Ask any parent or educator, and they will agree—learning has taken a dramatic shift toward digital platforms in the last few years. Even preschoolers now have virtual learning opportunities they didn’t have access to five years ago. Just as children symbolize the future, the education market represents arguably the richest prospect within the public sector vertical for ScanSource partners.

Forbes reports the educational technology sector—often referred to as EdTech—is expected to grow by $680 million by 2027, which should lead to greater connectivity and more innovation within schools. While most people have discovered and understand the importance of remote learning by now, there are additional EdTech trends that show incredible promise for the next few years. Here are five trends our partners should know about as potential avenues of growth.

Healthcare/education hybrids

Did you know more schools are investing in counselors and therapists to help students manage their social and emotional health? This becomes interesting when you take remote learning, or hybrid learning models, into account. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), schools should adopt telehealth solutions to provide students with access to health officials when remote learning is involved. This presents a great opportunity for those already in the healthcare sector – not to mention the students!

Identification cards

More facilities, including public schools and colleges, are relying on identification cards that utilize RFID technology to allow students and personnel to gain entry to campuses. This solution requires a mix of hardware and services to make school entries and exits more efficient and secure.

Augmented or virtual reality-based learning

Commercial gaming is one of the largest businesses in the world, appealing to people of all ages across all platforms, including mobile, cloud, and machine. Needless to say, that’s why many educators are turning toward similar technology to engage students. Extended reality (XR) encompasses augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality technology, all of which are increasingly making their way into the classroom. This technology can enrich learning experiences by allowing students to experience events, places, and scenarios instead of simply hearing about them.

Artificial Intelligence

AI-enabled education benefits students and educators in different ways. AI-enabled applications can answer students’ questions when teachers are busy, present parents with their children’s performance through graphs or charts, and help analyze a student’s performance.

Interested in learning more about how any of these opportunities could benefit your business? Reach out to your ScanSource representative today.