in the classroom has always been advantageous to education because it enables personalized mastery-based learning, saving time for teachers and equipping students with the digital skills that will definitely be the need in the 21st century.
Millennials revamping the Multi-billion-dollar Industry
Even before the outbreak, Ed-Tech was growing rapidly. The rapid development of Ed-Tech has democratized education across the globe. The pandemic has shown that work and education no longer need to be mutually exclusive and this could make all the difference in building a more effective workplace in the long term. The growing demand for online education has prompted businesses and universities to save time and costs by implementing Ed-Tech solutions.
With advanced ways of learning like gamification and participative learning modules, e-learning brings more efficiency to learners. The global shift to online learning raises challenges as to how to facilitate higher demand and upgrade the underlying technical infrastructure so that no one is technologically isolated. Modern broadband infrastructure and connectivity are essential for the changing pattern of learning. To encourage a hybrid-learning environment for the future of education, millennials are reinventing the education space. This means evaluating which tools are best suitable for different audiences.
Watch: How the pandemic fast-tracked the Ed-Tech industry
Higher Education more likely to see Lasting Impact
For those who do have access to the right technology, there is proof that learning online can be more effective in a number of ways. Some research shows that on average students retain 25-60 percent more material when learning online compared to only 8-10 percent in a classroom. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of online learning varies amongst age groups. The younger children would need a structured environment because there are more easily distracted. To get the full benefit of online learning, there needs to be a concerted endeavor to provide the structure that goes beyond replicating a physical or lecture video capabilities, instead, using a range of collaboration tools and engaging methods for enabling personalization, inclusion and intelligence.
Parents also need guidance on how to make remote and blended learning successful and secure, including choosing the right providers and understanding the resources available. As online education provides a greater degree of flexibility, it can be less stressful to manage alongside other commitments. Furthermore, there is less pressure to engage the students, as you have the help of devices, apps and multimedia tools to make learning more interactive and enjoyable prospect.
For many learners, the primary benefit of online learning involves scheduling flexibility. Many prospective students overlook the cost advantages of online classes although they may pay the same for physical classes. With the ability to study anywhere, online learners can complete coursework in any environment. Finally, with market factors unfolding, this vibrant landscape of Ed-Tech is only expected to grow at rapid rates in the near future, with or without the pandemic.
