5 K-12 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2022

With the impact of Covid many students have shifted to remote learning. New technologies have become essential not only to adults but young learners as well. According to research conducted by LearnPlatform, school districts with more than 1,000 students accessed on average 1,449 education technology products online each month during the 2020-2021 school year. These technologies can significantly improve the educational experience for students, teachers and IT leaders.

Below are the five learning approaches that are growing quickly in popularity:

1. Artificial Intelligence Powers New Educational Tech - From classroom management tools to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning have grown within the past five years and are going to continue to grow at an incredible rate.

2. Cloud Technology Permeates Applications and Data Centers - A reliable cloud technology allows students to work together and complete projects from anywhere. Students can now access work from any device and location. Cloud technology is also changing the way we file our data.

3. Cybersecurity Helps Schools Defend Against Growing Threats - Cyberattack is a threat that has increased greatly since the shift to remote learning in 2020. School districts are being urged to improve their endpoint security solutions with next-generation firewalls.

4. Asynchronous Learning Gives Students More Freedom - Some schools are offering asynchronous learning models nowadays to allow students to complete schoolwork in their own time, without being held to a fixed schedule. It also allow students to balance their time between internships and school learning.

5. Esports Programs Gain a Foothold in K–12 - The esports ecosystem is projected to reach $1.8 billion in revenue by 2022. Schools are helping students prepare for this lucrative field by starting their own esports programs at the K-12 level.

Be sure to check out this article https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2021/12/5-k-12-ed-tech-trends-watch-2022 if you would like to learn more about the latest technology trends.

Mock tests to prepare for Cambridge exams

Running a mock test gives learners experience on taking a test, helps you understand their progress and decide if they are ready for their exam. Cambridge’s interactive mock test toolkits are free and full of tips, strategies and materials to help you ensure students are confident and fully prepared for their exam.

The toolkits include:

· Tips and advice for running and administering a mock test.

· Strategies for giving effective feedback to your learners.

· Support to understand if your students are exam ready.

Visit https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/resources-for-teachers/mock-test-toolkit/ to read more

A new version of Minecraft to make English learning fun

Built in Minecraft: Education Edition, helps young learners practise their English skills while they have fun. It adds a different dimension to the learning, making learning English far more enjoyable

Minecraft is a hugely popular game where learners are presented with a wide-open world to explore with a lot of variety and different environments. Cambridge English are looking to harness some of those natural activities that they do in the game for language learning.

Students of all ages show increased engagement, improved retention through an active learning environment, better leaning outcomes and higher participation and achievements rates.

Unlike most games, there is something educational about Minecraft. Simply surviving your first night in the base requires creativity, organization and critical thinking. You are surrounded by a context rich environment so if you talk to someone within the game, they will not ask you a grammar question, they will ask you a question related to the context of the game specifically and that combines the benefits of the learning and the game.

Cambridge have built the game with a specific audience in mind, that of young children, who at that age have studied learning English recently. Cambridge English has a specific exam that caters to those children. These exams, just like the games, have a very limited range of vocabulary, that their researchers have identified as appropriate at that level and age. Cambridge believes that games have the potential to make learning fun.

With a focus on real-life communication and vocabulary skills, English Adventures with Cambridge helps develop skills at A1 level and above of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). Created by world-leading assessment experts from Cambridge in collaboration with Minecraft, children can learn new words, get creative and solve problems through the power of play.

Inspiring children to learn English at home, this Minecraft world can be played on desktop or tablet. It encourages learners to complete fun puzzles, meet new characters, and solve mysteries while they learn to use new words. Children can also repeat the game as many times as they like, so they can continue to develop new skills and build their confidence.

Visit https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-english/games-social/english-adventures/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukq3EVeGHZI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvKI85Yb27c to learn more