What good is expensive education technology if teachers and students cannot improve teaching through using it? The conventional wisdom used to be that creating a slew of shiny, new edtech products was the way to go. Now, investors and entrepreneurs are rethinking what edtech success looks like in the classroom.

1. Get Connected!

One major stumbling block to edtech affordability and effectiveness–believe it or not in 2016–is still connectivity. Many edtech producers rely heavily on schools being connected in order to utilize their products. That’s how they get their data, how they upgrade their products in real-time, and how they provide customer service. Even with considerable resources from the federal government (the E-rate program, for example), many schools have not taken advantage of opportunities to connect.

If you’re teaching in a school that’s operating like it’s still 1996 instead of 2016, encourage your district and schools leaders to take advantage of programs like E-rate to get your school connected. There is just no excuse for American schools to be out of the loop like this, especially when the resources are out there for the taking. Opening up your students to a world of learning opportunities through edtech begins with connectivity.

2. Integrate, don’t pile on

Look at the example of Google Chromebooks in education right now. These handy little pieces of hardware came in with a low price point and filled a void for educators, helping them easily create a 1:1 computing environment for their students. They now occupy a huge share of the market for laptops/netbooks in schools. The Chromebook integrated itself my helping cash-strapped districts, teachers in need of a new in-class tool, and students look for a more interactive classroom experience. Make sure whatever tool you choose works well for your students, your administrators, and of course yourself as a teacher. When considering tools, think about affordability – it’s not just schools that have limited budgets but also teachers. It doesn’t have to be everything for everyone, but it should support everyone’s work in some way.

3. Start small

Learning from the example of the Chromebook, edtech entrepreneurs and investors are starting to think small, cheap, and simple. Teachers can do the same as seek to enhance their practice, not overhaul it entirely. Think about an aspect of your job that is particularly tedious. Maybe commenting on student writing? Why not check out an application like Turnitin which helps to improve student writing through personalized feedback on each draft? Apps like this help teachers focus on instruction while also helping them understand where students need support on their learning.

4. Not just for your students

Teachers can and should benefit from edtech too. One aspect of the job that can always use improvement is arguably professional development. An app like KickUp makes professional development more data-informed and aligned to what students need in the classroom. The days of edtech solving “problems” that aren’t real problems are on their way out. If we could use technology make teachers better learners themselves so they can become teachers–that’d would be edtech living up to its true potential. Talk about edtech that addresses a gaping hole in our schools!

We welcome your feedback to our work.

Email: General Information | Prof. David C. Pecoraro

Thank you!

Daniel & David

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Times they are A-changin’ (in Edtech)

Published: June 28, 2016