As I was planning my sessions for ISTE this year, I found myself scrolling through what felt like an endless list of AI-focused presentations. “AI for Assessment,” “ChatGPT in the Classroom,” “Machine Learning for Personalized Learning”—the conference program read like a who’s who of artificial intelligence applications in education.

Don’t get me wrong—AI certainly deserves attention. But as I reflected on all the learning improvements I’ve witnessed the last few years, there were plenty of non-AI innovations: a VR science lab that increased student engagement by 76%, a microlearning approach that significantly boosted completion rates, and a blockchain credentialing system that eliminated weeks of transcript verification delays.

This realization sparked a question that’s been nagging at me: While we’re all focused on the AI revolution, what other transformative innovations are quietly reshaping online learning?

I’m familiar with many of these developments from my work, but I recognize that others may not be tracking them as closely. So I thought it would be helpful to capture them all together here—partly as a resource for colleagues who want to understand the broader innovation landscape from 2022 to 2025, and partly to remind ourselves that meaningful educational transformation often happens in spaces that don’t generate the same buzz as AI.

The Big Changes

The Human-Centered Refocus

What I’m seeing across schools and organizations isn’t a full rejection of edtech, but rather a change in our approach to educational technology. We’re moving from “technology-first” to “pedagogy-first” thinking, hopefully not losing technology entirely along the way.

Microlearning has evolved beyond bite-sized content delivery. The most effective implementations now combine 2-15 minute learning segments with what researchers call “flipped classroom scaffolding.” At Bartin University, this approach significantly outperformed traditional flipped classrooms in both intrinsic motivation and engagement metrics. It’s about strategic sequencing that honors how adult brains actually process and retain information.

Challenge-based learning (CBL) is reshaping how we approach real-world problem solving. Unlike traditional problem-based learning, CBL presents students with open-ended, multidisciplinary challenges that mirror actual workplace scenarios. Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Tec21 Model has seen increased STEM career interest and confidence among participants, with students reporting significantly better intrinsic motivation compared to traditional approaches.

These pedagogical innovations share a common thread: they prioritize human learning processes over technological sophistication.

Virtual Reality Maturation

One of the most exciting developments I’ve observed is how VR in education has matured beyond the “wow factor” into measurable learning improvement.

ClassVR is still leading this charge with deployment in over 40,000 classrooms across 80+ countries. According to them, their results speak for themselves: knowledge retention increases up to 75%, exam results improve by up to 20%, and students can be trained 4x faster than in traditional classrooms. East Renfrewshire Council became the first UK local authority to provide VR headsets to every school—a level of institutional confidence that signals this technology has moved from experimental to useful.

Labster’s virtual science laboratories have improved STEM education with implementations at major universities showing full letter grade improvements in student performance and notable decreases in DFW (D, F, Withdraw) rates. What’s particularly compelling is their student engagement rate, with the majority of lowest-performing students showing significant pre-to-post test knowledge increases.

The power of these VR implementations isn’t in artificial intelligence—it’s in creating authentic, immersive experiences that allow students to practice skills and explore concepts in ways that were previously impossible or prohibitively expensive.

Blockchain Credentialing

I’m deeply wary of the crypto and NFT hype that’s dominated much of the blockchain conversation. Too often, these applications feel like solutions in search of problems. But when it comes to credentials and verification, blockchain technology is quietly solving genuine, costly pain points in ways that make practical sense.

Credential fraud costs the global economy approximately $50 billion annually. MIT and other major institutions are implementing blockchain-based diploma verification that reduces weeks-long manual processes to instant verification. The UAE’s blockchain-enabled degree attestation system demonstrates how entire educational ecosystems can integrate with secure, permissioned credential networks.

What I find most promising about these implementations is their focus on solving specific, measurable problems rather than chasing technological novelty. LegiCred, VerifyEd, and similar platforms are generating actual revenue for universities while providing instant verification capabilities for employers and students.

More Social Learning

Perhaps the most heartening trend I’m seeing is the renewed focus on human connection in online learning environments.

Mighty Networks has achieved 200% annual customer growth by prioritizing authentic community building over algorithmic engagement. Their platform serves over 10,000 paying creators and brands, with notable success stories including TED and yoga instructor Adriene Mishler. What’s remarkable is that creators are achieving financial success with as few as 30 members—proving that meaningful engagement trumps massive scale.

P2PU (Peer 2 Peer University) demonstrates grassroots community learning through free learning circles in public spaces worldwide using open educational resources. Their implementations in the Kenya National Library Service and Detroit Public Library have achieved significant community engagement and completion rates without traditional hierarchical structures.

These platforms succeed because they prioritize human-to-human interaction and authentic learning communities over automated engagement mechanics.

Skills-Based Hiring and Training

One of the most significant shifts happening in education is the move toward skills-based validation and hiring.

Skills-based hiring has reached 81% adoption among global employers, up from 57% in 2022. Companies implementing skills-based approaches save by reducing mis-hires, while achieving improved diversity metrics and better job performance prediction compared to traditional hiring methods.

This shift is driving demand for alternative credentialing systems, microlearning approaches, and competency-based education models that can demonstrate specific skills rather than just degree completion.

UDL & Accessibility Revamps

Universal Design for Learning reached a critical inflection point with the launch of UDL Guidelines 3.0 in July 2024, providing updated frameworks that address biases and systems of exclusion. Microsoft’s comprehensive accessibility suite has demonstrated significant impact, with their 2024 Ability Summit reaching over 20,000 attendees from 164 countries.

What’s encouraging about these accessibility initiatives is how they’re driving innovation that benefits all learners, not just those with specific needs. When we design for the margins, we create better experiences for everyone.

What This All Means for Your Learning Strategy

As I reflect on these trends, three key insights emerge for educational leaders:

1. Prioritize Pedagogical Purpose Over Technological Sophistication The most successful innovations solve specific learning challenges rather than showcasing technological capability. Before adopting any new tool, ask: “What learning outcome does this directly improve?”

2. Invest in Human Connection Infrastructure While AI can automate many processes, the most impactful learning experiences still center on human interaction. Platforms and approaches that facilitate authentic community building consistently outperform those focused on algorithmic optimization.

3. Think Systems, Not Tools The organizations seeing the greatest benefit from educational technology treat it as ecosystem design rather than tool implementation. Consider how new innovations integrate with existing learning workflows and stakeholder needs.