How to utilize Edtech effectively in your school

Technology is transforming solutions

The developments in technology are truly life changing. A clear example of this is the advancements in eye surgeries, there are now twice as many people in Europe with shortsighted-ness (or myopia) as there were 50 years ago. And For those opposed to glasses or contact lenses, laser eye surgery has become a more permanent alternative.

The original procedure was miraculous for its time but now is entirely invasive in comparison to the developments a researcher from Columbia University has made. This new non–invasive way to permanently correct vision has proved to be a great alternative to traditional eye surgery. The method uses something called a “femtosecond oscillator” – an ultra-fast laser that delivers pulses of very low energy at high repetition rate. Technology really can do anything!

Edtech and it’s evolution

It’s easy to see how technology is affecting our lives every day, but can we say the same for education? With a lot of adult education being technology based, from webinars to online courses and qualifications, it is easy for many adults to educate themselves without the need for any face to face teaching.

However, given the vast spectrum of needs of children and young people when supporting them to realise their full potential, technology (or EdTech as it has become commonly known) will never be used to replace teachers or traditional teaching in the same way as adults. Instead effective technology is used as a tool to assist, extend or optimise teaching and learning.

Over the years, the Innovate My School community have enjoyed contributing to the ‘what makes effective EdTech?’ discussion, and we have been honoured to publish many inspiring articles from classroom teachers that share their tips and tricks on what has worked, and why. From this I have immersed myself into the teaching community and their articles to compile some fundamental words of wisdom, directly from teachers for you.

So, here are five top tips to effectively integrate technology or EdTech!

1.      Be clear on the problem that you want to solve or the outcome that you want to improve

The bets examples on EdTech have occurred when the decision to procure is objective driven. There’s a difference between what you think you should have and what will really develop your learning environments and the way you teach. ‘We need iPads’ is something you report to hearing more often than you should. But if you start with the outcome, e.g. you need to improve parental engagement, then you are more likely to find the best EdTech for the job, as well as track and monitor its impact.

2.      Read the evidence

Most EdTech companies now understand that you want more reviews of their tools to help inspire confidence. Reviews help expedite the procurement process as you can quickly filter products based on other schools’ experiences. Therefore, it’s important to always try and find reviews of how the EdTech worked for real life schools to compare whether it will work for yours. But unfortunately reviews and case studies are still few and far between, and not held in a central place for easy access and comparison.

3.      Find our what works in a school like yours

There are many comparable factors that you consider when determining if an EdTech is right for your school. You talk about the importance of visiting a neighbouring school and seeing something in action in the real world. Or going to a CPD event and hearing about a technology tool that has had an impact at a school in your group. However, you also want to understand what works in a school like yours – a school drawing on a similar demographic, of a similar size and standing etc. School context is an important consideration when choosing EdTech.

4.      Champion, train, implement and embed

There are plenty of ways to ensure that your EdTech is implemented in such a way that it makes an impact that is sustained. EdTech companies will often provide training, but by having an internal champion you can ensure your school will see results. This is someone who can implement change at a leadership level, as well ensuring the EdTech tool is woven into continued professional development. Developing a plan is another method that helped your EdTech to succeed. A plan that also considers existing pedagogy, and how the EdTech product will integrate and add value brings about the best results.

5.      Evaluate efficacy and repeat

Value for money as well as impact is imperative for schools right now. Many EdTech tools are now online subscriptions. This means that annually, or after an initial term you have an opportunity to truly evaluate value for money and impact, as well as do another cursory check of the market to see what else is out there. At renewal time, it’s also a good chance to make sure that your champion is still in place, and that any refresher training is conducted for new members of staff.