Edtechs: what they are, how they contribute and examples
In recent years, the rapid evolution of technology has triggered significant transformations in various sectors of society, and education is no exception. The term “EdTechs”, resulting from the merger between education (Education) and technology (Technology), emerged as a powerful catalyst for redefining the educational landscape.
Data from Grand View Research, show that the size of this global educational technology market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.6% from 2023 to 2030.
In Brazil, EdTechs have also gained important space in recent years. As of December 2020, a total of 559 startups were operating on national soil, about 574% more than the number of deals reported at the beginning of the decade, with the Southeast region, the majority of EdTech startups are concentrated in Brazil, with more than 68%, according to Statista.
In this context, the intersection between traditional pedagogy and technological innovations has provided new opportunities to enhance learning, making it more accessible, personalized and engaging.
We will explore more about this universe in this text.
What are EdTechs?
EdTechs, or educational technologies, represent an exponentially growing field that combines technological innovations with pedagogical practices, aimed at transforming and improving teaching and learning processes. These companies and initiatives develop digital and technological solutions aimed at optimizing the educational experience, from basic levels to higher education and professional training.
EdTechs can encompass a wide range of tools and platforms, including mobile apps, interactive software, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies.
How are EdTechs contributing to education?
EdTechs have played a crucial role in transforming the educational landscape, offering a variety of significant contributions to enhance the teaching and learning process. Its main objective is to provide more effective, accessible, and personalized teaching methods, allowing educators and students to achieve better results.
These initiatives not only modernize educational practices, but also address challenges related to accessibility, inclusion, and adaptation to diverse learning styles. As EdTechs continue to innovate, they shape the future of education, creating learning environments that are more dynamic and adaptable to the constantly evolving digital age.
New teaching resources
With more fun dynamics than those of traditional classrooms, EdTechs make learning much more attractive to students. Since with the use of technology it is much easier to understand a subject that is not accessible to the eyes or is very far from the students' reality.
An example of these resources is virtual reality, which allows students to visualize in 3D beings or microscopic parts of the body, such as cells and atoms; distant vegetation or landscapes; and simulations of impact on architectural structures, among others.
Improvement of the pedagogical process
One of the benefits that EdTechs brought to the pedagogical process is the monitoring of how much each student develops in their studies and in trained practices.
It is possible to identify the abilities of each student through platforms that have online activities, as well as excerpts from books, space for submitting papers, and a forum for questions and knowledge exchange.
In this way, it is possible to know the weaknesses and strengths of each student, thus discovering which competencies need to be worked on. Therefore, the teacher or instructor can intensify the teaching of a specific content and encourage students to overcome the difficulties encountered.
These platforms generate complete reports of how much each individual student has developed in each content presented. Thus, the course facilitator can make better use of their time by creating a more effective pedagogical strategy to help students learn.
Complementary content for teachers and students
People never stop learning. Even those who teach us must be constantly learning. Teachers, in fact, need to be willing to learn more and more, since knowledge is never enough.
EdTechs can help with this process, mainly because they offer solutions for those who have little time. Thus, distance education methods such as online video classes, podcasts and webinars allow new content to be taught without the student having to be inside a traditional classroom. It is only necessary to have internet access.
Examples of EdTechs in Brazil
In Brazil, several EdTechs have emerged to meet the specific needs of the education system, taking advantage of the opportunities provided by technology. These are some examples:
Geekie
Geekie is a platform that uses adaptive technologies to personalize teaching, offering educational solutions from elementary to high school. The company seeks to optimize learning by adapting content according to the pace and learning style of each student.
Decomplicate
Focused on pre-entrance exams, Descomplica uses online video classes, interactive materials, and specialized teachers to prepare students for entrance exams at higher education institutions.
QCompetitions
Specialized in preparation for public exams and entrance exams, QConcursos offers an online platform with questions, simulations, and video classes to assist students in preparing for evaluations.
Mind Lab
Mind Lab works to develop socio-emotional skills in children and adolescents, using games and playful methodologies. The company seeks to promote comprehensive education, going beyond the academic aspect.
Plurall
Developed by the Somos Educação group, Plurall is an online study platform that offers educational content for high school students, providing effective preparation for the challenges of the National High School Exam (Enem).
Edu GO!
Focused on early childhood education, Edu GO! offers a platform that integrates parents and schools, providing monitoring of students' departure from educational institutions. Through the app, guardians can notify in advance that they are arriving, making the school expedite the student's exit process and avoiding inconveniences such as traffic around the school.
EdTechs' education sectors
Just as education is a field with several possibilities, EdTechs operate at various educational levels and modalities. Each segment addresses specific needs, demonstrating the versatility of these technologies in the contemporary educational context.
Let's check out some of them:
Basic education
EdTechs aimed at basic education focus on providing solutions for elementary and high school students.
They cover a variety of areas, from platforms that offer interactive curricular content to tools that aim to develop specific skills, such as reading, writing, and mathematics.
In addition, many of these companies seek to adapt teaching to different learning styles, providing a more personalized education.
Technical education
The technical education sector is served by EdTechs that seek to provide specialized training in practical skills and technical knowledge, including online learning platforms, virtual simulators, and digital environments that aim to prepare students for specific careers, providing an education more aligned with the demands of the labor market.
Higher education
These EdTechs aim to support university students and higher education institutions, being able to offer a variety of services, from online learning platforms, specialization and graduate courses to academic management tools.
Some EdTechs in this sector also explore technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence to enrich the learning experience at more advanced levels.
Corporate education
Digital corporate education becomes an essential strategy to keep teams updated in a constantly evolving business environment, so these EdTechs focus on providing learning and development solutions for companies and professionals.
They offer online courses, personalized training, business simulations, and other tools aimed at improving the skills of employees and meeting the specific needs of the labor market.
Do you want to know more about educational trends? Check out our e-book “Education 2024: Trends, Challenges, and Paths for the Future”!
