Modern EdTech Goes Beyond Coding to Career Preparedness
It’s not only about coding in the fast-paced world of technology. Better EdTech is needed, according to Jonathan Lieberman, co-founder and CEO of technology startup Itopia, with around 80% of students thinking technology is crucial for homework and test preparation. He is sure that failing to improve this educational field will harm the technology industry; students pursuing professions in this sector require a varied set of skills and competences in order to stand out and flourish.
EdTech, or educational technology, uses digital tools and technologies to enhance learning experiences and expand educational practises. While coding has been a prominent focus, the larger landscape of EdTech includes a broader range of subjects and methodologies. Today, the industry is driving programmes that go beyond programming skills, ensuring that students are well-rounded and ready for a tech-driven environment.
Better EdTech is needed, according to Jonathan Lieberman, co-founder and CEO of technology startup Itopia, with around 80% of students thinking technology is crucial for homework and test preparation. He is sure that failing to improve this educational discipline will harm the technological industry.
One significant EdTech problem is a lack of internet or computer gear. This barrier to digital accessibility offers substantial obstacles to online learning. According to Lieberman, the latest data indicates a continuing demand for streaming and cloud technologies in the classroom. Furthermore, these developments may address societal challenges such as inadequate job preparation and learning loss, opening up new opportunities for the EdTech sector.
Having said that, according to a research by the National Centre for Education Statistics (NCES) in the United States, around 14% of children aged 3-18 did not have access to a computer or tablet at home during the 2019-2020 school year. Furthermore, he stated that around 9% of youngsters did not have access to the internet at home.
Tech Shortfalls
According to Lieberman, a 2020 assessment found that one in ten college students’ primary learning device was not prepared to do a course-required job the previous week. “These figures show that a significant portion of students face difficulties in gaining access to reliable devices and internet connectivity, which can have a significant impact on their learning,” he added.
But the failure extends beyond a lack of internet connectivity and a gadget, he continued. Even students who have Wi-Fi and digital devices for schooling may be unable to fully engage in their classes if the technology they have is old, obsolete, or insufficiently capable to meet the demands of today’s software and streaming services.
“Streaming technology allows students to access educational content from anywhere with an internet connection, allowing them to learn at their own pace and on their own devices.” “Cloud technology provides a scalable and accessible platform for storing and delivering educational resources, reducing the need for physical infrastructure and expanding access to educational materials,” Lieberman said of technological access.
New Technologies Build Tech Career Interests
According to reports, the EdTech sector will generate $429 billion in revenue by 2030. It thrives on emerging technologies that fit the demands of students. According to Lieberman, the epidemic underscored the significance of preparing pupils for future vocations. EdTech solutions, for example, can provide specialised courses, vocational training, and certifications that bridge the digital skill gap by concentrating on certain career trajectories.
Itopia solutions provide the foundation for access to applications that are not always accessible by slower or obsolete PCs. Students may access these resources remotely by using technology, allowing for flexible learning and skill development, he noted.
Better technology attracts graduates to the IT business while also broadening their understanding of other employment alternatives. With increasing job market competitiveness, industry certifications give students a competitive advantage.
According to Lieberman, certificates set students apart from their classmates and provide them an edge whether applying for internships, employment, or higher education. Students may miss out on verifying their knowledge and abilities, offering a sense of success, and inspiring them to pursue their professional aspirations further if they are unable to access software typically used in industry certifications.
EdTech’s Economic Impact
According to Market.us Scoop, the EdTech business is rapidly expanding and changing the ways in which students learn. Its previous analysis highlighted the important role EdTech is playing in the global economy, accounting for around 6% of global GDP and being a US$6.5 trillion business while being in its early stages of digitalization.
Many schools are working to improve technological availability. Consider that since 2020, EdTech adoption in K-12 classrooms has climbed by 99%. In the next three years, more institutions anticipate to establish one or more online undergraduate programmes.
However, a big worldwide research found that EdTech is not fully incorporated in many schools. Many faculty members are either ignorant of it or believe they are unable to use it. As an example:
36% of instructors have heard of EdTech but are unsure what it entails. 14% of instructors have never heard of educational technology; 60% of academy school teachers believe there is insufficient EdTech training; 75% of Northern Irish teachers say they don’t have enough access to educational technology.
Nonetheless, the global education software industry is gaining traction, accounting for $11.03 billion in sales in 2022 and expected to hit $11.61 billion by 2025.
Non-Profit Platform Sparks Tech Career Interest
Traditional education may not yet be entirely focused on preparing students for career training. The American Student Assistance organisation offers its own after-school programme. ASA aspires to be at the forefront of eradicating students’ sense of being unprepared to make professional decisions.
greater than 65% of students believe they would have benefitted from greater job exploration in middle or high school, according to Clay Colarusso, CMO and SVP for digital marketing at ASA. The startup is transforming how children learn about occupations and chart their route to postsecondary education and career success.
Its software platform offers self-directed, digital-first experiences to young people to help them identify the correct career path. According to ASA study, nearly half of high school graduates end up going to college for something they do not truly want to do. It was also shown that 45% of Gen Z believe they do not have enough knowledge to make a job selection.
To address these deficiencies, ASA developed digital tools that promote exploration and offer children a voice in conversations that determine their futures beginning in middle school. The software connects them to the crucial resources they require to make educated, confident decisions in order to accomplish their post-secondary and professional objectives.
At the same time, we recognise that it may be difficult for instructors in every classroom to include job exploration into the curriculum, particularly in this era of pandemic-related learning loss,” Colarusso told techrafts.com.
Mobile-First Strategy Engages Youth
He stated that this method works by meeting people where they are, which is on their mobile devices. Futurescape, part of ASA’s free suite of digital platforms, is one example of a free digital resource provided by ASA. This mobile-first digital experience, which will be launched in 2020, will allow users to explore genuine occupations through a quick quiz-based self-discovery trip, with a lot of data science driving it, to connect who they are and what they love with prospective vocations, according to Colarusso.
According to research, more than 95% of teenagers own or have access to a cell phone. He noted that ASA’s digital direct-to-kid strategy has touched millions of young people through its free suite of digital job preparedness activities.
Striving To Remove Career Barriers
Through its array of digital tools, ASA has already reached 12 million young people and plans to reach 15 million by the end of 2023. Students, according to Colarusso, require a voice and a defined role in building the next generation of tools and solutions to assist them in navigating the education-to-career path. It co-creates its software content with children, who provide comments and direction on everything from features and functionality to platform names and even the colour palette, typefaces, and design.
EvolveMe Into a Profession
EvolveMe, ASA’s newest digital experience, was published in April as part of its free suite of digital experiences meant to assist youngsters become aware of academic paths and job opportunities that fit their interests. The software expands them access to essential skill sets and offers students the confidence to choose a successful route after high school.
EvolveMe educates teenagers for their future careers by motivating them to explore, experiment, and act through projects. Mentorships, virtual internships, simulated job interview coaching, and coding challenges are examples of activities that improve career interests by developing transferrable skills.
ASA seeks out and creates relationships with organisations that share the purpose of assisting middle and high school students in their preparation for postsecondary education and job preparedness. Colarusso went on to say that ASA works with millions of children, and its partners find value in the increased visibility and access to the experience that integration into its platform provides. So far, ASA has collaborated with 23 creative firms to provide teenagers high-quality, genuine job exploration activities through the EvolveMe platform. More partners will be added on an ongoing basis by the organisation.
