Dear Thought Leader,
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2026.
As we step into another pivotal year for education, it’s clear that the pace of change has not slowed—it has accelerated. What once felt experimental is now essential, and what once lived on the margins of teaching and learning has moved firmly to the center. Across K–12, post-secondary, and workforce development, education systems are navigating complexity, fiscal pressure, and rising expectations, while simultaneously unlocking unprecedented opportunity through innovation and collaboration.
This past year reaffirmed a powerful truth: technology alone does not transform education—people do. Educators, system leaders, innovators, and partners across Canada continue to demonstrate resilience, creativity, and a deep commitment to learners. Artificial intelligence, data-informed decision-making, immersive learning, and skills-based credentialing are no longer future-facing concepts; they are shaping daily practice and redefining what it means to teach, learn, and lead.
In this 18th Edition of the MindShare Learning Top 10 EdTech & AI Trends Report, we highlight the most critical signals emerging from classrooms, campuses, boardrooms, and global conversations. These trends are not speculative predictions. They are grounded insights drawn from real-world implementation, research, and the lived experiences of educators and learners navigating rapid change.
At a time when uncertainty can feel overwhelming, we believe education leaders must serve as lighthouses—providing clarity, direction, and reassurance amid the storm. When designed intentionally and ethically, technology has the power to amplify what makes us human: curiosity, creativity, connection, and purpose. Our goal with this report is to support thoughtful reflection, spark meaningful dialogue, and inspire confident, human-centered leadership in the age of AI.
I hope these insights broaden your perspective, challenge assumptions, and help guide strategic decisions—whether you are an educator, system leader, policymaker, entrepreneur, or partner in the education ecosystem.
There has never been a more important—or more exciting—time to be shaping the future of learning. Thank you for the leadership you bring to this work, and for being part of the MindShare Learning community.
Until next time, keep the digital learning curve steep.
