Unlocking the 'black box' of education data - Information Age

Alexa Joyce, future skills director at Microsoft, discusses how the education sector can go about unlocking its'black box' of data As the UK education system recovers from the effects of the global pandemic, there has been a significant rise in attention paid to the increased use of technology in teaching and learning. Two billion learners will use digital learning services by 2050, while the education technology (edtech) market is projected to triple by 2025, with global spending reaching $404bn. As investment in edtech continues to grow, students, parents, and teachers face an array of solutions -- from digital personalised learning platforms, devices and accessories, through to multiple online courses. Alongside the opportunities technology provides for increasing accessibility, the wealth of data that edtech offers is unsurmountable. But, how can technology allow policymakers, school leaders and sector experts to unlock this'black box' of education data and use it for improved learning outcomes?