The COVID-19 pandemic was a huge catalyst for growth in the education technology market. During the 2020-2021 school year, educators accessed an average of 64% more EdTech tools compared to pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, global growth of the EdTech market has remained steady even after schools and businesses have resumed in-person operations. Demand for EdTech solutions is expected to continue growing this year, with an estimated CAGR of 13% between 2023 and 2030. This sustained demand for EdTech tools signals that solutions adopted during the pandemic are not mere stop-gaps, but sustainable tools for enhancing learning in both academic institutions and businesses alike.
Last year we discussed EdTech trends that we expected to grow in 2022. At the top of our list were solutions that would help fight the tech burnout many educators experienced in the 2020-2021 school year, as teachers and students grappled with incorporating new tech into their routines. Moving forward, we can expect growth of EdTech solutions that improve effectiveness and efficiency of learning while enhancing the student experience. This year, we predict continued growth in artificial intelligence, extended reality technology, and gamification in education.
Artificial Intelligence
ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot that quickly gained mainstream popularity after its launch in November 2022, has educators in disagreement over whether the tool is an ally or an adversary to education. The free chatbot can generate essays, articles, and exam answers that are good enough for a passing grade, even at the graduate level. By January 2023, ChatGPT already reached over 100 million unique users, which makes it the fastest-growing consumer app ever. With such a rapidly-growing user base, educators from K-12 teachers to university professors are worried about the tech’s potential impact on student learning. To prevent plagiarism and cheating, some districts have already banned ChatGPT on school networks, and many more bans are likely to follow this year.
Proponents for the use of ChatGPT in education emphasize its potential as a brainstorming partner for both teachers and students. By treating ChatGPT’s answers as a starting point for research and problem solving, it can serve as a powerful assistant for educational goals. Skeptics of its use in schools worry that the text generator encourages intellectual dishonesty, and will erode trust between faculty and students. In response to concerns over cheating and plagiarism, this year we anticipate the emergence of tools that can detect AI-generated text in student assignments. TurnItIn, the company behind a popular plagiarism detection tool, is already working to add AI detection capability to its software, and other EdTech companies are likely to follow suit very soon. Wherever you stand on the issue, 2023 will certainly be an interesting year to watch as schools contend with embracing ChatGPT’s potential while ensuring the chatbot does not circumvent building critical thinking skills in students.
Gamification
The game-based learning market was valued at $13.1 billion in 2021, and is expected to reach $36.3 billion by 2027. Game-based learning is not new to education, but we expect to see growth in 2023 as a way to increase engagement, improve educational outcomes, and fight screen burnout by making learning fun. Adding game-like elements such as scoring, rewards, and leaderboards can improve learning outcomes by fostering enjoyment and enthusiasm for the content. When learners enjoy the process, they are not only more motivated, but research shows that they retain the information better. EdTech apps like EdApp, Kahoot, and ClassDojo are a few of the most popular platforms for creating custom e-learning content with interactive game elements.
In addition to growing gamification in e-learning tools, gaming platforms are also becoming popular for education. Roblox, a free multiplayer open-world game, has launched Roblox Education to help educators create immersive learning experiences on the platform. Roblox can be accessed via app or through a browser, so students can use their own mobile devices to play games from any location. Through Roblox Education, the gaming company aims to reach 100 million students by 2030. The game platform is now being used worldwide to teach a variety of subjects, including programming, math, science, and history.
CHECK IT OUT: Whiz-It is a math mobile application for kids. Through the software, parents or teachers can set up rewards for which the child can redeem points, earned by practicing. Students practice incremental addition problems and can use an in-app scratchpad for assistance.
Extended Reality
Education is one of the strongest sectors for growth in Extended Reality (XR)—an umbrella term that includes Virtual Reality (AR) and Augmented Reality (VR). VR is a fully virtual experience that requires a headset, while AR imposes digital elements onto the existing environment using the camera on a mobile device or tablet. The value of XR in the global EdTech market is currently estimated at $12.4 billion, and projections suggest XR in education will continue to grow steadily at a CAGR of 18.2% between 2022 and 2027.
The popularity of XR in education is not surprising. Students learn better through immersive, hands-on experiences, and XR can offer students opportunities to interact with content that would not be possible in a traditional classroom setting. Not only does XR bring a world of content to a student’s fingertips, virtual learning can also be more effective than traditional teaching methods. A 2020 study shows that the use of immersive XR can significantly improve learning outcomes when compared to a traditional lecture. XR is especially effective in science and math education, where it can improve understanding of abstract concepts by helping students visualize ideas in real time. The use of XR in education is not limited to schools and universities; programs like Interplay Learning are growing in popularity amongst businesses for skills training. These VR environments allow trainees to learn and practice trade skills in a safe, no-risk environment.
Despite the availability of more VR headset models on the market than ever before, costs of the headsets have not trended downwards as predicted in previous years. In fact, prices are expected to further increase this year, making VR technology even more inaccessible for many school districts. The advantage of AR over VR is a lower barrier to entry—no headset is required, so AR can be used for education and training without costly speciality equipment. Students can view AR content using school tablets or even their own mobile devices, and many educational AR apps are available for free. As content providers continue to expand their libraries, we can expect AR to become more widely integrated in classrooms this year.
LEARN MORE: Activate Learning has disrupted the middle school science curricula with its IQWST methodology and technology. The web and native app allows millions of students to use inquiry-based learning in a paper-free environment.
2023 will be an exciting year for EdTech. Now that we are living in the post-pandemic boom of the e-learning market, solutions that make learning more fun, engaging, and efficient will stand out in the competitive landscape of EdTech. We expect advancements in AI, growth in gamification, and expansion of XR content to dominate the EdTech space this year.
At Sourcetoad, we’ve been building custom software applications for nearly 15 years, and we appreciate the unique challenges that our educational clients face, whether from public, private, or corporate environments. We’ve worked with teachers, trainers, coaches, and learners of all kinds, and we know what it takes to transform complex stakeholder ideas into effective digital solutions. From Learning Management System development to mobile educational apps and games, we offer a range of custom solutions for educational services.
If you have questions about developing custom educational solutions for your organization, reach out to schedule an introductory call. We’d love to learn about your needs and discuss how we can help turn your idea into reality.
