In a strategic move to expand its footprint in the EdTech sector, Select Technology Group – the UK and Ireland’s leading Apple Premium Partner – has announced the acquisition of JTRS, Apple Authorised Education Specialist.
The acquisition enables both companies to leverage their combined expertise and resources to support educational institutions across Great Britain and Northern Ireland with Apple’s technology and solutions.
The JTRS team and services will be integrated into Select Technology Group, creating a broader network of support for schools, colleges, and universities.
Ciaran McCormack, Managing Director of Select Technology Group, commented on the acquisition:
“This is an exciting new chapter for our business. We are extremely passionate about the education industry, helping schools and educators enhance their teaching and learning environments with Apple technology, and this acquisition allows us to extend our reach and resources. JTRS shares our passion for supporting education, and together, we can offer an even more comprehensive range of services to our clients across Ireland and the UK. By combining our strengths, we are confident we can drive even greater innovation in the educational technology space and create more impactful outcomes for students and educators alike.”
The agreement comes after Select Technology Group purchased DID Electrical in December 2023 to accelerate its retail growth in Ireland. This acquisition sees Select Technology Group increase its presence in the UK, where it is already an Apple Premium Partner (retail), Apple Authorised Reseller (corporate sales), and Apple Authorised Service Provider and offers more comprehensive support to the UK and the island of Ireland education sector. This acquisition helps to push Select Tech Group’s turnover over €300m.
‘’We are particularly excited about the opportunity to work with new schools in the UK’’, McCormack continued. The JTRS team deeply understands the unique needs of the UK education sector, which complements our approach, and together, we will provide more localised and personalised support to our growing customer base. This acquisition further strengthens our position as a trusted partner for educational institutions across the UK and Ireland.”
Key highlights from the deal include:
– Select Technology Group will become the only Apple Premium Partner, Apple Authorised Reseller and Apple Authorised Education Specialist in the UK and Ireland.
– Select Technology Group’s leading Apple Professional Learning Provider will further expand into UK schools.
-Select Technology Group will integrate JTRS teams, growing the business to 686 people in the UK and Ireland.
Education has seen immense evolution recently, with digital technologies at the forefront. It is now an integral part of the academic system. It has adjusted the way students and teachers carry out their duties, making their work easier.
EdTech takes the form of software, hardware, and other ‘tech’ means which help classroom duties. And so improve the learning outcome. You can agree that technology in the classroom is changing education, especially if you’ve come across or used it. Here, we go in-depth into the opportunities that exist.
EdTech Opportunities in Education
EdTech prioritizes efficiency in schooling. Through technologies made for the classroom, you can access materials and resources to help you do better in your schoolwork. You may ask, “How is technology changing the education system,” and in what specific ways? The opportunities listed above have influenced education in many ways. Some of these are:
Custom Writing Help
At some point in school, it will be necessary for you to write an argumentative essay or do research papers. One of the significant benefits of EdTech is helping with your writing assignments. There are different spectrums of these benefits. For instance, education technology allows conducting research without going to a library. Or, you can hire a professional custom writing service like Edusson to work on your paper for you. Such a service can help you get excellent results without wasting time on them. If students are very busy, this solution will be a great option.
Students can also enhance the originality of their work by using the many accessible plagiarism checkers. After completing an assignment, making use of any of these tools guarantees the uniqueness of the essay. Given how strict the laws are against plagiarism, these tools are a great advantage.
Meanwhile, apps like Grammarly help you correct and polish grammar in research and essays. They help to improve punctuation and suggest improved ways to phrase writing, enhancing your language use.
Learning Languages
Another use of EdTech is to learn languages. Through language learning software applications, your vocabulary is sure to improve. Language learning programs like Duolingo emphasize the importance of technology in education. They expose you to many resources you’ll find helpful in learning a different language. For instance, you can learn to speak Spanish, German, or Portuguese on Duolingo. Moreover, the app additionally adopts Gamification. These help you when language-related schoolwork comes knocking.
Learning and Solving Mathematics
Mathematics EdTech is one of the leading technologies changing the face of education in schools. Calculating numbers is not the easiest, and it doesn’t help much knowing that arithmetic is compulsory in many courses. By using software like Photomath, solving mathematics questions and problems will become a piece of cake. Also, apps like Bytelearn allow teachers to combine teaching Mathematics with easy digital tools. As a result, preparing tests, worksheets, or quizzes becomes easier for tutors.
Getting History and Extra Knowledge Resources
Getting historical texts is a major influence of technology in education,learning, and teaching. Your professors often give you assignments about historical figures and events. You may even have to learn about a certain historical occurrence to grasp a subject better. Historical resources come in handy here. Some of the most popular history websites are:
History Channel
History Quiz
History Timeline
There are online encyclopedias that give a more academic angle to history. The Britannica Encyclopedia, Encyclopeadia.com, and Wikipedia are a few among many.
Organizing Schoolwork and Materials
EdTech enhances schoolwork and materials for both instructors and pupils. Teachers can upload course outlines, assignments, and classes on a cloud website that is reliable and accessible to them. On the website, students submit work and get access to lessons and course materials. An excellent example of this type of e-learning is Google Classroom, which gives educators and learners access to an organized learning environment.
Learning Through Technology
Technology’s transformative impact on education, with a focus on innovative approaches that are becoming integral to modern learning environments. Below are some options EdTech provides:
Virtual Classrooms: The COVID-19 lockdown highlighted the influence of technology in education, bringing about the need for classroom improvisation. But, improvisation has now become commonplace because of its usefulness. Virtual classrooms connect students and teachers anywhere in the world. They now attend classes without being present, and professors teach from anywhere in the world. Many schools have adopted a hybrid teaching process, physical and virtual, while others rely on a virtual basis.
Digital Books: Gone are the days when you had to get a hardcover textbook to read for a test. Through modern technology, scholars now have access to books in digital formats. This way, you get to study for tests or exams without the extra load of textbooks. Besides, online bookstores provide books required for study that may be unavailable.
Learning Management Systems: An LMS is for administrators, tutors, and students. Institutions adapt it to ease the general school process. It monitors pupils’ participation in studies, instructors’ work, and effectiveness. It also serves to manage the interaction between teachers and a class.
Smartboards: These are innovative ways of conducting classroom proceedings. It is an electronic whiteboard which works when connected to a PC. It works by touch and allows the teacher to write on it with a special pen. Educators now have the option to conduct research on Smartboards while teaching. This makes the teaching process easier. Recent advancements even allow users to connect to a board at the same time.
Gamification: Gamification makes learning more interesting. It involves using game scenarios and mechanics to teach students. This solution demonstrates the future of technology in education as it is more effective, motivating, and helps with memorization. The adoption of gamification is gaining ground in the classroom – enhancing the learning experience.
Final Thoughts
The use of new technologies in education has provided immense benefits for teaching and learning. The points above have answered the question ‘How important is technology in education” and have given applicable examples. Apart from the evident effectiveness in the classroom, EdTech provides a personalized learning process for learners. A customized learning system could prove more effective in the process of learning. Furthermore, by organizing the learning and teaching materials, it creates a better and more encompassing environment for learning. Education technology is, thus, a welcome innovation for the classroom and general experience of students.
The ways in which we study, communicate, and live have all been profoundly altered by technological advancements. Because of the proliferation of technology tools for education, this field has undergone a phenomenal change. The incorporation of gadgets into educational settings has opened the way for contemporary learning, which is characterized by a greater emphasis on engagement, interaction, and individualization. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, conventional classroom learning has been disrupted, and remote learning has become the standard all over the world. This has hastened the development of EdTech on a worldwide scale. We will investigate the most recent developments in educational technology, including both tools and trends, as well as how these advancements are altering the educational landscape.
Learning Environments Available Online
While online learning environments have been present for some time, their prevalence has increased significantly as a result of the pandemic. Courses covering a wide variety of topics may be found on online learning platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, and Khan Academy. These are all technology trends in education that are viral for several years. Learners can access these platforms from any location, at any time, and go through the lessons at their speed. A more immersive learning experience is possible for students when they take part in activities such as interactive quizzes, watch video lectures, and complete assignments. These platforms also provide learners with certificates following the successful completion of courses, which they may include on their resumes to highlight their acquired knowledge and expertise.
Systems For The Management Of Learning
Learning management systems, sometimes known as LMSs, are software programs that assist teachers in the administration and distribution of instructional material to students. It gives instructors a unified platform from which they can manage student enrolment, monitor student progress, generate and grade assignments, and more. As universities and colleges move toward online learning, understanding management systems is becoming more popular within ed tech products. What are some well-known systems of this kind?
Canvas.
Blackboard.
Moodle.
Artificial Intelligence
The method in which humans acquire knowledge is being revolutionized by artificial intelligence (AI), which enables more individualized learning experiences. Adaptive learning systems that are driven by AI, such as DreamBox and Carnegie Learning, provide students with tailored learning routes that are based on the student’s strengths and shortcomings. For example AI Course by Intellipaat is one such completely designed for the ease of learning. The platforms make use of algorithms to determine where students’ knowledge is lacking and then supply them with individualized educational content to assist them to fill those gaps.
IBM’s Watson Assistant.
Duolingo’s chatbots.
Gamification
The use of game mechanics and strategies in learning environments that are not games is referred to as gamification. Since it makes learning more engaging, enjoyable, and interactive, gamification has gained a lot of traction in the field of education. Learning is made more interesting by the introduction of gamification components on platforms such as Classcraft and Kahoot. Classcraft brings the sense of playing a fantasy video game into the classroom by including gameplay components such as points, levels, and avatars. On the other hand, Kahoot makes use of game-based quizzes to engage learners in a manner that is both entertaining and participatory.
Virtual And Augmented Reality
By offering experiences that are both immersive and engaging, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is transforming how we acquire knowledge. To provide a more immersive learning experience for students in a variety of fields, including science, engineering, and history, they are being employed. Learners can experience the world without having to physically leave their classrooms because of the provision of virtual field excursions via platforms like Google Expeditions, Nearpod, and ZSpace. Anatomy AR and Spacecraft AR are two examples of augmented reality applications that allow interactive learning experiences by bringing abstract ideas to life.
Mobile Learning
Mobile learning is an emerging trend in education. As the utilization of devices such as smartphones and tablets increase, students will have more mobility in accessing instructional materials. With this in mind, the services thatcollege essay writers may provide them with are a few clicks away. Additionally, apps like Quizlet, Memrise, and Duolingo provide students with a dynamic and interesting way to study on the move. To facilitate learning on the fly, these applications condense course materials into manageable chunks. The educators working at svhs.co know that students love mobile apps because they can carry their lessons with them wherever they go, making learning more flexible and accessible.
Those who want to learn a new language often turn to mobile devices and applications designed specifically for that purpose.
Social Media
The usage of social media in the classroom has become commonplace as a means to facilitate group projects and discussions. Educational information may be shared, conversations can be had, and projects can be collaborated on via the use of platforms like Edmodo and Schoology, which give social media-type capabilities to students and educators. In addition, pupils might learn through research paper service too as they willingly offer top-notch papers for sale. Teachers are also using social media sites like Twitter and Instagram to disseminate lesson plans and build student support networks. And that’s one more positive detail regarding this.
3D Printing
This is among the technology tools for educators that change education by allowing students to get practical knowledge via direct participation. With the use of 3D printers, students can take their digital ideas and turn them into tangible products, creating a more interactive and immersive learning environment. Science, engineering, and the arts are just some of the fields that have benefited from the use of 3D printing to better illustrate abstract ideas. With its decreasing price and increasing availability, it is quickly becoming a tool that may be used in the classroom.
Customized Learning
Customized education technology tools and their understanding is becoming more common in today’s classrooms. Customized learning is an instructional strategy in which lessons are altered per student to better meet their unique requirements and passions. Knewton and Smart Sparrow are just two examples of personalized learning systems that employ adaptive learning algorithms to provide students with individualized lesson plans. By the use of analytics, these systems monitor each student’s development and provide specific suggestions for improvement.
Robotics
The field of robotics is surely within trends in education technology that is revolutionizing by giving students practical experience with computer science, engineering, and mechanics. Students may have a more hands-on and interesting learning experience using robotics kits like Lego Mindstorms and Vex Robotics. Educators are increasingly turning to robotics as a means of introducing students to the fundamentals of programming and engineering.
Conclusion
Learning has become more accessible, engaging, and personal as a result of the new opportunities that have been opened up by advances in educational technology insights. The most recent developments in teaching methods and educational technology are reshaping the educational landscape and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future. Learning will become even more engaging and immersive if a new edtech industry is developed, which is something we can anticipate happening if technology continues to advance at its current rate of development. EdTech is changing the way we learn, and it will continue to do so in the years to come. Some examples of edtech innovations include online learning platforms, artificial intelligence-powered adaptive learning, and virtual and augmented reality.
The world-renowned fitness guru Mr Motivator (68) has announced the launch of Mr Motivator’s Club in Ireland – a brand-new online health and fitness programme created in association with Irish EdTech company, Olive Group. This new platform offers a holistic approach to health and wellbeing and extends his trademark motivation beyond the physical to include expert advice on sensible eating and mental fitness.
Mr Motivator’s Club is suitable for members of all ages and abilities but is particularly geared towards those who Mr Motivator describes as “forgotten groups”- older people, inactive people, children, people with general health issues and those with mobility issues.
The CLUB’s concept, exercise and sensible eating plans have been developed and endorsed by Dr Kathy Fulcher, Ireland’s leading exercise physiologist and nutritionist.
Members have access to a host of content which will be updated each month, including live and recorded fitness classes, sensible eating plans, mindfulness, and mental health tips and techniques.
Mr Motivator aka Derrick Evans MBE
Mr Motivator is also joined by a number of other “Motivators”- health and wellness industry specialists who will offer their own breakout sessions. The “Motivators” have been hand-picked to allow the CLUB to offer classes including Yoga, Pilates, muscle toning, general fitness, music therapy, mental workouts, HITT, and of course, Mr Motivator’s trademark lycra-clad workout classes.
Workouts are broken into manageable 6/12/18/24-minute segments and many of the instructors have been selected for their experience of working with older people. Many of Mr Motivator’s classes include his wife, Palmer, who performs all the exercises from a chair, demonstrating how you can still take part if you have any mobility issues.
Chat rooms and real-life stories also help to grow a community that supports each other from the comfort of their own homes.
Members fill out a questionnaire to receive a personalised health, wellbeing and fitness plan that will be suitable for all ages and all fitness levels. A colour-coded system helps members move to more advanced classes as they improve to enhance their own fitness and health, helping to avoid injuries and keeping the routines fresh and exciting.
Mr Motivator says:“The most important thing you can have is an independent, healthier you. You must not underestimate the impact that exercise can have on your mental and physical wellbeing.
There is a curative power to exercise and those who are least active stand to benefit the most from their health and happiness. Your wellbeing is a way of life and I want to get everyone all-across Ireland and the UK moving and feeling good again.”
Dr Kathy Fulcher, Ireland’s leading physiologist and nutritionist says:“After this incredibly tough year, we are even more passionate about improving the Nation’s wellbeing. With a personalised plan, feedback on progress, membership incentives, and access to expert advice, we expect everyone, whatever their fitness level, to see an improvement in their quality of life.”
