Why the best learning outcomes depend on integrated edtech
New technology can be exciting. But the buzz over a fancy tool or updated device will eventually wane – no matter how novel. Seems there’s always a new piece of tech waiting to take its place, especially in the classroom.
Though teachers and students are inundated with edtech, not all tools become fully integrated. Nor can they be given credit for driving desired learning outcomes.
So what’s missing?
“Since March 2020, what I’ve heard from teachers is that they do not need more technology, they need more time: time with the ed-tech tools, time to learn the features and time to understand the scope of effectiveness in their classrooms,” explains Kayla Solinsky, head of school at Macbeth Academy, to EdWeek.
Here’s how doing so benefits learners and helps them achieve.
Classroom tech has big benefits
Never before have students had this level of information access. Not only does classroom technology make it possible to research anything they want – in or out of school – it also empowers them to determine the pace of their own learning.
Joan Giblin, PhD, an assistant teaching professor in the Graduate School of Education at Northeastern University, shares, “Students can work ahead or review content according to their needs,” she says. “This allows students to proceed at their own pace and receive specific reinforcement on some content and access more challenging content as needed.”
With technology in hand, students suddenly become the builders of their own knowledge, and they experience a greater sense of independence and autonomy.
Still, just because information is omnipresent doesn’t mean it automatically generates a meaningful learning experience. For that, learning must be personalized. It helps if learners are motivated to fully engage on their own, too.
“With technology in hand, students suddenly become the builders of their own knowledge, and they experience a greater sense of independence and autonomy from using digital tools to augment their understanding,” says GoGuardian, a device management solution company for classrooms.
Edtech also has benefits that extend beyond the classroom. This past year we saw how it can connect families and teachers across distances, opening up new lines of communication and providing additional resources for students in need of more concentrated instruction.
Tech to drive learning outcomes
Providing a modern education means leveraging technology. During the pandemic, schools learned that the hard way.
Though educators and administrators were presented with a variety of tech tools to continue learning, even when it wasn’t safe to do so in person, not all made the grade.
Out of the many edtech tools that made their way into the learning environment, Forbes puts these on the honor roll:
- E-learning
- Student progress tracking
- Virtual classrooms for sick days
- Connected classrooms
- Secured personal devices
- Tech-enabled presentations
- Chatbots for extra help
- Chatrooms for homework help
- Multimedia instruction
- Online lesson reviews
Seamless integration
Edtech proves you’re never too old or too educated to learn something new. Even digital natives need continuous professional development to use new technology effectively. Without a comprehensive teacher training plan, classroom technology may get bottlenecked – or worse, go unused.
Schools can facilitate a more seamless integration by ensuring educators understand both the benefits and the features of new tools.
Schools can facilitate a more seamless integration by ensuring educators understand both the benefits and the features of new tools. Teacher pods where instructors practice and ask questions among themselves may prove good resources when learning a new technology. Outside resources like an IT integration specialist or professional learning community can also be helpful.
As Edutopia sums up, “Unlike many other aspects of teaching, technology changes constantly. Just as in any industry, it is vital that educators stay current with new trends and developments in both pedagogy and new technologies.”
No matter how education continues to change, one thing is for certain: technology will never be a replacement for good teaching, even if it does elevate the learning experience.
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