What’s In, What’s Out for AI, Cellphones, Cybersecurity, and Other Ed-Tech Stuff
Education technology changes quickly, and so do the trends that define how educators and students use it.
What was hot one year can easily be passé the next, and keeping abreast of those fast-changing dynamics can challenging.
2024 was no different: There has been a major shift nationwide in how schools approach students’ use of cellphones in class, and artificial intelligence
continues to shake up every aspect of education. With the U.S. Supreme Court set to rule on significant cases dealing
with social media and broadband funding for schools, more big changes are on the horizon.
What does 2025 have in store for education technology? Here is a look at our predictions, based on news developments over the past year.
1. Student cellphone use in school
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Using cellphones for classroom learning
There was a time in the not-so-distant past that teachers saw instructional potential in students’ cellphones. But now that most students have school-issued laptops—thanks, in part, to pandemic-era remote learning—cellphones don’t have the educational utility they once did. Plus, the lure of text messages, Snapchats, and other social media when using cellphones is just too strong.Banning or restricting use of cellphones in school
Schools, districts, and even states are increasingly restricting—or even completely banning—students’ cellphone use during the school day. This is largely in response to educators complaining that the devices have become a major source of distraction and social strife, and an emerging line of research showing the negative effect of cellphones and social media on kids’ mental health. As more state policymakers take up the issue, we expect to see state-level restrictions increase in 2025.
2. AI use in education
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Hysterical fears over AI leading to massive cheating and teachers losing their jobs
When ChatGPT became widely available for public use at the end of 2022, educators worried that, at best, students would never write another essay again and that, at worst, critical thinking was all but dead. Two years later, educators, schools, and students are adjusting to the new normal in which AI is increasingly being used for highly practical purposes.Teachers using AI as personal assistants
Now that educators have had time to experiment with chatbots and other widely available AI tools, they are increasingly incorporating the technology into their jobs—from creating grading rubrics and lesson plans to firing off recommendation letters for students and emails to parents, among many other uses. Teachers are also experimenting with developmentally appropriate lessons to teach their students about AI.
3. Spotlight on TikTok
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TikTok, maybe
A federal court denied TikTok’s petition to overturn a law that requires the popular video-sharing app to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance Ltd. or be banned in the United States by mid-January. The social media company has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is set to take up the case and hear arguments on Jan. 10.TikTok, maybe
While some educators would welcome a ban on the app that has caused many headaches for schools, others would be sad to see it go. TikTok has become a valuable resource for many educators to share ideas and a cathartic (and humorous) outlet for their profession’s unique challenges. If ByteDance decides to sell TikTok or if the Supreme Court rules in favor of ByteDance, expect educators to continue to use it as a form of professional development and entertainment.CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE
