In the not-so-distant past, student apathy seemed to be at an all-time high. Children would fill classroom seats but their minds weren’t engaged in the material, even during the lesson itself. When they left their desk at the end of the hour, they hardly ever considered the material again in their daily life. The paradigm is shifting as student engagement rises alongside the introduction of edtech into the modern, blended classroom setting.

Are you curious which attributes have led to this significant shift to engaged learning? You’ll want to see these top five trends that influence student engagement.

Games are teaching lessons.

This is perhaps the most noticeable difference for students who find that technology holds their interest in the classroom. Children are more likely to actively engage the material if they can practice skills under the guise of a video game. These virtual games give them a real-world opportunity to assess how well they understand the concepts and motivate them to try their hardest to complete problems.

Adaptive learning changes with the child.

Some educational programs are now using adaptive learning to shape how students receive their materials. The computer program will respond to a child’s responses in real-time, giving them help or scaffolding them up to a more critical concept. These customized lessons can help students to feel more successful and to achieve academic standards with greater ease. They can learn the material and ask questions without fear of embarrassment in front of their peers.

Virtual reality makes learning real.

Have you ever wished you could see history taking place around you? With new virtual reality tools, this may soon be possible. Schools that have the budget are now considering implementing virtual reality programs into the schools to engage the students much more actively in their studies. Consider walking through a historic event or a major scientific discovery as if you were there firsthand. The experience can dramatically alter a child’s recall and understanding of key events.

Teachers can spend more time interacting with students.

Some schools are encouraging students to read and cover the material on their own before coming to class. Using online tools and programs, students should have access to all the materials they need to engage the curriculum from home. By being prepared with the knowledge beforehand, teachers can then guide students through the practical application of that knowledge with an interactive activity. This can help lessons come to life for some learners, cementing the material much more quickly.

Students are required to take more responsibility for lessons.

Teachers of older students may be able to place some of the responsibility for learning the material back on the student. Not all children are naturally self-motivated to learn, but edtech can help guide them through the process. The flexibility of the system allows students to work at their own pace and in their own unique way without necessarily falling behind. This frees teachers up to do other activities with students during class time or to offer help to students who need it instead of nagging everyone to complete a project on time.

Edtech is clearly shaping the way that students engage in the classroom. Their engagement seems to be at an all-time high for the past decade, and the trend promises to continue as more technology is invented. Perhaps this will lead to the creation of a much more educated generation to come.