Three key tech trends for education in 2024

The education sector has undergone a great deal of change in recent times, and continues to evolve. Phil Gaut, Senior Director and Head of Division, Display and Memory Solutions at Samsung Australia, offers insights on the key trends for education in the year ahead.

1. The development of modern, connected university campuses

Universities have invested an enormous amount in creating modern student campus experiences, which is seen as a key differentiator that attracts people to their institutions. That includes large, collaborative working spaces, modern auditorium facilities and intuitive multi-language touchscreen wayfinding technology.

Display technology is a key part of that. The resolution of screens matters, especially when content is being displayed in big rooms to large audiences, such as lecture halls.

“Universities are prioritising campus experiences. That’s a massive conversation in the sector at the moment. They’re looking to use technology to simplify key university experiences, such as starting lessons or lectures quickly. If you make tech complicated, you’ll quickly lose your audience,” Gaut said.

“The lectures people remember are the ones where the teachers bring the topic to life. Tech plays a key role in meeting the expectations of students and enabling teachers to teach the way they want to. It needs to adapt to a wide variety of content, using big screens, high resolution and vivid sound.”

2. Simplicity and interactivity to support changing needs across K–12

In mainstream education sectors there’s a profound focus on value for money and ease of use when it comes to technology. Schools prioritise solutions that enable teachers to work the way they feel is best for their students, with adaptable solutions that meet a variety of requirements.

Schools aspire to create full digital learning ecosystems that foster collaboration, enhance interaction and improve learning accessibility. They need solutions that just work, allowing them to start lessons quickly and control the classroom effectively.

Solutions like touchscreen whiteboards extend digital learning capabilities into classrooms, allowing educators to develop cohesive and dynamic curriculums. They also allow substitute teachers to better understand learning progress, so they can easily pick up where another teacher left off.

“The key message is that technology must be simple. Teachers move between schools and every school has a team of interim staff. If every school has a different platform, particularly from a software perspective, teachers have to [tailor] their lesson plans for every institution. Given the challenges schools face with staffing, that’s not acceptable. Tech needs to be universal,” Gaut said.

3. Building out multifunctional spaces

Another focus for schools in the K–12 space is the need to create modern, multifunctional common spaces. This trend is particularly noticeable in private education, where schools are investing in technologies and infrastructure that allow spaces to be dynamically used for various purposes.

These investments include advanced LED display technology in sporting facilities and big halls that can be transformed for different events such as sports, assemblies and parent–teacher meetings.

The focus on multifunctional spaces reflects an understanding of the evolving needs of educational institutions. It’s not just about maximising space usage; it’s about enhancing the educational experience by providing adaptable environments.

By integrating technology that supports this flexibility, schools can provide enriched experiences for students, teachers and the broader school community.

“In private education, we’re seeing a trend towards creating spaces that serve multiple purposes. Schools are investing in technologies that transform venues like sports halls into versatile environments for different events. This adaptability enhances both the student and teacher experience, making the most of every space available,” Gaut said.

Image credit: iStock.com/Delpixart