While these predictions may not have come true, in a number of ways technology has succeeded in changing our lives. Technology has allowed major transformations, from self-driven cars to multiple missions, the technology in our daily lives and one of the sectors that has been completely transformed by technology in recent times is the education sector.

Here are a few education trends that we forecast for the year of 2021:

Increased preference for online courses

There has been an explosion of students in recent times who have chosen online courses and learning. Online learning allows students to access learning material at their comfort venue, depending on when they need it. In the year 2021, there will be a further cementing of this trend as students and prospective learners continue to opt for online versions of a degree or a course over the in-person options available to them. In response to this demand, it can be expected that institutes too will continue to expand online and flexible learning as a strategic response to the ongoing demand for access to education.

Increased investments in Learning Management Software and School Management Systems

Experts believe that schools, colleges and other educational institutions will also spend more of their budgets on investing in learning management software in the coming year to expand the students ‘ learning eco-system. For teaching and administration staff too, the LMS systems and school management software provide a host of benefits from ease of communication with parents, automatic timetable management, transport scheduling, online exams and report generation, attendance management, finance and fees management – the list is endless.

Increasing Use of Technology in Learning

As students get ready to step into the future there will also be an increased preference for using various technological tools in the learning process.

Some of these tools include:

• VIDEO-BASED LEARNING : Video-based learning is a great way through expanded participation to improve learning outcomes. Video-based learning allows for quick access to experts from around the world. The recent enhancement of many handheld devices ‘ video capabilities along with the easy availability of low-cost or free video platforms ensures growth in video-based learning.

• BLOCKCHAIN IN LEARNING : Blockchain can be described as a public online ledger that records and verifies transactions automatically. It can be projected in the coming year that an increasing number of educational institutions will use blockchain technology not only to serve students as a transparent record storage system, but also to monitor and exchange the credentials of their students with potential employers.

• AI-BASED LEARNING : Market research estimates that AI in the education market will reach USD 2 billion by 2023 growing at 38% CAGR in the forecast period 2018-2023. AI or Artificial intelligence will be integrated with schools in a number of ways including setting up question papers themselves, from a pre-existing question bank, giving feedback to the teachers to help them improve their teaching strategies and to personalise the learning experience for the students.

• VIRTUAL REALITY IN LEARNING : A few years ago, Virtual Reality (VR) joined the educational world and it’s here to stay for a while. It has been used in the classroom in a number of ways and having the opportunity of virtual trips to distant or physically inaccessible locations is the most common use of VR technology. It is also widely used in the medical classroom and is expected to become one of the most commonly used tools for showing students artifacts, procedures, locations and historical events in 2020.

Use of cloud-based technologies for student relationship management

The year 2021 will also see an acceleration in the adoption of cloud-based technologies for student relationship management. These tools such as accelerate the adoption of cloud-based technologies for student relationship management (CRM), learning management systems (LMS) and classroom assessment management.

Continued stress on Personalised Learning

Personalisation is the learning style of the future. Personalisation ensures that different students who enroll in the same course may be assigned different materials by the learning platform to their learning path. This will be assigned based on their profile, learning style, performance and behaviour. Personalized learning can boost engagement and produce strong learning outcomes for the students.

5G Simulated Learning Experiences

While today, very few parts of the world will have access to 5G broadband, many countries are experimenting with 5G technology. With super-fast speeds, 5G is a transformative technology that will stimulate the development of immersive simulations, games and learning experiences to create unforgettable learning experiences. Experts opine that 2020 will be a landmark year for 5G-enabled learning.

Increased emphasis on Blended Learning

The year 2021 will also see an increased emphasis on blended learning with a mix of on-campus and off-campus learning thus creating a mix of the digital connection with the human connection. In this form on learning teachers become more facilitators of the learning process which means students can empower themselves to learn and continue learning.

In conclusion, 2021 will be the year for realizing the full potential of humans and machines. The online learning space is evolving rapidly and with the aid of various technological and digital tools education will transform itself by leaps and bounds in the coming year. From expanding a teacher’s capacity to making education more accessible and cheaper, 2021 promises to be an exciting year in terms of new education trends.