A2. EDTECH LEARNING
Choosing Educational Technology
To facilitate student learning through educational technology, it is important to choose resources that are not only engaging but meet lesson goals.
The EdSurge Product Index hosts a range of curriculum tools grouped into subject and teacher needs for classroom management. Once in a category, you can filter through subcategories to find an app that best fits your learner's needs: age & learner, curriculum type, tech requirements, cost, and usage (EdSurge, n.d.). This website allows educators to research educational technology in one place by providing an extensive overview of each app, educator reviews, product videos, and news related to individual apps.
EdSurge Product Index Slideshow Example
The Common Sense Education website hosts a variety of educational tools aimed for all learning levels. Within the homepage, there are three main technology resource options: Digital Citizenship, EdTech Ratings & Reviews, and an activity platform Wide Open School (Common Sense Education, n.d.).
The Digital Citizenship subcategory offers free, interactive lesson plans for all grade levels focused on online safety and the impact students have on the Internet. This tool is helpful to ensure learners are making smart choices when using educational technology.
The EdTech Ratings & Reviews subcategory focuses on providing an in-depth look at educational apps. Similar to EdSurge Product Index, this website allows educators to filter based on subject level, price, and grade. Within each app webpage, educators and other members of the community can rate and offer insight into the specific app. Provided on each app page is also a viewing feature that allows educators to look into the product without having to download it. As safety is an important component, Common Sense Education also provides a privacy rating percentage for each app to ensure student data is protected.
The Wide Open School subcategory is a free website powered by Common Sense Education that offers learning activities and other resources for educators. This website offers valuable planning guides that reach beyond traditional classroom subjects, such as through emotional & well-being activities and support for parents and caregivers (Wide Open School, n.d.).
Common Sense Education Slideshow Example
After navigating through the endless technology resources, educators can feel overwhelmed if their chosen options are not properly analyzed to determine effectiveness. The LearnTrials website helps with this dilemma by streamlining all of an educator's EdTech technology to ensure it is organized, safe, and improves student outcomes (LearnPlatform, n.d.). Once an educator has decided which apps might work best for students, LearnTrials places each app into a customized dashboard. Personalized to individualized educator needs, this dashboard offers insights into student data safety and analyzes data to show trends in student success outcomes based on the ESSA Every Student Succeeds Act (LearnPlatform, n.d.).
This website also offers free on-demand webinars that discuss topics such as student engagement and tackling district-wide usage. In order to access a personalized educator dashboard, there is a simple sign-in with name, email, and school and district location. LearnPlatform also offers free demo sessions for school-wide use.
Learn Trials Slideshow Example
Strategies for Integrating Educational Technology
Blended learning is a valuable method when educators are determining how to integrate educational technology into a traditional classroom setting. This method uses a mix of in-person and online instruction for a more personalized and interactive learning environment. The main takeaway of this method is blended learning offers student flexibility and improves engagement (TeachThought Staff, 2019).
The first method educators can use to integrate educational technology through blended learning are station rotations. This type of blended learning allows students to move through different areas of the classroom in which one or more stations include an online technology resource. For example, one station might include tablets or computers for students to research and gather additional information about the lesson's topic. Another station can then have students engage in conversation using their research findings.
Station Rotation Blended Learning Example
Photo recieved by: Tucker, C. (2019). Planning a station rotation for your English classroom. Retrieved from https://catlintucker.com/2019/10/english-station-rotation/
The second method educators can use to integrate educational technology through blended learning is flipped classrooms. This type of blended learning encourages students to take on an active role in their learning by switching the method in which students learn content. Students first work through the lesson content at home using online learning, and then students practice and develop their understanding of the material through in-person instruction (TeachThought Staff, 2019). A modern take on instruction, flipped classrooms allow students to use their in-person time to work through additional activities and participate in group projects. Rather than students sitting quietly taking notes, they are engaged with both educational technology and can cultivate a deeper understanding of the material with the additional class time.
Flipped Classroom Example
Photo recieved by: Dixit, P. (2019). Achieving the perfect training cocktail with 4 blended learning models. Retrieved from https://blog.commlabindia.com/elearning-design/blended-learning-models-corporate-training