2021: A Turning Point for Education Technology

By: George Moore, CTO, Cengage

Last January when I shared my predictions and priorities for the year ahead, I never could have anticipated what 2020 would bring. COVID-19 forced the education system’s hand as learning moved online overnight, and it continues to have a lasting impact on educators and students around the globe.

Without a doubt, the pandemic has had devastating consequences. But it is also clear that COVID has been a catalyst for change in education, accelerating many of the trends that were just emerging a year ago – from the use of online teaching tools to virtual lectures. While many expectations for 2020 fell short, the predictions I shared at the beginning of last year actually accelerated due to COVID, and we will continue to see education technology and the role of the CIO evolve in the year to come.   

The Role of the CIO

At the start of 2020, I predicted that the higher ed CIO would start to play a more integrated and prominent role in the institutional setting – clearly, that was an understatement. Last year, CIOs were critical in creating continuity for students, faculty and administrators in the rapid move to remote learning.

In years past, CIOs were often the ones  pushing the education ecosystem towards innovation and technology adoption. As we kick-off 2021, CIOs not only have a seat at the table, but face a new challenge that may seem counterintuitive: slowing everyone down.

With the incredibly rapid emergence of new needs and tools from all parts of their organizations, CIOs must balance technology adoption with institutional efficiency, while also ensuring they uphold privacy and security standards. Higher ed CIOs face an additional and unique responsibility, as well; they have an obligation­ – to both faculty and students – to maintain the integrity, quality and rigor of learning in the online environment, and with that, to preserve academic freedom.

 The New Norm: A Blended Learning Experience

The promise of digital learning has always been immense for the entire higher education system. With our new understanding of the value a true digital learning experience can offer, institutions can and should reimagine the future of education. Many universities are struggling – facing significant enrollment and revenue declines; the blended learning experience provides an opportunity for colleges and universities to grow and scale their student populations while operating more efficiently, and without having to invest in expanding their facilities.

 2021 will usher in the era of reimagining higher education, as more schools start to implement blended learning models to scale and expand their reach, while maintaining student engagement and success. This avenue will be especially attractive for learning modules and classes that are meant for mass consumption. For example, an introductory science class like chemistry or biology can often require reserving a lecture hall that fits several hundred students at a time, a limited commodity on most campuses. By moving the lecture component of class online, a university could resolve the space issue and also expand the number of students taking the course at one time, utilizing in-person lab time for smaller cohorts of students as a compliment to the virtual lecture.

Blended learning is the future of higher education, and a promising avenue to help colleges and universities address the mounting affordability crisis without sacrificing engaging, quality learning experiences.

Accessibility for All Students

In my 2020 predictions, I noted accessibility was moving from a nice-to-have to a must-have. The pandemic acutely highlighted this trend and the gap that exists. In 2021, product accessibility for every learner will be a priority, as we strive to provide an equitable experience for all.

As we move forward and increasingly look to integrate technology into higher ed, the edtech ecosystem must create tools and products that are accessible to all types of learners. Furthermore, we will see an underlying focus on ubiquitous high-speed internet. With the rise of 5G, schools and communities will be focused on ensuring they have bandwidth to support the continued proliferation of online learning.

For decades, technology has been a means of efficiency that has transformed industries, but education had been largely left untouched, as the system has been resistant and slow to change. With the leap forward that COVID-19 effectively mandated, the promise of technology in education is being realized; 2021 will be a turning point where we will start to see what is possible. I’m eager to watch it unfold.

What do you see as the technology trends that will shape education in the year ahead – and beyond? Please share your thoughts in the comments.