Educational technology: Digital innovation and AI in schools

Educational technology, or EdTech, refers to the practice of using technology to support teaching and the effective day-to-day management of education institutions.

The potential uses of EdTech are many and varied. The Department for Education (DfE) notes that the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent partial school closures significantly disrupted the delivery of education in England and across the world, and “created an unprecedented need for remote teaching and learning solutions”.

During this period, research cited by the DfE suggests that 64% of schools introduced, increased or upgraded their technology, with 80% of schools using either new tools or a mix of new and old. Tools included the use of online learning platforms, digital curriculum content tools and services, and technology to deliver both live remote lessons and pre-recorded lessons online.

As technology and innovation continue to develop rapidly, emerging trends in EdTech include artificial intelligence (AI)-powered learning environments, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), automated assessments and adaptive learning.

Tobin, J., 2023. Educational technology: Digital innovation and AI in schools. House of Lords Library.