EdTech
Preparing Students for a Machine-Integrated World - EdTech Digest
Hands-on and experiential learning initiatives such as robotics competitions, coding and maker labs, and design thinking challenges exemplify how education can integrate hard and soft skills seamlessly. By introducing students to technology through engaging, tactile lesson plans, STEM programs teach widely applicable technical competencies like coding and engineering.
Tracking Trump: His actions on education - The Hechinger Report
Trump's first five weeks in office saw sweeping changes to education policy, including major cuts to teacher training and research programs, reversal of diversity initiatives, restrictions on transgender students, and threats to withhold funding from institutions with race-conscious policies. He reiterated his desire to eliminate the Department of Education entirely.
The administration's focus on dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs extends beyond direct education policy into areas like military academies, government websites, and research funding - suggesting a comprehensive effort to reshape how identity and equity are addressed across all federally-connected educational institutions.
How can student data be used ethically in AI and analytics? | Catalyst IT
Educational institutions are grappling with ethical use of student data in AI and analytics, balancing the need for insights with privacy concerns. Guidelines focus on protecting data sovereignty, maintaining transparency with students, and ensuring AI tools don't reinforce biases while recognising data as more than just numbers.
The Māori perspective of data as 'taonga' (treasure) adds cultural depth to data ethics discussions. The emphasis on New Zealand-based cloud providers for data sovereignty, combined with machine-learning initiatives like UC's Analytics for Course Engagement, demonstrates practical applications of ethical AI principles.
"When the context of identity is taken away from a person to anonymise their data, it takes away what makes them, them. Additionally, in a Māori context, data is seen as a taonga (treasure) and when used, there must be mindful context."
What will 2025 bring to the EdTech sector? Special predictions from EdTech Hub experts
EdTech experts predict 2025 will see AI integration balanced with simpler tech solutions, increased focus on teacher support via smartphones, and development of low-tech AI solutions for underserved areas. The predictions emphasise practical, accessible technology and evidence-based approaches to bridge learning gaps in global education.
Why Private Equity’s Playbook Fails in K-12 EdTech
rivate equity investment in K-12 edtech has seen dramatic fluctuations, dropping from $17.1 billion in 2021 to just $1.5 billion by May 2024. PE firms often misapply traditional growth strategies to edtech, overlooking the sector's unique characteristics of school-year budget cycles, complex decision-making processes, and trust-based relationships.
The disconnect between PE approaches and edtech success stems from fundamental misunderstandings of the education market. School purchasing decisions involve multiple stakeholders and depend on government funding cycles. Growth requires building trust over time rather than aggressive customer acquisition. When PE firms prioritise rapid returns, they often cut essential support services and development.
The European Edtech Funding Report 2025
Global edtech funding increased from $5.6B to $6.3B between 2023-2024, with deal count rising from 915 to 1153. While European funding fell from $1.2B to $0.8B, Q4 showed strong recovery. Sweden and Italy joined the top 5 European markets, with 9 countries represented in the top 10 most active cities.
The emergence of 'Edtech 2.0' represents a significant shift, combining traditional education technology with workplace productivity tools. This expanded sector secured $15.4B globally in 2024 - 2.4 times more than traditional edtech. The integration of training, job placement and productivity platforms reflects evolving workplace demands.
"As the pace of innovation increased in a tight labor market, platforms have extended across training, job placement, and productivity to augment talent on a 'just-in-time' basis."
Digital learning and dynamic spaces: How e-books are transforming the student experience at Itchen College - Jisc
Itchen College transformed its library into a modern study centre, promoting e-book usage and creating diverse learning spaces. The initiative led to a dramatic increase in digital resource usage, with e-book sessions rising from 162 to 4,466 in two years, while providing cost-effective solutions for students who couldn't afford textbooks
Technology is supposed to decrease teacher burnout – but we found it can sometimes make it worse
Instead of being used to replace old ways of completing tasks, the learning management systems were simply another thing on teachers’ plates.
A telling example was seen in lesson planning. Before the pandemic, teachers typically submitted hard copies of lesson plans to administrators. However, once school systems introduced learning management systems, some teachers were expected to not only continue submitting paper plans but to also upload digital versions to the learning management system using a completely different format.
Instead of being used to replace old ways of completing tasks, the learning management systems were simply another thing on teachers’ plates.
A telling example was seen in lesson planning. Before the pandemic, teachers typically submitted hard copies of lesson plans to administrators. However, once school systems introduced learning management systems, some teachers were expected to not only continue submitting paper plans but to also upload digital versions to the learning management system using a completely different format.
Children's book: 'Guardians of the internet'
The book "Guardians on the internet" is for children aged nine and over. Through an entertaining narration accompanied by three main characters, the book explains complex areas such as cyberbullying, social networks, sharing content on the internet, dating or playing games. Thought the book mostly covers technical issues, several chapters are devoted to, for example, digital well-being or artificial intelligence.
EdTech VC reached ∼$2.4B for 2024, representing the lowest level of investment in a decade.
EdTech venture capital fell to $2.4B in 2024, marking a 89% decline from 2021's peak. North America led in funding value with over half of global VC investment, while Europe had high transaction volume but smaller rounds. K-12 and workforce training each captured one-third of global funding.
Why This OnlyFans Model Posts Machine Learning Explainers to Pornhub
A content creator posts educational videos about mathematics and machine learning on Pornhub alongside her adult content on OnlyFans. Her videos receive positive engagement and better monetisation rates than YouTube, with viewers praising the educational value of her calculus and neural network explanations.
Beyond the technology: bridging digital inequity - international students’ digital experience - Jisc
International students face digital inequity challenges when transitioning to UK education. The podcast explores infrastructure gaps, cultural shifts, and technological preparation needs through expert insights from Nigeria, Pakistan, and the UK, discussing solutions and partnerships to bridge these disparities.
How Emerging Edtech Can Expand Learning in CTE
The economic advantages of tech-based CTE are substantial yet underexplored. Virtual simulations reduce expenses for consumable materials like copper pipes and wiring. AI systems provide real-time guidance and personalised instruction. These innovations make quality trades education more accessible without requiring large physical facilities or constant expert supervision.
30 Years in Edtech
A 30-year retrospective of educational technology, tracking the evolution from early multimedia development through networks, learning objects, learning management systems, videoconferencing, to modern AI. The author describes their career progression from programmer to consultant to leadership roles, while examining how edtech has transformed teaching and learning.
"One thing I've noticed is that the sense of creativity, curiosity, exploration, and playfulness that defined the multimedia and early Web eras feels to have been subdued over the last decade or so. Part of that is due to the maturity of software and tools. Part of it is the neoliberal erosion of institutions."