examples of digital transformation in education

12 Digital Transformation Trends & Use Cases in Education in '24

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The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation in education as nearly 1.5 billion students across the world became distanced from their classrooms. However, online education is not the only way digital technologies transform the teaching and learning experience. We explore how digital transformation affects the education sector with key technologies and trends.

What does digital transformation mean for education?

Digital transformation in education means digitalizing processes and products to improve the teaching and learning experience for everyone involved.

Digital transformation in education focuses on:

• Accessibility: Digital technologies enable learners (e.g. students, employees) to access learning resources more easily and less expensively than traditional education. People across the world, from all ages, with different socioeconomic statuses have access to classes and resources through the internet. Technologies such as text-to-speech remove the barriers for students with disabilities.
• Interactive learning: Micro lessons, videos, interactive tests, gamification, etc. are all different learning formats that are transforming education with a more interactive learning environment. For example, interactive language teaching apps like Duolingo claim to reach more US learners interested in foreign languages than the school system.
• Customized learning: Computer technology and AI enable educational methods such as adaptive learning where each learner is allowed to learn in a way appropriate to them.

Why is digital transformation in education important now?

School shutdowns and distance education are some of the most profound effects of COVID-19 which has demonstrated the importance and urgency of incorporating digital technologies into education. Even before the pandemic, the education industry was in the process of digital transformation. The image below from research by HolonIQ shows that global EdTech (education technology) venture capital funding had increased from $500 million to $7 billion between 2010 and 2019. The effect of the pandemic is also staggering as the investments almost tripled in 2021.

What are the key technologies and trends enabling digital transformation in education?

1- artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence applications can undertake simple but time-consuming tasks in education to ease the workload of educators or school staff. They can also be used to deliver an improved and custom learning experience to students. The applications include:

Improving student performance

• Voice-to-text  technologies transforming classes to notes are helpful to students with hearing impairment
• Text-to-voice technologies help dyslexic students learn more effectively by listening instead of reading.
• Personalized learning  can involve a diverse set of technologies including AI to elicit how a student learns best and tailor the education accordingly. Blended and adaptive learning are examples of methods that combine face-to-face instruction with digital learning tools that encourage students to learn by discovery.

Increasing the effectiveness of staff

• Intelligent FAQ chatbots  to answer questions about class, homework, campus, etc. Chatbots can act as virtual advisors for college students which can free up professors’ time.
• Domain specific chatbots: College admission is a complex and stressful process for high school students. College counsellors have limited time to support hundreds of students. Chatbots focused on the admission process can support students in this challenging and important process
• Educational businesses also have back office functions like finance. Process mining can help identify inefficiencies in the back office functions. Read our article on educational process mining to learn more about the applications of process mining in education.
• Individual automation technologies like RPA or combining multiple automation technologies (also called hyperautomation) can help save the time of support staff.

Explore the top 20 use cases of RPA in education in more detail.

2- Analytics

Digital technologies enable schools to collect and analyze a wealth of data about their students to monitor and enhance their performance. Using traditional and advanced analytics, they can determine where students struggle and succeed, develop new methods, and test whether these methods yield expected results.

3- Augmented reality/Virtual reality

Augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies can create interactive and virtual environments for students and help them better engage with the subject. These technologies can enable virtual field trips to historical locations or facilitate learning-by-doing for applied sciences and medicine. The distance learning experience can also be improved with AR/VR technologies.

4- Internet of Things (IoT)

The increasing use of smartphones and other edge devices improves the connectivity between students and their educational institutions by enabling real-time communication and data transfer. IoT devices can also be used to track young children’s absence or presence in class and alert teachers and parents for their security.

5- Online learning

Distance learning (or remote learning) through Zoom or Skype was an emergency response from schools and colleges to the pandemic. Educational institutions can also build their own online class systems, commonly called learning management systems (LMS), and integrate them into their websites or platforms. This will allow them to customize the online learning experience according to the needs of learners or the subject of the course.

6- Smart classes

Digital technologies have also improved face-to-face learning. Smart classes equipped with smart boards, computers, internet connections, projectors, etc. unlock the ways of delivering learning resources to students that were impossible with a blackboard and chalks.

What are some case studies?

• Google Expedition is an education app that contains 1000 VR and 100 AR tours. It helps teachers and students to explore art galleries, museums, underwater, or outer space. Google is now sunsetting the Expedition app and migrating the tours to Google Arts & Culture and making it available to everyone.

• Arizona State University has leveraged Amazon Echo Dot devices in their campus and student resident halls as voice assistants that provide information about the university for students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
• EdTech company Carnegie Learning provides technology solutions to K-12 schools. Their math learning platform MATHia uses artificial intelligence to act as a personal tutor that adjusts itself continually to each student and delivers a personalized learning experience.

How can educational institutions transform digitally?

We outlined the steps to achieve digital transformation and AI transformation . These steps are similar across industries. These involve understanding the challenges of your business and buying or building solutions to resolve these challenges. When it comes to building custom solutions, working with agencies that have done it before can help.

For more on digital transformation:

• Digital Transformation
• Digital Transformation Statistics
• Digital Transformation Consulting

You can also check our data-driven, sortable/filterable list of digital transformation consultant companies .

If you have more questions about digital transformation or digital education, let us know:

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He led technology strategy and procurement of a telco while reporting to the CEO. He has also led commercial growth of deep tech company Hypatos that reached a 7 digit annual recurring revenue and a 9 digit valuation from 0 within 2 years. Cem's work in Hypatos was covered by leading technology publications like TechCrunch and Business Insider.

Cem regularly speaks at international technology conferences. He graduated from Bogazici University as a computer engineer and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

AIMultiple.com Traffic Analytics, Ranking & Audience , Similarweb. Why Microsoft, IBM, and Google Are Ramping up Efforts on AI Ethics , Business Insider. Microsoft invests $1 billion in OpenAI to pursue artificial intelligence that’s smarter than we are , Washington Post. Data management barriers to AI success , Deloitte. Empowering AI Leadership: AI C-Suite Toolkit , World Economic Forum. Science, Research and Innovation Performance of the EU , European Commission. Public-sector digitization: The trillion-dollar challenge , McKinsey & Company. Hypatos gets $11.8M for a deep learning approach to document processing , TechCrunch. We got an exclusive look at the pitch deck AI startup Hypatos used to raise $11 million , Business Insider.

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• Review Article
• Open access
• Published: 12 February 2024

Education reform and change driven by digital technology: a bibliometric study from a global perspective

• Chengliang Wang 1 ,
• Xiaojiao Chen 1 ,
• Teng Yu   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5198-7261 2 , 3 ,
• Yidan Liu 1 , 4 &
• Yuhui Jing 1  

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications volume  11 , Article number:  256 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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• Development studies
• Science, technology and society

Amidst the global digital transformation of educational institutions, digital technology has emerged as a significant area of interest among scholars. Such technologies have played an instrumental role in enhancing learner performance and improving the effectiveness of teaching and learning. These digital technologies also ensure the sustainability and stability of education during the epidemic. Despite this, a dearth of systematic reviews exists regarding the current state of digital technology application in education. To address this gap, this study utilized the Web of Science Core Collection as a data source (specifically selecting the high-quality SSCI and SCIE) and implemented a topic search by setting keywords, yielding 1849 initial publications. Furthermore, following the PRISMA guidelines, we refined the selection to 588 high-quality articles. Using software tools such as CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Charticulator, we reviewed these 588 publications to identify core authors (such as Selwyn, Henderson, Edwards), highly productive countries/regions (England, Australia, USA), key institutions (Monash University, Australian Catholic University), and crucial journals in the field ( Education and Information Technologies , Computers & Education , British Journal of Educational Technology ). Evolutionary analysis reveals four developmental periods in the research field of digital technology education application: the embryonic period, the preliminary development period, the key exploration, and the acceleration period of change. The study highlights the dual influence of technological factors and historical context on the research topic. Technology is a key factor in enabling education to transform and upgrade, and the context of the times is an important driving force in promoting the adoption of new technologies in the education system and the transformation and upgrading of education. Additionally, the study identifies three frontier hotspots in the field: physical education, digital transformation, and professional development under the promotion of digital technology. This study presents a clear framework for digital technology application in education, which can serve as a valuable reference for researchers and educational practitioners concerned with digital technology education application in theory and practice.

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Introduction.

Digital technology has become an essential component of modern education, facilitating the extension of temporal and spatial boundaries and enriching the pedagogical contexts (Selwyn and Facer, 2014 ). The advent of mobile communication technology has enabled learning through social media platforms (Szeto et al. 2015 ; Pires et al. 2022 ), while the advancement of augmented reality technology has disrupted traditional conceptions of learning environments and spaces (Perez-Sanagustin et al., 2014 ; Kyza and Georgiou, 2018 ). A wide range of digital technologies has enabled learning to become a norm in various settings, including the workplace (Sjöberg and Holmgren, 2021 ), home (Nazare et al. 2022 ), and online communities (Tang and Lam, 2014 ). Education is no longer limited to fixed locations and schedules, but has permeated all aspects of life, allowing learning to continue at any time and any place (Camilleri and Camilleri, 2016 ; Selwyn and Facer, 2014 ).

The advent of digital technology has led to the creation of several informal learning environments (Greenhow and Lewin, 2015 ) that exhibit divergent form, function, features, and patterns in comparison to conventional learning environments (Nygren et al. 2019 ). Consequently, the associated teaching and learning processes, as well as the strategies for the creation, dissemination, and acquisition of learning resources, have undergone a complete overhaul. The ensuing transformations have posed a myriad of novel issues, such as the optimal structuring of teaching methods by instructors and the adoption of appropriate learning strategies by students in the new digital technology environment. Consequently, an examination of the principles that underpin effective teaching and learning in this environment is a topic of significant interest to numerous scholars engaged in digital technology education research.

Over the course of the last two decades, digital technology has made significant strides in the field of education, notably in extending education time and space and creating novel educational contexts with sustainability. Despite research attempts to consolidate the application of digital technology in education, previous studies have only focused on specific aspects of digital technology, such as Pinto and Leite’s ( 2020 ) investigation into digital technology in higher education and Mustapha et al.’s ( 2021 ) examination of the role and value of digital technology in education during the pandemic. While these studies have provided valuable insights into the practical applications of digital technology in particular educational domains, they have not comprehensively explored the macro-mechanisms and internal logic of digital technology implementation in education. Additionally, these studies were conducted over a relatively brief period, making it challenging to gain a comprehensive understanding of the macro-dynamics and evolutionary process of digital technology in education. Some studies have provided an overview of digital education from an educational perspective but lack a precise understanding of technological advancement and change (Yang et al. 2022 ). Therefore, this study seeks to employ a systematic scientific approach to collate relevant research from 2000 to 2022, comprehend the internal logic and development trends of digital technology in education, and grasp the outstanding contribution of digital technology in promoting the sustainability of education in time and space. In summary, this study aims to address the following questions:

RQ1: Since the turn of the century, what is the productivity distribution of the field of digital technology education application research in terms of authorship, country/region, institutional and journal level?

RQ2: What is the development trend of research on the application of digital technology in education in the past two decades?

RQ3: What are the current frontiers of research on the application of digital technology in education?

Literature review

Although the term “digital technology” has become ubiquitous, a unified definition has yet to be agreed upon by scholars. Because the meaning of the word digital technology is closely related to the specific context. Within the educational research domain, Selwyn’s ( 2016 ) definition is widely favored by scholars (Pinto and Leite, 2020 ). Selwyn ( 2016 ) provides a comprehensive view of various concrete digital technologies and their applications in education through ten specific cases, such as immediate feedback in classes, orchestrating teaching, and community learning. Through these specific application scenarios, Selwyn ( 2016 ) argues that digital technology encompasses technologies associated with digital devices, including but not limited to tablets, smartphones, computers, and social media platforms (such as Facebook and YouTube). Furthermore, Further, the behavior of accessing the internet at any location through portable devices can be taken as an extension of the behavior of applying digital technology.

The evolving nature of digital technology has significant implications in the field of education. In the 1890s, the focus of digital technology in education was on comprehending the nuances of digital space, digital culture, and educational methodologies, with its connotations aligned more towards the idea of e-learning. The advent and subsequent widespread usage of mobile devices since the dawn of the new millennium have been instrumental in the rapid expansion of the concept of digital technology. Notably, mobile learning devices such as smartphones and tablets, along with social media platforms, have become integral components of digital technology (Conole and Alevizou, 2010 ; Batista et al. 2016 ). In recent times, the burgeoning application of AI technology in the education sector has played a vital role in enriching the digital technology lexicon (Banerjee et al. 2021 ). ChatGPT, for instance, is identified as a novel educational technology that has immense potential to revolutionize future education (Rospigliosi, 2023 ; Arif, Munaf and Ul-Haque, 2023 ).

Pinto and Leite ( 2020 ) conducted a comprehensive macroscopic survey of the use of digital technologies in the education sector and identified three distinct categories, namely technologies for assessment and feedback, mobile technologies, and Information Communication Technologies (ICT). This classification criterion is both macroscopic and highly condensed. In light of the established concept definitions of digital technology in the educational research literature, this study has adopted the characterizations of digital technology proposed by Selwyn ( 2016 ) and Pinto and Leite ( 2020 ) as crucial criteria for analysis and research inclusion. Specifically, this criterion encompasses several distinct types of digital technologies, including Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Mobile tools, eXtended Reality (XR) Technologies, Assessment and Feedback systems, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Publish and Share tools, Collaborative systems, Social media, Interpersonal Communication tools, and Content Aggregation tools.

Methodology and materials

Research method: bibliometric.

The research on econometric properties has been present in various aspects of human production and life, yet systematic scientific theoretical guidance has been lacking, resulting in disorganization. In 1969, British scholar Pritchard ( 1969 ) proposed “bibliometrics,” which subsequently emerged as an independent discipline in scientific quantification research. Initially, Pritchard defined bibliometrics as “the application of mathematical and statistical methods to books and other media of communication,” however, the definition was not entirely rigorous. To remedy this, Hawkins ( 2001 ) expanded Pritchard’s definition to “the quantitative analysis of the bibliographic features of a body of literature.” De Bellis further clarified the objectives of bibliometrics, stating that it aims to analyze and identify patterns in literature, such as the most productive authors, institutions, countries, and journals in scientific disciplines, trends in literary production over time, and collaboration networks (De Bellis, 2009 ). According to Garfield ( 2006 ), bibliometric research enables the examination of the history and structure of a field, the flow of information within the field, the impact of journals, and the citation status of publications over a longer time scale. All of these definitions illustrate the unique role of bibliometrics as a research method for evaluating specific research fields.

This study uses CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Charticulator to analyze data and create visualizations. Each of these three tools has its own strengths and can complement each other. CiteSpace and VOSviewer use set theory and probability theory to provide various visualization views in fields such as keywords, co-occurrence, and co-authors. They are easy to use and produce visually appealing graphics (Chen, 2006 ; van Eck and Waltman, 2009 ) and are currently the two most widely used bibliometric tools in the field of visualization (Pan et al. 2018 ). In this study, VOSviewer provided the data necessary for the Performance Analysis; Charticulator was then used to redraw using the tabular data exported from VOSviewer (for creating the chord diagram of country collaboration); this was to complement the mapping process, while CiteSpace was primarily utilized to generate keyword maps and conduct burst word analysis.

Data retrieval

This study selected documents from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) in the Web of Science Core Collection as the data source, for the following reasons:

(1) The Web of Science Core Collection, as a high-quality digital literature resource database, has been widely accepted by many researchers and is currently considered the most suitable database for bibliometric analysis (Jing et al. 2023a ). Compared to other databases, Web of Science provides more comprehensive data information (Chen et al. 2022a ), and also provides data formats suitable for analysis using VOSviewer and CiteSpace (Gaviria-Marin et al. 2019 ).

(2) The application of digital technology in the field of education is an interdisciplinary research topic, involving technical knowledge literature belonging to the natural sciences and education-related literature belonging to the social sciences. Therefore, it is necessary to select Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) as the sources of research data, ensuring the comprehensiveness of data while ensuring the reliability and persuasiveness of bibliometric research (Hwang and Tsai, 2011 ; Wang et al. 2022 ).

After establishing the source of research data, it is necessary to determine a retrieval strategy (Jing et al. 2023b ). The choice of a retrieval strategy should consider a balance between the breadth and precision of the search formula. That is to say, it should encompass all the literature pertaining to the research topic while excluding irrelevant documents as much as possible. In light of this, this study has set a retrieval strategy informed by multiple related papers (Mustapha et al. 2021 ; Luo et al. 2021 ). The research by Mustapha et al. ( 2021 ) guided us in selecting keywords (“digital” AND “technolog*”) to target digital technology, while Luo et al. ( 2021 ) informed the selection of terms (such as “instruct*,” “teach*,” and “education”) to establish links with the field of education. Then, based on the current application of digital technology in the educational domain and the scope of selection criteria, we constructed the final retrieval strategy. Following the general patterns of past research (Jing et al. 2023a , 2023b ), we conducted a specific screening using the topic search (Topics, TS) function in Web of Science. For the specific criteria used in the screening for this study, please refer to Table 1 .

Literature screening

Literature acquired through keyword searches may contain ostensibly related yet actually unrelated works. Therefore, to ensure the close relevance of literature included in the analysis to the research topic, it is often necessary to perform a manual screening process to identify the final literature to be analyzed, subsequent to completing the initial literature search.

The manual screening process consists of two steps. Initially, irrelevant literature is weeded out based on the title and abstract, with two members of the research team involved in this phase. This stage lasted about one week, resulting in 1106 articles being retained. Subsequently, a comprehensive review of the full text is conducted to accurately identify the literature required for the study. To carry out the second phase of manual screening effectively and scientifically, and to minimize the potential for researcher bias, the research team established the inclusion criteria presented in Table 2 . Three members were engaged in this phase, which took approximately 2 weeks, culminating in the retention of 588 articles after meticulous screening. The entire screening process is depicted in Fig. 1 , adhering to the PRISMA guidelines (Page et al. 2021 ).

The process of obtaining and filtering the necessary literature data for research.

Data standardization

Nguyen and Hallinger ( 2020 ) pointed out that raw data extracted from scientific databases often contains multiple expressions of the same term, and not addressing these synonymous expressions could affect research results in bibliometric analysis. For instance, in the original data, the author list may include “Tsai, C. C.” and “Tsai, C.-C.”, while the keyword list may include “professional-development” and “professional development,” which often require merging. Therefore, before analyzing the selected literature, a data disambiguation process is necessary to standardize the data (Strotmann and Zhao, 2012 ; Van Eck and Waltman, 2019 ). This study adopted the data standardization process proposed by Taskin and Al ( 2019 ), mainly including the following standardization operations:

Firstly, the author and source fields in the data are corrected and standardized to differentiate authors with similar names.

Secondly, the study checks whether the journals to which the literature belongs have been renamed in the past over 20 years, so as to avoid the influence of periodical name change on the analysis results.

Finally, the keyword field is standardized by unifying parts of speech and singular/plural forms of keywords, which can help eliminate redundant entries in the knowledge graph.

Performance analysis (RQ1)

This section offers a thorough and detailed analysis of the state of research in the field of digital technology education. By utilizing descriptive statistics and visual maps, it provides a comprehensive overview of the development trends, authors, countries, institutions, and journal distribution within the field. The insights presented in this section are of great significance in advancing our understanding of the current state of research in this field and identifying areas for further investigation. The use of visual aids to display inter-country cooperation and the evolution of the field adds to the clarity and coherence of the analysis.

Time trend of the publications

To understand a research field, it is first necessary to understand the most basic quantitative information, among which the change in the number of publications per year best reflects the development trend of a research field. Figure 2 shows the distribution of publication dates.

Time trend of the publications on application of digital technology in education.

From the Fig. 2 , it can be seen that the development of this field over the past over 20 years can be roughly divided into three stages. The first stage was from 2000 to 2007, during which the number of publications was relatively low. Due to various factors such as technological maturity, the academic community did not pay widespread attention to the role of digital technology in expanding the scope of teaching and learning. The second stage was from 2008 to 2019, during which the overall number of publications showed an upward trend, and the development of the field entered an accelerated period, attracting more and more scholars’ attention. The third stage was from 2020 to 2022, during which the number of publications stabilized at around 100. During this period, the impact of the pandemic led to a large number of scholars focusing on the role of digital technology in education during the pandemic, and research on the application of digital technology in education became a core topic in social science research.

Analysis of authors

An analysis of the author’s publication volume provides information about the representative scholars and core research strengths of a research area. Table 3 presents information on the core authors in adaptive learning research, including name, publication number, and average number of citations per article (based on the analysis and statistics from VOSviewer).

Variations in research foci among scholars abound. Within the field of digital technology education application research over the past two decades, Neil Selwyn stands as the most productive author, having published 15 papers garnering a total of 1027 citations, resulting in an average of 68.47 citations per paper. As a Professor at the Faculty of Education at Monash University, Selwyn concentrates on exploring the application of digital technology in higher education contexts (Selwyn et al. 2021 ), as well as related products in higher education such as Coursera, edX, and Udacity MOOC platforms (Bulfin et al. 2014 ). Selwyn’s contributions to the educational sociology perspective include extensive research on the impact of digital technology on education, highlighting the spatiotemporal extension of educational processes and practices through technological means as the greatest value of educational technology (Selwyn, 2012 ; Selwyn and Facer, 2014 ). In addition, he provides a blueprint for the development of future schools in 2030 based on the present impact of digital technology on education (Selwyn et al. 2019 ). The second most productive author in this field, Henderson, also offers significant contributions to the understanding of the important value of digital technology in education, specifically in the higher education setting, with a focus on the impact of the pandemic (Henderson et al. 2015 ; Cohen et al. 2022 ). In contrast, Edwards’ research interests focus on early childhood education, particularly the application of digital technology in this context (Edwards, 2013 ; Bird and Edwards, 2015 ). Additionally, on the technical level, Edwards also mainly prefers digital game technology, because it is a digital technology that children are relatively easy to accept (Edwards, 2015 ).

Analysis of countries/regions and organization

The present study aimed to ascertain the leading countries in digital technology education application research by analyzing 75 countries related to 558 works of literature. Table 4 depicts the top ten countries that have contributed significantly to this field in terms of publication count (based on the analysis and statistics from VOSviewer). Our analysis of Table 4 data shows that England emerged as the most influential country/region, with 92 published papers and 2401 citations. Australia and the United States secured the second and third ranks, respectively, with 90 papers (2187 citations) and 70 papers (1331 citations) published. Geographically, most of the countries featured in the top ten publication volumes are situated in Australia, North America, and Europe, with China being the only exception. Notably, all these countries, except China, belong to the group of developed nations, suggesting that economic strength is a prerequisite for fostering research in the digital technology education application field.

This study presents a visual representation of the publication output and cooperation relationships among different countries in the field of digital technology education application research. Specifically, a chord diagram is employed to display the top 30 countries in terms of publication output, as depicted in Fig. 3 . The chord diagram is composed of nodes and chords, where the nodes are positioned as scattered points along the circumference, and the length of each node corresponds to the publication output, with longer lengths indicating higher publication output. The chords, on the other hand, represent the cooperation relationships between any two countries, and are weighted based on the degree of closeness of the cooperation, with wider chords indicating closer cooperation. Through the analysis of the cooperation relationships, the findings suggest that the main publishing countries in this field are engaged in cooperative relationships with each other, indicating a relatively high level of international academic exchange and research internationalization.

In the diagram, nodes are scattered along the circumference of a circle, with the length of each node representing the volume of publications. The weighted arcs connecting any two points on the circle are known as chords, representing the collaborative relationship between the two, with the width of the arc indicating the closeness of the collaboration.

Further analyzing Fig. 3 , we can extract more valuable information, enabling a deeper understanding of the connections between countries in the research field of digital technology in educational applications. It is evident that certain countries, such as the United States, China, and England, display thicker connections, indicating robust collaborative relationships in terms of productivity. These thicker lines signify substantial mutual contributions and shared objectives in certain sectors or fields, highlighting the interconnectedness and global integration in these areas. By delving deeper, we can also explore potential future collaboration opportunities through the chord diagram, identifying possible partners to propel research and development in this field. In essence, the chord diagram successfully encapsulates and conveys the multi-dimensionality of global productivity and cooperation, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the intricate inter-country relationships and networks in a global context, providing valuable guidance and insights for future research and collaborations.

An in-depth examination of the publishing institutions is provided in Table 5 , showcasing the foremost 10 institutions ranked by their publication volume. Notably, Monash University and Australian Catholic University, situated in Australia, have recorded the most prolific publications within the digital technology education application realm, with 22 and 10 publications respectively. Moreover, the University of Oslo from Norway is featured among the top 10 publishing institutions, with an impressive average citation count of 64 per publication. It is worth highlighting that six institutions based in the United Kingdom were also ranked within the top 10 publishing institutions, signifying their leading position in this area of research.

Analysis of journals

Journals are the main carriers for publishing high-quality papers. Some scholars point out that the two key factors to measure the influence of journals in the specified field are the number of articles published and the number of citations. The more papers published in a magazine and the more citations, the greater its influence (Dzikowski, 2018 ). Therefore, this study utilized VOSviewer to statistically analyze the top 10 journals with the most publications in the field of digital technology in education and calculated the average citations per article (see Table 6 ).

Based on Table 6 , it is apparent that the highest number of articles in the domain of digital technology in education research were published in Education and Information Technologies (47 articles), Computers & Education (34 articles), and British Journal of Educational Technology (32 articles), indicating a higher article output compared to other journals. This underscores the fact that these three journals concentrate more on the application of digital technology in education. Furthermore, several other journals, such as Technology Pedagogy and Education and Sustainability, have published more than 15 articles in this domain. Sustainability represents the open access movement, which has notably facilitated research progress in this field, indicating that the development of open access journals in recent years has had a significant impact. Although there is still considerable disagreement among scholars on the optimal approach to achieve open access, the notion that research outcomes should be accessible to all is widely recognized (Huang et al. 2020 ). On further analysis of the research fields to which these journals belong, except for Sustainability, it is evident that they all pertain to educational technology, thus providing a qualitative definition of the research area of digital technology education from the perspective of journals.

Temporal keyword analysis: thematic evolution (RQ2)

The evolution of research themes is a dynamic process, and previous studies have attempted to present the developmental trajectory of fields by drawing keyword networks in phases (Kumar et al. 2021 ; Chen et al. 2022b ). To understand the shifts in research topics across different periods, this study follows past research and, based on the significant changes in the research field and corresponding technological advancements during the outlined periods, divides the timeline into four stages (the first stage from January 2000 to December 2005, the second stage from January 2006 to December 2011, the third stage from January 2012 to December 2017; and the fourth stage from January 2018 to December 2022). The division into these four stages was determined through a combination of bibliometric analysis and literature review, which presented a clear trajectory of the field’s development. The research analyzes the keyword networks for each time period (as there are only three articles in the first stage, it was not possible to generate an appropriate keyword co-occurrence map, hence only the keyword co-occurrence maps from the second to the fourth stages are provided), to understand the evolutionary track of the digital technology education application research field over time.

2000.1–2005.12: germination period

From January 2000 to December 2005, digital technology education application research was in its infancy. Only three studies focused on digital technology, all of which were related to computers. Due to the popularity of computers, the home became a new learning environment, highlighting the important role of digital technology in expanding the scope of learning spaces (Sutherland et al. 2000 ). In specific disciplines and contexts, digital technology was first favored in medical clinical practice, becoming an important tool for supporting the learning of clinical knowledge and practice (Tegtmeyer et al. 2001 ; Durfee et al. 2003 ).

2006.1–2011.12: initial development period

Between January 2006 and December 2011, it was the initial development period of digital technology education research. Significant growth was observed in research related to digital technology, and discussions and theoretical analyses about “digital natives” emerged. During this phase, scholars focused on the debate about “how to use digital technology reasonably” and “whether current educational models and school curriculum design need to be adjusted on a large scale” (Bennett and Maton, 2010 ; Selwyn, 2009 ; Margaryan et al. 2011 ). These theoretical and speculative arguments provided a unique perspective on the impact of cognitive digital technology on education and teaching. As can be seen from the vocabulary such as “rethinking”, “disruptive pedagogy”, and “attitude” in Fig. 4 , many scholars joined the calm reflection and analysis under the trend of digital technology (Laurillard, 2008 ; Vratulis et al. 2011 ). During this phase, technology was still undergoing dramatic changes. The development of mobile technology had already caught the attention of many scholars (Wong et al. 2011 ), but digital technology represented by computers was still very active (Selwyn et al. 2011 ). The change in technological form would inevitably lead to educational transformation. Collins and Halverson ( 2010 ) summarized the prospects and challenges of using digital technology for learning and educational practices, believing that digital technology would bring a disruptive revolution to the education field and bring about a new educational system. In addition, the term “teacher education” in Fig. 4 reflects the impact of digital technology development on teachers. The rapid development of technology has widened the generation gap between teachers and students. To ensure smooth communication between teachers and students, teachers must keep up with the trend of technological development and establish a lifelong learning concept (Donnison, 2009 ).

In the diagram, each node represents a keyword, with the size of the node indicating the frequency of occurrence of the keyword. The connections represent the co-occurrence relationships between keywords, with a higher frequency of co-occurrence resulting in tighter connections.

2012.1–2017.12: critical exploration period

During the period spanning January 2012 to December 2017, the application of digital technology in education research underwent a significant exploration phase. As can be seen from Fig. 5 , different from the previous stage, the specific elements of specific digital technology have started to increase significantly, including the enrichment of technological contexts, the greater variety of research methods, and the diversification of learning modes. Moreover, the temporal and spatial dimensions of the learning environment were further de-emphasized, as noted in previous literature (Za et al. 2014 ). Given the rapidly accelerating pace of technological development, the education system in the digital era is in urgent need of collaborative evolution and reconstruction, as argued by Davis, Eickelmann, and Zaka ( 2013 ).

In the domain of digital technology, social media has garnered substantial scholarly attention as a promising avenue for learning, as noted by Pasquini and Evangelopoulos ( 2016 ). The implementation of social media in education presents several benefits, including the liberation of education from the restrictions of physical distance and time, as well as the erasure of conventional educational boundaries. The user-generated content (UGC) model in social media has emerged as a crucial source for knowledge creation and distribution, with the widespread adoption of mobile devices. Moreover, social networks have become an integral component of ubiquitous learning environments (Hwang et al. 2013 ). The utilization of social media allows individuals to function as both knowledge producers and recipients, which leads to a blurring of the conventional roles of learners and teachers. On mobile platforms, the roles of learners and teachers are not fixed, but instead interchangeable.

In terms of research methodology, the prevalence of empirical studies with survey designs in the field of educational technology during this period is evident from the vocabulary used, such as “achievement,” “acceptance,” “attitude,” and “ict.” in Fig. 5 . These studies aim to understand learners’ willingness to adopt and attitudes towards new technologies, and some seek to investigate the impact of digital technologies on learning outcomes through quasi-experimental designs (Domínguez et al. 2013 ). Among these empirical studies, mobile learning emerged as a hot topic, and this is not surprising. First, the advantages of mobile learning environments over traditional ones have been empirically demonstrated (Hwang et al. 2013 ). Second, learners born around the turn of the century have been heavily influenced by digital technologies and have developed their own learning styles that are more open to mobile devices as a means of learning. Consequently, analyzing mobile learning as a relatively novel mode of learning has become an important issue for scholars in the field of educational technology.

The intervention of technology has led to the emergence of several novel learning modes, with the blended learning model being the most representative one in the current phase. Blended learning, a novel concept introduced in the information age, emphasizes the integration of the benefits of traditional learning methods and online learning. This learning mode not only highlights the prominent role of teachers in guiding, inspiring, and monitoring the learning process but also underlines the importance of learners’ initiative, enthusiasm, and creativity in the learning process. Despite being an early conceptualization, blended learning’s meaning has been expanded by the widespread use of mobile technology and social media in education. The implementation of new technologies, particularly mobile devices, has resulted in the transformation of curriculum design and increased flexibility and autonomy in students’ learning processes (Trujillo Maza et al. 2016 ), rekindling scholarly attention to this learning mode. However, some scholars have raised concerns about the potential drawbacks of the blended learning model, such as its significant impact on the traditional teaching system, the lack of systematic coping strategies and relevant policies in several schools and regions (Moskal et al. 2013 ).

2018.1–2022.12: accelerated transformation period

The period spanning from January 2018 to December 2022 witnessed a rapid transformation in the application of digital technology in education research. The field of digital technology education research reached a peak period of publication, largely influenced by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic (Yu et al. 2023 ). Research during this period was built upon the achievements, attitudes, and social media of the previous phase, and included more elements that reflect the characteristics of this research field, such as digital literacy, digital competence, and professional development, as depicted in Fig. 6 . Alongside this, scholars’ expectations for the value of digital technology have expanded, and the pursuit of improving learning efficiency and performance is no longer the sole focus. Some research now aims to cultivate learners’ motivation and enhance their self-efficacy by applying digital technology in a reasonable manner, as demonstrated by recent studies (Beardsley et al. 2021 ; Creely et al. 2021 ).

The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a crucial backdrop for the digital technology’s role in sustaining global education, as highlighted by recent scholarly research (Zhou et al. 2022 ; Pan and Zhang, 2020 ; Mo et al. 2022 ). The online learning environment, which is supported by digital technology, has become the primary battleground for global education (Yu, 2022 ). This social context has led to various studies being conducted, with some scholars positing that the pandemic has impacted the traditional teaching order while also expanding learning possibilities in terms of patterns and forms (Alabdulaziz, 2021 ). Furthermore, the pandemic has acted as a catalyst for teacher teaching and technological innovation, and this viewpoint has been empirically substantiated (Moorhouse and Wong, 2021 ). Additionally, some scholars believe that the pandemic’s push is a crucial driving force for the digital transformation of the education system, serving as an essential mechanism for overcoming the system’s inertia (Romero et al. 2021 ).

The rapid outbreak of the pandemic posed a challenge to the large-scale implementation of digital technologies, which was influenced by a complex interplay of subjective and objective factors. Objective constraints included the lack of infrastructure in some regions to support digital technologies, while subjective obstacles included psychological resistance among certain students and teachers (Moorhouse, 2021 ). These factors greatly impacted the progress of online learning during the pandemic. Additionally, Timotheou et al. ( 2023 ) conducted a comprehensive systematic review of existing research on digital technology use during the pandemic, highlighting the critical role played by various factors such as learners’ and teachers’ digital skills, teachers’ personal attributes and professional development, school leadership and management, and administration in facilitating the digitalization and transformation of schools.

The current stage of research is characterized by the pivotal term “digital literacy,” denoting a growing interest in learners’ attitudes and adoption of emerging technologies. Initially, the term “literacy” was restricted to fundamental abilities and knowledge associated with books and print materials (McMillan, 1996 ). However, with the swift advancement of computers and digital technology, there have been various attempts to broaden the scope of literacy beyond its traditional meaning, including game literacy (Buckingham and Burn, 2007 ), information literacy (Eisenberg, 2008 ), and media literacy (Turin and Friesem, 2020 ). Similarly, digital literacy has emerged as a crucial concept, and Gilster and Glister ( 1997 ) were the first to introduce this concept, referring to the proficiency in utilizing technology and processing digital information in academic, professional, and daily life settings. In practical educational settings, learners who possess higher digital literacy often exhibit an aptitude for quickly mastering digital devices and applying them intelligently to education and teaching (Yu, 2022 ).

The utilization of digital technology in education has undergone significant changes over the past two decades, and has been a crucial driver of educational reform with each new technological revolution. The impact of these changes on the underlying logic of digital technology education applications has been noticeable. From computer technology to more recent developments such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI), the acceleration in digital technology development has been ongoing. Educational reforms spurred by digital technology development continue to be dynamic, as each new digital innovation presents new possibilities and models for teaching practice. This is especially relevant in the post-pandemic era, where the importance of technological progress in supporting teaching cannot be overstated (Mughal et al. 2022 ). Existing digital technologies have already greatly expanded the dimensions of education in both time and space, while future digital technologies aim to expand learners’ perceptions. Researchers have highlighted the potential of integrated technology and immersive technology in the development of the educational metaverse, which is highly anticipated to create a new dimension for the teaching and learning environment, foster a new value system for the discipline of educational technology, and more effectively and efficiently achieve the grand educational blueprint of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (Zhang et al. 2022 ; Li and Yu, 2023 ).

Hotspot evolution analysis (RQ3)

The examination of keyword evolution reveals a consistent trend in the advancement of digital technology education application research. The emergence and transformation of keywords serve as indicators of the varying research interests in this field. Thus, the utilization of the burst detection function available in CiteSpace allowed for the identification of the top 10 burst words that exhibited a high level of burst strength. This outcome is illustrated in Table 7 .

According to the results presented in Table 7 , the explosive terminology within the realm of digital technology education research has exhibited a concentration mainly between the years 2018 and 2022. Prior to this time frame, the emerging keywords were limited to “information technology” and “computer”. Notably, among them, computer, as an emergent keyword, has always had a high explosive intensity from 2008 to 2018, which reflects the important position of computer in digital technology and is the main carrier of many digital technologies such as Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Assessment and Feedback systems (Barlovits et al. 2022 ).

Since 2018, an increasing number of research studies have focused on evaluating the capabilities of learners to accept, apply, and comprehend digital technologies. As indicated by the use of terms such as “digital literacy” and “digital skill,” the assessment of learners’ digital literacy has become a critical task. Scholarly efforts have been directed towards the development of literacy assessment tools and the implementation of empirical assessments. Furthermore, enhancing the digital literacy of both learners and educators has garnered significant attention. (Nagle, 2018 ; Yu, 2022 ). Simultaneously, given the widespread use of various digital technologies in different formal and informal learning settings, promoting learners’ digital skills has become a crucial objective for contemporary schools (Nygren et al. 2019 ; Forde and OBrien, 2022 ).

Since 2020, the field of applied research on digital technology education has witnessed the emergence of three new hotspots, all of which have been affected to some extent by the pandemic. Firstly, digital technology has been widely applied in physical education, which is one of the subjects that has been severely affected by the pandemic (Parris et al. 2022 ; Jiang and Ning, 2022 ). Secondly, digital transformation has become an important measure for most schools, especially higher education institutions, to cope with the impact of the pandemic globally (García-Morales et al. 2021 ). Although the concept of digital transformation was proposed earlier, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly accelerated this transformation process. Educational institutions must carefully redesign their educational products to face this new situation, providing timely digital learning methods, environments, tools, and support systems that have far-reaching impacts on modern society (Krishnamurthy, 2020 ; Salas-Pilco et al. 2022 ). Moreover, the professional development of teachers has become a key mission of educational institutions in the post-pandemic era. Teachers need to have a certain level of digital literacy and be familiar with the tools and online teaching resources used in online teaching, which has become a research hotspot today. Organizing digital skills training for teachers to cope with the application of emerging technologies in education is an important issue for teacher professional development and lifelong learning (Garzón-Artacho et al. 2021 ). As the main organizers and practitioners of emergency remote teaching (ERT) during the pandemic, teachers must put cognitive effort into their professional development to ensure effective implementation of ERT (Romero-Hall and Jaramillo Cherrez, 2022 ).

The burst word “digital transformation” reveals that we are in the midst of an ongoing digital technology revolution. With the emergence of innovative digital technologies such as ChatGPT and Microsoft 365 Copilot, technology trends will continue to evolve, albeit unpredictably. While the impact of these advancements on school education remains uncertain, it is anticipated that the widespread integration of technology will significantly affect the current education system. Rejecting emerging technologies without careful consideration is unwise. Like any revolution, the technological revolution in the education field has both positive and negative aspects. Detractors argue that digital technology disrupts learning and memory (Baron, 2021 ) or causes learners to become addicted and distracted from learning (Selwyn and Aagaard, 2020 ). On the other hand, the prudent use of digital technology in education offers a glimpse of a golden age of open learning. Educational leaders and practitioners have the opportunity to leverage cutting-edge digital technologies to address current educational challenges and develop a rational path for the sustainable and healthy growth of education.

Discussion on performance analysis (RQ1)

The field of digital technology education application research has experienced substantial growth since the turn of the century, a phenomenon that is quantifiably apparent through an analysis of authorship, country/region contributions, and institutional engagement. This expansion reflects the increased integration of digital technologies in educational settings and the heightened scholarly interest in understanding and optimizing their use.

Discussion on authorship productivity in digital technology education research

The authorship distribution within digital technology education research is indicative of the field’s intellectual structure and depth. A primary figure in this domain is Neil Selwyn, whose substantial citation rate underscores the profound impact of his work. His focus on the implications of digital technology in higher education and educational sociology has proven to be seminal. Selwyn’s research trajectory, especially the exploration of spatiotemporal extensions of education through technology, provides valuable insights into the multifaceted role of digital tools in learning processes (Selwyn et al. 2019 ).

Other notable contributors, like Henderson and Edwards, present diversified research interests, such as the impact of digital technologies during the pandemic and their application in early childhood education, respectively. Their varied focuses highlight the breadth of digital technology education research, encompassing pedagogical innovation, technological adaptation, and policy development.

Discussion on country/region-level productivity and collaboration

At the country/region level, the United Kingdom, specifically England, emerges as a leading contributor with 92 published papers and a significant citation count. This is closely followed by Australia and the United States, indicating a strong English-speaking research axis. Such geographical concentration of scholarly output often correlates with investment in research and development, technological infrastructure, and the prevalence of higher education institutions engaging in cutting-edge research.

China’s notable inclusion as the only non-Western country among the top contributors to the field suggests a growing research capacity and interest in digital technology in education. However, the lower average citation per paper for China could reflect emerging engagement or different research focuses that may not yet have achieved the same international recognition as Western counterparts.

The chord diagram analysis furthers this understanding, revealing dense interconnections between countries like the United States, China, and England, which indicates robust collaborations. Such collaborations are fundamental in addressing global educational challenges and shaping international research agendas.

Discussion on institutional-level contributions to digital technology education

Institutional productivity in digital technology education research reveals a constellation of universities driving the field forward. Monash University and the Australian Catholic University have the highest publication output, signaling Australia’s significant role in advancing digital education research. The University of Oslo’s remarkable average citation count per publication indicates influential research contributions, potentially reflecting high-quality studies that resonate with the broader academic community.

The strong showing of UK institutions, including the University of London, The Open University, and the University of Cambridge, reinforces the UK’s prominence in this research field. Such institutions are often at the forefront of pedagogical innovation, benefiting from established research cultures and funding mechanisms that support sustained inquiry into digital education.

Discussion on journal publication analysis

An examination of journal outputs offers a lens into the communicative channels of the field’s knowledge base. Journals such as Education and Information Technologies , Computers & Education , and the British Journal of Educational Technology not only serve as the primary disseminators of research findings but also as indicators of research quality and relevance. The impact factor (IF) serves as a proxy for the quality and influence of these journals within the academic community.

The high citation counts for articles published in Computers & Education suggest that research disseminated through this medium has a wide-reaching impact and is of particular interest to the field. This is further evidenced by its significant IF of 11.182, indicating that the journal is a pivotal platform for seminal work in the application of digital technology in education.

The authorship, regional, and institutional productivity in the field of digital technology education application research collectively narrate the evolution of this domain since the turn of the century. The prominence of certain authors and countries underscores the importance of socioeconomic factors and existing academic infrastructure in fostering research productivity. Meanwhile, the centrality of specific journals as outlets for high-impact research emphasizes the role of academic publishing in shaping the research landscape.

As the field continues to grow, future research may benefit from leveraging the collaborative networks that have been elucidated through this analysis, perhaps focusing on underrepresented regions to broaden the scope and diversity of research. Furthermore, the stabilization of publication numbers in recent years invites a deeper exploration into potential plateaus in research trends or saturation in certain sub-fields, signaling an opportunity for novel inquiries and methodological innovations.

Discussion on the evolutionary trends (RQ2)

The evolution of the research field concerning the application of digital technology in education over the past two decades is a story of convergence, diversification, and transformation, shaped by rapid technological advancements and shifting educational paradigms.

At the turn of the century, the inception of digital technology in education was largely exploratory, with a focus on how emerging computer technologies could be harnessed to enhance traditional learning environments. Research from this early period was primarily descriptive, reflecting on the potential and challenges of incorporating digital tools into the educational setting. This phase was critical in establishing the fundamental discourse that would guide subsequent research, as it set the stage for understanding the scope and impact of digital technology in learning spaces (Wang et al. 2023 ).

As the first decade progressed, the narrative expanded to encompass the pedagogical implications of digital technologies. This was a period of conceptual debates, where terms like “digital natives” and “disruptive pedagogy” entered the academic lexicon, underscoring the growing acknowledgment of digital technology as a transformative force within education (Bennett and Maton, 2010 ). During this time, the research began to reflect a more nuanced understanding of the integration of technology, considering not only its potential to change where and how learning occurred but also its implications for educational equity and access.

In the second decade, with the maturation of internet connectivity and mobile technology, the focus of research shifted from theoretical speculations to empirical investigations. The proliferation of digital devices and the ubiquity of social media influenced how learners interacted with information and each other, prompting a surge in studies that sought to measure the impact of these tools on learning outcomes. The digital divide and issues related to digital literacy became central concerns, as scholars explored the varying capacities of students and educators to engage with technology effectively.

Throughout this period, there was an increasing emphasis on the individualization of learning experiences, facilitated by adaptive technologies that could cater to the unique needs and pacing of learners (Jing et al. 2023a ). This individualization was coupled with a growing recognition of the importance of collaborative learning, both online and offline, and the role of digital tools in supporting these processes. Blended learning models, which combined face-to-face instruction with online resources, emerged as a significant trend, advocating for a balance between traditional pedagogies and innovative digital strategies.

The later years, particularly marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerated the necessity for digital technology in education, transforming it from a supplementary tool to an essential platform for delivering education globally (Mo et al. 2022 ; Mustapha et al. 2021 ). This era brought about an unprecedented focus on online learning environments, distance education, and virtual classrooms. Research became more granular, examining not just the pedagogical effectiveness of digital tools, but also their role in maintaining continuity of education during crises, their impact on teacher and student well-being, and their implications for the future of educational policy and infrastructure.

Across these two decades, the research field has seen a shift from examining digital technology as an external addition to the educational process, to viewing it as an integral component of curriculum design, instructional strategies, and even assessment methods. The emergent themes have broadened from a narrow focus on specific tools or platforms to include wider considerations such as data privacy, ethical use of technology, and the environmental impact of digital tools.

Moreover, the field has moved from considering the application of digital technology in education as a primarily cognitive endeavor to recognizing its role in facilitating socio-emotional learning, digital citizenship, and global competencies. Researchers have increasingly turned their attention to the ways in which technology can support collaborative skills, cultural understanding, and ethical reasoning within diverse student populations.

In summary, the past over twenty years in the research field of digital technology applications in education have been characterized by a progression from foundational inquiries to complex analyses of digital integration. This evolution has mirrored the trajectory of technology itself, from a facilitative tool to a pervasive ecosystem defining contemporary educational experiences. As we look to the future, the field is poised to delve into the implications of emerging technologies like AI, AR, and VR, and their potential to redefine the educational landscape even further. This ongoing metamorphosis suggests that the application of digital technology in education will continue to be a rich area of inquiry, demanding continual adaptation and forward-thinking from educators and researchers alike.

Discussion on the study of research hotspots (RQ3)

The analysis of keyword evolution in digital technology education application research elucidates the current frontiers in the field, reflecting a trajectory that is in tandem with the rapidly advancing digital age. This landscape is sculpted by emergent technological innovations and shaped by the demands of an increasingly digital society.

Interdisciplinary integration and pedagogical transformation

One of the frontiers identified from recent keyword bursts includes the integration of digital technology into diverse educational contexts, particularly noted with the keyword “physical education.” The digitalization of disciplines traditionally characterized by physical presence illustrates the pervasive reach of technology and signifies a push towards interdisciplinary integration where technology is not only a facilitator but also a transformative agent. This integration challenges educators to reconceptualize curriculum delivery to accommodate digital tools that can enhance or simulate the physical aspects of learning.

Digital literacy and skills acquisition

Another pivotal frontier is the focus on “digital literacy” and “digital skill”, which has intensified in recent years. This suggests a shift from mere access to technology towards a comprehensive understanding and utilization of digital tools. In this realm, the emphasis is not only on the ability to use technology but also on critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ethical use of digital resources (Yu, 2022 ). The acquisition of digital literacy is no longer an additive skill but a fundamental aspect of modern education, essential for navigating and contributing to the digital world.

Educational digital transformation

The keyword “digital transformation” marks a significant research frontier, emphasizing the systemic changes that education institutions must undergo to align with the digital era (Romero et al. 2021 ). This transformation includes the redesigning of learning environments, pedagogical strategies, and assessment methods to harness digital technology’s full potential. Research in this area explores the complexity of institutional change, addressing the infrastructural, cultural, and policy adjustments needed for a seamless digital transition.

Engagement and participation

Further exploration into “engagement” and “participation” underscores the importance of student-centered learning environments that are mediated by technology. The current frontiers examine how digital platforms can foster collaboration, inclusivity, and active learning, potentially leading to more meaningful and personalized educational experiences. Here, the use of technology seeks to support the emotional and cognitive aspects of learning, moving beyond the transactional view of education to one that is relational and interactive.

Professional development and teacher readiness

As the field evolves, “professional development” emerges as a crucial area, particularly in light of the pandemic which necessitated emergency remote teaching. The need for teacher readiness in a digital age is a pressing frontier, with research focusing on the competencies required for educators to effectively integrate technology into their teaching practices. This includes familiarity with digital tools, pedagogical innovation, and an ongoing commitment to personal and professional growth in the digital domain.

Pandemic as a catalyst

The recent pandemic has acted as a catalyst for accelerated research and application in this field, particularly in the domains of “digital transformation,” “professional development,” and “physical education.” This period has been a litmus test for the resilience and adaptability of educational systems to continue their operations in an emergency. Research has thus been directed at understanding how digital technologies can support not only continuity but also enhance the quality and reach of education in such contexts.

Ethical and societal considerations

The frontier of digital technology in education is also expanding to consider broader ethical and societal implications. This includes issues of digital equity, data privacy, and the sociocultural impact of technology on learning communities. The research explores how educational technology can be leveraged to address inequities and create more equitable learning opportunities for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Innovation and emerging technologies

Looking forward, the frontiers are set to be influenced by ongoing and future technological innovations, such as artificial intelligence (AI) (Wu and Yu, 2023 ; Chen et al. 2022a ). The exploration into how these technologies can be integrated into educational practices to create immersive and adaptive learning experiences represents a bold new chapter for the field.

In conclusion, the current frontiers of research on the application of digital technology in education are multifaceted and dynamic. They reflect an overarching movement towards deeper integration of technology in educational systems and pedagogical practices, where the goals are not only to facilitate learning but to redefine it. As these frontiers continue to expand and evolve, they will shape the educational landscape, requiring a concerted effort from researchers, educators, policymakers, and technologists to navigate the challenges and harness the opportunities presented by the digital revolution in education.

Conclusions and future research

Conclusions.

The utilization of digital technology in education is a research area that cuts across multiple technical and educational domains and continues to experience dynamic growth due to the continuous progress of technology. In this study, a systematic review of this field was conducted through bibliometric techniques to examine its development trajectory. The primary focus of the review was to investigate the leading contributors, productive national institutions, significant publications, and evolving development patterns. The study’s quantitative analysis resulted in several key conclusions that shed light on this research field’s current state and future prospects.

(1) The research field of digital technology education applications has entered a stage of rapid development, particularly in recent years due to the impact of the pandemic, resulting in a peak of publications. Within this field, several key authors (Selwyn, Henderson, Edwards, etc.) and countries/regions (England, Australia, USA, etc.) have emerged, who have made significant contributions. International exchanges in this field have become frequent, with a high degree of internationalization in academic research. Higher education institutions in the UK and Australia are the core productive forces in this field at the institutional level.

(2) Education and Information Technologies , Computers & Education , and the British Journal of Educational Technology are notable journals that publish research related to digital technology education applications. These journals are affiliated with the research field of educational technology and provide effective communication platforms for sharing digital technology education applications.

(3) Over the past two decades, research on digital technology education applications has progressed from its early stages of budding, initial development, and critical exploration to accelerated transformation, and it is currently approaching maturity. Technological progress and changes in the times have been key driving forces for educational transformation and innovation, and both have played important roles in promoting the continuous development of education.

(4) Influenced by the pandemic, three emerging frontiers have emerged in current research on digital technology education applications, which are physical education, digital transformation, and professional development under the promotion of digital technology. These frontier research hotspots reflect the core issues that the education system faces when encountering new technologies. The evolution of research hotspots shows that technology breakthroughs in education’s original boundaries of time and space create new challenges. The continuous self-renewal of education is achieved by solving one hotspot problem after another.

The present study offers significant practical implications for scholars and practitioners in the field of digital technology education applications. Firstly, it presents a well-defined framework of the existing research in this area, serving as a comprehensive guide for new entrants to the field and shedding light on the developmental trajectory of this research domain. Secondly, the study identifies several contemporary research hotspots, thus offering a valuable decision-making resource for scholars aiming to explore potential research directions. Thirdly, the study undertakes an exhaustive analysis of published literature to identify core journals in the field of digital technology education applications, with Sustainability being identified as a promising open access journal that publishes extensively on this topic. This finding can potentially facilitate scholars in selecting appropriate journals for their research outputs.

Limitation and future research

Influenced by some objective factors, this study also has some limitations. First of all, the bibliometrics analysis software has high standards for data. In order to ensure the quality and integrity of the collected data, the research only selects the periodical papers in SCIE and SSCI indexes, which are the core collection of Web of Science database, and excludes other databases, conference papers, editorials and other publications, which may ignore some scientific research and original opinions in the field of digital technology education and application research. In addition, although this study used professional software to carry out bibliometric analysis and obtained more objective quantitative data, the analysis and interpretation of data will inevitably have a certain subjective color, and the influence of subjectivity on data analysis cannot be completely avoided. As such, future research endeavors will broaden the scope of literature screening and proactively engage scholars in the field to gain objective and state-of-the-art insights, while minimizing the adverse impact of personal subjectivity on research analysis.

Data availability

The datasets analyzed during the current study are available in the Dataverse repository: https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/F9QMHY

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Social Science Planning Project, “Mechanisms and Pathways for Empowering Classroom Teaching through Learning Spaces under the Strategy of High-Quality Education Development”, the 2022 National Social Science Foundation Education Youth Project “Research on the Strategy of Creating Learning Space Value and Empowering Classroom Teaching under the background of ‘Double Reduction’” (Grant No. CCA220319) and the National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program of China (Grant No. 202310337023).

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Wang, C., Chen, X., Yu, T. et al. Education reform and change driven by digital technology: a bibliometric study from a global perspective. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 11 , 256 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02717-y

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Transforming education with digital learning

Harnessing the power of Digital Learning and Transformation

In the lead up to the Transforming Education Summit (TES) in September 2022, five Thematic Action Tracks were identified to rethink and reimagine the purpose, content and delivery of education, and to transform education for peace, inclusion and sustainability. These Action Tracks serve as key levers to transform education systems — one of these is Digital Learning and Transformation (Action Track 4) .  

Within this thematic track falls the call to action, made during the TES, to ensure and improve quality public digital learning for all, and to ensure that digital platforms empower teachers, learners, and families, support accessibility and sharing of content, and meet the diverse needs of users including learners with disabilities, girls and women, and people on the move. In this call, three keys were identified to unlock the power of digital teaching and learning — content, capacity, and connectivity — making digital teaching and learning more universally accessible and a more reliable pillar of holistic educational experiences.  

Gateways to Public Digital Learning is a global initiative that focuses on the often-overlooked key of digital learning content. It ensures that every learner, teacher, and family can easily access, find, and use high-quality and curriculum-aligned digital education content to advance their learning. One of the key moments of this year’s Digital Learning Week was UNESCO’s update on the strides made in implementing the Gateways to Public Digital Learning Initiative  one year after its launch at the TES.

Country commitments to Digital Learning and Transformation

From UNESCO’s Dashboard of Country Commitments and Actions to Transform Education , it can be seen that Action Track 4 remains as an integral approach for countries to introduce innovation and transformation in their education systems. Out of 143 countries who expressed their national statements of commitment to transform their education systems as a pivotal outcome of the TES, 119 countries — accounting for 83.22 % — have committed against the theme “digital transformation and learning.”  

In particular, countries tackled on their statements of commitments subthemes that fall within Action Track 4:  

digital learning (110 countries) 

connectivity (78 countries) 

digital regulations (14 countries) 

In the second phase of the TES follow-up, a survey was shared with countries so that they can track and monitor their actions against these commitments. Country actions will also be added to the Dashboard in due time. 

Highlights of UNESCO Digital Learning Week 2023

Ensuring that Action Track 4 remains on top of its focus areas, UNESCO held its annual flagship event on Digital Learning and Transformation, the Digital Learning Week , in September 2023, one year after the TES. The Digital Learning Week is a reboot of the Mobile Learning Week, which ran for a decade .  

In its inaugural edition and under the banner of “Steering technology for education,” the Digital Learning Week focused on public digital learning platforms and generative AI (GenAI), examining how both can be steered to reinforce and enrich humanistic education.  

Several countries shared their vision and experiences in advancing Digital Learning and Transformation.  

This initiative will help us to have a shared, collaborative solution to the challenges we have been facing.

We hope to gain opportunities to work closely with other countries that have similar interests; We hope to facilitate some of these conversations about a shared standard that will allow for the resources that are developed to be cross-operable across different platforms.

We really feel the responsibility to join this effort because we’ve been working on trying to address this issue for a long period of time and we needed a lot of partners to actually deal with it;  The challenges ahead are huge, never-ending, so what we are trying to get from this coalition is a different peer group for our students and our teachers, a different conversation in which we can understand better what it looks like to work towards digital sovereignty in education.

Keynote address by Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education

Lecture on Generative AI

Panel attended by Daniel Andler , Mathematician and Philosopher, Member of the Académie des sciences morales et politiques and Professor Emeritus, Sorbonne Université, France, and Stuart Russell , Professor of Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley 

See more UNESCO Digital Learning Week 2023 resources here

First edition of UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week explores frontier technologies for education  

• Digital Learning Week 2023 wrap-up article

An Ed-tech Tragedy? Educational technologies and school closures in the time of COVID-19 (NEW PUBLICATION)

• Publication warning against the overuse of technology. It shares experiences with educational technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic and the implications for the future of learning. 

Guidance for generative AI in education and research (NEW PUBLICATION)

• UNESCO’s first-ever global guidance on generative AI in education, which calls on countries to regulate its use. 

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Digitalization is transforming all facets of society, not just work environments, and in terms of educational contexts, the transformation is occurring with or without strategic initiatives that ensure ongoing quality of teaching and learning environments. Integration of technology into teaching and learning is not new, but the rapid rate and pace of technological advancement is new, especially regarding new Internet, ICT and digital technologies. The field of education is mainly reactive, as new disruptive technologies develop in other industries and are then applied and accommodated into existing educational cultures and systems. This chapter provides an overview of technology integration in education from computers to other more advanced forms of digital technologies. The transformative potential of digitalization in education is exciting and presents many opportunities and challenges, given new trends and developments in digital technologies.

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Schmidt, J.T., Tang, M. (2020). Digitalization in Education: Challenges, Trends and Transformative Potential. In: Harwardt, M., Niermann, PJ., Schmutte, A., Steuernagel, A. (eds) Führen und Managen in der digitalen Transformation. Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-28670-5_16

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New advances in technology are upending education, from the recent debut of new artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots like ChatGPT to the growing accessibility of virtual-reality tools that expand the boundaries of the classroom. For educators, at the heart of it all is the hope that every learner gets an equal chance to develop the skills they need to succeed. But that promise is not without its pitfalls.

“Technology is a game-changer for education – it offers the prospect of universal access to high-quality learning experiences, and it creates fundamentally new ways of teaching,” said Dan Schwartz, dean of Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE), who is also a professor of educational technology at the GSE and faculty director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning . “But there are a lot of ways we teach that aren’t great, and a big fear with AI in particular is that we just get more efficient at teaching badly. This is a moment to pay attention, to do things differently.”

For K-12 schools, this year also marks the end of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding program, which has provided pandemic recovery funds that many districts used to invest in educational software and systems. With these funds running out in September 2024, schools are trying to determine their best use of technology as they face the prospect of diminishing resources.

Here, Schwartz and other Stanford education scholars weigh in on some of the technology trends taking center stage in the classroom this year.

AI in the classroom

In 2023, the big story in technology and education was generative AI, following the introduction of ChatGPT and other chatbots that produce text seemingly written by a human in response to a question or prompt. Educators immediately worried that students would use the chatbot to cheat by trying to pass its writing off as their own. As schools move to adopt policies around students’ use of the tool, many are also beginning to explore potential opportunities – for example, to generate reading assignments or coach students during the writing process.

AI can also help automate tasks like grading and lesson planning, freeing teachers to do the human work that drew them into the profession in the first place, said Victor Lee, an associate professor at the GSE and faculty lead for the AI + Education initiative at the Stanford Accelerator for Learning. “I’m heartened to see some movement toward creating AI tools that make teachers’ lives better – not to replace them, but to give them the time to do the work that only teachers are able to do,” he said. “I hope to see more on that front.”

He also emphasized the need to teach students now to begin questioning and critiquing the development and use of AI. “AI is not going away,” said Lee, who is also director of CRAFT (Classroom-Ready Resources about AI for Teaching), which provides free resources to help teach AI literacy to high school students across subject areas. “We need to teach students how to understand and think critically about this technology.”

Immersive environments

The use of immersive technologies like augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality is also expected to surge in the classroom, especially as new high-profile devices integrating these realities hit the marketplace in 2024.

The educational possibilities now go beyond putting on a headset and experiencing life in a distant location. With new technologies, students can create their own local interactive 360-degree scenarios, using just a cell phone or inexpensive camera and simple online tools.

“This is an area that’s really going to explode over the next couple of years,” said Kristen Pilner Blair, director of research for the Digital Learning initiative at the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, which runs a program exploring the use of virtual field trips to promote learning. “Students can learn about the effects of climate change, say, by virtually experiencing the impact on a particular environment. But they can also become creators, documenting and sharing immersive media that shows the effects where they live.”

Integrating AI into virtual simulations could also soon take the experience to another level, Schwartz said. “If your VR experience brings me to a redwood tree, you could have a window pop up that allows me to ask questions about the tree, and AI can deliver the answers.”

Gamification

Another trend expected to intensify this year is the gamification of learning activities, often featuring dynamic videos with interactive elements to engage and hold students’ attention.

“Gamification is a good motivator, because one key aspect is reward, which is very powerful,” said Schwartz. The downside? Rewards are specific to the activity at hand, which may not extend to learning more generally. “If I get rewarded for doing math in a space-age video game, it doesn’t mean I’m going to be motivated to do math anywhere else.”

Gamification sometimes tries to make “chocolate-covered broccoli,” Schwartz said, by adding art and rewards to make speeded response tasks involving single-answer, factual questions more fun. He hopes to see more creative play patterns that give students points for rethinking an approach or adapting their strategy, rather than only rewarding them for quickly producing a correct response.

Data-gathering and analysis

The growing use of technology in schools is producing massive amounts of data on students’ activities in the classroom and online. “We’re now able to capture moment-to-moment data, every keystroke a kid makes,” said Schwartz – data that can reveal areas of struggle and different learning opportunities, from solving a math problem to approaching a writing assignment.

But outside of research settings, he said, that type of granular data – now owned by tech companies – is more likely used to refine the design of the software than to provide teachers with actionable information.

The promise of personalized learning is being able to generate content aligned with students’ interests and skill levels, and making lessons more accessible for multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Realizing that promise requires that educators can make sense of the data that’s being collected, said Schwartz – and while advances in AI are making it easier to identify patterns and findings, the data also needs to be in a system and form educators can access and analyze for decision-making. Developing a usable infrastructure for that data, Schwartz said, is an important next step.

With the accumulation of student data comes privacy concerns: How is the data being collected? Are there regulations or guidelines around its use in decision-making? What steps are being taken to prevent unauthorized access? In 2023 K-12 schools experienced a rise in cyberattacks, underscoring the need to implement strong systems to safeguard student data.

Technology is “requiring people to check their assumptions about education,” said Schwartz, noting that AI in particular is very efficient at replicating biases and automating the way things have been done in the past, including poor models of instruction. “But it’s also opening up new possibilities for students producing material, and for being able to identify children who are not average so we can customize toward them. It’s an opportunity to think of entirely new ways of teaching – this is the path I hope to see.”

• Digital Transformation
• What Is Digital Transformation In Education

What Is Digital Transformation in Education and Why Is It So Important?

Published: 14 June, 2022

A popular song declares “we don’t need no education”. Yet acquiring new knowledge and skills, whether at school or university, is crucial for our development and growth. Plus, when learning is combined with leading-edge technology, the outcome is even more profound.

Digital transformation has shaped every domain, and education is no exception.

Modern digital technologies and solutions are widespread in the education sector these days. Essentially, they can cater to and enhance different areas and aspects of educational processes while allowing both teachers and students to enjoy extraordinary learning experiences.

According to HolonIQ, the global EdTech market will hit $404 billion by 2025, which suggests we are set to see many more exciting technological innovations that will take education to a new level.

Check out this article to find out more about the impact and importance of digital transformation in education, the most promising technology trends, and see how students and educators alike can benefit from them.

The essence of digital transformation in education

Digital transformation in education is about implementing modern technologies and solutions in educational processes in order to enhance learning and teaching experiences for all parties involved. It opens up a world of endless possibilities and allows for simplified communication and collaboration between teachers and students.

In addition, digital technologies have the potential to improve internal administrative processes, safeguard better working conditions for students and teachers, promote greater security at campuses, and facilitate the control of students’ health and well-being.

Discover how our IT consulting services help startups, SMEs, and large enterprises successfully undergo digital transformation

What are the key benefits of digital transformation in education?

The digital transformation of educational processes can bring about a host of positive changes for students and educators, including accessibility and inclusion for everyone, personalized learning, greater engagement, improved safety, and clearer insights into student performance.

Accessibility and inclusion for everyone

With cutting-edge digital technologies, learners from any corner of the world can gain access to learning materials and resources or join an online course or a training program. The only thing they need is a stable internet connection.

Notably, technological advances such as text-to-speech and speech-to-text manage to eliminate the barriers for students with disabilities, thus enabling quite literally anyone to join the educational process.

Personalized learning

Around 59% of middle school students admit that digital educational tools have helped them to raise their grades and test scores.

By making use of digital technologies, students can learn new material at their own pace and adapt the lessons to their own preferences and cognitive skill sets.

In addition, specialized learning experience platforms give students the ability to combine learning materials from different sources and enjoy more personalized experiences.

Greater engagement

Teachers, for their part, can offer students more engaging ways of learning and absorbing new material. Interactive whiteboards, tablets, smart classes, projectors, chatbots, AR/VR, and AI-powered software will boost learning performance and save time on various managerial tasks.

What’s more, teachers can also create and manage groups in a digital cooperative setting via learning platforms so that students can effectively exchange information, participate in discussions, and answer teachers’ questions.

Improved safety and protection

By integrating IoT-enabled sensors, CCTV systems, IP cameras, and artificial intelligence, it is now possible to help maintain the safety and well-being of both educators and students.

Face recognition capabilities can allow for sophisticated tracking of an establishment’s facilities, detecting suspicious people and/or activities.

Besides, novelties such as face mask detection and social distancing control systems as well as thermal screening will spot someone who is running a temperature or not keeping their distance and will issue an appropriate alert.

Clearer picture of student performance

A good deal of research has shown that parental involvement is crucial to children’s successful performance at school. Technology, for its part, provides parents with more sophisticated ways of tracking kids’ progress. These days there exist a number of tools and systems that automatically send parents progress and attendance reports on a regular basis.

But technology can go one step further: through making use of big data and analyzing students’ overall performance, strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, a student can receive a comprehensive career guide, telling them which potential occupations will suit their interests and capabilities.

Challenges and limitations of digital transformation in education

Despite its multiple benefits, digital transformation in education does not come easy. There are certain obstacles, including a faulty long-term strategy, unwillingness to change, and lack of relevant skills that create barriers to a smooth transition from traditional methods of teaching and learning to more advanced ones.

Poorly defined long-term strategy

Once an educational establishment has decided to go digital but does not have a thorough step-by-step plan, it can face a lot of challenges and roadblocks.

As a rule, digital transformation starts with planning and drawing up an exhaustive, forward-looking strategy that foresees all eventualities and answers the chief questions such as:

• What are you and your educational establishment planning to achieve with digital tools?
• Does the existing legacy system allow you to successfully incorporate new digital technologies?
• Are teachers and students adequately trained and prepared to embrace the change?
• Will everyone have equal access to new models of learning?
• Do you have the infrastructure budget needed to bring about changes, customizations, and replacements?

Unwillingness to change

Some educational establishments may find it difficult to alter the way they manage their internal processes as they might not be very willing to leave their comfort zone. Some educators may be used to their status quo and even fear that technology will replace them.

The point here is to persuade teachers that even the most sophisticated tech will never replace them — rather, it will help ease the burden of preparing materials and activities for their classes and make lessons more engaging and informative.

Insufficient tech knowledge and skills

The demand for tech-savvy professors is growing, and it is expected that around 3.5 million STEM jobs will need to be filled by 2025. Yet analysis, worryingly, suggests that millions (!) of these positions will remain vacant because not enough educators have relevant digital skills and knowledge.

The digital transformation of educational processes will not come off until educators have a thorough understanding of how to leverage digital tools and solutions in teaching and learning activities.

Therefore, teaching staff need to be regularly trained and updated with the digital skills that will allow them to educate, monitor, and motivate their students. Meanwhile, students too should be constantly helped to hone their digital skills.

Technologies that enable digital transformation in education

Given the increasing popularity of digital tools, the educational technology market is projected to expand to $342 billion by 2025.

Below we will look at the most profound tech trends such as artificial intelligence, chatbots, AR/VR, the metaverse, blockchain, and IoT, as well as their related use cases, and see how they can benefit the entire education sector.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence has made inroads into a wide range of educational processes, and it is expected that the global use of AI in education will hit $5.8 billion by 2025.

The sophisticated technology has been successfully leveraged to overhaul the way teachers do their job and students acquire new learning materials.

AI contributes enormously to the promotion of personalized learning by enabling students to make the most of adaptive learning software and different gamification techniques. It also has the capacity to highlight the areas that a student is not so good at and the topics they still need to master.

What’s more, multiple AI-based tutoring programs such as Third Space Learning have already been successfully launched. They support students in learning the ropes of mathematics and writing (among other subjects), though they lack high-order thinking skills and creativity.

Another point worth mentioning is that AI can give teachers a leg up in automating grading for multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank tests. This allows educators to focus on activities that require creativity and personal interaction with students.

See how our industry-certified AI engineers can help address your business hurdles

AI-enabled chatbots have become a go-to tool in the education sector, proving a hit not only with teachers and students but also with administrative staff.

Chatbot technologies perform a wide variety of tasks extremely capably and around the clock. Among the most popular issues they can deal with are answering routine questions, providing feedback to learners, assisting with undergraduate applicants, and counseling potential students on the admission process.

At present, a large number of universities across the globe, including Deakin University in Australia and Georgia State University are actively implementing AI chatbots into their processes. As well as this, outstanding corporations such as IBM, Amazon, and Drift have expressed avid interest in chatbot technology too and developed their own solutions that can be customized to address different educational aspects.

AR/VR in the education market is projected to reach $19.6 billion by 2023. They represent by far the most outstanding technologies that can be applied to a variety of educational activities.

AR/VR are widely regarded as valuable additions to the education scene because they offer extraordinary immersive experiences such as the ability to present information in advanced and captivating ways, and the potential to extend access to educational opportunities.

With high-performing AR/VR solutions, students are able to easily interact with virtual objects and their surroundings as well as other individuals. To date, plenty of AR/VR initiatives have been launched to assist students. For instance, there is the solution by Merge Cube that helps transform visual objects into 3D tactile items, or HoloAnatomy which enables medical students to have a better understanding of the human body using AR simulations.

AR/VR can also serve as a time machine, transporting students to different eras so that they can have a clearer sense of the most important world events. There are also VR initiatives like Bodyswaps that are aimed at helping students to practice job interviews and hone their soft skills.

In addition, AR/VR tools help teachers build 3D versions of classrooms where each student is represented as an avatar that can move around the classroom and interact with classmates. These virtual classes usually have a language translation function, meaning that the problem of language barriers can finally be solved.

Another prominent advantage of AR/VR in education is that the technology can cater to the needs of learners with disabilities. With these tools it is now possible to design sophisticated immersive environments that will enable students to change color contrast or font size, or to add an audio commentary.

In this article we have covered the full gamut of AR/VR applications and use cases in education. Check it out

The advances in AR/VR have laid the foundations for the wider adoption and development of the metaverse in the education sector. A large number of education professionals and analysts believe that the metaverse will exert a substantial influence on learning and come to be embraced globally, with the global metaverse education market projected to reach a value of $32.39 billion by 2028.

Thanks to the metaverse , students can explore extraordinary opportunities by immersing themselves in highly realistic environments. For example, medical students can almost literally enter the brain or other parts of the human body to better explore its structure and functioning.

Importantly, the metaverse can contribute to the development of safer learning environments. Educators will establish a degree of control over student interactions, which will enable them to substantially clamp down on bullying and also protect students from other unwelcome distractions.

It might still seem too early to speak about learning and teaching in the metaverse: yet Roblox has already introduced easy-to-install virtual classrooms where students can find historical roleplays, physics simulations, and creative building games.

Stay ahead of the curve with our metaverse development and consulting services

Expected to climb to over $39 billion in market size by 2025, blockchain technology has made its presence felt in a variety of industries, education being no exception.

Blockchain’s immutable ledger can be used for safely storing and keeping student records that contain authentic information about attendance, completed courses, and results of particular exams or tests. Once the student’s data has been entered onto the blockchain, falsifying or tampering with it will be impossible, and only authorized parties will be able to access it.

World-renowned universities such as the University of California at Berkeley, MIT , and Harvard University Division of Continuing Education have long been interested in utilizing blockchain to develop a reliable shared infrastructure standard for issuing, storing, displaying, and verifying academic credentials.

Beyond this, a large number of blockchain solutions have been launched to help institutions make their workflows more robust and ensure more effective and secure management and storage of data. These comprise Disciplina, Blockcerts, and Parchment.

In addition, teachers can also make use of blockchain-powered smart contracts to assist them in organizing their work. They can record a lesson into a blockchain, provide tasks for students, specify assignment parameters, and enable smart contracts to automatically verify the completion of a task and allow the student to proceed to the next one.

And there is more: non-fungible tokens have made inroads into the education domain too. These can make very serviceable substitutes for diplomas and certificates, and also verify academic achievements and exam results.

Find out more about the most prominent blockchain education use cases and applications

IoT in the education market is projected to hit $26.8 billion by 2028.

Cutting-edge IoT devices allow schools and universities to enhance the security of their campuses, keep track of and manage core resources, and significantly simplify access to information in the learning environment.

The multi-faceted nature of IoT devices allows each educational establishment to leverage the technology for its own purposes. Arizona State University , for instance, has set up smart sensors that rely on IoT data to inform the administration about energy use at its $300 million football arena redevelopment.

Among other IoT education use cases, the most outstanding ones are smart thermostats that regulate classroom temperature and smart sensors that are able to track each student’s attendance and performance. Notably, IoT sensors can also be used to upgrade the efficiency of testing and grading and help find methods to increase classroom engagement.

Moreover, a large number of forward-looking schools have been leveraging IoT devices such as smartwatches to track student health and well-being metrics such as depression and blood oxygen level. If a wearable spots a change in the condition, it immediately notifies school administrators and parents.

Need a reliable IoT development partner? We have you covered

What it takes to deliver a meaningful digital transformation in education

Many aspects need to be taken into consideration before implementing digital tools and solutions in educational processes.

To get everything right and secure long-term success, it is advisable to carry out a SWOT analysis, which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

By relying on SWOT, educational establishments will be able to tick their boxes and have a clearer vision of how to proceed further. More specifically, a SWOT analysis will help educators and administrators to:

• see where a school/university is most effective
• pinpoint directions and areas that require improvement
• identify strategic goals
• examine the viability of the digital initiative
• discover how students, educators, and administrators will benefit from the transformation
• learn how to implement new tools in educational processes

It is also necessary to prepare both educators and students for the digital transformation in their learning and teaching processes. This can be done via special training, workshops, and sessions comprising thorough explanations of the benefits of digital tools and demonstrations of how to use them to their full potential.

Finally, to fully realize the digital transformation of educational processes, it’s very important to look for a reliable tech partner who will take care of implementing the technology or delivering a high-performing solution.

Closing thoughts

Digital transformation in educational processes allows for greater accessibility, inclusion, and engagement and contributes to the development of more personalized learning approaches. It also provides a safer and more secure environment where students and teachers can seamlessly interact with each other.

Pioneering technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, the metaverse, blockchain, and IoT have been successfully leveraged in a variety of educational directions — and it is just a matter of time before we see many other game-changing tools that will elevate the entire education sector to a completely new level.

When you decide to give the technology a go — make sure to drop us a line. Since 2007, here at PixelPlex we have been helping businesses from a range of industries to undergo a fruitful digital transformation and to thrive. Our seasoned experts will do their best to design a solution that will deliver real value to your organization and enable you to be the leader in your sector.

Do not hesitate to contact us, let’s start transforming your business today!

Kira Belova

Technical Writer

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• Trends in Education

Top 8 digital transformation trends in education

December 10, 2020 •

9 min reading

The digital revolution has touched nearly every aspect of our lives. More than  3.5 billion people  have access to the internet and more than  5 billion are estimated  to have some sort of mobile device, with half of them being smartphones. This level of connectivity has influenced how people engage with others, get their news and see the world around them.

It is no wonder, therefore, that these digital transformation trends have also heavily impacted the education industry. From primary school educators through those in higher education, the digital transformation has affected classrooms and how these teachers reach their students. These changes have been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which closed schools in countless countries around the world. In an effort to help students keep learning, many schools and teachers turned to technology to help them bridge the gap.

The use of online learning, however, has been only one way that digital technology and advancements have impacted students and trends in the classroom. Those interested in learning more about how technology has changed learning, and the benefits that some of these changes can offer teachers and students alike, should read on. We will cover the top 8 digital trends that we have seen emerging as schools begin to embrace the power of the internet in the school environment.

INVEST IN EDUCATION TOOLKIT With this 10-step process, you will have all the tools you need to master the critical areas of a successful school.

1. improved accessibility and access.

One of the most inspiring digital transformation trends visible in education is the improved accessibility to school, lessons and even degree programs for students of all ages. Students who may have impairments that hinder their ability to access certain types of information will find that technology can go a long way in removing these barriers. For example, text-to-speech programs and programs that transcribe dictated content can help to improve the ability of all students to access the information presented through schools. Those with visual or audio challenges, as well as reading disabilities, can all benefit from these different types of technology that allow them to learn and earn degrees.

Accessibility and access also continue to improve from a geographic perspective thanks to technology. Online learning opportunities, which allow students to access schools and degree programs that might not be local to them, help students secure the best possible education for their given situation. Students no longer have to be limited by their immediate geographical area. Even before the pandemic hit,  more than a third of students  reported taking at least one class online. This trend will continue to grow as people see the value of improving flexibility for some courses, or even programs, in higher education.

2. Personalized learning approaches

Personalized learning approaches have also been an important component of the digital education revolution. Rather than trying to fit everyone into the same metaphorical box, many schools and programs have begun to realize the value of offering adaptable solutions for students based on their own strengths and weaknesses.

Personalized learning approaches provide a number of benefits for students and learning institutions. When students are allowed to learn in a way that fits their own learning approaches best, it helps them absorb and retain critical information; personalization empowers them to move forward in their education. Learners become encouraged to earn the degrees and qualify for the educational and job opportunities that suit them well, but might have felt out of reach before.

When students feel this engaged with the material at hand, it also helps to keep them on track with their program. Schools that can genuinely meet the needs of their students and keep them moving forward with the coursework will also improve their retention rates. This, in turn, will give schools’ reputations a boost and enhance their ability to prepare their learners for the next step in their education or job training.

3. Virtual reality

Virtual reality has become an increasingly important component of technology across all sectors. Although it was initially used as a form of entertainment, it has also attracted attention for its potential in training sequences or even shopping.

In the world of education, virtual reality can provide students with the chance to ‘experience’ the material they learn before they actually move into real-world applications. For example, in the hospitality industry, students can see firsthand the different potential work environments, feel as though they are in a situation where they need to serve customers, and receive training that gives them hands-on experience without even leaving their classroom.

This can help students feel more comfortable and better prepared for their future careers and the completion of their education. Students who feel more qualified and comfortable will find it easier to transition into their roles and perform.

4. Cloud-based learning opportunities

The cloud offers students and teachers the chance to connect from virtually anywhere. They can use these types of applications while sitting in a lecture hall in person, from home, or even half-way around the world. When the pandemic hit, it only accelerated the potential for these types of applications. Teachers began using a variety of different platforms to host lectures and post videos for students to help them keep up with their education despite not being able to meet in person.

These platforms offer a host of opportunities. They enable the streaming of lectures, thus making online classes possible and interactive. Students can also use many applications to submit their assignments, track their syllabi, and even connect and engage with others in their class. The platforms can be used to break out into smaller groups so that students can collaborate together on projects and assignments.

Cloud-based applications that have been designed specifically for students can even allow students to take exams.

Thanks to these types of programs, students from a wide range of backgrounds have more access to classes and educational opportunities. Learners who require degree programs that offer improved flexibility, students who do not live near a college or university that offers their desired program, or those who cannot attend class in person for any number of reasons will all experience benefits from the growth of cloud-based learning.

5. Incorporating the Internet of Things into the school environment

In the age of ‘smart’ devices, the Internet of Things, or IoT, can be found with increasing prevalence throughout people’s lives. No longer are simply phones considered ‘smart', but people can take advantage of technological improvements that make everything from their plugs and outlets to their thermostats ‘smart’. In education, this trend has begun to help connect learning institutions and students in an entirely new way.

On one level, IoT can benefit education campuses by helping schools improve security and comfort features while controlling costs. Smart devices that allow school officials to understand traffic patterns will inform them where lights and security features will have the most value. Smart devices can also gauge when temperature control systems should be switched on and take other steps to provide the students with a comfortable learning experience.

IoT can also help schools remain connected with students. Time-stamps help track assignments so that students can better monitor their degree progress and verify their work has been received. Student tracking also helps teachers and professors take attendance and know when someone is missing. In the case of young children who still live at home, this information can then be used to let parents know if their child is unexpectedly absent and provide better communication and safety in that regard.

6. Security across digital devices

With technology quickly becoming such a critical feature in the daily lives of students and teachers, security has become another necessary trend in the digital education revolution. Schools collecting a wealth of information on students, from their personal data to grades, want to know that this information is protected and secured.

Security protocols that allow schools to record, store and transmit sensitive student data will be critical throughout the digital transformation. Schools will also want to make sure that they have a means of securely allowing students to digitally submit assignments and verify user authenticity. This becomes even more critical in instances when students may take exams or other assessments digitally. Security breaches can be devastating for individuals and institutions as a whole, making them an important priority and trend throughout the adoption of education technology.

7. Teaching digital citizenship

As these digital transformation trends have impacted students in a variety of ways throughout their lives, students need to know how to interact politely and civilly online. This is similar to students learning how to be professional in an office or hospital setting. Schools have begun to recognize this importance, and teaching students in the principles of good digital citizenship has become an increasingly important trend throughout education.

When educating students on being a good digital citizen, schools empower students to embrace the full capacity of technology. To see the best results from digital citizenship instruction, institutions should aim to make it part of the culture for the students and teachers alike. These principles guide people to behave more collaboratively online, which can help students succeed in their classes and in a professional environment.

Students with this type of training are more prepared to enter the digitally-connected professional world. Their internet usage skills and ability to engage others through digital channels will help them perform in their chosen field, which means that educating students on digital citizenship is one of the most important emerging education trends.

8. Big data

Schools have long collected a wealth of information about their students, including their demographics, grades and classes. Big data provides them with the opportunity to take this information much further and use it to better understand student trends and successes. Big data refers to the growing technological capabilities to track large amounts of data and interpret it with the assistance of algorithms to find patterns and helpful information.

This includes the convergence of a variety of different sources of data. Schools may have previously gathered a wide range of useful information about students, but it was siloed and only really accessible to the particular person or department who collected the data. This made it harder to put the information in context and understand everything it could tell the school about the educational experiences they provide. Schools that learn how to break down these silos will find that they have a better chance of building a thorough understanding of their students and degree programs.

Using the data compiled and analyzed through big data capabilities can tell schools helpful information such as:

• Where students struggle and thrive in their programs. They can then uncover any particular patterns about the students that excel in particular areas and use this to help them improve the learning experience.
• They can track greater trends in student populations, including student performance and professional outcomes. The better they understand how their degrees impact their students, the easier it will be for them to improve the education and resources they offer.
• How well students respond to different types of information delivery and class styles. If they uncover trends about online classes, seminar classes and lectures for particular topics, they will understand how to shape their degree program to help students thrive after graduation.

The information collected will empower schools to better serve their students. It can impact the types of personalized learning opportunities offered, as well as the structure of classes and the resources and support offered to students.

The shift towards a digital, modern world has had a measurable impact on the inner workings of education. Schools of all levels have begun to realize that this technology can offer them a number of benefits and new strategies for educating their students. Professionals interested in tracking the latest trends and shifts in the digital education revolution should consider the 8 ideas above. Finding ways to incorporate these into an educational plan can attract students and schools alike for the potential they offer.

Consultant - EHL Education Consulting

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7 examples of digital transformation in higher education

There's no arguing the advancement of the digital age--here are some examples of the effects of the digital transformation in higher education.

Everything around us is rapidly going digital. Once manual processes are now handled by intelligent and efficient machines, while phone operators and secretaries are being replaced by computers and digital means of communication. You can book a trip, order dinner, pay your bills, make a doctor appointment and even apply to college without ever picking up a pen, talking on the phone or printing out a sheet of paper.

When it comes to the business of higher education, these facts are relevant. So, what is higher education doing to keep up with this rapidly evolving digital world? It’s called digital transformation.

With the digital age moving faster than ever, higher education needs to set themselves up for the scalable capabilities it will require to remain competitive. So how are schools meeting the demands and expectations of their students and staff? Below are 7 examples of digital transformation within the higher education space:

1. Chatbots and online Q&A availabilities in libraries : Despite the rapid digitization of information, the library is still an important and relevant piece of the education landscape. However, allocating funds and staff resources to the traditional library in the same ways of the past no longer provides enough ROI.

To meet the changing needs of their students and budget allocation, libraries are exploring digital transformation. One relatively simple way they are doing this is by digitizing periodicals and books so they can be available online to more than one student at a time. This increases the library’s value and convenience to students and staff.

Another great example of digital transformation in higher education libraries comes in the form of chatbots and online Q&A capabilities. The College of St. Thomas, for example, offers a website widget to get in touch with librarians in four different ways. A Q&A chatbot has also been created to field questions about basic research topics, find relevant results, and even reserve materials for customers. An FAQ bot could also be used in different departments on campus beyond the library. For example, a bot could assist students and staff in setting up appointments with the IT department or health services office, or by requesting maintenance in student housing.

2. Note-taking and studying : Retention and graduation rates are measurable data points that are always in the forefront of administrators’ minds when it comes to budget allocation and programming. So, it comes as no surprise that note-taking and studying is an area where institutions are exploring digital transformation.

Interactive displays and whiteboards have become more and more popular on campuses. These allow students to receive a digital copy of everything the professor writes on the board during class, and gives the instructor access to more stats, data, maps and online information during the lesson.

There are also new technologies and mobile apps available that make it easy to scan images or text from any document using your mobile device. This is a great way for students to have the information they need from books that they may not be able to check out of the library, or collect information on the go for a project they’re working on. On top of this, digitizing class notes reduces paper waste, which could count towards “green” initiatives on campus that can sometimes lead to earning grants for the school.

3. Digital payment options : Modern students are doing most of their banking and monetary transactions online, with 44 percent of millennials sending money digitally . Students will soon expect the same convenience and security when it comes to paying for higher education. Reducing the use of paper checks in favor of digital payments is a great place to start in digital transformation, because it is convenient for students waiting for much-needed funds in the form of a tuition reimbursement or work study check.

Beyond tuition payments, some schools may someday consider becoming “cashless campuses.” An app on a phone or the digital transformation of student ID cards could become the only means of payment that schools need to accept on campus. This can reduce the need for cash registers and employees to handle cash transactions

On top of this, the data that your school could collect from these digital interactions could help you make decisions when it comes to fund allocation and improving product offerings to match what your staff and students are actually purchasing.

4. Moving the curriculum online : This example of digital transformation is maybe one of the most popular right now. Online courses offer the freedom and flexibility that many non-traditional students are looking for in their education, and creating online options for degree programs is quickly becoming a necessary step that colleges need to take to remain competitive. Moving your courses and degree offerings online, be it a few credits for each degree program or fully online degree options, is a necessary digital transformation in today’s landscape.

5. School-wide apps : Campuses across the country are now finding the value in digital apps made specifically for their school and their students. A school’s app can be loaded onto a device and used anytime to find important phone numbers, maps of the campus, events to attend and more.

The University of Arizona has an app that can alert students of their meal plan balance, the University of Alabama shares upcoming events and athletics information on their app, and Ashford University allows app users to post in class-related discussion forums.

Soon, apps could also be used to enhance the student experience on-campus by being the go-to tool for everything campus-related — from accessing emergency services to contacting a building RA or student adviser. Once the technology is in place, the app could become even more central to campus life, pinging students when their laundry is done or when a professor has cancelled a class due to weather.

6. Transforming utility operations to digitally-controlled systems : Digital transformation goes well beyond the student experience when it comes to the areas in which it can be applied. If they are not already, most utilities on campus can be moved to digital systems that reduce, and even eliminate, the need for anyone to physically touch the lights or thermostats.

Smart technology set up to conserve energy when buildings and classrooms are not in use can save campus funds that could be allocated elsewhere. If your digital transformation includes the installation of digital devices to gather data on energy use, campuses are now implementing energy audits to calculate usage, find ways to further reduce waste levels and increase efficiency.

7. Digitally transforming decision-making with data analytics software : Efficiently gathering all of the data your institution collects from students and campus operations, and presenting it in a way that supports positive changes at your school, could be one of the most important digital transformations your school makes. Data doesn’t mean much if you cannot view it in a meaningful way and use it to make informed decisions.

Using the right higher education data analytics software , the data silos that exist in your operations can be avoided and the holes in information that they cause can be reduced. By comparing and analyzing separate sets of data from different departments in one visualization, you will gain a holistic, overarching view of your institution, including where you’re succeeding and where change is required to achieve success.

If you observe that you are missing points of data, consider whether or not that piece of the administrative process in your college is still done manually, and if a digital transformation for that process could be effective in speeding up and simplifying it. The IoT and data analytics software can help with this; the more connected devices you have gathering information about your campus, students, programs and operations, the better you will understand the whole picture. Once you have the data, organizing, comparing and presenting it in meaningful ways will help make it easier for administrators to make suggestions on how to streamline processes, including which would benefit the most from–or are in the most desperate need of–a digital transformation.

Digital transformation is happening rapidly throughout every industry all over the world, and higher education is no exception. To remain competitive, higher education institutions must continue to gather as much information about themselves as they can and use that data to make decisions that will benefit them in the long run. Investments in digital transformation, when the decision comes from careful observation and data analytics, can be the means by which a school breaks free of its past and becomes the educational institution of the future.

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Eric Spear is the founder and president of Precision Campus , a data analytics software program designed exclusively for higher education. Eric has more than 20 years of data warehouse development experience, including his work as a senior developer for the University of Maryland, performing all related duties including database management, user requirements, gathering, coding, training, and data administration.

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What Is Digital Transformation? Definition, Strategy, and Examples

Learn how digital transformation in an organization can deliver value to customers.

The term digital transformation can apply to anything changing from analog to digital. On a global scale, it is the sum of ongoing changes in the digital age. The following article explores digital transformation strategy, processes, benefits, and examples. 

What is digital transformation?

Digital transformation is the process of integrating digital technologies into all parts of an organization, such as products, services, or operations, to deliver value to customers. In a globally and digitally connected landscape, this type of transformation is more than keeping up with the rest of the world and your industry—it’s about continuing to innovate and seek new, better ways of doing things.

Digital transformation examples

An example of digital transformation that you are likely familiar with is paper records at doctor's offices. Today, most medical documents are digitized into electronic health records (EHR). This digital transformation process made it easier for patients and providers to access records quickly. It also enhanced scheduling and monitoring capabilities beyond paper and pen. You can familiarize yourself with examples of digital transformation across different industries in the following sections. 

Digital transformation in health care

As mentioned above, the shift from paper-based patient records to EHR has made monitoring health concerns easier for patients and providers. Online portals have also helped make virtual doctor’s visits more accessible in recent years. For example, the company Doxy.me created a free web-based system designed for telehealth. Clinicians can create an account and offer a personalized waiting room to communicate with patients. Patients can click a link to “wait” in the room until the clinician is ready. This service provides an easily accessible, secure, and safe virtual platform for telehealth.

Learn more: Check out Northeastern University's Master of Science in Management: Digital Transformation in Healthcare .

Digital transformation in entertainment services

Netflix started out as a DVD distributor and then pivoted into a streaming service. It was a bold (but smart) move. Blockbuster stores were dying out, and people were spending more and more time online. Later on, competitors like Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime would enter the market for a slice of the streaming service pie.

Digital transformation in finance

Financial services have undergone a significant transformation in recent years, enabling several forms of mobile banking. Consider the transformation from cash to credit cards and automated teller machines (ATMs). Or, think about how touch-free payments such as Apple Pay and CashApp have proliferated. Another notable example is Wise (formerly Transferwise). This company created a borderless banking application that allows businesses and individuals to send and receive money in multiple currencies.

Wise's digital transformation strategy

Rather than being divided into departments (like marketing, finance, etc.), Wise implemented small, autonomous teams to focus on specific key performance indicators (KPIs). Additionally, they cultivated a mission-driven culture to encourage innovation with speed and agility.

Learn more: Check out Copenhagen Business School’s Digital Transformation in Financial Services Specialization .

Digital transformation in manufacturing

Many manufacturers undergo digital transformation to create more lean, efficient supply chains. Using predictive analytics and other forms of artificial intelligence (AI), they reduce costs, maintenance, and consumption. For example, Tesla is known for being a manufacturer of electric cars. It is the only car manufacturer that provides updates that allow the car to improve safety and performance capabilities remotely. It has also worked to produce more lithium-ion batteries at its manufacturing plants, using digital technologies to increase year-over-year growth [ 1 ].

The digital transformation process in 4 phases

Digital transformation efforts look different from industry to industry. The process can vary slightly depending on customer expectations, business models, and organizational culture. However, the overall digital transformation process can be broken down into four phases:

1. Early stage. The first stage of the process includes planning, cultivating the necessary partnerships, and testing the organization's capabilities. Business leaders develop the approach and select the tools or digital innovations they want to implement. 

2. Mid-stage. During this stage, business leaders choose focus areas like business processes, digital products, or key roles within the organization. The digital transformation strategy is defined, along with key performance indicators (KPIs) that help measure success. 

3. Growth stage. The growth stage in a digital transformation project emphasizes scalability. It focuses on adopting new business processes, products, and protocols across the organization. Change management is introduced during the third stage of the transformation process. 

4. Mature stage. The final stage in a digital business transformation is centered around continued innovation and improvement. A strategic approach to governance should also be defined during the mature stage.  

Even in organizations where a digital transformation initiative has been “completed,” continuous maintenance and re-evaluation are required.

What is a digital transformation strategy?

A digital transformation strategy is the holistic approach an organization coordinates. The goal is to make the digital transformation journey seamless and efficient. Beyond implementing new technologies to support your employees and customers better, true transformation requires a company culture that is open to embracing change, experimentation, and failure. The success of digital transformation in an organization relies on openness to innovation and flexibility.

Digital transformation services

Some organizations employ the help of digital transformation services to ensure a smooth employee experience and minimize disruptions in daily operations. Commonly utilized digital transformation services include:

Consulting. Experts can analyze your company's IT infrastructure and operating model to make strategic recommendations. Goals include enhanced performance, scalability, and sustainability. 

Big data management. Digital transformation services may include the implementation of big data infrastructure. Structuring how an organization collects, stores, and analyzes data can provide essential insights to guide decision-making. 

Re-engineering of existing infrastructure and digital products. Many organizations seek expert guidance in modernizing legacy systems and outdated processes for optimal digital transformation success.  

Digital transformation careers

When an organization undergoes a digital transformation initiative, every team is affected. The sections below outline some of the key roles that affect digital transformation efforts.

Engineers and developers

Software engineers , user experience ( UX) designers , developers , cloud computing specialists , and product managers are essential roles in the rollout of new products, services, systems, and processes. They work alongside operations staff to implement software at every stage of the business.

Data science and IT professionals

Data scientists , data architects , and data analysts sort, analyze, and produce insights. Machine learning and AI engineers support digital transformations by creating models for quicker, targeted analysis of data to assess needs. Other IT jobs include systems administrators and help desk technicians , who troubleshoot and assist before, during, and after big operational changes.

Strategists and creatives

Strategists, such as change management and digital transformation consultants (or agencies), can provide much-needed support for leadership at a high level. They can help facilitate the company-wide adoption of tools and technologies. Additional job roles needed for internal communications during a digital transformation include content and brand strategists and ethical compliance specialists. 

Digital leaders

At the top of the organization, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) must work with other executive staff to ensure a smooth transition and continued revenue growth by introducing new digital products and technologies.

Interested in starting a career in digital transformation? Consider learning from an industry leader with the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate .

Benefits of digital transformation

Digital transformation has plenty of benefits in addition to keeping pace with organizations at the forefront of the digital revolution:

Increased return on investment (ROI): Organizations that spend money on and complete their digital transformations tend to see margins that are 16 percent higher than their industry average, according to MIT Center for Information Systems Research [ 2 ]. While this number may vary, it’s hard to deny that implementing digital systems and processes can speed up productivity and operations to increase business growth.

Data-driven insights: Digital tools help organizations collect, sort, and analyze data at huge volumes. Across an organization, departments can translate raw data into actionable insights to optimize operations, production, finance, and marketing. Business intelligence tools help leaders make data-driven decisions.

Improved communication and collaboration: Teams can benefit from enhanced productivity by using digital tools that facilitate better communication and collaboration. Whether it’s Microsoft Teams or Slack, email platforms like Outlook or Gmail, or collaborative tools like Google Docs and Miro, there are numerous options for digital collaboration.

Better customer experience: Creating more intuitive and seamless experiences for customers begins with adopting digital technology. When reaching customers through email marketing and social media , businesses can track metrics with digital tools. A digital infrastructure can help an organization cater to different customer segments to deliver value propositions like fast delivery, competitive pricing, and good quality. As a result, customers will be more likely to choose that company’s product, even among competitive choices.

Read more: Digital Supply Chains: Definition, Benefits, and Careers

How to start your digital transformation journey

Digital transformation projects start with adopting a culture of change. First, you’ll want to consider your business goals. What are the needs? How can you be human-centered? What can be done more efficiently with technology? Then, collaborate with and empower IT staff to research the best tools for your needs. You’ll want to align this strategy with the right technology. Finally, redesign your business to focus on your customers and employees, whether it’s elevating your products, distribution channels, human resources, or financial organization.

Keep learning about digital transformation with Coursera 

Whether your organization is launching a digital transformation initiative or you're interested in starting a career in this field, you can prepare yourself with an online, self-paced, and beginner-friendly course developed by the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. You'll learn how to apply the Boston Consulting Group’s framework to navigate digital transformation strategy, core processes, and technology.

Article sources

SSRN. “ Tesla Motors, Inc.: Driving Digital Transformation and the Digital Ecosystem , https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3053142.” Accessed April 19, 2023.

GHD. “ Realising the value of digital transformation , https://www.ghd.com/en/perspectives/realising-the-value-of-digital-transformation.aspx.” Accessed May 15, 2023.

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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From Traditional Tracks to Digital Transformation

• Educational institutions are in a race to stay ahead of emerging technology—to win, they must remain agile, adaptable, and open to the potential of artificial intelligence to revolutionize education.
• To stay competitive, we can deliver more personalized education and provide students with immediate feedback that accelerates and enriches their learning—all with the help of AI.
• By pairing strategic technological adoption with comprehensive ethics education, schools can train students to become champions who make a positive impact on society.

  Imagine you’re running a marathon, but the track keeps changing. Sometimes it’s made of asphalt, sometimes it’s made of sand—occasionally, it turns into a treadmill going at maximum speed. Now, imagine that you’re competing in shoes that are a size too small, making an already challenging race even more daunting.

Here is a further twist: As the landscape shifts, so does the objective. You and the other competitors aren’t judged by who crosses the finish line first, but by how innovatively and effectively you navigate the course, how well you adapt to changing conditions, and how creatively and effectively you solve problems along the way.

The route of the race is lined with spectators—but they’re not there just to watch you run or cheer you on. They are demanding that you make the race more thrilling and more interactive, so that they receive an experience that’s of the utmost quality.

This analogy mirrors what it’s like to be an educational institution in 2024, when the only constant is change. Business schools are sprinting through an era of digital transformation, when students and employers are demanding greater customization and flexibility. Educational stakeholders now look at traditional educational tracks—the old-school curricula—with suspicion. They want programs that don’t just teach skills that are currently in most demand, but anticipate the skills that employers will need in the future.

So, how can we keep our teaching agile and stay current with emerging technologies? How can we keep up with evolving  accreditation standards ? While the answer might not be easy to implement, it is simple: We must gear up our curricula with the latest tech—including generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)—and revolutionize the way we teach, assess, and interact with our students.

In the process, we won’t just run the race, but change the game, using every tool at our disposal. Most important, we can ensure that when we cross the finish line, we will have helped our students transform themselves, so that they can run the next race more capably and confidently.

Racing Ahead to Personalized Learning

In this grand education marathon, we can’t just be fast—we also must be agile and adaptable. We can no longer rely on static programs or curricular redesigns that take years to complete to see our programs through. And while exams based on trusty multiple-choice questions once served their purpose—especially in large classes where the need to grade tests quickly and efficiently was paramount—they are no longer sufficient to measure students’ depth of understanding in a world where problems do not have neat and tidy answers.

It is imperative that we adopt deeper and more adaptive training regimens for students. In most instances, this means placing greater emphasis on experiential learning, where the abstract meets the concrete and theory is fused with practice. Our students can test their mettle by tackling real-world challenges and directly confronting the demands and unpredictability of new technologies.

This approach also requires that we design new assessment methodologies, in which we ensure that students receive real-time, personalized coaching after every lap they complete. Students can boost their learning substantially when they reflect on their performance and mistakes immediately, while the experiences are still fresh in their minds.

We aren’t looking for “right” or “wrong” answers. Rather, we’re asking students to work through open-ended problems and then providing quick and detailed feedback, so that they can sprint forward faster in their learning journeys.

This once might have been difficult to do, especially in large classes. But today, we can more easily make such personalized attention a reality, in classes large and small—all thanks to the  power of AI . AI can help us customize assessments, short-answer quizzes, and essay questions—all formats that allow us to go beyond surface-level knowledge to delve deeper into students’ creativity, problem-solving abilities, and reasoning.

As others have noted,  AI is a game-changer . In this increasingly digital world, the depth of knowledge of educators remains irreplaceable, but they can use GenAI tools to adapt their playbooks, amplify their teaching, and reach every student. Using AI, they can tailor questions to each student’s needs. Professors can provide students with the ability to tackle the same problems multiple times, refining students’ understanding and skills with each attempt. AI can immediately provide students with detailed explanations of where they stumbled and how they can improve. Professors can even train AI to grade the quality of student responses.

Throughout this process, we aren’t looking for “right” or “wrong” answers. Rather, we’re asking students to work through open-ended problems and then providing quick and detailed feedback. These iterations will enable students to learn more deeply and quickly—essentially, to leap over hurdles and sprint forward faster in their learning journeys.

As educators, we see there’s nothing to fear from this technology. With AI, we can more easily meet evolving accreditation standards, and we can make learning more dynamic, personalized, and effective in ways that improve our students’ competencies in step with a changing world.

Accelerating the Pace

At Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, we view AI as a vital tool in shaping future business practices. For example, in applied coding courses such as Business Data Management, students use tools such as  GitHub Copilot , an AI-powered code completion tool, for their final projects.

GitHub Copilot guides students through the intricacies of real-world tech applications in a way that boosts their innovation and productivity. With this integration of AI into the curriculum, students can expand the scope of their work and write code more quickly and efficiently—much like marathon runners might use advanced gear to enhance performance.

Likewise, we have aligned the curriculum of our introductory courses in management information systems with the AI adoption of diverse businesses, from nimble startups to sprawling multisided platforms. Taken by students interested in both technical and nontechnical career paths, these courses work to ensure that students master AI to boost their innovation. Over time, as they learn to use AI more skillfully, they are less likely to avoid the technology out of fear or, conversely, to use it as a substitute for their own thought processes.

Across the curriculum, we are deploying assessments that encourage students to use AI for more general tasks such as summarizing or highlighting content. We emphasize the importance of human judgment in interpreting AI-generated information—as evidence, we need only point to content that AI cannot access, such as the latest academic research. With this approach, students  engage in critical thinking  and learn to use AI as a valuable assistant.

We view our business school not merely as a participant in the digital transformation race, but as a leader. In turn, we want to prepare students not just to run their own races, but to lead the pack, using the knowledge and skills they have gained to harness technology for ethical and innovative solutions.

Running the Course With Integrity

To take the analogy one step further—if business schools are like runners in the digital transformation race, professors are like coaches who must instill in students the ability to make socially responsible decisions. If we merely teach our protégés to keep pace on an ever-evolving digital track, we risk that they will prioritize speed over prowess and let AI run the race for them rather than with them.

Only by mastering the digital realm ourselves can we equip our students to navigate the complex course that lies ahead.

Instead, our mission requires us to show students how to harness AI tools as extensions of their capabilities. We also must provide ample opportunities for them to develop the wisdom necessary to use those tools judiciously.

So that students become successful and responsible leaders, business schools must deliver content on the  ethical stewardship of technology . This is akin to embedding the rules of fair play into every athlete’s mindset. By integrating discussions on the ethics of new technologies into our programs, we can forge champions who do more than just win—they elevate the game for everyone in ways that make a positive impact on society.

Leading by Example

We have been running this race for many years, and the pace has accelerated since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. But where does the starting line truly begin?

For educators, it starts with embracing technology not as a specter to fear but as a tool to wield wisely, so that we can cultivate in ourselves a deep understanding of its applications and remain open to its possibilities. Only by  mastering the digital realm ourselves  can we equip our students to navigate the complex course that lies ahead.

For students, the starting line begins with us—the coaches, the mentors, the guides. If we are to pave the way for our students to succeed in a future where technology complements rather than controls their lives, we must lead by example on this journey to technological empowerment.

None of us should be content to be mere participants in the technological race we are now running. We must do all we can to be front-runners in this marathon of technological application, rapid innovation, and ethical leadership today and in the years to come.

• artificial intelligence
• digital transformation
• future of business education

Digital Transformation in Higher Education: Trends, Tips, Examples & More

• Tips & Cheat Sheets

Digital transformation is revolutionizing the way businesses approach their operations, product and service offerings, marketing efforts and every other facet of their organization. Higher education is one of the biggest industries that is well-positioned to derive considerable benefits from digital transformation.

In this article, we take a deep dive into the world of digital transformation in higher education, specifically looking at the following areas:

What is Digital Transformation? How Digital Transformation Relates to Higher Education 4 Goals of Digital Transformation in Higher Education 5 Tips for Implementing a Digital Transformation Strategy 3 Digital Transformation Examples 8 Digital Transformation Trends in Higher Education

What is Digital Transformation?

Digital transformation refers to the evolution of an organization’s foundational business practices using technology and data. Essentially, digital transformation is a total business transformation.

There are successful examples of digital transformation across every industry. The healthcare field is one in particular to note. Several years ago, practices were required by law to migrate all paper and manual record keeping into electronic health records. The end result has made it possible for patients to access their medical records from the comfort of their home, and healthcare administrators have a much more organized, modernized system to work with.

How Digital Transformation Relates to Higher Education

Ultimately, the goal of digital transformation is to better serve customers and streamline business operations.

In higher education, the customers are the students and they have an immense amount of learning options to choose from — private vs. public schools, online vs. on-campus learning and full-time vs. part-time enrollment.

From 2005 to 2016, the National Center for Education Statistics reports that the number of post-secondary institutions in the United States increased by nearly 10%.

And with more options than ever before, college and university leaders are struggling to maintain a competitive edge, which is even more concerning when you take into account the declining rate of high school graduates. As Forbes reports, the number of high school graduates has decreased across most of the country every year and won’t see an increase until 2024.

So how can a university keep up? Digital transformation.

Why Higher Education Needs Digital Transformation There’s no such thing as a traditional student anymore. It’s more common for a student to balance work, family and school on a day-to-day basis than for one to be on campus full time with a sole focus on going to class.

That’s where digital transformation comes in. By leveraging technology and data, institutions can:

• Use digital avenues like social media, websites, email marketing and more to recruit and retain students.
• Measure institutional success and make data-driven decisions using big data .
• Digitize library resources so they are available online and for more than one student at a time.
• Create mobile apps to keep students updated on campus events, news and more.

These are only a small sample of what’s possible with digital transformation in higher education. So even though there is less customer (student) demand and there are more learning options to choose from, colleges and universities can differentiate themselves and gain a competitive advantage by re-evaluating their technology and data practices.

4 Primary Goals of Digital Transformation in Higher Education

Before any institution can implement a successful digital transformation strategy, they need concrete goals to work toward.

Changing a business in any way requires sincere effort, and without solid goals in mind you won’t be able to know for certain whether your hard work was worth it.

Every college and university will have a different area they want to focus on first, but some of the primary goals of digital transformation for higher education include:

• Enhance Student Experiences: This focuses on improving student metrics like retention and graduation rates, course success rates and other markers that prove overall success.
• Improve Competitiveness: This goal focuses on differentiating an institution from the competition by using digital avenues.
• Create a Culture of Data-Driven Decision Making: This includes adopting a digital mindset across all areas of the campus for students, faculty, leadership and other staff members.
• Optimize Resources: This covers everything from improving communication between administrators to cutting costs related to electricity usage.

5 Tips for Implementing a Digital Transformation Strategy

• Welcome the Change The education industry is a prime example of how some businesses can be reluctant to embrace change.Leadership, administrators, faculty and other institutional staff members often like to stay tucked in their comfort zone, making it hard to introduce new technologies or skillsets. But standing still is not an option anymore. To drive your institution forward, everyone needs to be on board and ready to welcome the much-needed change.
• Pick a Direction As mentioned, there are a few common goals specific to digital transformation for higher education. And while every institution wants to achieve all of them, you need to start small.Here’s an example: If your goal is to aggregate all institutional data under one system, first you’ll need a strategy. You’ll need to take a look at your inefficiencies, the disparate systems across campus and the technology, methodology and skills you need to achieve your goal.
• Check Your Current Systems Every school already has some type of technology in place. But if you’re looking to upgrade during your digital transformation, you need to make sure your existing systems will be compatible with anything new you’re bringing on.
• Say No to Silos With our culture of big data, every college, department, program, class and student comes with a ton of valuable information attached. Analyzing this data can unlock solutions to operational inefficiencies, poor success rates and other problem areas.But if data is siloed, this isn’t possible. It’s all too common for the math department to have a completely different data system and process than the English department, but how does that affect the institution as a whole? Leadership can’t make the data-driven decisions that digital transformation makes possible without organized, unified data.
• Automate Wherever You Can Digital transformation will open up more opportunities for your school, but it’s entirely possible to become overwhelmed by all the new capabilities.Fortunately, time-consuming tasks like workflow management or sending daily status emails can all be automated with digital transformation. One especially beneficial automation tactic is with data collection and management, which can alleviate some stress your institutional research department may be having.

3 Digital Transformation Examples

Studying & Notetaking Campuses are working to improve retention and graduation rates by adding interactive whiteboard displays that provide students with a digital copy of the instructor’s notes during each class. Since these displays are connected to the internet, instructors can also utilize more resources during a lesson, like maps, additional data and online information.

Students can also benefit when they’re on the go. Mobile apps allow students to scan images and text from any document, including books they might not be able to check out at the library. This also eliminates the need for making photocopies, which reduces paper waste and can support any on-campus “green” initiatives you have.

Digital Payment Options A large portion of banking is now done online and via mobile apps, so it makes sense for colleges and universities to adapt. Students waiting for financial aid or work study checks probably need the cash as soon as possible. With a digital process, there’s no need to wait for a check to come in the mail and then head to the bank to make a deposit.

Many schools are also becoming cashless campuses by allowing payment for food, school supplies and other on-campus items via mobile apps or student ID cards.

Data-Driven Decision Making The biggest benefit of any digital transformation strategy is the data that automatically comes with it. Digital in this instance means measurable, because your data can tell you whether a certain strategy is a success or not.

For example, think of a digital whiteboard display in a classroom. After every class, the instructor’s notes can be automatically emailed to students. But if your automated data analytics reveal that no one is opening the emails in a certain class, this might not be a very valuable effort.

8 Digital Transformation Trends

eLearning Industry notes that there are two main business areas that digital transformation is affecting:

• Services: This transformation involves creating new products and changing existing ones. Examples include offering an online MBA program or migrating from using tangible textbooks to digital eBooks.
• Operations: Processes are going completely digital. Examples here include applying for admission or graduation, registering for courses every semester and monitoring resource allocation using modern technology.

But how are colleges and universities putting their digital transformation strategies into action? eLearning Industry explains with the following trends:

• The Internet of Things (IoT) The IoT refers to the extension of internet access to devices and everyday items, like a Fitbit fitness tracker.Schools can use the IoT to better allocate campus resources by installing devices like intelligent thermostats and lighting. These smart devices can detect occupancy and adjust settings accordingly to eliminate wasted electricity.
• Security With so much student data available, security is a top concern — especially since IoT devices are expanding the reach and amount of information that can be collected. Institutions are installing new tools to enhance cybersecurity, most notably user and entity behavior analytics to detect suspicious activities.
• Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality Classroom learning can mimic hands-on experience through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). These technologies can put architect students right in the middle of a construction site or bring medical students inside of a hospital.
• Verify academic credentials
• Share student records
• Secure infrastructure networks from hackers
• Access employment and criminal records
• Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Artificial intelligence (AI) tools can be set up around campuses to answer simple student questions, like where the library is or what time the cafeteria closes. This can be especially impactful for first-year students who are still finding their bearings.
• Chatbots The University of St. Thomas offers a website widget that lets students chat with librarians and ask questions about basic research topics, eliminating the need for them to go to the library or pick up the phone. This practice can be utilized across any department to streamline processes like making appointments, requesting dorm room maintenance or checking on financial matters.
• ADA Compliance Making education accessible to everyone is an absolute must under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and digital transformation is helping colleges and universities go above and beyond. Tools designed for transcription services can help hearing-impaired students easily understand an entire lecture.
• Big Data Analytics Technology has fast-tracked the amount of data colleges and universities collect, and digital transformation is all about using it to your advantage. Institutions are using data analytics platforms to collect, manage, analyze and share reports for crucial metrics like student success rates and retention rates. With the help of an automated and secure analytics program, making data-driven decisions can become the foundation of your digital transformation.

Our Founder and President Eric Spear has been right where you are: in charge of an unfathomable amount of data and responsible for creating countless end user reports. With the dawn of cloud computing, Eric recognized the opportunity to combine his expertise with the latest technology to support the modern-day campus’ needs and solve many of their previously unsolvable challenges.

Need help finding data analytics software?

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What Is Digital Transformation in Higher Education?

Many higher education institutions are now embracing digital transformation to maintain a competitive edge. Why? Because today’s students have an immense amount of learning options to choose from and institutions need to become more flexible, affordable and accessible to meet increasing consumer and environmental pressures.

Digital transformation offers institutions exciting possibilities and opportunities to enhance their teaching and learning and the ability to effectively manage their operations – all of which are key to better serving students. Despite this, many colleges and universities still aren’t digitizing, or are falling short in their attempts, which is causing their technology spending to rise, with little return on their investments.

This is partly because there are misconceptions about what digital transformation is and how to do it. In this article, we’ll help you better understand what digital transformation in higher education is and examples of how your institution can successfully embrace it.

What is digital transformation in higher ed?

To invest in digital transformation initiatives that produce tangible benefits on strategic, operational and financial goals, it’s helpful to first establish a working definition. Digital transformation in higher education refers to an organizational change realized by means of digital technologies and business models with the aim to improve an institution’s operational performance. In other words, it’s the transformation of entire business model through digital technologies to better serve customers and streamline business operations.

Examples of digital transformations in higher education include:

• Using more digital channels and tools like websites, social media, chatbots and email marketing to recruit and retain students
• Collecting, connecting and activating data from across campus to inform decisions
• Enabling students to complete tasks such as class registration, transcript requests and financial aid requests on their own through self-service capabilities
• Automating cross-departmental workflows to complete tasks faster and more accurately

5 articles on how to effectively redesign the campus experience through a digital lens

The examples listed above are just a small sample of opportunities a digital-first approach to campus operations and student experience offers higher education. See tips below for how your school can successfully plan for and realize the benefits of digital transformation to meet mounting revenue, pedagogical and operational challenges.

1. How Higher Education Can Overcome Barriers to Digital Transformation

As colleges and universities invest in digital transformation, they must overcome four barriers and move through four key stages to succeed. Read More

2.  Technology Requirements for Digital Transformation in Higher Ed

Institutions that prioritize technology and elevate their IT department’s role as a strategic partner within the institutional ecosystem will be best positioned for long-term sustainability. See key considerations for the tech requirements and initiatives that drive effective digital transformation in higher education. Read More

3.  What Are Shared Services in Higher Education?

Much of the technology needed to support, run, manage and drive an institution is the same. Why does that matter? Because many colleges are needlessly spending money and resources to own and manage their core technologies and infrastructure. Consortial/shared services offer a cost-effective solution to quicker digital transformation. Read More

4.  9 Steps to Implementing an IT Strategy That Enables Digital Transformation at Your College

Now is the time to proactively embrace technology’s role in helping your institution refocus on its academic mission by alleviating administrative burdens and delivering a supported and robust technology experience to students, faculty and staff. See guidelines for implementing a proactive IT strategy that will help your institution achieve digital transformation. Read More

5. Making Higher Ed’s Back Office More Efficient and Student-Centric: A Guide to Process Automation

By automating manual, repetitive tasks, colleges and universities can reallocate staff and faculty talent into more meaningful activities, deliver faster student experiences and even lower operating costs. Learn more about what process automation is and how to determine opportunities for reducing workflow inefficiencies. Read More

Are you ready for digital transformation’s technological, operational and strategic changes?

Higher education is no longer immune from students’ high expectations and preferences for digital service. Most other industries interact with consumers digitally, and students now bring those expectations of simplicity, personalization, self-service, automation, and customer service with them to their educational experience. To thrive in the future, institutions must embrace and accelerate the process of digital transformation to optimize operations and lower operating costs, improve student experiences, and expand their reach.

If your college or university lacks the IT resources, governance or expertise necessary to support your digital transformation journey, Collegis Education can help. Talk to us about how our services can help you stabilize, standardize, optimize and transform your technology systems and operations to deliver near-term results and long-term growth.

Author: Elise Povejsil

Elise Povejsil is a former marketing manager (content and communications) for Collegis Education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Conflict Studies from DePauw University.

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