#BizTrends2020: Encouraging global learning - EdTech predictions for 2020

Having grown up with technology, we can critique the limitations of the old education system and innovate how we develop our skills moving forward. These are my seven key predictions for the shift in how we learn and connect through technology in 2020:

• Rise in online one-on-one tutoring and group classes – video technology will continue to innovate and improve the way we engage online. Software like Zoom has enhanced the quality of video streaming, meaning you can have large group calls and a stable connection, even with a limited internet connection. What this means is that even in remote parts of Africa and the rest of the world, we will see an increase in online video-call-based tutoring.

• Continued focus on international education – there has been a rise and interest in attending overseas universities. Institutions in the United States and United Kingdom offer cutting-edge research facilities and undergraduate programmes, which drive global business networks. I believe that in 2020, we’ll see a greater number of international students applying to top-ranked universities in the US and the UK.

• Global online tutoring – given the growth in online one-on-one tutoring and group online classes, where a teacher has multiple students in one online classroom, we’ve seen an increase in teaching across borders. Online education is becoming accessible and home-based schooling is on the rise. We are utilising these trends for our online high school, which was launched in New Zealand in 2019.

• Accelerated tutoring – with university admissions becoming more competitive, students are using tutors to get ahead in their studies. While tutoring was previously used to fill gaps in learning outside of the classroom, many are using one-on-one tutoring to prepare themselves for standardised tests, college application essays and A-level courses. This continues to drive self-improvement in students and advance their career pathways.

• Higher adoption rate of EdTech in schools – we will see schools buying a higher share of school software in 2020. This will allow educators to tap into a larger pool of international resources and offer more detailed and modern curricula. Systems like Crimson allow schools to offer their students a higher level of engagement and preparation for admissions to overseas universities.

• Use of algorithms to better match students and tutors – in previous years, students get paired with tutors based only on availability and the subjects they can teach. By creating an algorithm which uses psychometrics to pair students and tutors, you introduce compatibility between learning styles and teaching methods. I see this being adopted further by other EdTech companies and the trend continuing into the next decade.

• Global increase in Mandarin tutoring – Mandarin has a stronger functional usage and global outlook, which sees ambitious students choosing to study it online, over other languages such as Spanish and French.