The paradigm shift to Online Learning and Proctoring
The suspension of in-person classes and the subsequent switch to home-based learning environments compelled the adoption of EdTech-focused SaaS (software as a service) in the form of Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Online Proctoring services. Given the high applicability across corporate and academia, Fortune Business Insights estimated the global LMS market size to be $8.76B in 2019 and projected the market to reach $38B by 2027 at a CAGR of 19.7%.
According to Sykes study, LMS downloads in August before schools resumed for their spring semester was 250% higher than in February. While Google Classrooms saw the most number of downloads in August, it was Schoology which experienced the greatest growth in downloads of an astounding 1168% between July and August.
The growth in engagement of LMS platforms is evidenced by the increase in the number of reviews these platforms received on the Google Play Store. Google Classroom, Schoology and Edmodo saw an increase in app reviews of 2469%, 304% and 194% YoY in Oct ’20 respectively.
The surge in website traffic also bears out the rise in engagement with these platforms. Moodle, Classplus and Schoology have seen an increase of 166%, 517% and 101% in website traffic YoY in Oct ‘20 respectively. There has been significant investor interest in this sector, with India-based LMS startup Classplus raising $9M in its Series A financing Round led by RTP Global in May ‘20.
LMS platforms integrate with proctoring services which use advanced AI mechanisms to monitor the activity of learners during exams and detect and prevent cheating. Proctorio has reported a 900% increase in business following the closure of campuses in March. There has been a substantial increase in engagement with proctoring platforms in the past year which is reflected in the rise in their website traffic. Wheebox, ProctorU, Proctorio and Honorlock have seen an increase of 743%, 216%, 161%, and 656% in website traffic YoY respectively.
In an April Educause Poll, 54% of institutions said that they were already using online or remote proctoring services, and another 23% said they were planning or considering incorporating the use of such proctoring services. In order to prepare themselves on the demand front, Wheebox, ProctorU, Proctorio and Honorlock have also bolstered their workforce by 26%, 21%, 38%, and 37% YoY in Oct ‘20 respectively.
While these platforms were initially adopted to satisfy urgent requirements in light of social distancing measures, with the growing demand for e-learning and edtech integration, they seem set to be a feature of the modern education paradigm for the foreseeable future.