Upcoming Education Trends in the Year 2020

For decades, the year 2020 was predicted as the onset of the future – where humans would reside on Mars and live lives dominated by robots and machines. While, these predictions may not have come true, technology has managed to transform our lives in a number of ways. From self-driven cars to multiple missions to AI assistants, technology has enabled massive disruptions that 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 2020:

• Increased preference for online courses

In recent times, there has been an influx of students who have opted for online courses and learning. Online learning allows students to access the learning content according to when to need it and at a place of their convenience. In the year 2020, 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 the coming year will also see schools, colleges and other educational institutes spending more of their budgets on investing in Learning Management Software that will extend the learning eco-system of the students. 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 to improves learning outcomes through increased engagement. Video-based learning provides fast access to experts from across the world. The recent improvement in the video capabilities of many handheld devices together with the easy availability of low-cost or free video platforms ensure growth in video-based learning.

• • Blockchain in learning

Blockchain can be defined as an online public ledger that automatically records and verifies transactions. In the coming year, it can be estimated that an increasing number of educational institutes will use blockchain technology to not only serve as a transparent record storage system for the students but to also track and share their students’ credentials 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

Virtual reality (VR) has entered the world of education through a few years ago and it is here to stay for a while. It has been used in the classroom in a number of ways and the most common use of VR technology is providing the ability of virtual visits to distant or physically inaccessible places. It is also often used in the medical classroom and in the year 2020 it is expected to become one most commonly used methods to display objects, processes, locations, and historical events to students.

• Use of cloud-based technologies for student relationship management

The year 2020 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 enrol 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 2020 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, 2020 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, 2020 promises to be an exciting year in terms of new education trends.

Welcome to the future of education.