Education technology or EdTech is everything from the use of computers to teach children how to read, math, or geography; to the submission of homework online by a parent. The technology can be anything from mobile learning applications to gamification or virtual reality.
Before the pandemic, some schools and universities were already trying to modernize their course content and invest in new ways of delivering courses using Learning Management Systems (LMS). But this was happening slowly and as annual budgets allowed. This pandemic and the cancelation of school has accelerated the adoption of eLearning technologies in the EdTech sector.
That crisis has forced schools, universities, and institutions in the EdTech sector to invest in eLearning technology, so they can deliver online education to millions of students worldwide and students can complete their courses.
The demand for tools and platforms that help deliver educational courses online has experienced exponential growth. Teachers are increasingly forced to deliver their courses online, using any tools available to them in their country and, most importantly, in their language.
These tools vary from computer-based admin systems to simplify and modernize the way principals run schools to tools for parents to upload completed homework for teachers to correct. Any tools that aid online learning, like zoom for teacher/ student meetings, or Aladdin Connect, for teachers to send homework, have gained millions of new users.
To capitalize on the quick adoption of eLearning by parents, students, and teachers, some schools will continue to use eLearning as a methodology to deliver courses to students in the future, especially for third-level education and continuous professional development.
Companies that provide hardware, software, platforms, or courseware to facilitate eLearning to the EdTech sector, should consider translation of their products and services to increase global sales.
While releasing new courses to their portfolios or expanding the number of options their users have is great, offering these in the language that the end user understands, will be what will attract new customers.
Having the educational software well localized will aid a teacher in delivering classes more efficiently. Having the course content translated will make it easier to understand for the student. Investing in translation will make all the difference in the world for parents, students, and teachers.
This article was created on May 26, 2020 and has been updated to reflect new information.