Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2022 - 11

STELLA LEE, PH.D.
WHAT'S NEXT
IN TECH
EMERGING TRENDS FOR
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
IN PANDEMIC TIME
Educational technology (edtech) is a fastchanging
field. It has particularly been so
due to the impact of the global pandemic.
Learning and development (L&D), like
other organizational functions, had to
rapidly pivot to 100% online to continue to
support organizations. Edtech companies
also have adapted their business
models to this changing market demand.
Although learning with technology has
arguably been around since the 1960s,
the corporate sector has been slow in
investing, implementing and sustaining
the innovative use of edtech.
Could COVID-19 be the catalyst we have
been waiting for to give a much-needed
push to transform the way we provide
learning and performance support? Here
are a few emerging trends to consider
during this critical time of change.
CHANGING BUSINESS MODELS
As the demand for edtech products
increases, vendors have adapted their
business models accordingly. Early in
the pandemic many edtech companies
were offering free or extended-trial
versions of their products to lower the
barriers to entry. These companies
also provided enhanced support and
connected different communities to
share best practices.
While many edtech products targeted
schools and universities, the corporate
sector was quick to take note and try them
out. Many edtech products ended up with
a high trial conversion rate as companies
realized remote work and learning were
here to stay. Organizations realized
the benefits of fast-tracking their digital
transformation process.
DEMAND FOR A MORE
PERSONALIZED LEARNING
EXPERIENCE
As employees shift positions and acquire
new responsibilities, edtech products that
allow organizations to identify knowledge
gaps and provide customized content will
be increasingly in-demand. Personalized
learning also helps engage remote
learners when the content is directly
relevant to their needs.
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
INCREASES DEMAND FOR
LEARNING AND RESKILLING
People considering a career change will
search for edtech platforms that provide
educational credentials and self-directed
learning opportunities. Edtech companies
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - WINTER 2022 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
OTHER MODELS OF LEARNING
There is room to move away from a virtual
classroom that replicates the lecture-style
training approach into something more
interactive and learner-driven. To support
staff juggling remote work and online
learning, edtech products started to
emerge with more niche focus to integrate
different learning and performance
support experiences, such as peer-to-peer
collaboration and knowledge sharing,
rapid authoring of microlearning content
and virtual coaching and mentoring.
TECHNOLOGY IS
ONLY AS GOOD
AS THE DESIGN
OF THE LEARNING
EXPERIENCE.
that provide upskilling programs need
to build on people's existing skills, use a
transferable competency framework (so it
is commonly accepted across industries)
and balance technical and soft skills.
LACK OF LEARNING INVESTMENT
AND LEGACY SYSTEMS WILL SLOW
THE GROWTH
Organizations are often reluctant to
implement digital learning, partly due to
the lack of understanding and evidence
of the effectiveness of using these tools,
and partly due to the absence of an
internal learning culture. This apathy
about workplace learning is taking a toll
when companies need to repurpose
their learning and performance support
digitally. Legacy systems, messy data,
short-sighted vision and tight spending
will also slow the growth of further
development and innovation in learning.
COVID-19 has led to an acceleration
in edtech demand across sectors,
heightened the need for new learning
models and shown the importance of
investment in workplace learning. Are
you ready to adapt to the changes in
the learning models and medium rather
than replicating face-to-face classroom
sessions? Remember: Technology
is only as good as the design of the
learning experience.
Dr. Stella Lee has over 20 years of
experience in consulting, planning,
designing, implementing and measuring
learning initiatives. Her focus is on
large-scale learning projects including
LMS evaluation and implementation,
learning analytics, and artificial intelligent
applications. Email Stella.
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Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2022

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