What is More Important in Educational Technology - Education or Technology?

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Edtech or Educational Technology has currently become a big market with billions of dollars invested worldwide. Hence it comes as no surprise that numerous entrepreneurs are striving to get a piece of the pie.

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But can it actually help to change, or should I say improve, the way we teach our students? There are a lot of things to consider here.

Although many new entrepreneurs are frequently coming up with Edtech start-ups with the next big idea, however, we need to keep in mind that the basics of teaching have remained constant for centuries. Hence educational technology must empower educators to improve delivery of education and performance of students, while maintaining the fundamentals of pedagogy.

In my experience, most worthwhile Edtech companies are motivated by the noble idea of improving education and their spirit, commitment and efforts are undoubtedly commendable. But lately I have witnessed the annoyance of these start-ups getting trapped in a dead end. Although their technology is effective but they fail to achieve the numbers they expect. The returns are almost zero and in some cases it’s even negative.

But why? When they have the technology, then why are they unable to achieve their targets?

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This is because their focus is primarily on developing the technology instead of

addressing the needs of the educators. The fact is most children, parents, teachers and schools do not have any interest in such Edtech products or services. This has resulted in a rather frustrating scenario in the global educational technology market.

But there is still hope. With the spread of 4G, new avenues are getting opened. It is time that you stand up and get moving. Here are some suggestions that help you to re-focus and gain fresh perspective about the market-

Understand Your Customer’s Needs

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The first thing you need to do is understand the needs of your customer, in this

case schools, teachers and educators. You need to map their needs and evaluate your offering. Find the loopholes and check what proves effective with your services and products. Your offering needs to be relevant at the location of your customers and not at your labs.

Offer Solutions, Don’t Just Replace Problems

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Don’t underestimate the educators and teachers. In respect to your technologically inclined IQ levels, they may appear fatheaded, but the fact remains that they have the money which you need for your revenues. Hence you must appreciate their understanding and knowledge, even though it sounds irrational. What you need to do is offer them solutions instead of just replacing them. Keep in mind that what you think as a solution could turn out to be a new problem for the teachers.

Understand How Schools Work

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You need to understand how schools and other educational institutes operate and how they teach their students. Assessments and OER are not the only areas; there are several other untouched aspects in education. Before you establish your start-up you need to spend at least 8-10 hours a week to understand the different facets of pedagogy.

Educational Impact, Not Technological Features

Identify and understand the distinction between technology features and educational impact. Features are meant for apps and smartphones, not for education. Focus on measurable impact which can be documented as that is what education seeks.

Restructure Your Team Composition

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Did you set up your education technology start-up without a trained and qualified programmer? I guess not. Then why do you think you can develop effective Edtech solutions without an experienced educationist in the core team? It time you restructure the composition of your team.

Focus On Performance and Scores

Focus on performance and scores instead of understanding and concepts. You need show schools and institutions how your products will result in attaining better grades and marks and improve student performance. You need to realise that the development of a school largely depends on the performance of students in exams. So get your head in the right place.

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Sell Yourself, Don’t Wait For Others

Learn to sell yourself to your customers. If you depend on others to sell your services then that clearly won’t work. By selling yourself you will be able to retain the extra 40-50 per cent of revenues which will increase your profits to a great extent.

So...What is the formula for achieving success in the Educational Technology market?

After all that has been said and done, you should get it by now; but just in case you haven’t, let me spell it out for you...Education First, Technology Later.

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UK Companies Want You to Learn Foreign Languages

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A recent survey of 300 companies in UK has revealed that there is a strong need for staff with foreign language skills, which the education system is unable to provide. According to the Annual Education and Skills Survey 2014 conducted by the CBI and Pearson, around two-thirds (65%) of firms in the UK have identified foreign language as an essential skill for the present workforce. It is expected that this demand will rise further in the future as more businesses are planning to enter new and fastest growing markets worldwide. 

Annual Education and Skills Survey 2014 Findings 

The survey showed that major European languages like French and Spanish were still in high demand among British companies; however there is also a shift in demand towards languages like Mandarin and Arabic as UK firms gear up to enter these markets.

Regarding the results of the survey, CBI Deputy Director-General Katja Hall said, “With the EU still our largest export market, it’s no surprise to see German, French and Spanish language skills so highly prized by companies. But with China and Latin America seeing solid growth, ambitious firms want the language skills that can smooth the path into new markets.”

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CBI/Pearson 2014 Annual Education and Skills Survey showed that almost 41 per cent UK firms believe that staff with foreign language skills can be helpful for business and around 28 per cent of respondents said it would help in developing overseas relations and contacts. According to the study, the foreign languages that received the highest rating were- 

• French (50%) 

• German (49%)

• Spanish (44%) 

• Mandarin (31%) 

• Arabic (23%) 

• Polish (19%) 

• Russian (18%) 

• Cantonese (16%) 

• Japanese (15%) 

• Portuguese (11%) 

• Others (16%) 

Moreover, according to another survey conducted by the CBI 2 years ago, about 25 per cent of UK businesses said having Mandarin-speaking staff was beneficial for their companies. This demand has now increased to 31 per cent in 2014. The demand for Portuguese has also increased to a great extent and has almost doubled since the 2012 survey. However, it should be mentioned that more than one third of the companies surveyed this year claimed there was no requirement for any foreign language skills.

Fall in Foreign Languages Studies 

Katja Hall believes the present trend of continually low-take up of foreign languages in schools in the UK has become a cause for serious concern. She added, “It has been a worry to see foreign language study in our schools under pressure with one in five schools having a persistently low-take up of languages. The jury remains out as to whether recent Government initiatives can help spur resurgence in language learning”. 

Hall further commented “Young people considering their future subject choices should be made more aware of the benefits to their careers that can come from studying a foreign language.”

Since the last decade, the number of students enrolling for foreign languages studies has fallen heavily. The amount of “Skills Shortage Vacancies” has increased to 22 per cent of all vacancies in 2013 from 16 per cent in 2009, said the UK Commission for Employment and Skills in January 2014. Skills Shortage Vacancies refers to the lack of recruits who have the experience and qualifications for a job.

Managing Director of Pearson UK, Mark Anderson commented, “English is the international language of business which has clearly been a real benefit to UK business, but as a global company we understand that a company with employees who can communicate with some proficiency in the language of clients, customers and suppliers, has a big advantage in the fast-growing markets across the globe.”

The full results of the CBI and Pearson 2014 Annual Education and Skills Survey will be published next month.

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Are UK MBA Degrees Expensive? What are the Alternatives?

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Currently, pursuing business studies has become essential for one’s professional and personal growth. Thus the demand for MBA degrees has increased significantly amongst students, professionals and even employers. According to different studies, numerous students from different parts of the world wish to pursue business studies or MBA in the UK. Even though tuition fees in UK universities have skyrocketed in the last few years, still students are keen on earning a UK degree.

What is it that makes UK degrees so valuable?

The fact is that universities in the United Kingdom are globally renowned for having very high academic standards and delivering quality education. Apart from the major universities, various smaller colleges and institutes also follow the same educational standards. Thus a degree or MBA from the UK is recognised and accepted by employers around the world. Companies always look for applicants with UK MBA degrees as they are well educated and trained in business management.

How much does it cost to study to get a UK degree?

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The master of business administration (MBA) programme is one of the most popular and expensive postgraduate programmes in the UK. You should know that pursuing postgraduate education in UK is not necessarily economical. A 1 year MBA degree can cost you around £10,000 and £15,000; leaving aside Cambridge and Oxford which can charge tuition up to £45,790. After the recent hikes in tuition fees, it has become more difficult for most international students to find affordable UK university degree. (Source: bit.ly/1mHjH7T)

At the London Business School, a 2 year full-time MBA course can cost you up to £57,500, while a 2 year part-time executive MBA programme at the Cranfield School of Management, Bedford can cost around £33,000. According to a report by HSBC, for international students the average cost per year for studying in UK is around £18,759, which includes tuition fees (£11,933) and living expenses (£6,825).

So what can you do?

Simply go online. Online MBA programmes in UK have gained much popularity among professionals who want to advance their careers and achieve their business goals. Numerous colleges, B-schools and universities offer accredited affordable online degree from UK university that are accepted and recognised by prominent employers worldwide. Apart from helping you to boost your career, these online degree and diploma programmes offer several benefits and facilities. It enables you to pursue an MBA while managing your day job and your family at the same time, which is not possible in traditional courses.

But why online MBA?

Online MBA from UK is highly affordable and cost effective. You will not be required to pay high tuition fees or incur living expenses in UK, which can be rather high. Moreover you will also save money on conveyance and other expenses related to traditional courses. You can easily attend classes online as per your convenience. You can access the course material at any you want and study at your own pace.

As affordable online degree from UK University programmes are interactive and includes audio-visual mode of teaching, you will be able to communicate with the faculty regularly. Moreover, online forums, chat rooms and message boards will help you to clarify your doubts. However, the most important aspect of online UK MBA is that you will have the opportunity to earn your UK degree in just 1 year. This means you will be able to save your money and start your career earlier.

What are you waiting for?

Earning degrees or MBA from UK universities are not necessarily expensive. Although a degree from Oxford may cost you a fortune, an online UK MBA degree can help you to save a lot of money and earn a recognised qualification. By pursuing an online UK degree you will be able to learn various skills related to business and management and have excellent and attractive job opportunities.

mLearning: The Futuristic Combination of Mobility and Learning

Mobiles and our modern lives 

Mobile devices have become an integral part of our day to day living. To such an extent that some even report to suffer from the “phantom limb” syndrome in its absence. Right from entertainment to schedule management, from reading to GPS, it has become the gadget we turn to at every nook and corner of our day to day lives. Learning too has not remained unaffected from its pervading nature. The mobile version of learning or mobile learning is called mLearning in short. It enables learners learn and get performance support through mobiles. Now we will have an overview of the unique features of mLearning and what it can be used for.

Mobility: Shaping the future of the learning landscape 

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Mobile devices have become a part and parcel of our daily lives in such a pervasive way that we cannot imagine a day when we do not use Google Apps to find our way, play Angry Birds while returning home from office. Thus, it is no surprise that learning has gone mobile to address the 21st Century challenges of an increasingly global, mobile and technologically savvy workforce and is touted to be the future of workplace learning.

mLearning, is that eLearning on a smartphone? 

The word mobile learning probably conjures up visions of eLearning on a mobile screen. For the discerning thinker the disparity behind the two concepts should be more than obvious. We access our phones on the go - during our commute, in between meetings or during lunch - and with all the potential distractions, we can only spare a short period of time to browse through content. This means the attention span is short and that mLearning needs to be concise and to the point. The simple transfer of eLearning content into mobiles will simply not work. Mobile learning is a much more dynamic and exciting concept than even eLearning.

The Key Features of mLearning 

The primary features of mLearning are laid out in the paragraphs that follow:

Short bite-sized micro-lessons 

Good mLearning content is ideally chunked up into a series of short 3-10 minutes micro lessons given the learners’ short attention span on mobile and the small screen size. When mixed up with good typography, images, charts and videos of 2 to 3 minutes these micro lessons perform the best and are most memorable and easily absorbed. It must be kept in mind while designing such materials that even factors like file size matter as long videos or high resolution graphics mean a longer loading time and the data charges can prove to be expensive too.

Brings structured learning into an informal learning space 

mLearning empowers learners to take charge of their learning in an informal learning space. mLearning platforms include social elements so that learners feel free to share their experiences and learn from one another.

A Form of Performance Support 

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mLearning allows consumption of content anytime, anywhere, when in need, empowering learners to take better decisions and thus acts as form of performance support. Materials like flashcards, guides and checklists are oft used as reference for mLearning.

mLearning: Challenges and Opportunities 

mLearning comes with its share of challenges starting right from the preparation of the course and study materials itself. However the opportunities that it offers and the rewards that are in store for us should we overcome those challenges successfully are even greater. The whole form of formal education can receive a paradigm shift as it evolves into even informal ways of learning. 

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Blended Learning and Its Major Trends

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Blended learning might be a term evoking a sense of much mystery for the uninitiated. It happens to be form of formal education where the student too is an active part of the learning process enjoying a amount of control over the time, place, path or pace of the learning procedure facilitated by the online delivery of content and instruction while still attending a physical school. Collection of related data and the ability to customize the instruction provided and the assessment of the learner are the two major benefits enabled by such a teaching methodology.

Blended learning has the promising prospect of being a wonder cure for many teachers for many of their teaching conundrums teaching in what could often be vastly different scenarios. Its range of applications can be as varied as 1:1 classrooms and schools, or BYOD classes filled with various types and quantum of technology blended learning can help nearly every teacher make learning more personalized and more interesting for their students.  Implementing a blended learning program in your classroom can be a great way to put the technology tools you have to use. In the lines below we will take look at six of the blended learning trends prevalent today.

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1. Soaring numbers of digital learners – the number of students participating in classroom-only education is shrinking (albeit slowly) while the number of students participating in some type of online learning is steadily growing (despite making up a much smaller percentage of students). 


2.  Building higher order thinking skills – students are required to look at information more critically rather than just trying to memorize what is presented to them in class. This moves upwards from remembering to creating with the middle processes of understanding, applying, analyzing and evaluating. 


3. A personalized learning approach – by a lean, blended and interactive approach. 


4. The mobile world is where learners live now however more so for personal than school use. The statistics show that in U.S. 41% of Grade 3 students have smartphones compared to 59% of grade 6 students, 75% of Grade 9 students, and 82% of grade 12 students. The figures stand at 44%, 53%, 48%, 40% respectively for tablets. In case of Laptops 61% of grade 3 students have laptops, 68% for grade 6, 69% for grade 9 and 73% of grade 12 students. 


5.  Students have personal access to mobile devices – smartphones, tablets, laptops and digital reading devices trump desktops. 18% of K-2 students have access to smartphones, 26% have access to tablets, 12% have access to digital readers and 41% have access to laptops while the figures stand at 40%, 41%, 30% and 54% for grade 3-5 students. 


6.  The need for more broadband – 72% of schools in the US lack the broadband access they need to support digital learning.
   

In the daily routine of learning in the virtual classroom, teaching at an online school, or parenting a student who attends an online school, we may be unaware of how our experiences are both shaping and being shaped by broader trends in education. The above paragraphs were intended to serve as pointers to give us an indication of where the digital revolution is heading towards as far as education especially blended education is concerned.