Welcome to the EdTech revolution!

by Startacus Admin

Toby Hunt, CEO of Earth Cubs, shares his insights on the rise of the Edtech sector and its potential to both educate and also create positive environmental and social impact.

Many of us will remember the blackboard that dominated our school lessons. The remnants of past learnings ingrained on the board. Dates and facts listed out, as dry as the chalk dust.

Over the last 30 years, classrooms have had a well needed digital makeover. The rise in smartboards allows teachers to run a multitude of digital lessons, adding an interactive and engaging element for their students. Those yawn-inducing lessons can be transformed into something that keeps pupils transfixed, especially with the use of gaming in lessons proving increasingly popular. Not just smartboards, but all manner of digital devices are becoming a popular part of lessons, as using technology can allow teachers to customise learning to individual student needs as well as turbocharge hands-on engagement.

This rise in EdTech is supported by the stats. $254.8bn in 2021 reaching an expected $605.4bn by 2027. Add to that a global smartphone penetration rate of 78% and you have a perfect storm for a transformation of learning globally.

The UK government in particular has identified the importance of Edtech to not only help ease teacher workloads but to support learners to thrive in classrooms. In addition, parents are increasingly on the lookout for new ways to support their children’s learning at home.

As Edtech continues to boom and more players enter the market, is there a way this can be harnessed for the good of the planet as well?

The impact of climate change on future generations is no longer something we’re tucking under the carpet. To make the world a better place, the solution starts with education. But as parents and educators, it’s important to empower learning through positivity and avoid the eco-anxiety inducing doom and gloom.

Cue Earth Cubs! Motivated by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Earth Cubs was created to educate young children aged 3-7 on climate challenges, sustainability, and the environment. With a mission to inspire the next generation of global citizens, Earth Cubs uses games, puzzles, videos and crazy characters to prepare kids for their sustainable future. Earth Cubs partners with amazing planet-saving organisations such as the Rainforest Trust, giving kids playing Earth Cubs unique encouragement to earn badges that protect real trees, in the real world. In fact with over 140k downloads so far, this award winning app has already protected 63 acres of rainforest, ensuring a safe habitat for the thousands of species that live there.

Riding the wave of the EdTech revolution, as well as current environmental and social consciousness, Earth Cubs provides a unique way to reach millions of children all over the world with free access to the app, YouTube videos and teaching resources. Also encouraging children to get outside and bring real world action into their everyday lives; from litter picking to saving energy and healthy living.

But, it’s not just us that are using EdTech to make an impact. Our friends Pawprint help to educate employees on how to live a low carbon lifestyle as well as making efforts to nurture sustainability in the office. Since their launch their users have saved 645.8 tonnes of CO2e; the equivalent of 352 flights to Hong Kong from London. Another EdTech success story is Lingokids whose app encourages skills like creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication. Since launching in 2016 they now have over 35 million families using Lingokids, reinforcing in-school learning and introducing 21st century skills.

We no doubt expect to see this market grow exponentially over the next few years and hope to welcome many more exciting players who not only educate but also have environmental and social impact at the same time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Toby Hunt is CEO of Earth Cubs. Passionate about people and planet, Toby’s vision for Earth Cubs is to inspire kids, support parents and teachers, and raise awareness for planet-saving organisations hell-bent on making the world more awesome. As a father of two boys, Toby has a heartfelt desire to make the future for all our kids wonderful.

 

 

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• #social impact

Published on: 21st March 2022