The educational universe is witnessing technology advancements at an exponential rate. Recent upliftment in access to technology through bring-your-own-device (BYOD) and 1:1 initiatives are rolling out blended and virtual learning opportunities for the students. These advancements are becoming the cornerstones of novel discoveries – tools that elevate a student’s learning experience to exceptional levels. The traditional classrooms are evolving into an enriched tech-based space where the educators are looking for guidance on how to choose the best Ed-Tech tool in order to enhance the learning outcomes.
Ed-Tech tools have started becoming an integral part of a classroom. These tools can effectively empower the students as well the teachers when integrated wisely. As modern classrooms are being transformed by technology, it is necessary to know which tools are the just right choices to improve learning in the classrooms. Acknowledging the increasing number of tools available, let’s learn how to make the right call and choose the perfect Ed-Tech tool for a better education system.
Clear Learning Objectives
The tools which overcome the traditional standards of education and fulfill the learning goals can prove to be the best for attaining a one-of-its-kind student-teacher relationship. It should be built on a foundation of clear learning objectives, competency-based and should frequently assess student progress until mastery is attained. Also, tools which facilitate learning objective as its prime motive can help students to learn in a more creative manner and explore the frames of education system with a simple click.
The Ed-Tech tools should be effective in satisfying the evidence-based requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) with respect to the clear learning objective. These evidence tiers include strong, moderate, or promising evidence. Institutions prioritizing evidence-based interventions or strategies while developing improvement plans will boost the education system with unique capabilities.
Engaging Students at its Best
With tools where students are more likely to participate and voice their thoughts, better student engagement can be achieved. The Ed-Tech tools should engage students by delivering solutions with a choice of when and how they learn. These tools should pre-assess student knowledge and construct learning activities at the student’s zone of proximal development. Tools that allow students to co-engage with others leverage the theory – learning is socially constructed, and it provides opportunities through interaction for the tool to elicit higher-level cognitive skills through discussion, debate, and collaboration. This in turn, creates a win-win situation.
Accessibility at Ease
It is significant to choose a tool which is accessible to all students in the classroom as well as at home. When choosing a tool, remember, the ease of access is the key to success. So, go for the one which uses a simple internet connection or Wi-Fi, allows for a single login in and is safe and secure. A tool which should be able to easily use, navigate and troubleshoot student problems. A tool enhanced with tutorials, guides and supports teachers and students – enabling students to use the technology with minimal or no supervision from the teacher. Also, this will lessen the time that teachers need to teach the functions of the tool to the students.
Effective Assessment – Leverage Technology
Technology that can make Ed-Tech tools eye-pleasing and engaging can surely provide teachers with real-time data of the student performance, thereby lending a hand in students’ progress. Tech-enabled assessments can craft detailed information, help drive students’ learning experience towards a pathway of self-development. A tool which can help teachers in collecting data on the progress and performance of their students would be the best for achieving milestones. This would also target specific skills and knowledge of an individual. Also, these tools need to be adaptive – based on Computer-Adaptive Testing (CAT). This would offer accurate assessment data on students from a wider range of abilities. It will also eliminate the loopholes in fixed-form tests and empower customized learning paths that meet students more precisely.
Supporting Sound Teaching
Change is the name of the game and choosing the right Ed-Tech tool in the constantly changing technology landscape is definitely a challenge. This implies that it is significant to link decision-making processes to sound foundations of teaching in order to generate a better learning result. Therefore, the institutions would focus on implementing tools which serve the students and teachers who use them. Fostering an engaging differentiated learning experience that connects with students and helps increase their knowledge and skills in an enhanced way.
The Next Big Thing
While 2017 was an enthusiastic year for the passionate educators, institutes, erudites and other educational organizations, the end of the year 2018 will witness discoveries like never before. The Ed-Tech tools are coming up with limitless possibilities to transform the walls of classrooms into a best-in-class educational setting. There is a bright future waiting for the students with incomparable opportunities. In this robust environment, where new devices, apps, and even completely new technologies are entering the fold on a daily basis, the Ed-Tech tools will bring creativity, collaboration, and flexibility of the social and home lives to learning. The future outlook is brave enough to buck the current norm of standardization and unleash the potential of teachers and students at its best. This is the key to unlock newer success doors and a way towards civilization.
Rahul Niraj
