In 2024, the educational technology (edtech) sector is growing remarkably.
The edtech market, valued at $297.56 billion in 2022, is projected to reach $696.04 billion by 2028.
As educational technology advances, the emergence of AI in the classroom is stirring up debate.
Some schools and educators are against it, others support it, but some don't know what to do.
Integrating AI in education is more than a technological hurdle; it demands leadership, vision, and a deep understanding of the needs of all students and teachers.
There's a universal call for clear guidance from schools seeking innovation, teachers needing tools for personalized learning, and students and parents adapting to digital shifts.
This article explores these needs and perspectives while highlighting the latest edtech trends, emphasizing Pressto's role as a leader in the edtech field.
The 2023 UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, “Technology in education: a tool on whose terms?”, provides a comprehensive overview of current edtech trends.
The findings show that students, educators, and educational institutions have widely embraced digital technology tools.
Notably, enrollment in massive open online courses (MOOCs) surged to at least 220 million by 2021. The increase in online course options indicates a shift towards digital education, with a growing preference for online learning over traditional classes.
Furthermore, the number of users on educational platforms is exploding. For instance, Duolingo, a popular language learning app, reported 20 million daily users in 2023, while Wikipedia saw daily page views hit 244 million in 2021.
Additionally, the global rate of internet adoption jumped from 16% in 2005 to 66% in 2022, reflecting increasing digital engagement worldwide.
However, the findings indicate mixed outcomes of technology integration in educational practices.
Some instances of technology use, like high-quality lesson recordings in China, have shown promising results in improving educational outcomes and reducing disparities.
However, technology failed to enhance learning in other cases, such as the distribution of laptops in Peru without adequate pedagogical integration.
Moreover, the report shows that excessive or inappropriate use of technology, as evidenced by data from wide-scale assessments like the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), can have detrimental effects on student performance.
Overall, the 2023 GEM Report points out a key challenge: education systems around the world are struggling to keep up with fast-paced tech changes.
It shows that even in wealthy countries, only about 10% of high school-aged students regularly use digital tools for major subjects. Such findings suggest a substantial gap between the potential of technology in education and its actual implementation in classrooms.
The report highlights a significant issue contributing to the gap in technology use: teachers often feel unsure about how to incorporate technology into their teaching. This uncertainty largely results from insufficient training and professional development opportunities in edtech.
Given these challenges, the report stresses that technology has the potential to change education for the better, but only if used thoughtfully and inclusively.
The report suggests that technology should support, not replace, traditional teaching, and emphasizes making sure that every student benefits from tech advances — aiming for an education system that is inclusive and flexible.
The UNESCO report underscores the enduring presence of technology in education, alongside the challenges of its effective implementation. It highlights several critical areas for responsible and effective use of technology in educational settings:
As countries navigate the integration of technology in education, there's a growing emphasis on identifying and embedding digital competencies within educational frameworks.
Globally, over half of the nations have set digital skill standards, although often, these are influenced by the commercial sector outside of traditional educational governance.
This transition phase is pivotal as the strategies for embedding technology in education will shape its future impact and efficacy.
The insights from the UNESCO report can help schools develop an effective framework to guide the meaningful and impactful use of educational technology.
Despite its challenges, the future of learning is digital. But who will guide this digital transformation? Pressto is already making significant strides. By integrating AI into educational practices, Pressto offers personalized and engaging lessons that resonate with today's students and alleviate teachers' burdens.
Pressto is changing the way we teach writing.
Pressto's approach to integrating technology and AI in education is founded on evidence-based strategies and research.
It aims to teach writing through best practices, emphasizing guided instruction and immediate and specific feedback.
It's designed to support teachers, not take their place, by adding AI tools that improve teaching.
This way, Pressto is making writing lessons more welcoming and suitable for what students and teachers need today.
For a more comprehensive understanding of Pressto's approach, refer to their whitepaper: Writing in the Age of AI.
At a glance, this is how Pressto's AI capabilities are transforming writing instruction beyond traditional:
For a closer look at Pressto's role in current edtech trends, watch our introductory video for a comprehensive walkthrough of its tools and interface.
Pressto is revolutionizing not just writing education but also offering broad support across the entire curriculum.
Below is an example of a writing prompt that blends science, advocacy, and activism, guiding students to develop analyses and propose solutions.
Through these features, Pressto enhances the teaching and learning of writing and supports a broad spectrum of educational needs.
While specific edtech trends on AI's use in classrooms are still coming out due to its relative novelty, there are insights into its potential to ease teachers' workloads.
A McKinsey report suggests that AI could cut teachers' time on administrative and non-teaching tasks by 11 hours.
Teachers work an average of 50 hours a week, dedicating only 49% of this time to direct student interaction. Preparation, evaluation, and providing feedback consume the remainder.
Therefore, by reducing these tasks, AI could significantly increase the time teachers spend engaging directly with students.
Beyond lightening teachers' workloads, AI's incorporation into education transforms teaching and learning possibilities in several key ways:
Teachers can use AI, like ChatGPT, to create customized lesson plans quickly. Tasks that traditionally took teachers a considerable amount of time are now significantly expedited with AI, streamlining the planning process and enhancing the learning experience.
AI tools can help educators create interactive learning materials, such as quizzes, worksheets, and games, that align with their lessons' goals.
Take, for example, a 7th-grade science teacher who designs a comprehensive water cycle lesson plan using ChatGPT. The teacher can create diagrams and charts for visual learners, write instructions for hands-on experiments, or brainstorm ideas for challenge activities for advanced students—in much less time than it would take to do on their own.
Of all the ways teachers use AI in the classroom, edtech trends show that AI-based educational games are the most popular way. Platforms like Minecraft Education, Duolingo, and Kahoot, which gamify learning, are particularly popular, offering rewards and incentives that motivate students to engage with their lessons.
A key edtech trend is the personalization that AI learning provides. Platforms like EdApp and Adaptemy empower teachers to tailor educational experiences to individual student needs. These AI-driven tools design custom lesson plans by analyzing students' learning histories, preferences, and performance.
These platforms can easily adjust task difficulty, providing more complex challenges for advanced learners and simpler ones for those needing reinforcement.
Pressto's feedback system, Writing Buddy, is an example of how AI can offer students immediate, personalized, and actionable feedback. Here's how it works in depth:
AI tools like Pressto's Writing Buddy allow teachers to support a larger number of students more efficiently, reducing the need to mark papers outside of class. Students benefit from immediate feedback, bypassing the wait for teacher responses.
This technology addresses a longstanding issue faced by many English teachers: the challenge of providing adequate support to caseloads that can exceed 100 students. Ultimately, it presents a win-win solution for both teachers and students.
Research shows that feedback is crucial in learning to write in a foreign language, and AI facilitates this by offering immediate, personalized feedback to aid language learning.
AI-powered platforms like Duolingo Max have integrated AI to provide quick and essential feedback to learners. Users receive instantaneous corrections and explanations for their exercises through a function called “Explain My Answer.”
Duolingo Max users can also interact with AI characters to practice conversational skills. After each conversation, users receive feedback on the accuracy and comprehensibility of their exchanges.
Beyond linguistic skills, AI-enhanced bilingual education has many cognitive benefits, including improved problem-solving, memory, attention, creativity, and metalinguistic awareness. It also promotes cognitive flexibility and can delay cognitive decline.
AI not only makes bilingual education more accessible but also helps multilingual learners achieve fluency more effectively.
As we can see from edtech trends, AI in education offers promising advancements but also challenges. Here are the potential concerns that educators might encounter:
Schools and teachers may be worried about using AI in classrooms for several reasons, particularly regarding academic integrity.
The fear is that students may use AI tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly as shortcuts for assignments or tests, bypassing the critical thinking and learning process by obtaining answers without engaging in meaningful cognitive effort.
In response to these concerns, Pressto offers a different approach to using AI in education.
Rather than providing answers or completing tasks for students, Pressto focuses on offering feedback and prompts, similar to the supportive guidance a teacher would provide in a one-on-one learning environment.
This approach keeps students actively involved in their learning journey, promotes academic integrity, and verifies that they genuinely complete the work on their own.
Pressto demonstrates that AI can enhance educational experiences without compromising the values of hard work and independent thinking.
The US Department of Education's 2023 report, "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning," emphasizes the need for a careful balance between AI's efficiencies and teachers' indispensable role.
While AI offers incredible tools for personalizing education and easing administrative tasks, it also prompts an important question: How do we ensure it enhances rather than sidelines the human touch?
The key is to empower teachers with control over and understanding of AI tools.
Effective integration means using AI to support, not supplant, the irreplaceable elements teachers bring to the classroom, such as empathy, adaptability, and a deep understanding of student needs.
Pressto stands out by recognizing and honoring the essential balance between AI's capabilities and the value of human insight in education. By automating repetitive tasks and tailoring learning to individual student paths, Pressto allows teachers to concentrate more on providing the supportive, empathetic engagement that only humans can offer.
This approach ensures that AI acts as a support system to amplify the quality of education, safeguarding the human connections and insights at the heart of effective learning.
Through this synergy, Pressto exemplifies how technology, when correctly applied, can enhance the educational experience without diminishing the teacher's role.
The 2023 Office of Educational Technology report outlines a strategic approach for effectively embedding AI into the classroom. Pressto aligns with this guidance through its AI integration framework, emphasizing principles such as:
By adhering to these principles recommended by the U.S. Department of Education, Pressto navigates the complexities of AI integration, ensuring its effectiveness in the classroom.
Pressto envisions AI integration as a transformative force in education, seeing it as a powerful tool to bridge educational gaps and empower every student to succeed.
Daniel Stedman, Pressto's founder, articulates a compelling vision where early literacy is not a barrier but a stepping stone toward lifelong learning and achievement.
"Early literacy challenges cast long shadows over a student's educational journey and their life beyond. These difficulties don't fade away; instead, they become enduring barriers to ongoing learning and growth," Stedman notes. "We all share the duty to create a more navigable and inclusive educational industry, one where every student has the chance not only to learn but to excel."
By working with educators, policymakers, and tech experts, Pressto promotes a collective effort toward a thoughtful integration of AI.
Looking ahead, Pressto continues to innovate by using AI for academic support, encouraging critical thinking and a love for learning among students.
This approach positions Pressto as a pioneer in edtech, driving forward a future where technology enriches education and opens up a world of opportunities for all learners.
Pressto's commitment goes beyond just employing AI; it's about using AI responsibly and ethically. Protecting students' data privacy and security is a top priority. Pressto commits to user privacy and security protection by adhering to ethical standards and legal regulations, ensuring transparent and secure data management practices.
Pressto also emphasizes the importance of incorporating media literacy into the curriculum. This includes teaching students to critically evaluate online content, recognize misinformation, and understand the impact of digital footprints.
By integrating media literacy, Pressto aims to provide students with the skills necessary to navigate the digital world responsibly and to understand how AI can be used ethically and effectively in educational settings.
These guidelines show Pressto's dedication to preparing students for a future where technology and digital media play a central role - a world where students become informed, responsible digital citizens.
As we move through 2024, AI's influence in education will only continue to grow. Yet, this is just the beginning. We're on the brink of embracing another wave of groundbreaking edtech trends that promise to transform the classroom further.
The next wave of educational technology in 2024 will focus on immersive learning experiences using augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and adaptive learning platforms. These technologies aim to make learning more interactive and engaging:
These technologies will create a more collaborative classroom that can address various learning styles and needs, making education more effective and enjoyable.
E-learning platforms like Google Classroom and Khan Academy have long paved the way for personalized education by offering digital spaces where students can access various educational materials such as videos, readings, and quizzes.
However, the real game-changer for personalized education is the emergence of adaptive learning systems. Powered by AI, these platforms are revolutionizing education by tailoring learning experiences to each student's style, speed, and preferences.
For example, DreamBox Learning is an adaptive math platform that customizes teaching for each student's needs by adjusting content, pace, and sequence based on their understanding of math concepts. It makes math more engaging and effective, catering to students at different grade levels by providing challenges suited to their learning level and responding in real time.
The scalability of adaptive learning platforms and similar technology means personalized learning will become more accessible. Students will no longer have to hire private tutors to receive personalized instruction and feedback.
This shift toward personalized education is a promising trend that will hopefully provide more educational opportunities and bridge educational gaps.
With the integration of new technology in education, the role of teachers is undergoing a significant transformation.
Thanks to automation and AI assistance, teachers can now spend less time on administrative tasks, such as grading and lesson planning, freeing up more time for one-on-one student interactions, mentorship, and facilitating deeper learning experiences.
This shift also provides teachers the tools to become experts in their subjects, helping them teach critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and creativity—skills technology can't.
Moreover, with real-time data on student performance and learning preferences, teachers can make informed decisions to support each student more effectively.
Technology plays a bigger part in teaching and testing, so teachers are becoming more like guides, mentors, and coaches. They highlight the unmatched importance of personal interaction in learning.
Technology is incredibly valuable for children's learning and development, but teaching them how to use digital tools safely is imperative. Here are tips for how parents can help their kids avoid potential dangers while maximizing the benefits of technology:
By adopting these strategies, parents can ensure their children safely use technology for learning in a healthy, balanced way. Their guidance helps children avoid any negative effects and potential pitfalls.
As we look at the edtech trends of 2024, it's clear that AI plays a crucial role in shaping the future of education.
This evolution promises personalized learning experiences, enhanced teaching methods, and a commitment to creative solutions in the classroom.
For educators, students, and parents navigating this digital shift, embracing these advancements is just beginning.
The path forward involves utilizing innovative AI tools to enrich education for all.
Explore how these changes can benefit you by visiting the Pressto website.
Together, let's navigate this exciting evolution in education. With the right approach, we can overcome the challenges and improve education.
