What defines a successful curriculum? It’s safe to say that every strong course starts with an idea, followed by a series of strategic decisions that support its execution. For district leaders, making important EdTech decisions can come with immense pressure to introduce new tools across schools and districts with ease.
Without proper guidance, assessing which combination of learning management systems, AI-powered tools, educational apps, and classroom software to use can be overwhelming. Here, we’ll explore the top three most important EdTech decisions district leaders should weigh before bringing new technology to K-12 and higher education.
EdTech Decision #1: Identify Objectives
While it may seem intuitive in an AI-dominant, tech-motivated society to say yes to more screens in school, EdTech isn’t that simple. EdTech decisions require evaluating which educational tools will best enhance teaching and learning, not just modernize education with screens.
Without that assessment, ineffective use of EdTech can perpetuate screen fatigue (for both teachers and students), information and sensory overload, and stagnate learning outcomes. Here are a few guidelines to support appropriate use of digital learning tools.
1. Fuel Learning Objectives
First and foremost, learning objectives should always be the top consideration that shapes which tools to introduce to class. Ask yourself:
- What are the ideal learning objectives for educators to target? (Examples include: Engagement, performance, knowledge retention)
- Which tools can best support these learning objectives?
- What are the ideal features that define a high-quality EdTech tool?
Clarify these answers first before diving into the wide world of EdTech companies. This can also solidify how many tools make sense to use. For example, EdTech encapsulates:
- Instructional and learning technology
- Assessment and performance technology
- AI and emerging technology
- Classroom technology and instructional hardware
- Communication and collaboration technology
- Student information and management systems
- Cybersecurity and privacy systems
- Network and IT infrastructure
- Special education and accessibility technology
- Library, research, and content creation technology
Also, consider the intended learning environments. EdTech tools for remote learning and online learning platforms may look different than those used in in-person, flipped, or blended classrooms.
2. Support Effective Instruction
Supporting effective instruction is one of the driving forces behind EdTech decisions. However, introducing too much, too soon can create the opposite effect. Ideally, EdTech should support educators to:
- Streamline workflows
- Scale success
- Enhance learning outcomes
- Activate learning
Using EdTech tools that measure progress, promote learning, and enhance performance are more likely to be chosen.
3. Define Budget
Of course, budget plays a significant role in which EdTech tools wind up in schools and across districts. Here’s where research comes in. There isn’t necessarily an all-in-one EdTech tool that fits everyone’s every need.
However, comparing the various EdTech companies and their features, learning general pricing ranges, establishing your budget, and knowing your goals can all inform a strategic plan.
EdTech Decision #2: Consider Implementation
Next comes implementation. After discovering the right combination of EdTech, the focus shifts to the rollout. How should these tools and strategies be introduced? What’s the easiest way to provide training, support, and education for them?
Without a strategic process for this, education technology can create more distractions, learning curves, and frustration for everyone. For such an investment to be effective, the implementation is just as important as selecting the right tools.
1. Onboarding and Training
Consider onboarding to be a form of orientation for the target audience. For new tools, devices, and technology, this often includes:
- Account setup: Create accounts with permissions and single sign-on (SSO) capabilities
- System integration: Connect tools to existing systems
- Communication: Introduce the reasons behind the implementation to educators and users
- Platform walkthrough: Orient users to new digital environments
- Support guides: Includes Q&A, support teams, and articles
Once users have access to EdTech, training supports them to bring it to their classrooms. Whether for administrators, educators, students, families, or all of the above, training should cover:
- Ways to use the tools appropriately and effectively
- Ways to assess, communicate, and meet learning objectives
- Hands-on opportunities for users to explore the tools
- Permission and access
- Ongoing education
EdTech implementation spans beyond classrooms and into learners’ homes, making it critically important to inform families about what to expect and how to best support balanced screen consumption at home.
Of course, the distinguishing factor between EdTech and regular screen time is that EdTech should always have a clear instructional purpose and inform instructional value.
2. Funds
Though budget was mentioned previously, it’s important to note that beyond the tools themselves, funds are also required to support:
- Necessary onboarding and training
- Ongoing education for long-term management
Keeping these variables in mind, the types of EdTech tools (or the number of them) can vary. Ultimately, finding education technology that supports the most amount of learning objectives with the best quality is usually the way to go.
3. Time Investment
Lastly, both EdTech decisions and their implementation requires time. In the interest of creating long-term gain, ROI, and better learning outcomes, creating ample time to lend to the rollout is directly related to its success.
High-quality tools without quality time to introduce them can be counterproductive, so consider how much time is actually available to support this initiative before taking action.
EdTech Decision #3: Establish Best Practices
Last, but not least, is establishing best practices for EdTech use. Some of this may be covered in the onboarding and training, but best practices are also living standards that should be upheld consistently and over time.
As educators and learners begin to adopt new digital learning tools, communicating expectations from the start prevents misuse, distractions, and any potential incidents of unsafety online.
1. Data Security and Privacy Standards
Any EdTech that uses student information should also prompt questions around data privacy, safety, and security. Where there’s technology, there’s also a need for optimal cybersecurity, sound digital literacy practices, digital citizenship, and supervision.
2. Evaluation Tools
Once EdTech becomes an integral part of learning, educators, administrators, and district leaders should be able to evaluate its effectiveness. Evaluation and assessment tools make it easy to measure, manage, and monitor progress, identify learner gaps, and iterate content to scale year over year.
Evaluation tools make it easy for educators to:
- Personalize and differentiate learning
- Incorporate quizzes, rubrics, polls, and surveys into lessons
- Use analytics to remediate content
- Provide meaningful feedback
In the long-run, productive EdTech is time-saving, more engaging, and easy to use, activating instruction beyond passive learning methods.
3. Collaboration and Communication Features
Make or break features for EdTech can ultimately come down to these two “C’s” in learning: collaboration and communication. Collaboration tools support project-based learning and group work. Examples include:
- Discussion forums
- Shared documents
- Presentation and video creation tools
- Digital portfolios
Communication tools support critical skill development among peers as well as between teachers and students. Beyond the classroom, communication tools also support efficient updates across schools and districts. This includes:
- Messaging and announcement platforms
- Virtual meeting spaces
- Emergency notifications
- Real-time feedback
- Video communication
Having a bigger picture for EdTech as a district leader means considering how it works for every target audience in any environment.
Uplevel Your EdTech Decisions With WeVideo
Making EdTech decisions is no small task, but they’re designed to enhance learning and instruction in ways that make the entire process worth it. Since 2020 (and likely thanks to the influence of COVID-19), EdTech usage has increased by 99%! This implies that there are also costs for not adapting learning in this way.
Today, there’s no avoiding the rapid advancement of technology, creating urgency around how to effectively scaffold learning. Our advice? Leverage tools like WeVideo that sync seamlessly with existing learning management systems and video hosts, have robust editing and creation tools, analytics, real-time collaboration, and broadcast features that enhance learning with data.
Curious how WeVideo can support effective EdTech in your classroom? Chat with us to learn how our high-quality instruction tools can activate learning in your school or district today.