EdTech Predictions for 2022

Predictions 2022 EdTech
  • We’ve collected industry expert predictions for the future of Education Technology (EdTech) in 2022.
  • The continued impact of COVID-19 prompted massive changes for the education sector, as schools had to establish ways for their students to productively study remotely. 
  • Here, we explore predictions from experts in the industry including Sue Attewell, Head of EdTech at Jisc; Rosalina Oliva, Student Services Advisor at Oxford Learning College; and Fadl Al-Tarzi, CEO of Nexford University.

 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education cannot be overstated. Nearly two years in to life with COVID guidelines, students are still feeling the impact of disrupted learning. Over the last two years, many people relied more heavily than ever on technology to aid education, so what will the world of EdTech look like in 2022?

We’ve asked the industry experts about what they think is on the horizon for EdTech in 2022:

 

Our Panel of Experts

  • Sue Attewell, Head of EdTech at Jisc
  • Felix Ohswald, Co-Founder & CEO of GoStudent
  • Manan Khurma, Founder & Chairman of Cuemath
  • Sajid Shariff, Senior Vice President, Global Growth at BYJU’S FutureSchool
  • Wesley Lynch, CEO at Snapplify
  • Rosalina Oliva, Student Services Advisor at Oxford Learning College
  • Jeremy Brassington, CEO at Habitat Learn
  • Tom Cuthell, Senior Director of London Tech Week
  • Dr. Rachel O’Connell, Founder & CEO at TrustElevate
  • Fadl Al-Tarzi, CEO of Nexford University
  • Emma Slater, Head of Education at Access Education
  • Adrian Brown, Founder of My School Portal, an Access Company
  • Carl Dawson, Co-Founder & Chair of Construct
  • Max Azarov, CEO & Co-Founder of Novakid

 

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Sue Attewell, Head of EdTech at Jisc

Sue Attewell

 

“Colleges and universities are looking to innovate, particularly where doing this will improve the student experience and help deliver a hybrid teaching model.”

“The pandemic meant that many products and systems were implemented quickly, to fulfil immediate need. I would think that 2022 will be more consolidative, with institutions looking to rationalise edtech products they have in use and retain those which deliver real impact. Products that integrate easily with existing systems and processes, and which are easy to understand and operate – requiring little staff training – are likely to be most successful.”

“Improving data and analytics will continue to be top of the list for colleges and universities, because students increasingly expect their learning experiences to mirror the tailored experiences elsewhere in their digital lives. By becoming more data driven, institutions can become more efficient, transform their student experience and provide a more personalised approach to all, from recruitment to alumni.”

“Artificial intelligence (AI) will start to impact tertiary education in 2022, with an initial focus on products that save staff time and improving life for students. Assessment and feedback are key areas where AI solutions can make a big difference, with assisted marking and timely feedback. Digital assistants and chatbots, such as the one Jisc is currently piloting with Bolton College, will support students and staff alike.”

“The move to a combined in-person and online study model has created many challenges and products that support hybrid teaching, learning and assessment will be in demand, especially those which go beyond the ‘smart’ campus to merge the physical and the virtual campus. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will become embedded in the curriculum, especially in areas such as virtual labs and medicine. There is also scope for AR/VR to support apprenticeships and practical subjects, providing opportunities for practice in potentially dangerous situations, such as repairing wind turbines, or using expensive or hazardous materials, such as welding.”

“Net zero is a big challenge and institutions are now considering the environmental impact of all new products.”

 

Felix Ohswald, Co-Founder & CEO of GoStudent

Felix Ohswald

 

“Nowadays, children are exposed to technology and digital entertainment offerings from a very young age. This is a trend that will continue well into the future, as each generation becomes more digitally native. Many companies are realising this fact, and are creating playful learning content that entertains smaller children while at the same time helps them to learn. Gamified learning is effective, because it creates a fun learning environment in which the children experience positive emotions, in turn raising their level of engagement. If learning is fun for kids at a young age, and the entertaining material helps to foster a positive attitude towards learning, then when they start school, they will already associate lessons with enjoyment.”

“Gamification works for all ages, too. Young EdTech startup founders can get inspired by the success story of Duolingo, which is an already well-established, freemium language learning app that uses various gamification elements to provide its users with an exciting language learning experience. Users can not only earn and use an internal currency for completing various activities but can also collaborate with friends, vote on the best translations and receive badges for achievements, such as a completion of a certain number of skills.”

“Pioneers from the tech world are already envisioning how the metaverse will change our lives in the coming decades. Even though next year it will be too early to assess the extent to which this trend will influence education, a few trends are likely to be implemented in the near future. Augmented reality is an important component of the metaverse, and could make education even more experiential by allowing teachers to convey theory in a vivid way. Instead of playing a video to show children what it was like in the Stone Age, educators could use VR glasses to beam students directly into that time period, allowing them to wander through the ancient landscape and observe Stone Age animals as if they were really on a journey through time.”

 

Manan Khurma, Founder & Chairman of Cuemath

Manan Khurma

 

“As we start 2022, the pandemic’s effects on education still resonate. As schools move lessons online to combat the Omicron variant, and the Education Secretary calls on headteachers to adopt more flexible approaches to learning, EdTech’s meteoric rise will continue.”

“A fuller omnichannel experience will emerge. Expect students to interact across more devices, platforms and channels than ever. The move from the content era to the engagement era means variety and accessibility – via smartphones, VR headsets, computer screens and tablets – is key to engagement levels and improving student performance.”

“2022 will see an acceleration in teachers’ changing roles. They have adapted; growing more confident in their EdTech skills – generating new ideas irrespective of location. Teaching quality will be measured by the ability to upskill students, employ new methods and personalise teaching. As EdTech enables better teaching and learning experiences for educators and students, it is vital schools have the technology to cope with the pandemic’s ongoing impact and rapidly changing environments.”

“2022 will consolidate 2021’s trends and give rise to exciting new ones – an even more prominent omnichannel experience and the evolving role of teachers.”

 

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Sajid Shariff, Senior Vice President, Global Growth at BYJU’S FutureSchool

sajid_shariff

 

“During lockdown, 10% of parents reported paying for private tuition, and we expect this trend to continue as parents look towards 1:1 learning options to supplement school-based curriculum. Offering individualised learning experiences will continue to expand in the private education market. Tailoring education to suit each child’s needs is a proven way to educate and guide students to become creative thinkers, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach.”

“We predict that the missed learning time as a result of the pandemic will continue to impact education into 2022, with children having missed out on a third of education time during lockdown. This means that with children behind on core skills including maths, more parents will be looking for additional support in these areas to bring their children up-to-speed and strengthen their self-confidence.”

“We anticipate an increased need for the arts to integrate with typical STEM subjects to spark opportunities for creative, interactive learning across the board. By using real world conceptual learning methods across arts and science, students can build a greater understanding of how different skills, such as communication, problem solving and creative thinking, come together to make better discoveries. With research showing that STEAM improves creative and critical thinking, placing greater importance on developing skills in the arts, such as musical instruments, will be imperative in cultivating a capable interdisciplinary workforce fit for the future.”

“With an ever-increasing number of coding jobs available, we need to be teaching the fundamentals of coding and logic from an early age to inspire a passion – and aptitude – for it. Teaching children coding from an early age also helps guide them to become creative thinkers and innovators of tomorrow, and has the added benefit of being an important future skill for children. Parents are finding this value of enrolling their children in coding, with our data showing that out of all the BYJU’S FutureSchool classes available, coding is the most popular with nearly half of parents signing up their children for classes.”

 

Wesley Lynch, CEO at Snapplify

Wesley Lynch - Snapplify

 

“Previously, many online schools had been seen as alternative and similar to home schools. Online schools have certainly become more mainstream. Many models that we normally see in higher-ed are being applied to K-12.”

“Our lives are more digital than ever and certainly, the workplace of the future is digital, so in order to prepare learners for the careers of the future we must ensure that digital skills are integrated into the education system itself in 2022 and beyond. As we do this, we must also bear in mind that it’s not clear what the impact will be on learners and teachers of this increased use of technology. Collaborative tools and the now 24/7 connected nature, means that both learners and teachers don’t get unplugged as much as before. The impact of this is not known and the processes to manage this risk aren’t clear.”

“There are huge benefits to analysing user behaviour and big data. Data empowers educators to identify learning gaps and track academic progress, allowing them to adapt their pedagogical approach strategically. Big data can also help to solve big problems (e.g. identifying social issues). We now have the technology to both ask and answer deeper questions surrounding the effectiveness of the education we are offering this next generation and this can be invaluable in a more digital landscape.”

“In addition, we can expect significant developments in integration and consolidation across the EdTech sector in 2022. Many solutions and providers have developed effective services and the next step is to work together to provide cohesive, integrated solutions that are localised and easier to manage and administrate. Schools derive greater benefits from integrated offerings as these offer more expansive learning opportunities and reduce friction, which in turn lowers some of the barriers to access and learning.”

“Our experience has seen the most productive partnerships come from this deep integration between partners. Businesses that work in isolation will fall behind. And so, edtech providers must be actively seeking partnerships – not just to scale our own offerings, but to strengthen the education ecosystem as a whole.”

 

Rosalina Oliva, Student Services Advisor at Oxford Learning College

rosalina-oliva

 

“2022’s EdTech outlook looks quite different to that of 2020 and 2021. The exponential increase in the adoption of online learning tools looks set to come to an end, as teachers and students are often reporting being burned out by the technology. Having said that, schools are being encouraged to take care over the selection of such tools for the best learning experiences. In short, many institutions and educators will have decided their firm choice for edtech solutions now after a rushed adoption period due to the pandemic.”

“It’s safe to expect a wider use of artificial intelligence and machine learning for such purposes as inventory management and cybersecurity over the next 12 months in institutions. Leading educational experts are pointing to the power of big-data for the optimisation of decisions specific to the classroom and students. Big data analysis and actions from such reports are unlikely to be widely spread especially in public education institutions.”

“The pandemic has prompted a large-scale switch to the use of cloud technology, with students using software as a service tools for the remote completion of projects. This trend looks set to continue despite the return to the classroom as schools look to minimise the impact of IT supply chain disruption.”

“We’re also predicting the widespread adoption of cybersecurity measures as schools look to protect sensitive student data. There’s sure to be more use of AI and ML protections including endpoint security and next-gen firewalls. Educators have come a long way from letting strangers accidentally access Zoom classrooms as seen in many viral videos in 2020.”

 

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Jeremy Brassington, CEO at Habitat Learn

Jeremy Habitat Learn

 

“In 2021 we saw a lot of technology implementation in Higher Education which was a knee-jerk response to the pandemic. Higher education had to continue the learning process despite the barriers created through different lockdowns and restrictions in the classroom. Unfortunately, many of the solutions were hurriedly assembled and meet neither the engagement requirements nor the accessibility requirements of the student user base.”

“There is also general student fatigue with watching countless videos of lecture sessions. As we come out of the pandemic we will likely move to blended learning solutions which will require live-streaming of lecture content in an accessible and engaging way. Many institutions will need to recalibrate their digital learning environments to address this. In 2022, Edtech solutions will need to focus on personalised learning, linear assessment, smart notes and content recommendation using AI. Accessibility drivers will also help influence the direction of travel.”

 

Tom Cuthell, Senior Director of London Tech Week

Tom Cuthell

 

“The past two years have seen unprecedented growth in education technology (EdTech) as venture capital reached three times pre-pandemic investment levels in 2021, accelerating start-ups around the world with over $20B of funding. This investment in innovation and technology marks a meaningful milestone in a new approach from industry for up-skilling and life-long learning. Impacting teaching, learning and life outcomes, 2021 presented an opportunity for real, transformational change within education.”

“Future EdTech will run in June 2022 as part of London Tech Week to provide opportunity educators, innovators and influencers to discuss and debate future challenges and opportunities. As the education community looks beyond the reactive crisis response, the conversation will move to finding a sustainable learning ecosystem for the future. Themes for 2022 will include innovation, skills, and inclusion and wellbeing.”

 

Dr. Rachel O’Connell, Founder & CEO at TrustElevate

Dr Rachel O'Connel Headshot (1)

 

“In my view, 2022 will be the year in which the issue of child safety online rises to greater prominence. Moves are already underway following the Joint Select Committee’s Report on the draft Online Safety Bill, set to be debated in the House of Commons this week. Following the post-pandemic reliance on blended learning, schools have been inundated with pitches from EdTech providers offering enhanced learning experiences. In many cases, administrators simply do not have time to sort through the T&Cs and privacy policies providers offer, nor the technical/legal support to decipher which are most appropriate or ethical. Primary criteria for many of those who find themselves taking up such offers is an outsized need to fill those gaps left by the pandemic.”

“With regards to algorithms used for student evaluation, such systems can often be rendered inaccessible to those relying on them due to deliberate vagueness of proprietary claims. The credentials of an AI system may be left unchallenged in the face of a black box system, and, given the rapid rate at which AI systems have proliferated in the education sector, legislation has not kept pace.”

“Additionally, data collected about students to support digitised learning may be sold on to other companies, and there is currently no legal framework in place to address the specific issues arising from such practices. However, several laws have been written to help protect children from harmful content and data protection practices online, most recently addressed in the draft Online Safety Bill.”

“These pieces of legislation set the backdrop for more regulation and guidance specifically related to AI-based educational systems. However, the Department for Education also needs to engage with parents and schools to ensure increased transparency on public sector algorithmic deployments, greater accountability on the part of any providers responsible for irresponsible data practices and, in turn, ensure the safety of students.”

 

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Fadl Al-Tarzi, CEO of Nexford University

Fadl Al-Tarzi

 

“As the pandemic saw an almost overnight shift to online learning, EdTech’s potential to disrupt and positively impact the learning sector has become increasingly apparent. Millions of students already use online learning tools and classrooms, and it is redefining the role of the modern teacher.”

“While many EdTech companies already existed before the pandemic, the sector’s rapid growth has raised the question of whether traditional classroom educators are equipped for virtual or omnichannel learning methods and the new era of digital learning.”

“Teachers now possess an ever-expanding toolkit of technologies that should be harnessed to make the student’s experience more engaging and capture their interest in learning traditional subjects as well as the skills required to succeed in the increasingly skills-based economy.”

“Teachers that continue to adapt and improve their EdTech skills and look to integrate these into their teaching methods will enable better teaching and learning experiences for educators and students alike, and continue to improve the quality of online education.”

“A vast improvement in the quality of online teaching is already being seen. As teachers continue to adapt to the new virtual landscape and find rewarding work in online classrooms at virtual education institutions, it is clear the best teaching talent is no longer only found in mainstream institutions.”

 

Emma Slater, Head of Education at Access Education 

Emma Slater

 

“EdTech will undoubtedly be used throughout 2022 to help support closing the gap, with the government investing significantly in this area, as schools attempt to catch-up following the disruption caused by the pandemic.”

“I believe digital formative assessment will be used more and more to identify these gaps, with both teacher input and digital content playing an equally important role. Once these gaps have been identified, EdTech can help close them – acting as a powerful resource at a time when teacher workloads are increasingly stretched.”

“The other thing to keep in mind is the implications of blended learning – something that I think is here to stay long-term. We’re seeing schools embracing this, even in the classroom, with more students across both the primary and secondary school setting now using iPads in the classroom. Not only does this benefit students, the increased use of technology can help relieve teacher workload and offer a greater level of flexibility, allowing some marking and administrative work to be completed remotely.”

“Gamification is another trend we’re expecting to really take off in 2022. The more that you introduce digital and technology-based learning to the classroom, the more teachers are seeing the potential benefits of gamification as a way to keep students engaged and focused. The best learning platforms should take the best of gaming and develop new personalised, learning opportunities for students.”

 

Adrian Brown, Founder of My School Portal, an Access Company

Adrian Brown

 

“It’s no secret that the implications of the pandemic are still impacting schools up and down the country and this will remain a big challenge throughout 2022. The government has recently announced an array of new funding to help support schools, with EdTech playing a leading role in the recovery.”

“With increasing numbers of staff and pupils isolating due to Covid, EdTech platforms can support schools, whether they’re setting last minute cover, providing work to isolating pupils or planning for lessons that bridge the gap between in class and remote learning.”

“There is already a broad mix of bespoke platforms that have been designed to provide thousands of either free or paid for, curriculum-aligned resources at a time when staff absence continues to cause problems.”

“With both pupils and staff now much more comfortable with blended learning, I expect these platforms will be utilised by schools more and more in 2022 as the sector navigates its way through some pretty big challenges.”

“EdTech can also act as a powerful vehicle to raise standards in the classroom, enabling schools to offer higher-quality content, more personalised learning experiences and bring industry experts and inspirational figures into the classroom – albeit virtually!”

 

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Carl Dawson, Co-Founder & Chair of Construct

Carl Dawson

 

“Construct works globally from emerging economies to Ivy League schools in the United States. This and our genesis and subsequent growth beyond the MOOC movement has given us a fairly unique worldview. What has been consistent though is that we see a number of trends across all regions in 2022.”

  • “The rise of the ‘Education Marketplaces.’ We expect to see significant continued growth of platforms such as edX, Coursera and Futurelearn (as well as exciting new platforms such as the Noodle Learning Platform entering the market). By monetising every stage of the online journey these platforms have disrupted the fundamental cost of learner acquisition – the biggest drag factor in online learning.”
  • “Interoperability. The growth of digital taxonomies and internal libraries and an ability to reuse digital learning objects across institutions from school to school will help universities save huge costs as the digital transformation continues.”
  • “Hybrid-talking of digital transformation. If 2021 taught us anything it’s that there is no such thing as online or face-to-face anymore. Hybrid is the new normal. This will have a bigger impact to universities and corporate training than the rise of the MOOC in 2014. New platforms like Engageli have piqued our interest in this space.”
  • “Competency Based. Corporates will push for competency based learning to upskill a new generation of early career and career changers as the employment market is in flux.”
  • “Mergers & Acquisitions. There will be a number of smaller niche players swallowed up in 2022 and more deals that look like the purchase of edX by 2U as the market consolidates. I also have my eye on two or three major players in the US that will go public soon.”

“What is apparent is that these trends are driven by ‘edunomics’ rather than a radical shift to new technologies such as VR, AR and adaptive learning which remain nascent.”

 

Max Azarov, CEO & Co-Founder of Novakid

Max Azarov

 

“Since the start of the pandemic, the role of technology has been rapidly growing, and now as we’re entering the third year of remote learning, I foresee these three main trends in EdTech in 2022:

  • “Online learning to become more mainstream and approachable; it’s no longer considered novelty but rather becomes an equally acceptable form of education along with traditional offline model”
  • “Gamification with help of virtual/augmented reality of the learning process to make students more engaged and the process more interactive”
  • “Personalisation of education to tailor the curriculum to the needs of individual students.”

“However, for end consumers, it goes beyond the technology itself. While many companies may be offering similar tech advancements as part of their products, the most important part that gets consumers involved and brings value is content coupled with a user-friendly experience.”

“What’s interesting to note and what I believe we’ll see more of in 2022 and beyond is the shift in responsibility from parents to education providers. With the growing trend of personalised, tailored approach, the provider becomes responsible for motivating students, creating an engaging learning environment, tracking the progress, providing transparency throughout the process to parents, and even guaranteeing the results.”

“With the rise of technology platforms, self-paced learning and access to tutors and private/small group classes becomes more affordable, reinforcing the personalisation trend, helping increase efficiency and improve results.”

 

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