2021 is definitely going to be the year of innovations and new technologies when it comes to education. The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to step out of our comfort zones and seek different, unusual forms of teaching, learning, studying, and communicating with our peers. It’s very important for all of us to keep up with these trends. That’s why we’ve put together a list of 10 educational technology trends that you’ll want to know about in 2021.

Online Classrooms

The typical classroom is slowly shifting from a physical space to a virtual one. Teachers are using online platforms and collaboration tools to teach their materials and connect with their students wherever they are. This opens a lot of new doors for students who otherwise couldn’t attend class due to distance, lack of money, a disability, or anything else.

Video-Assisted Lessons

Video materials are beginning to dominate the teaching materials. Students are able to enjoy the lesson more and get actively involved in perceiving the materials. Video-assisted lessons are thus a trend on the rise.

Virtual Reality

Study materials and lessons are coming to life with the use of virtual reality. Teachers are able to take their students to explore the Berlin Wall before it fell, or the North Pole and the endangered species there. This type of learning helps students understand and memorize the materials better and is priceless for their improvement.

Less Administrative Tasks

Teachers are given an opportunity to spend less time on administrative tasks. New technologies can:

• grade tests
• take attendance
• send out test results
• send automatic feedback

They can do more to take the burden off the teachers’ shoulders. Teachers have more time to dedicate to their students.

Gamification

Gamification is a trend that helps students have fun while they’re learning. Turning class materials into games makes the students want to participate. That means they’re mentally active the entire time, which helps the materials sink in smoothly. It’s a trend that both teachers and students love.

Student Data Gathering

The more time the class spends online, the more information about the student is available to the teacher. Teachers are using metrics, data, and algorithms to better understand the individual needs of their students and their academic progress. They can access individual student data and understand their journey and progress.

Student Collaboration

New collaborative tools are popping up as we speak. Students are able to do their group assignments online, through platforms and tools such as:

• Skype
• Facebook
• WhatsApp
• Google Apps for Education
• Padlet

These and other similar tools make collaboration smooth and successful.

Personalized Materials

If teachers are using digital classrooms to teach, they have the chance to personalize the learning experience according to each student’s needs. They can create and send out different materials to students based on their current level of knowledge, talents, struggles, and progress. It’s a brilliant opportunity to help each student reach their maximal capacity.

Online Tutoring

Tutoring has been around for years, but it’s going online in 2021, more than ever. Students are connecting to the tutors they prefer, regardless of their locations. Students can also find professional help for specific subjects. For example, they can find the best assignment writing service to help them with their essays or papers. The same goes for all the other subjects they might be struggling with.

Digital Materials

Study materials are going from the printed version to the digital one. Teachers are making them easy to send online or post in the virtual classroom. It helps the students access them from any device and study wherever they are.

Final Thoughts

The pandemic definitely speeded up the advancement of new educational technology in 2021. There are new trends making it easy and convenient for everyone to teach and study, regardless of the circumstances they’re in.

The 10 trends listed above are changing the face of education.

Author’s Bio

Henry McDowell is a college teacher, content writer, and blogger. Education is his area of expertise. He mainly writes about innovative education methods, study tips, exam preparation, or the student-teacher relationship.