In the height of the pandemic, EdTech played a fundamental role in addressing the challenges students faced by suddenly having to learn remotely.
The pandemic could be considered a catalyst that has helped educators leverage technology to support and benefit remote learning. However, is EdTech still having the same impact on education now, and has this impact formed a lasting change?
Bespoke cloud solutions firm Talk Think Do is a tech company that works with education providers to support their business and delivery through innovative tech solutions. During the pandemic, at a time of disruption across multiple sectors, the team at Talk Think Do made it their mission to ensure they enabled seamless business continuity for their clients.
Award-winning Explore Learning was one education provider that faced huge disruption, as it had to close its 145 centres overnight and relied on Talk Think Do’s services to continue operating. When Explore Learning centres were forced to close, there was an immediate requirement for an online solution that would replicate the same dynamic and engaging atmosphere that was so unique to its centres. This sudden shift created a massive demand for online learning platforms, tools, and resources.
‘Compass at Home’ was developed by Talk Think Do in response to the shift to online. The platform is a sophisticated online learning tool that has allowed Explore Learning continue to nurture confidence, provide stability, and help children across the UK develop skills and knowledge during a deeply turbulent time. Compass at Home is still being used widely today by the company’s customers, and so in this instance the pandemic has had a lasting impact on the way Explore Learning operates as a business.
Matt Hammond, founder of Talk Think Do, said, “The pandemic absolutely has changed the way education is and can be delivered, right the way from primary schools up to universities. The continued growth of online learning has paved the way for more advanced and sophisticated online learning platforms, such as virtual reality-based learning environments and gamified learning experiences.
“The pandemic has opened up the flood gates for what EdTech tools can achieve. Immediately, I predict that education software is likely to become even more personalised. Using machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to adapt to individual learning needs and preferences, education provides will be able to deliver more effective and efficient learning experiences for students.”
School closures due to COVID-19 had huge impacts on the learning of primary school pupils, with disruptions to education having a knock-on effect to children’s mental health, stability and overall feelings of positivity and enjoyment with their studies. In a survey delivered by RS Assessment from Hodder Education[1], researchers completed an analysis of academic wellbeing and attitudes to learning in Key Stage 2 pupils at mainstream state schools in England.
In the survey, each pupil was asked questions to find out about their positivity, motivation, self-efficacy, and resilience and persistence. Since the pre-pandemic period, the proportion of children whose responses were satisfactory fell across all dimensions of academic wellbeing in the study. ‘Self-efficacy’ had the largest decrease in children with satisfactory responses. The majority of children in the study now report feeling some vulnerability in self-efficacy.
Matt continues, “There could also become a greater emphasis on social and emotional learning, following the impact of the pandemic. With the increased awareness of mental health and well-being, EdTech tools may incorporate social and emotional learning (SEL) components in the future curriculum. This could include the use of mindfulness apps, SEL curricula, and other tools designed to support students’ social and emotional development.”
Open Study College has been providing distance learning for over 15 years and has seen the benefits that technology has brought to the education sector during this time. CEO Samantha Rutter-Bryant believes that the pandemic has changed things in the sector once again, and has closed the gap between traditional and distance learning, making studying more accessible overall.
Samantha Rutter-Bryant, CEO of Open Study College, said: “The pandemic has most definitely had a lasting impact on education. For the first time ever, all traditional education systems were forced to introduce distance learning. Whilst everyone has their own style of learning, and knows what works best for them, the pandemic has proven that distance learning is a brilliant option for people who do not feel that they perform best in a traditional education setting, or for those that are physically unable to attend traditional school or college.
“Distance learning is a tool which allows them to take full control of their education, fitting their studies around their schedule, health, family, and career responsibilities. Learners say it has provided them with an opportunity to remove some of the pressures associated with receiving an education, whilst studying in a more inclusive and accessible way.
“This is all thanks to the power of technology. It’s easier than ever in a tech-based world, where kids today are quite literally born into the cloud, to utilise tech to learn online. Whether people are looking to study more traditional qualifications in subjects such as maths, science and English, or even vocational courses such as dog grooming, beauty, or gardening - it can all be completed online, virtually, from anywhere in the world. Traditional education will always have a place in society, but distance learning is a very exciting part of the future.”
Augmented and virtual reality technologies are expected to continue to evolve and become more accessible, and this may lead to the development of new educational applications, such as virtual field trips, simulations, and other immersive learning experiences.
Matt adds, “We have seen a surge in investment in EdTech companies, with investors recognising the importance of technology in the current environment, investing heavily in companies that can provide innovative solutions for online learning. There has been a rapid adoption of new technologies in schools and universities to support new remote learning models. This includes video conferencing tools, learning management systems, and other EdTech solutions. The pandemic highlighted the need for personalised learning solutions that can accommodate the diverse needs of students. As a result, EdTech companies are increasingly developing personalised learning solutions that can adapt to each student's learning style and pace.
“The pandemic has permanently changed the way we think about education, and EdTech will continue to play a critical role in supporting online and hybrid learning environments. The pandemic exposed significant equality issues in education, and we're committed to developing EdTech solutions that address these disparities and ensure that all students have access to high-quality learning opportunities, on whichever device they may be using to access the content remotely.”
Overall, the pandemic has had a huge impact on education. From the rise of remote learning to the adoption of new technologies, the pandemic has forced educators to rethink how education is approached. However, amid all the challenges and uncertainties, there have been notable positive changes. Teachers, students, and parents have been able to come together to create new solutions and innovative approaches to learning. By continuing to embrace this change in the future, a more resilient and inclusive education system can continue to develop and become a reality for all.
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