Since ChatGPT debuted in late 2022, generative ai tools and the associated potentials and drawbacks have sucked up much of the oxygen in education debates. I’ve written extensively about ChatGPT and other similar tools for technology and Learning, however, the rise of ai is far from the only major trend in the world of edtech over the last year, nor is it the only thing I’ve written about. written. .
Below are some other trends and developments from the past year that have stood out and will likely impact education in the future.
After receiving increased attention and funding in 2022, the metaverse returned to reality in 2023. ai stole metaverse thunder, and funding was diverted toward artificial intelligence technology. Furthermore, Metaverse technology has not yet reached its potential and there are serious obstacles to overcome.
For example, Jonathan Kelly, a psychology professor at Iowa State University, told me that his research shows that cybersickness, a type of nausea induced by virtual reality Similar to dizziness, it occurs in 2 out of 3 people who wear headphones for more than 20 minutes at a time.
However, metaverse enthusiasts warn against ruling out immersive technologies in the future, and while 2024 may not be the year it breaks out, they are confident that it eventually will be.
3. The decline of teachers’ Twitter
Once upon a time there was a wonderful place called Twitter where teachers went to share ideas and connect with each other in a supportive environment free of hostility. . . .
Well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. The platform formerly known as Twitter was always toxic and flawed, but it became more toxic and flawed after Elon Musk bought it in the fall of 2022. Even before Musk inexplicably changed the app’s name to X, many educators had left the site in search of greener pastures on social media. Some spent a few days in Threads when it was briefly the “It app” over the summer. Others found a new home on BlueSky or LinkedIn (you can follow technology and learning There!), however, no clear replacement has yet emerged.
Maybe in 2024 a replacement will emerge, or maybe the world will decide that we are better off without Twitter or any alternative.
3. Greater emphasis on CTE and career preparation in general
Sandi Castro, career and technical education coordinator for Del Valle ISD in Texas, recently told me that educators are more focused on career preparation than in the past.
“I’m seeing a return to workforce development. Not everyone is going to go to university,” she states. “It’s a really exciting time right now within career and technical education.”
She’s not the only one who notices this. A recent Gallup poll found that only 36 percent of Americans have a lot of confidence in higher education. This is down from 48 percent of respondents in 2018. College enrollment fell 8 percent from 2019 to 2022.
Consequently, educators must continue to support students in career paths that do not include college.
4. Cybersecurity and complexity
In some ways, 2023 seemed like the year of multi-factor authentication. According to Security magazinemulti-factor authentication has doubled since 2020.
It’s no mystery why this is happening: As schools were forced online and remote learning became necessary during the pandemic, they became an increasingly attractive target for hackers. Cybersecurity was cited as the number 1 priority concern of educational technology leaders in CoSN’s 2023 survey. edtech leaders I’ve spoken to often comment on how cybersecurity has become a larger part of their work and increased complexity.
In the coming year, educational technology leaders will need to remain vigilant and enlist support from classroom educators in their efforts to secure school networks. Two-factor authentication is annoying, but as Joel Handler, director of technology for Hillsborough Township Public Schools, told me while he was telling me The nightmare of the cyber attack on your school.When your school network is hacked, the outages that occur are much more inconvenient for everyone than two-factor logins.
