what the tech?! #8 - edtech

Welcome to Digital Luxembourg’s " What The Tech?!" series! As the tech landscape gets vaster and more advanced by the second, most sectors are turning towards tech solutions to provide 21st century services. Stay in the know this summer as we break it down for you tech-by-tech, and show you the Luxembourg innovators making technology happen.

This Week: EdTech

At some point, we have all turned to technology as a learning tool: a YouTube video to research a school project or get tips on how to apply mascara, a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) instead of a costly degree certification, or an e-book when the physical version was unavailable.

Edtech is the use of technological products and resources to enhance learning and facilitate teaching.

As technology and digitalization become integral and unavoidable parts of everyday life, laptops, electronic whiteboards and 3D printers will be standard sights in most modern classrooms of developed countries.

And it is not just the tools we use that are changing, but the way we learn.

One trend set to turn the traditional teaching structure upside down is flipped learning where students are introduced to online learning material (usually video lectures) prior to the class. This way, the class-time itself can be used to delve deeper into the topic.

In developing countries, open-learning platforms, talking books and free online university content make learning accessible to both adults and children. Edtech brings these communities face-to-face with technology’s possibilities and underscores the importance of digital literacy.

Leveraging technology in education not only enhances learning, but harnesses the innate creativity in children. VR and AR have revolutionized the classroom experience as students time-travel back to pre-earthquake Pompeii or take an exhilarating trip around a beating human heart.

Machine learning and analytics have a crucial role to play in the future of education.

Learning analytics measure, collect and analyze student data to optimize and customize learning…and teaching.

Adaptive, algorithmic learning eradicates the one-size-fits-all approach. With critical student data stored in the Cloud, educators will be able to track student progress, pinpoint weaker spots sooner (by identifying repetitive student actions) and receive suggestions and resource recommendations to help their students improve.

Furthermore, the automation of administrative tasks, such as grading homework, frees up significant chunks of time that teachers can use to give one-to-one attention to students, for example.

Edtech brings with it an infinite number of ways to make learning more meaningful, fun, interactive and accessible for everyone.

Throughout Luxembourg you will find evidence of the nation’s commitment to incorporating digital tools in everyday education, and beyond.

Let’s see who’s top of the class in the Grand Duchy’s edtech sphere:

Edoo

Edoo Education is a social enterprise that provides digital-education tools to students and teachers in rural areas across Myanmar, increasing access to modern education resources.

Kniwwelino

Kniwwelino is a micro-controller development platform entirely designed for children learning to code.

Computer-Based Assessment Research

Both the University of Luxembourg & the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) consistently support research projects exploring computer-assisted assessments in schools, many led by expert Dr. Romain Martin.

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