New Year’s Resolutions for EdTech

With increased global investment and new innovations constantly emerging, we’re excited to see what 2019 will bring for the EdTech sector. As EDUCATE enters its third year, it feels like a good opportunity to reflect on what we have learned as a programme, and where we can challenge ourselves further to help our companies to deliver the best possible, high quality EdTech.

Here are our New year’s resolutions for EdTech in 2019:

1. Help educators become more discerning consumers

For too many teachers and school staff, EdTech has moved from blackboard to whiteboard – and little in-between or beyond. Yet EdTech is here, and here to stay, and whilst teachers need to be informed of its many benefits, they also need to be encouraged to challenge its uses and effectiveness. To help with this, we’ll be launching a new resource later this month to support schools with buying and implementing new technology.

2. Keep challenging entrepreneurs to think differently

The central thrust of the EDUCATE programme will always be the development of EdTech products which are underpinned by research and evidence. By escalating this message, we can help entrepreneurs to be mindful of the fact that, however exciting and innovative their product, it must be fit for purpose and useful to teachers and learners.

3. Bring policy makers and entrepreneurs together more

Policy-makers often have a notion of the importance of EdTech in teaching and learning, and an awareness of the rate of technological advancement, but can have little knowledge of its various applications. Creating opportunities for dialogue between them and developers through conferences, seminars and other events can help to accelerate the speed at which EdTech is introduced into schools, which in turn will result in greater engagement and financial investment in the sector.

4. Promote the importance of ethics in the development EdTech

The development and use of EdTech brings with it a whole host of ethical issues and challenges, including the storing, use and interpretation of data about teachers and pupils. Following the launch of the Institute for Ethical AI in Education last year, we hope the sector will continue to establish high quality practices in this area.