Language Learning Platforms

These platforms can have a wider audience range to include modern foreign languages departments in schools, individual students and/or adult learners. US firm Duolingo states that its new user sign ups rose in 2020, particularly within the UK. Duolingo reports that they were up 67% globally compared with 2019, while in the UK they rose by 132%, almost double the worldwide average (source).

Learning a second language is hugely rewarding at any age but learning language platforms are particularly useful to those studying languages at GCSE and A Level. UK Education establishments usually offer a small range of 2-4 languages however, by partnering with a language platform, they are able to support a wider range of languages.

For example, if a school offers Spanish and French but has a Portuguese speaking student, they could provide them with access to the learning platform rather than needing to hire a teacher or tutor to support with this additional language. This allows the young person to take their native language as a GCSE or A Level option without the school needing to pay an additional salary to benefit a small number, or potentially just one, student.

Gamified Learning Apps

If there is one thing we know students love, it’s interactive, gamified learning apps. The virtual gaming platform Kahoot! reported their year-over-year growth in paid subscriptions was 220% in Q4 2020. The largest increase they have ever seen, with COVID-19 restrictions to thank for the increase in engagement from teaching staff finding new ways to make their online learning interactive.

Gamification is the use of game elements and principles in non-game contexts, such as learning. Students love collecting “points” for completing work, reaching new “levels” in their learning journeys and being rewarded for their “wins” – such as participation and achievement badges. The increased use of gamification techniques by learning app companies has been welcomed by schools to offer incentivised and “fun” ways for students to learn and to engage in learning when working from home.

Tech Learning Solution

Traditionally, learning solutions are used to shift the behavioural habits of a group of people. For example, an employer may have rolled out company training to improve employees’ product knowledge. Incorporating the use of technology within this process allows employers and schools alike to reach more people with their learning solution, better analyse the results of this training and take employee/student feedback to understand where they still have gaps within their knowledge.

Tech learning solutions are also known as “eLearning” and help schools to widen their curriculum offering. For example, in a Sixth Form setting, a tech learning platform could be used to provide aspiring medical students with access to first aid training to enhance their knowledge, experience and provides an example of dedication to the industry for their personal statement for medical schools. This solution allows the student to meet the required outcome of completing first aid without the school having to offer a physical first aid course or invest in teacher training for this.

MOOC Portals

“MOOC” states for massive open online courses and are available online, for free, for people of any age to access. The purpose of MOOCs is to enhance people’s knowledge by providing an affordable and flexible way to learn new skills, advance your career and deliver quality educational experiences at scale. There are currently over 2,900 MOOCS available across a range of topics and subject areas.

MOOC portals are a way for young people to select the best training area for them. For example, the portal may ask them a series of questions which then generates a list of MOOC options that the young person may wish to consider enrolling for. MOOC portals do not reinvent the wheel of online training and instead, add to the extensive resource that is available, in the form of MOOCS.