Technology is becoming one of the most important tools for education.
Education institutions are investing more in software solutions than into technology hardware. M-learning. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), gamification and virtual reality are all gaining popularity and enabling teaching to be student centred, project and inquiry based.
Students use technologies to connect with other students and to engage in self-directed learning. Teachers use networks and social media not only to connect with students but also with other schools and peers. Schools use laptops and tablets to quickly, easily and cheaply connect with experts and educational tools. Universities and schools alike also make wide use of social media not only to engage with students and families but also to promote and advertise its courses and programs. Families form stronger connections with schools using digital services like social networks, websites and online surveys.
Australia has the best ratio of students per school computer in the world, at 0.9. Possession of smart phones increased from 17% of total households in 2011 to 46% in 2016, while growing Internet penetration around the world suggest that the possession will keep growing leading to even higher importance of BYOD.
A spin-off of BYOD - wearable learning - using, for example, smart watches, is expected to increase over foreseeable future, as a means to give and instant feedback and guidance, thus offering real time personal coaching.
Retail volume sales of wearable electronics increased by more than 8,000% over 2012-2017, and 44% of sales of wearable electronics in 2017 were sold in Asia Pacific.
As the adoption of technology in education becomes more widespread, not only software, hardware and edtech companies are expected to benefit from the rising trend but also, players in adjacent segments such as smart watches, smartphones and other devices.
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