The changing discourse of EdTech: a decade of transformation of the relationship between education and technology in higher education

Abstract

Rapidly evolving informational technologies have created great opportunities for students and teachers, but in doing so, they have also impacted upon all aspects of higher education (HE) learning and teaching. While the education community has made great efforts to facilitate this transformation, it will be beneficial to examine the phenomenon from different perspectives in order to gain a deeper understanding of it, and of how the education technology (EdTech) discourse has evolved. This article explores the transformative journey of EdTech integration in HE by analysing the narratives of students and teachers in HE, along with those of EdTech programmers and sales staff in attendance at the UK Bett Show, a global conference dedicated to educational technologies, from 2014 to 2024. This decade-long case study of the worldwide EdTech community highlights the key trends in the changing discourse of the relationship between education and technology, and offers educators different strategies to deal with this transformation in their teaching/learning practices. By positioning EdTech as a cornerstone of future educational objectives, the study contributes to the wider discourse on preparing higher education for future developments, thus fostering an environment of innovation and inclusivity.