As more SMARTBoards, iPads, and Chromebooks make their way in to schools across the nation, educators aim to stay on top of technology trends.

Journalist and former teacher Charlie Osborne offers readers the top ten education technology trends to look for in 2015 in an article on ZDNet.com. Osborne said an infographic from TalentLMS "explores a number of key trends we are likely to see grow next year."

"The flipped classroom -- blending both online and in-class teaching -- gamification and cloud-based educational services such as Google's Apps for Education Suite all make an appearance, and are likely to grow in popularity next year," Osborne said.

One of the largest trends to look for in 2015 is "Big Data", according to the infographic provided. The graphic read that "numbers in eLearning are becoming so large that processing user generated data using traditional methods is becoming impossible."

According to the infographic, Big Data analysis can improve eLearning "by deeper understanding of the learning process" or "by helping track learner and group patterns."

Another large trend displayed on the graphic is "gamification" which "is the concept of applying game mechanics and game design techniques to engage and motivate people to achieve their goals."

"Gamification taps into the basic desires and needs of the user, focusing on impulses which revolve around the ideas of Status and Achievement," the infographic read.

It also addressed why gamification is important to teachers and students.

"Learners recall just 10 percent of what they read and 20 percent of what they hear," the graphic read. "If there are visuals accompanying an oral presentation, the number rises to 30 percent and if they observe someone carrying out an action while explaining it, 50 percent. But learners remember 90 percent if they do the job themselves, even if it is only a simulation."

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Article by Kassondra Granata, Education World Contributor