SaaS Examples
It’s hard to believe that only a couple of decades ago, we had the beginnings of programmable devices like the Roamer robot. A device that could be given instructions to move backward and forwards. Despite it not taking off particularly well, it ended up transforming into robot vacuums for the home years later.
The education industry is one that’s seen a lot of technology evolve over the years and SaaS has gradually changed the education landscape in more ways than one. Educational tech has helped with industry-changing experience in this sector from streamlining processes like lesson planning, reporting, and learning methods.
This article will take a look at how SaaS has helped changed the classrooms of tomorrow through a variety of software and tools.
The growth of Edtech in the educational industry
Edtech has helped enhance the learning and performance of students from schools to universities. It’s also assisted teachers and trainers in their abilities to improve how they manage their roles, for the better.
When it comes to technology in education, the market could reach a staggering $404 billion by 2025. Many educational facilities are using much more technology than those who were in education during the 90s and 00s.
Technology is certainly shaping the minds of future generations and those who have not experienced a world without this technology. Much of it is now so easily accessible that it can be affordable for those educational institutes that don’t have big budgets.
Some SaaS platforms like SendPulse allow users to create an online course for free, which is a great option, especially if you don’t have a budget, to begin with.
Five ways SaaS is changing the education industry
The SaaS sector is one that’s growing dramatically and is a key part of the technology we see in the classrooms in 2022. With the market growing by 18% each year, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing this software as a service, filtering into our everyday life, including that of learning environments.
What ways are SaaS already changing and improving the education industry?
1. Teachers and trainers improve organization with school management software
Many adults will look at teachers or trainers within the educational industry and feel they have it easy. However, the reality is far from that. Despite them having holidays that are much longer than most, they do a lot of work in regards to lesson planning, setting and marking homework in the evenings, etc. The holiday they get is the holiday they rightfully deserve!
With SaaS platforms, there are lots of tools that teachers and trainers can use in order to streamline their working days. For example, having software that oversees the management of school business is priceless. It’s why many have school management software in place.
Brightwheel is just one of many platforms that can be great for managing everything an educational facility has to deal with. From attendance rosters to incident reports and payroll, it can all be handled in one place.
For the teachers, there are some fantastic tools that can make their work and personal lives a lot easier. The app Remind cloud, for example, is a good application that helps the teacher communicate effortlessly with parents/guardians without having to exchange numbers.
Schoology is also a good one for teachers to help plan their lessons more efficiently in one place as well as other administrative tasks.
2. Advanced technologies are more affordable with SaaS
As many SaaS options run on cloud computing, this software and tools are at the peak of their popularity. Many businesses and individuals are using cloud computing in some way or another and it is a great way to access these tools wherever you are.
A major benefit of SaaS is that the technologies used are affordable. There are some advanced technologies like AI for example, that are being utilized in some of this software already and most don’t cost much more than a cup of coffee per month.
For the education sector, budgets are often limited and for some, there’s not much available at all. It’s important that there is a global effort to provide everyone with an opportunity to learn but to also have the best tools to do so.
There are plenty of examples of how SaaS brands are making a conscious effort to make their software affordable and accessible to those educational facilities with fewer financial resources available.
Canva is a design platform that would serve greatly for many of those in education and that are looking for design tools.
Whilst a lot of Canva’s platform is free to use, there is an educational pricing section for those who require free subscriptions.
3. It keeps learning materials fresh and up-to-date
A topic of conversation that often crops up for debate is how up-to-date the education sector is, particularly when it comes to securing work opportunities. You could say that some learning materials are perhaps outdated or that the syllabus could do with a refresh.
With 40% of young people feeling that education is badly aligned with work opportunities, SaaS products have helped provide fresh materials for students and teachers alike.
There are a number of great SaaS platforms that are helping provide the latest and best resources to help students find their direction in life.
Coursemos is a great example of this whereby they provide an online micro-learning platform. Whilst students can learn the core subjects, having this SaaS can be great for helping them learn more about personal development and business.
Another great one that is currently riding the viral train on Tiktok is Duolingo. An app that gives users access to over 30 languages. There are more languages that some students may want to learn but are limited to what’s available on the curriculum.
The universal languages are somewhat different now too, so having access to more options is globally beneficial for students to connect with others from different countries.
4. Streamlines time-consuming tasks
SaaS tools can help to streamline tasks that would otherwise take up a lot of the average teacher’s time. Whether that’s marking homework or planning lessons for the upcoming week. The more that’s streamlined, the more time teachers have to both teach and build relationships with the students.
In a typical classroom, there could be anywhere from a dozen students to hundreds. Being able to focus on each student can often be near enough impossible. However, with tools like this readily available, it can free up some time for teachers to have a stronger connection with their students as a whole.
SmartSparrow is an excellent example of an online learning platform that can help teachers build their own courses and define a personalized learning experience for their students. Whether it’s possible to tailor that to small groups or even individual students, it’s all helpful to get a more fulfilling experience, educationally.
5. It makes learning fun for both teachers and students.
Not every child is made for school. It’s why some drop out, others fail miserably, and then fear rejection simply because they couldn’t pass the exams in subjects like English, Science or Maths.
It’s important that there’s a collective understanding that not all students do well in a typical learning environment. Some might need more stimulation, which is where SaaS tools come into play.
Making lessons fun is something that can be of benefit to both students and teachers. It’s a way to help make those days go by a little faster but to also help students understand what they’re learning.
Of course, students will find some of the work boring but for the majority of it, learning in lessons can be fun, interactive, and often immersive. Depending on what SaaS tools are used, it can create a natural, positive reaction towards learning that students can carry with them into their adulthood and beyond.
What does the future of SaaS look like?
With the SaaS industry continuing to grow, the future looks bright for technology and software in the education sector. There are plenty of benefits to using these tools within the classroom and the technology is only getting better.
What does the future of SaaS look like? Well, artificial intelligence will continue to thrive and flourish. Autonomous and self-learning technology seems to be an approach that many businesses, including those in the education sector, are leaning towards.
In general, centralized analytics are important for many who require an understanding of their data. For educational facilities, reports and relevant data collected on the students and the school’s performance can be handy to have.
With SaaS, you may see more cross-platform organization tools emerging as users look for software that can be a one-tech band. Broadening platform integration capabilities will also help those in education who are looking to combine various work processes together, whilst bringing in existing software that they use.
There is a lot of opportunity for the future of SaaS and the advancements within EdTech. It’s exciting to see the tools that will influence generations for years to come, being created by some of those who still remember what it was like to have very little in the form of technology.
Author Bio: Natalie Redman (LinkedIn)
Freelance writer for many clients across multiple industries. Natalie has two years of copywriting experience. Natalie has a wide range of experience copywriting for web pages for businesses across many industries. She’s also an owner of two blog websites and a Youtube content creator.
