As anyone who has ever engaged in sports betting or election forecasting knows, predicting the future can be a fool’s errand. I find this particularly true with education, particularly over the last five years. No one could have predicted the shockwaves of the pandemic, and few foresaw the rise of generative AI and its impact on teaching.
That all being said, I do believe there are areas of edtech and education in general that or poised to see significant changes and evolution this year. Here’s a closer look at these.
1. Return on Investment For Edtech
The gold rush days of the pandemic, when new edtech tools were embraced out of necessity, have long since passed, but as budgets grow tighter, expect 2025 to be the year school districts really take a closer look at their subscription plans.
The average number of tech tools a district used in the 2023-24 school year ballooned by 2,739, a 200-plus tool increase from the previous year, according to a survey. It doesn’t take a financial, education, or tech expert to come to the conclusion that might be too much of a good thing. Many district tech leaders are already assessing what tools are essential and phasing out the unused ones to save money.
2. AI Tutors Get Tutoring
Sal Khan and Khan Academy’s AI tutor Khanmigo were recently featured on 60 Minutes, and when I think about AI tutors, I hear that 60 Minutes old-fashioned clock tick.
Yes, AI technology is improving at light speed and educators are finding new ways to integrate tutors, but research into the efficacy of these AI tutors is still limited. One study even found AI tutors harmed student achievement in math.
In 2025, it seems likely AI tutors will lose some of their shiny-new-thing appeal, and educators, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders will take a harder look at how well these tools are actually working, and look to improve processes.
3. AI Cheating Boils Over
AI cheating has increased every year since ChatGPT ushered in the current generative AI revolution. It’s something to watch in 2025, as the need for more effective responses to the problem grows. If more is not done at institutional levels to prevent this, I think teachers are going to voice increasing frustration and demand better support.
While I’m not sure exactly what is going to happen, I've witnessed firsthand how AI cheating is much more common than many acknowledge, and how demoralizing it can be for instructors. I can't see the current situation continuing much longer.
4. Funding, Funding, and More Funding
Funding is always something to watch in edtech as digital tools and platforms often come with costs, but in 2025 it will have even increased importance.
President-Elect Donald Trump has proposed eliminating the U.S. Education Department. While this appears unlikely to happen immediately, the policies of Trump and his pick for education secretary, Linda McMahon, could have far-reaching implications on school funding, both through direct allocation of government resources and by discouraging school funding overall.
5. Focus On Mental Health and Tech Tools
Last year the potential links between digital devices, social media, and student mental health became a focus at many schools. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned against excessive social media use, and many districts banned or discouraged phone use during the school day.
This will be an important area to watch in 2025. Fortunately, recent research shows some glimmers of hope in regard to the youth mental health crisis. In August, the CDC released new data indicating that the percentage of teens feeling increasingly sad or hopeless had decreased. Importantly, this data was gathered before many cell phone bans went into effect, so doesn't really impact that debate, which is likely to continue to rage in 2025.
