The end of 2019 marks the end of the teenage years of the 21st century. And just as the teenage years are a formative time for most people—in ways good, bad and outright cringey—so too were they for the edtech industry.
As broadband internet beamed its way into homes, districts and schools, devices and apps have proliferated in classrooms, fueled by public and private dollars. The gap that used to exist between consumer and educational tech—between what students used at home and in school—has shrunk considerably. And as technology giants expand their footprint into schools, traditional education companies are retooling themselves to become more like tech companies.
Accompanying these trends are notable concerns. The ability to collect and analyze data has raised questions over privacy, as some tools can now track all digital activities. Whether that information is safe and secure is hardly a given, with cybersecurity attacks cropping up in schools with alarming frequency. And as devices get into the hands of younger learners, how technology shapes early development and relationships offers both potential and cause for worry.
We asked longtime educators and industry entrepreneurs, analysts and stakeholders to reflect on the highs and lows, wins and woes of the past decade in education technology. What technology actually delivered on its promise, or failed to do so? What predictions were right? And what trend or fad will resurface in the next decade?
Below you’ll find different, and even conflicting, views on how technology has shaped teaching and learning. There’s cautious optimism and sobering skepticism for what the next decade will bring. Perhaps that should come as no surprise, given the different roles, perspectives and ideologies that people bring to this work. Yet unifying it all is a belief that education can change to better serve more learners, across all ages. Here’s to a stable and productive 20s.
