Top K-12 Education Technology Trends & Tools for 2022-2023

Technology plays a large role today in how teachers are approaching education. While K-12 education technology had been utilized prior to 2020, the global pandemic really jumpstarted this trend and its popularity skyrocketed after this time – which was largely due to the need to use technology in order to continue education through lockdowns and beyond. In fact, according to Edsembli:

• 93% conducted some form of online teaching from home by the summer of 2020
• 81% of teachers in the United States reported that their experience with educational technology went up as a result of the pandemic
• 58% said they had more confidence in the new tools as a result

If you’re finalizing budget planning for the 2022-2023 school year, take a look at a few of the newest trends in K-12 education technology and the tools you should consider adopting into your classrooms in the coming year.

Let’s talk about a few of the latest trends in K-12 education technology for the 2022-2023 school year and how they impact the way teachers teach and the way students learn:

Digital Tools Will Encompass All Areas of Education

K-12 education technology has moved away from just showing videos in class. The pandemic having created the sudden need for remote classrooms catapulted the shift from traditional learning in physical classrooms to fully integrated, digital learning environments.

Becca Hughes from Learning A-Z notes, ““Education technology provides teachers with tools to meet students no matter where they are. Whether learning is taking place in-person, hybrid, or fully remote, teachers are integral in ensuring that edtech resources are leveraged to accelerate learning throughout the cycle of instruction.”¹

According to a survey by the Newschools Venture Fund, 65% of teachers report using digital learning every day and 53% report that their students use digital learning tools every day for learning.

Interactivity Is Key

Much of K-12 education technology aims to increase interactivity, promoting active learning in the classroom. According to Divya Gokulnath, Co-Founder of BYJU’s – “In addition to making education more accessible, technology has given us the ability to make learning more interactive, visual, adaptive, and personalized. Education is constantly evolving to best fit the needs of students and it is exciting to see how technology can accelerate this progression.”²

K-12 Education Technology is a Worthwhile Investment

School districts all over the U.S. are seeing the real-life value of incorporating K-12 education technology tools into their classrooms and curriculum. 85% of teachers and 71% of principals see great value in digital tools in today’s learning environment and in the future, while over 80% of college students attribute their higher grades to digital learning.³

Additionally, a study published on ScienceDirect showed that gamification in e-learning — the use of video game design and game features (point scoring, competition with others, rules of play) to increase engagement in the classroom and motivate students – greatly increased results by almost 90%.

Now, that we’ve looked at a few of the trends, let’s take a look at a list of the top K-12 education technology tools for the coming year:

1. Interactive Whiteboards

Upgrading your classroom with interactive whiteboards is a great way to engage your students in the physical classroom, virtual classrooms, or a combination of both for hybrid learning. Interactive displays like the ViewSonic Interactive Whiteboards for education are perfect for any learning environment, with features like:

• Easily access legacy files from the cloud and build new interactive lessons
• Simultaneously teach and share lessons with students in class and students learning remotely
• Control and monitor devices from anywhere, as well as broadcast messages to any display panels
• Compatible with Windows, Mac, Chrome, and Linux, with full-touch input functionality for external devices that are connected to the displays

Additionally, the myViewBoard platform – ViewSonic’s digital whiteboard software – offers a suite of apps including myViewBoard Classroom, a hybrid teaching software tool packed with a variety of features to help create a classroom environment in the digital space. Developed for both remote and in-class learning environments, it’s essentially a web based “digital twin” of the real-classroom designed for distance to allow teachers to switch between physical and virtual classrooms seamlessly in a fully controlled environment. myViewBoard Classroom was also recently awarded “Overall e-Learning Solution of the Year” the EdTech Breakthrough Awards 2021.

If you’ve been considering incorporating interactive whiteboard technology into your school but aren’t sure if it’s the right fit for your education environment, check out our Interactive Whiteboard Eval Program which gives educators the option to test-drive a display in your own classroom for 30 days.

2. Chromebooks

Laptops and tablets have always been a useful education technology tool.  Chromebooks, specifically, are gaining popularity as effective k-12 education technology tools because they are affordable, sturdy, and easy to use. They also provide easy-to-manage computing, allowing educators to spend more time on teaching than managing classroom technology. There are multiple manufacturers to choose from including Dell, HP, and Lenovo as well as touch and non-touch options.

3. Audio Conferencing

Audio conferencing technologies allow teachers to remain connected to their students, no matter the distance between them. For example, with thousands of virtual microphones and precision speakers, the Nureva HDL Virtual Microphone Systems provide true full-room coverage and handles all your audio needs for classrooms and more up to 30′ x 50′. This is a great option for remote and hybrid learning classroom set ups. Additionally, when teachers, administrators, and parents need to meet and discuss student progress and general education changes and policies, audio conferencing is a great option for areas that are still practicing social distancing. Audio conferencing software is a great asset to have for educational industries that require meetings between staff and parents on a regular basis. The community can stay on track and on the same page with adequate audio conferencing.

4. Cameras

For teachers who are teaching in remote or hybrid learning classrooms, having a state-of-the-art webcam or tracking camera can help bridge the gap that is created by a screen. When your students are able to get a clear picture of you, this can help preserve the personal feel of the classroom. A great example is the ClearOne UNITE 180 4K Panoramic Tracking Camera. Designed for professional-quality visual collaboration, the UNITE 180 camera provides six viewing modes for room and participant close-ups. Ideal for hybrid learning environments, this ePTZ professional camera provides a full 180-degree panoramic field-of-view with “real-time stitching” to achieve a variety of useful viewing modes for any application and environment.

5. Classroom Microphones

As many schools have transitioned to education styles that support home-learning environments, it’s important to equip teachers with the equipment they need to be heard and understood through the screen. A quality microphone is a solid investment when it comes to ensuring continued educational opportunities through remote learning. One solution that actually combines audio and video is the Poly Studio Premium USB Video Bar. Delivering the best audio quality in its class and group framing and automatic speaker tracking, this premium all-in-one video conference camera & sound bar system helps connect your hybrid classroom. With an integrated camera, stereo speakers, and a six-microphone array, teachers can simultaneously interact with students who are in class and those who are remote, even when moving about the classroom.

As you may know, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA) has provided billions of dollars for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund). ESSER I and ESSER II funds are able to be used for purchasing educational technology including hardware, major software systems, digital curriculum resources and networks.

ESSER I funds are set to expire in September of 2022, and ESSER II funds will only be available until September of 2023. You can utilize ESSER funds awarded to your school on all of the K-12 classroom technology listed above.

Additionally, for interactive whiteboards, Parmetech is also listed on the PEPPM Purchasing Cooperative, TIPS Purchasing Cooperative, and the New York State OGS Contract, making it easy to utilize CRRSA/ESSER funds to purchase the interactive technology you need.