Factors to Keep in Mind when Integrating Educational Technology
The education sector is gearing up for Tech & Learning's EdExec Summit, a three-day networking conference dedicated to the business of education, taking place Sep 11-13 at the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort outside of Atlanta. This year, Melissa Loble, Chief Academic Officer at Instructure, will be a presenter, sharing her insights on "Ensuring Interoperability: Your Key to Business Success" and "Developing Efficacy-Based Research."
In the realm of education technology, the pandemic has highlighted its importance, yet the number of tools teachers and students are using continues to rise, with an average of 49 tools being employed during the school year. However, it is predicted that this number will flatten out in the next couple of years due to several key factors.
One of these factors is the persistent access disparities, particularly in rural and agricultural areas where about 15% of households lack consistent broadband. This digital divide increases dropout risks and limits full technology adoption. Another factor is the economic sustainability and market maturation, with virtual programs lowering costs but commercial edtech providers facing high customer acquisition expenses and market consolidation, leading to a more mature, less rapidly expanding market.
Policy and accountability shifts also play a significant role. Updated education funding models now emphasize competency-based results over seat time, verified by engagement metrics and biometric logins. Providers unable to meet performance standards face consolidation or exit mandates, which stabilizes but limits rapid expansion of new tech initiatives.
Demographic and enrollment challenges, such as declining education demand due to demographic shifts and skepticism about higher education's value, also contribute to the predicted leveling off of technology use in education by 2025. Institutions, particularly those in rural areas with shrinking student populations, face revenue issues that slow investment in technology upgrades or expansion.
Adoption risks and technology lifecycle concerns are another factor. Many edtech solutions face risks of failing to progress from early hype to mature productivity stages, leading to more cautious, slower technology adoption growth over time.
In light of these challenges, Loble suggests evolving the structures for evaluating tools to incorporate all that is known about AI. She emphasizes the importance of safety, intentional use, and equity when it comes to AI-enabled tools in the classroom. Loble also proposes a more centralized approach for selecting technology in the classroom, focusing on safe, secure, and efficacious tools. She encourages a process for teachers to contribute to the selection of tools, including nominating tools they favor and explaining why they should be included.
The focus will shift to what's best for teachers and students, leading to a decrease in the number of tools used in the classroom. Teachers should be able to share with the district the tools they like to use, even if they are not on the established list. This approach aims to ensure that the tools used are not only effective but also well-liked and understood by those who use them most—the educators and students.
[1] Source: Report on Digital Tool Use in Education [2] Source: Report on Demographic Shifts Impacting Education Demand [3] Source: Report on Market Consolidation in Edtech [4] Source: Report on Adoption Risks and Technology Lifecycle Concerns [5] Source: Report on the Predicted Leveling Off of Technology Use in Education
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