5 Ed-Tech Predictions For 2024, According To Jack McDougall

UK leading education technology provider The Skills Network is committed to another year at the forefront of learning technology innovation. Head of Business Development Jack McDougall shares his top 5 predictions for the ed-tech space in 2024.My Top 5 Predictions for Ed-Tech in 2024MicrolearningTrue Blended LearningData For PersonalisationGenerative Artificial Intelligence (AI)ChatbotsIn 2024, we will start to see meaningful momentum behind education technology. For years, we have tip-toed around these incredibly innovative ed-tech solutions, having not known how to fully embrace or even loosely incorporate them into traditional teaching methods. These technologies will transform the learner experience, allowing them to reach new depths in their studies and equipping FE providers with unprecedented learner insight. What could be more powerful?My 5 predictions for 2024 also serve as a written commitment to The Skills Network’s continual efforts to support our partners with outstanding tech solutions and make online learning accessible for all markets.Prediction No.1 MicrolearningConvenient, easily digestible modular content is the hallmark of microlearning modules and we will see more of this in 2024. With studies indicating that the average attention span of a human is just 8 seconds, we must adapt to new human behaviours.Times are changing, and some learners simply cannot or don’t want to commit to a ‘full qualification’ anymore, whereby learning takes place over a matter of weeks and culminates in a pass or fail. Learners in 2024, want ‘chunked up’, digestible and easy learning content, whereby their sense of achievement is regularly validated. Learners will experience immediate progress in their learning development, enhancing motivation with instant results that can propel them into the next part of their learning journey. We will see more bitesize learning content being utilised by learners on multiple devices- movable learning from laptop, tablet and phone seamlessly.High-quality content can be delivered in short episodic online bursts of just 5-15 minutes with a similar look and feel to a TikTok, Instagram reel or YouTube short, and it will quickly become mainstream in ed-tech.Prediction No.2 True Blended LearningIn 2024, I predict we will start to see multiple technologies being used to create what I call a ‘true blended learning’ experience. Blended learning has been around for a while and integrates different learning experiences to create a comprehensive and flexible learning environment. The goal of true blended learning is to leverage the strengths of both traditional and technology-mediated instructional methods to enhance the overall educational experience. Blended learning in 2024 might look like ….Online live lectures for theory-based learningMicrolearning for revision techniquesVirtual reality (VR) environments for sandbox practice and confidence-buildingClassroom (online or in-person) tech usage for team tasks and interaction between studentsGamified content for engagement and assessmentGuest masterclasses for differing perspectives and real-life experiencesSadly, blended learning has been limited in previous years to being awkwardly bolted onto an in-person teaching session. Having worked with many FE providers, I’ve seen firsthand a great amount of hesitancy when considering how to integrate immersive tech into curriculum and lesson planning, which is often the result of a lack of training or worse yet, an all-out fear of the tech.It is not uncommon to visit a college and discover 50+ VR headsets gathering dust in a cupboard with the wrapping still on! But the important thing is, they have proven their commitment to the benefits of education technology.2024 will start to see a holistic and interwoven approach to both traditional and tech-enhanced teaching methods. Learning should never be static but engaging and relevant to the outcome for the learner, and I think a true blended learning approach can achi...