Forecasting trends in educational technology is similar to predicting the weather. Both rely on observing cycles, seeing patterns from signals and making informed projections about what is likely to surface next. Over the past decade, EdTech conference themes have consistently reflected the conversations emerging from the daily realities of technology-based teaching and learning within Irish HEIs. The team in the eLearning Development Services Unit (EDSU) within MTU are particularly interested in IT lifecycles and the cultural challenges that can come about from them. In our Gasta, we will examine these evolving themes and offer forecasts around the directions future conferences may take. To explain this process we will show some previous technology cycles, the patterns they produced and compare them to some current cycles in motion.

In parallel with EDSU’s research, we consider the work of Martinez‑Garcia et al. (2023), whose analysis of trends from 2010 to 2022 highlight dominant topics such as blended learning, e‑learning, m‑learning, higher education, ICT, assessment, MOOCs, online learning, learning analytics, the impact of COVID‑19, medical education, artificial intelligence, server capacity and security, cognitive engagement, and self‑instruction. Additional areas of interest include LMS development, institutional mergers, digital transformation, strategic planning, resilience, and reflective practice.