Future Learning And Trends To Watch In 2023
2023 is on the path to being an exciting year for online education. 2022 has seen a breakthrough in the use of technology for education as more people have leaned toward this trend. Google Trends shows that there has been an increase in searches for the word "edtech" between 2021 and 2022. [1]
Zoom, which is often categorized as an EdTech company, also saw accelerated growth. It experienced a triple-digit year-over-year revenue and user growth with a funding of $145.5 million. [1]
Studies also show that 83% of grade 6–12 students used Google tools at least once a week to complete their schoolwork. And 22 out of the top 25 US universities provide free online courses for students who desire to take them. [1]
This is what the future of education looks like. eLearning has become one of the best ways to instill both skills and education in a person. Below are the reasons for this sudden popularity which erupted in 2020 due to the pandemic.
- Flexibility and comfortability
Educational technology provides flexibility and comfort, which further encourages innovation. It improves students' performance, as they can learn at their pace. There's limited pressure to fit into someone else's knowledge retention timeframe.
Students get to know themselves better and provide a suitable schedule where their focus is high and distraction is low. With the capability to increase retention, eLearning will remain every student's favorite.
- More exposure to digital life
The introduction of technology to education has provided many learning styles. The students get exposed to digital life, which upgrades their thinking capacity. The world needs more innovative thinkers, which is the solution eLearning has to offer.
- Customized learning
eLearning has facilitated the advancement of customized learning. Students can choose and adapt to their choice of learning while doing so at their pace. They can pick up ideas and show their understanding in their preferred way. This leads to better knowledge retention. Students will also be able to think outside the box rather than sharing like-minds with every other person.
According to Global Newswire, the EdTech industry will grow to $605.8 billion by 2027. [2] This is an incredible growth from $254.80 billion in 2021. With this trend, we can expect to see an increase year over year in the eLearning industry.
Educational Technology Trends In 2023
Nano-Learning
This is a system of learning that provides concise information for students to absorb and retain with no hassle. It provides learning resources such as texts, short videos, and sound bites, which provides the solution of a condensed time window. This bite-sized learning style caters to the younger generation, especially Gen Z.
This is because of the short attention time they're accustomed to since it's a digital age. Nano-learning courses are often between two to ten minutes, which is an individual program.
Nano-learning is irreplaceable, and we should expect more people to lean toward this learning style in 2023. The world is revolving around more digital tools and information. Also with the fact that the average human attention span is ever decreasing by the day due to the rise in technology. Studies show that it's currently 8 seconds, which can drop to a lesser number in the coming days. [3] With this current situation, the most possible style of learning that can save the day is nano-learning.
AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has provided more solutions to the eLearning industry. It provides an enabling environment for students to enjoy personalized learning experiences. Students can adopt learning styles that suit them using these tools. It also provides 24/7 support with chatbots, which gives them feedback in no time.
Self-education has become more prominent, which encourages them to perform better.
Studies show that 52% of graduates in the US prefer their online college-level education to classroom education. [4] This shows that students prefer the opportunity to self-study which AI offers.
Examples of these AI tools are Grammarly, Duolingo, and Thinkster. With this development, we should expect to see more AI-supported online learners in 2023.
Personalized Learning
This is an educational approach that tailors learning and its resources to students' needs and abilities. Each student can make learning decisions based on their strength and weakness.
This will boost their knowledge retention and enhance their learning experience. A platform like Querium offers personalized tutoring lessons across science, arts, etc.
The pandemic has cleared the path for more students to move their academics online. This infers that there's a greater possibility for them to experience personalized learning. It will be one of the most adopted eLearning trends in 2023.
Gamification
Taylor and Francis reported that 67% of students prefer gamified courses, as they find them more motivating. 80% of US workers also find game-based learning more engaging. [5] This shows that the gamification learning method is enjoyable and educational.
Another study also reveals that gamification can improve outcomes by 45.5% and 60.67% when combined with reading. [6] This also proves that this learning style is not only enjoyable and educational but also effective.
This style of learning is the process of using game mechanics in a non-gaming environment to make it more appealing. It often increases user engagement and retention. Examples of these platforms are Khan Academy, Duolingo, SoloLearn, etc.
With the worldwide eLearning market projected to be worth $325 billion in 2025, EdTech is up to becoming the most popular learning system in history.
References:
[1] 26 Interesting EdTech Industry Statistics
[2] The EdTech market size was valued at USD 254.80 billion in 2021
[3] User Attention Span: the Biggest Challenge for Marketers [2022]
[4] 50 Online Education Statistics: 2022 Data on Higher Learning & Corporate Training
[5] Learning via Gamification: Latest Data, Stats & Trends
[6] 36 EdTech Statistics & Facts: The State of Technology in Education