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Discussion One | Artificial Intelligence 

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Discussion One | Artificial Intelligence 

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Please view the video to gain understanding of "Popplet" as a great classroom tool to use for Student Collaboration and Creation of Content.

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10 Good Reasons To Put Popplet In Your Digital Backpack

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10 Good Reasons To Put Popplet In Your Digital Backpack

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10 Good Reasons To Put Popplet In Your Digital Backpack

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Popplet is a mind-mapping application and graphic organizer that helps students think and learn visually. With Popplet learners can capture facts, thoughts, ideas in different ways and immediately connect and visualize the relationships between them. Popular with teachers and students, Popplet frequently makes an appearance in the ten favorite classroom apps lists that educators share on social media with their colleagues and fellows.

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Teachers can use Popplet in virtually any subject area: Use them to build organizational skills for reviewing and note-taking; to teach paragraph structure, supporting an argument, creating an outline; and more. The possibilities are limitless. One example available in-app under the public tab shows a person's travel plans -- places they'd like to visit with pictures and hot spots. Teachers could model note-taking, for example, and then share the Popplet image with students to refer to as an example.

The labeled collaboration feature also makes it possible to use it as a formative assessment or to keep track of contributions during a group assignment. And it makes group work a bit easier for distance learning. Challenge kids to reflect on why they organized ideas the way they did to encourage metacognition, and push them to arrange their thinking carefully.

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Popplet Review for Teachers | Common Sense Education

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Teachers can use Popplet in virtually any subject area: Use them to build organizational skills for reviewing and note-taking; to teach paragraph structure, supporting an argument, creating an outline; and more. The possibilities are limitless. One example available in-app under the public tab shows a person's travel plans -- places they'd like to visit with pictures and hot spots.

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Topic Two | Hybrid and Digital Learning Spaces

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Topic Two | Hybrid and Digital Learning Spaces

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With the right systems in place and explicit coaching, middle school students are better prepared to stay on track with their assignments.

If you're teaching in the hybrid model, as I am, you're likely facing an array of challenges as you try to keep students who are in the physical classroom and those who are remote on track.

I see it every day: Students receive an overwhelming amount of emails and other digital communication throughout the day that need to be organized, and students who work remotely don't have the benefit of reminders posted around the classroom, in-person reminders from their teacher and peers, or the bells ringing to tell them it is time to transition from one class to the next. Further confusion can be introduced when some are at school one day and at home the next, and among students who shuttle among parents, babysitters, and other caregivers throughout the week.

Since I'm a middle school teacher, much of my focus is on helping my students build executive functioning skills, which these days are as much a matter of necessity as of practice. I have carefully constructed online frameworks that support them through pandemic-era academic complexities and ramped up my coaching on the organizational front.

As I outline below, online systems keep my students on track, and specific strategies guide their own organization.

Establish Routines

In order to reduce the number of clicks for students, I use a single learning management system (Google Classroom) whenever possible.

I post a daily agenda, listed by date, that students can click on to see what's in store for that particular day, but also I post an entire week's agenda in advance so they can plan ahead as needed.

I post assignments using a consistent format within Google Classroom; assignments are grouped by unit, and once a unit is completed, it is moved to the bottom of the webpage. All assignments that must be turned in are labeled with a due date so that they can be pulled up within Google Classroom's to-do list. Course materials that are not required to be turned in are uploaded using the "materials" label so that those materials don't appear to be missing work, and the stream is used only for announcements and reminders.

By labeling content consistently, keeping assignments grouped by topic, and using digital due dates, students can quickly navigate to their assignments and stay focused on content.

I start and end class the same way each day: Class begins with a review of the daily agenda and upcoming assignments and ends with reminding students what is due the following day, as well as providing time for in-person and remote students to ask questions.

Give Advance Notice

The nature of hybrid learning requires students to plan much more than they ever needed to before. I provide them with a minimum of one week's advance notice for all assignments and spend a few minutes on Monday reviewing what is due that week. If they know they have an upcoming assignment that might be challenging, I encourage them to plan to reach out to me when they are in the physical classroom to get help or clarification.

Make Sure Information Is Concise

My students have expressed how overwhelmed they are by the sheer number of emails and Google Classroom notifications they receive every day-to the point where some have admitted that they do not always read the emails, even though doing so is essential. I reduce the amount of text I write, use bullets, and make sure that all information I send is essential so that students are more likely to read, comprehend, and respond as needed.

Keep Families Informed

As students are working remotely half of the time in the hybrid model, it is helpful for caregivers to have an idea of what they should see their kids doing and what questions to ask them about the content. Every Friday, I send an email to families that includes a brief outline of what we did that week, upcoming assignments, questions for discussion, and any materials that students will need for the coming week. I also copy parents/guardians on all emails to students when I check in on assignments. It's helpful if adults are in the loop and can remind them.

Student Organization Tips

My students benefit from specific coaching on the following points.

To-do lists: I encourage students to keep a running to-do list digitally and on paper, as well as utilize the to-do list on Google Classroom to remind them of upcoming assignments.

Time to organize email: I have found that students need a set time in advisory (the time each day when students meet with their assigned faculty adviser and a small group of other students) to organize and delete emails. Providing this time helps them to stay digitally organized and develop effective organizational practices in a digital climate.

Materials and supplies: Asking students to establish a list of essential materials and supplies for remote and in-person learning helps them to arrive each day in their learning environment with the items they need to be successful.

To make sure that my systems and strategies are working, I periodically solicit feedback from students in Google Classroom regarding the organization and ease of accessing course materials. I use this feedback to continually improve my own digital organization to align with what works best for students.

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How to Keep Students Organized in a Hybrid Model

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With the right systems in place and explicit coaching, middle school students are better prepared to stay on track with their assignments. If you're teaching in the hybrid model, as I am, you're likely facing an array of challenges as you try to keep students who are in the physical classroom and those who are remote on track.

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I explained this in paragraph three of topic two, "hybrid and digital learning spaces." This is a video detailing how organizing Google classroom has benefitted me, my students, and their families.

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A middle school teacher describes learning to code with her students, and how she now uses coding as a teaching tool in other classes.

Courtesy of LEGO® Education

About a week before the start of the new school year, my principal approached me and asked if I would be interested in teaching a robotics course. I was about to begin my 10th year of science teaching, and I said yes, but with mixed feelings of excitement and apprehension. I had no idea how to teach robotics. I was thrown into a classroom with 75 eager students with only a crash course in coding just days before the start of school.

I knew how to use a computer. I could make the cutest Moodle page, navigate unfamiliar software, and troubleshoot like a pro. Coding was a unique experience, though. It felt like I'd been thrown into a foreign country with no idea how to communicate. I was learning alongside my students and making necessary adjustments. "I don't know," I had to say several times, or I had to ask myself and my students, "What can we do to figure it out?"

I've been teaching robotics for seven years now and recently added a STEM component. To keep up with the ever-changing world of technology, I've changed my course, infusing it with what I've learned about coding, computer science, and best teaching practices. Here's what I've learned about teaching robotics-and how I've used that in my science classes too.

Incorporating Block Coding Into Your Classroom

After immersing myself in the world of coding, I discovered that block coding was the best way to get started. In block coding, students use a drag-and-drop platform to piece together instructions for their creations. The blocks visually represent text-based code. For example, you can drag and drop the "move" block to make your object move, or drag the "hide" block to make your object disappear. There are many block coding websites out there, with Scratch being a popular one among teachers and students.

After I overcame my personal coding fears, I was able to let go and allow students to take on more of a teaching role in our class. I began by showing students a block and asking them what they expected it to do. Students discussed their hypotheses and ideas with one another before putting them to the test. This strategy gave students control over their learning and taught them how to decipher blocks on their own.

Thinking back to that moment, my students taught me so much. They demonstrated how to use new blocks and complete tasks with them. The more students learned about coding, the more eager they were to share their knowledge with me and their classmates. Situating students to teach and support one another has since become an integral part of my practice.

Allowing students to code together broadens their problem-solving skills and allows them to benefit from peer support. For example, in one coding project, students work in pairs and I set a timer for 10 minutes. During that time, one student is in charge of writing code, while the other assists and makes suggestions. They switch roles and resume coding when the timer goes off. This strategy ensures that both parties are equally invested in the project by allowing equal working time.

Using Code in a STEM/Robotics Classroom

Students learn best when they can make connections between disciplines. Keeping this in mind, I have included a variety of subjects in my robotics/STEM curriculum. Here are a few examples of how I use coding to create an interdisciplinary curriculum:

Students design their own robotic challenges incorporating equivalent ratios. Challenges were developed with partners and posted in their Microsoft OneNote notebooks in a Collaboration Space. Some examples include having the robot travel to specific points in the classroom and display ratios that are equivalent to a given ratio, as well as having the robot travel to each question posted on the floor and display the answers to those questions. Students voted on which two challenges they wanted to complete after evaluating and supplying feedback on their peers' challenges.

Students created animated projects in Scratch to demonstrate their understanding of net forces. Students were given the task of explaining and demonstrating their understanding of net forces using Scratch in any way they wanted. One student decided to create a story about two animals discussing net forces. Students gave each other feedback on their projects, sharing the code they used to make them and suggesting ways to improve the project's content or coding.

Students learn how to create a Mad Lib to help them practice their parts of speech after learning how to use the coding website Small Basic.

Using Coding in a Science Classroom

Coding was a little trickier to incorporate into my science class. In robotics, I have a lot of leeway, but not in science, where I have to teach a set of standards in a short amount of time. At first, I was concerned that it would take too long, that students would not grasp the concept, and that the projects would fail miserably. I was relieved to discover that I was wrong.

Students quickly grasped concepts and created outstanding projects that showed their comprehension of the standards being taught. I use coding in the classroom in a variety of ways-for example:

Using Scratch, students work in pairs to create an animated model of nutrient movement in an ecosystem. Students used X and Y coordinates to move the nutrient across the page while coding. The projects were then shared with classmates in their OneNote Notebooks via a Collaboration Space. By looking inside the code used by their peers, students were able to see how the project was coded.

Students created code for their robot to travel to different areas of a coastal mountain range using Lego EV3 Classroom software. Students demonstrated the rain shadow effect as the robot approached each area (windward and leeward sides).

This experience has taught me a few things. I've discovered that adding computer science into my other subjects gradually and steadily equips students for success today and in the future. As educators, we must believe that all children can learn. And we must believe in ourselves as much as we do in our students.

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A middle school teacher describes learning to code with her students, and how she now uses coding as a teaching tool in other classes. Courtesy of LEGO® Education About a week before the start of the new school year, my principal approached me and asked if I would be interested in teaching a robotics course.

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A lot of people ask whether coding is considered a STEAM topic or else not. Actually, computer programming integrates the different parts of STEAM in its education and that is one reason why coding is one of the recommended things that schools around the world are now integrating for their students. Learning the skill of coding is important, but what's even more important than this is what students will learn to do after they understand how to code. Let's learn more about coding's relation to STEAM.

What is STEAM?

Before understanding how coding and STEAM support each other, it is first important to understand what STEAM stands for. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. STEAM education is an approach that uses these five different fields for enhancing any student's critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation skills.

The main goal behind STEAM education is to help students develop the skills needed for the future, these skills help them adapt to the evolving and fast-paced environment, and which at the same time helps them use both the right and the left sides of the brain simultaneously, which is needed in the 21st century.

What Does Coding Have to Do with STEAM?

As mentioned above, coding is definitely considered an important topic of STEAM education. Every part of the STEAM acronym is related to the process of learning to code in one way or another. Going through every single letter of the acronym will tell you more about why coding is related to STEAM, here's why:

The letter "S" in STEAM stands for science and it is important to differentiate between learning scientific things while coding and following some scientific methods in the process. While learning to code, you will try your experiment until it works and that's exactly what the scientific method is all about and that also explains why coding and science are related to one another.

At first, you might link coding to technology since it is all based on writing codes and creating applications, but coding and technology are related in so many different other ways, especially if we are still talking about kids. There are some exercises which kids start learning before they get to the part of blockly coding, such as working on a flashlight that changes its colors, a lamp that turns on when a specific action is taken, etc. and that's exactly what technology is all about when it comes to coding. Coding is known to be the process of putting codes or steps in a specific order for a specific end result to happen, and that is what technology helps with.

If we are thinking about the previous example of the relation between coding and technology then we have to say that engineering is the process of imagining, planning, and executing the process of technology. To make it easier, we can say that technology is the end result or the project that you will need to reach, while engineering in this case is the process that you are going to follow in order to reach this end result.

Coding is one way of trying to come creative with what you are trying to offer to the world; for example an application which will help them solve a problem, make things faster, etc. and while creating an app, it is important to become creative in the way you are creating things. Creativity might be in the idea itself, the way you are creating it, the design you are going to present it through, and all such details, and that's exactly how coding and arts are also related to one another.

Thinking about coding, mathematics will always pop up. Coding is always linked to mathematics - or in other words to numbers. The interesting thing about coding is that it helps in making mathematics much easier for the kids to understand, because the more things become complicated, the less they will enjoy it and thus the less they will be able to understand. One of the good things about teaching kids how to code from an early age is giving them the chance to learn math without finding it complicated.

Why is STEAM Important?

After understanding the link that is carried between coding and STEAM education, there's a question that might come to your mind: why is STEAM education important? STEAM education is important for several different reasons, such as helping kids to become creative and think outside the box and thus manage to handle and approach tasks from a different perspective.

In addition to creativity, STEAM education also makes kids more confident since it combines education with technology, science, arts, engineering, and mathematics, giving kids the chance to tackle issues with more self-confidence.

And finally, when they are self-assured of themselves and think creatively and logically, kids become able to solve different problems while they are collaborating with their peers, friends, or family members.

That's how STEAM education and coding will help kids build their personalities and gain the skills which they will need in the future and which will serve them a place in the 21st century workforce.

You could teach your kids how to code with RoboGarden through completing our blockly and textual missions on the platform. You could sign up here.

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coding games from beginner to professional

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A lot of people ask whether coding is considered a STEAM topic or else not. Actually, computer programming integrates the different parts of STEAM in its education and that is one reason why coding is one of the recommended things that schools around the world are now integrating for their students.

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Topic Four | Augmented and Virtual Reality

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Topic Four | Augmented and Virtual Reality

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Please view my video to understand how VR and AR are used in my field of Science Education as well as an explanation of the supplemental resources regarding this topic.
https://watch.screencastify.com/v/U6NttPa8KTX9I9SmmRT7

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AR/VR in Science Education.webm

AR/VR in Science Education.webm

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Not too long ago, all educators needed to impart knowledge were a blackboard and some chalk. As the last few years have proven, technology affects nearly every industry. The education sector isn't immune to the disruption of revolutionary innovations, including virtual reality.

Teachers have been utilizing videos, PowerPoint presentations, and other interactive teaching mediums to appeal to younger generations. Through special equipment, VR takes users into a computer-generated space that they can interact with. With each passing year, the technology inches closer to mainstream adoption.

Let's take a closer look at how virtual learning enhances science education.

The Importance of Virtual Reality in the Classroom

An immersive approach to teaching science could make learning fun. But beyond that, it can potentially be an effective aid in teaching.

The rise of virtual reality has come at a very opportune time. As the world continues to face challenges such as climate change, water shortages, poverty, and diseases, it's imperative that we start educating the youth about them.

VR can help educators teach the youth about the global challenges that many continue to turn a blind eye to. It inspires future generations of scientists and leaders who can change the way we address such pressing issues.

The Future of Science Education

Labster is one platform that's seeking to enhance science education. It gives students access to hyper-realistic lab equipment. Furthermore, it allows them to perform experiments in a risk-free simulated environment.

Currently, thousands of universities across Denmark utilize this VR-driven technology. It engages and inspires students to pursue programs in the sciences. As it comes with a progress tracker, it enables students to take full control of their learning. In addition, it prepares future generations for the real world.

Another company that's developing immersive lab simulations is PraxiLabs. The company designs virtual labs for biology, chemistry, and physics classes, where students can perform all kinds of experiments safely. They create enriching experiences that fit various learning styles. Not only that, but they also provide study aids that come in different multimedia formats to help students excel.

In a study on virtual learning, researchers compared students who used VR headsets with a group that used desktops. First, both groups were asked to access science simulations on their respective devices. Then, they were given a multiple-choice quiz. Both groups saw similar results. However, they varied in terms of laboratory performance.

Two weeks after the simulation, the respondents were asked to conduct an experiment in a real laboratory. Students who had used VR performed significantly better compared to the ones who hadn't. Research shows that virtual laboratories supplement learners' real lab experiences.

Another study found that virtual simulations in high school classrooms enhance student knowledge significantly compared to traditional approaches. It suggested that VR has the capacity to spark students' passions for STEM topics. Furthermore, it found that virtual science learning motivates students to pursue STEM-related careers.

So Can VR Improve Science Education?

Certainly, it's too early for us to definitively say that virtual reality can improve science education. But no doubt-VR has the potential to transform classroom learning as we know it. VR makes learning fun and interesting.

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Can Virtual Reality Improve Science Education? | ARPost

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Not too long ago, all educators needed to impart knowledge were a blackboard and some chalk. As the last few years have proven, technology affects nearly every industry. The education sector isn't immune to the disruption of revolutionary innovations, including virtual reality.

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200+ Virtual Simulations for the Science Classroom

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200+ Virtual Simulations for the Science Classroom

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Topic Five | Favorite App #1 | Solar System Scope

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Topic Five | Favorite App #1 | Solar System Scope

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Solar System Scope was one of my favorite apps to use when I taught sixth grade Earth Science. I enjoyed doing several days of stations with this being one of the rotations. You can use this app on an any device, but I liked to pull this website up on my interactive smart board and allow students to explore everything the app has to offer. This is a student centered app in which students can explore each part of the solar system in depth. The app is free and has several components including but not limited to “Spacepedia” where students learn about the basics of Astronomy and can browse topics by category, a “Sky Diary” to learn more about the phases of the moon and the history of the planets, and “Solar Textures” that represent real planetary maps so students can explore the surface and entire composition of each planet. I can’t say enough about this app! It definitely provided my students with an interactive experience to learn and retain information about the Solar System. It is absolutely worth exploring if Astronomy is part of your curriculum.

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Online 3D simulation of the Solar System and night sky in real time - the Sun, planets, dwarf planets, comets, stars and constellations

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Topic Five | Favorite App #2 | Blendspace

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Topic Five | Favorite App #2 | Blendspace

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Blendspace is very similar to Nearpod when it comes to interactive lessons that engage students. It is a free app and offers a range of digital lessons for every content area and grade level. Teachers can browse through the “Digital Lessons Library” and find lessons, presentations, projects, quizzes, etc. or they can create their own interactive lesson that can be shared to the public library on Blendspace or kept private. What I like the most about using Blendspace in my classroom is that it is a digital platform that can be as student centered as the teacher wants it to be or lessons can be teacher directed. I also love that students can participate in live discussion forums with one another and include various forms of digital content into their response.

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Topic Five | Favorite App #3 | Classroom Screen

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Topic Five | Favorite App #3 | Classroom Screen

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I learned about this app from Erin Morton’s Padlet and I am so interested! Erin explained that it is a great tool to use in a high school classroom because students come in daily asking “what are we doing today?” and I feel like that is a question that teachers, no matter the subject area or grade level, hear every day. I love that this is an app that is free for anyone who signs up and that it is organized. Of course there is an upgrade that you can purchase, but honestly all you need is included into the free version that is available. I have been playing around with this tool all morning and see that it has great features to engage students throughout the day. This is a fun, engaging, and interactive app that offers components such as a random name selector for activities, various forms of media, QR codes, stopwatch, timer, calendar, and daily agenda that students can look at and know what to expect for the day when they immediately walk into the classroom. It is an awesome tool for organization and something that I look forward to using in my high school classroom this Fall.

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Classroomscreen | The #1 online whiteboard for teachers | www-production-classroomscreen-com

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Manage your classroom in a fun and engaging way. Classroomscreen is packed with widgets for teachers: timers, group makers, interactive polls and much more…

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Attached is a Google Doc with my personal thoughts on Teacher Buy In for emerging technology.

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1. Allow six months of advance prep time
2. Research possible solutions
3. Don't assume
4. Create an account and play around with the technology
5. Run a focus group with key teachers
6. Showcase the technology at a faculty meeting
7. Excitement over new technology becomes contagious

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Parent engagement is a driving factor behind any child's success in school-but a nationwide survey of more than 1,000 teachers found that parents are often disengaged in their child's learning journey. To harness edtech tools that can help school-home communication, it's essential to first secure teacher buy-in.

More than half of the teachers surveyed believe parents do not understand the importance of their involvement in their child's school experience, and they assume education is a teacher's job-not a collaborative effort between parents and teachers.

As the district technology integrationist in a rural Title 1 district, I continually look for affordable and/or free edtech resources that will bridge the communication gap between teachers and parents. But those resources also require teacher buy-in.

Up until a few years ago, our district's main communication line with parents was the traditional "old school" format. We would send countless paper copies of information home with students in their book bags at the end of the week, and those same papers were coming back the following week because parents weren't checking their child's backpacks regularly.

A drastic change in our communication efforts with parents needed to occur. After researching numerous platforms to help with parent-teacher engagement, I discovered ClassTag, a simple and free communication platform to address the problem of streamlining teacher and parent conversations.

Want to share a great resource? Let us know at submissions@eschoolmedia.com.

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Susan Oehlertz, District Technology Integrationist, Pocahontas Area Elementary

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7 strategies to get teacher buy-in for new technology tools

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Parent engagement is a driving factor behind any child's success in school-but a nationwide survey of more than 1,000 teachers found that parents are often disengaged in their child's learning journey. To harness edtech tools that can help school-home communication, it's essential to first secure teacher buy-in.

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Technology | The Best or Worst Thing for Education

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Technology | The Best or Worst Thing for Education

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This is an excellent TED Talk that shines light on the pros and cons of technology in the classroom. The truth of the matter is that technology is the future for our students, so we all HAVE to get on board with it regardless of our personal opinion. It's our JOB to provide students with the resources and technological tools they need to advance in the world of education and to become academically successful.

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Technology, The best or worst thing for education | Scott Widman | TEDxYouth@BSPR

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Dive Brief:

Technology adoption and innovative teaching practices are becoming commonplace in the classroom, particularly as educators look toward more blended and experiential learning strategies - but ensuring success will also require school leaders to consider whether teacher buy-in is critical for a given initiative, according to eSchool News.

On one hand, many education experts say teacher buy-in is important because educators' comfort and feelings toward tech adopted are key to that technology's successful implementation, but others claim that teacher buy-in can sometimes be overemphasized and inadvertently stifle innovation.

According to eSchool News, teacher buy-in for a classroom tool will also most likely affect how students perceive it, which can impact learning outcomes, so finding a balance between pushing innovation and getting faculty support comes down to administrators taking the time to understand teachers' hesitations or emotional anxieties around change and working with them to find a solution.

Dive Insight:

Lack of at least some teacher buy-in for change initiatives in a school can diminish the effectiveness of those projects. Teachers, who are closest to the students, are responsible for delivering new technology and strategies in an effective manner. According to two officials at Meriden Public Schools in Connecticut writing for eSchool News, a rush to implement new technologies and changes without teacher buy-in or a proper strategy are some of the main reasons why blended learning programs fail. Simply put, moving too quickly without giving faculty the support they need or hearing their concerns can be a recipe for failure.

​But beyond just getting support for a technology or program, administrators are increasingly seeing that leaving teachers out of decision-making conversations affects not only students, but also the school environment. Statistics reflect this reality, as 8% of teachers leave the profession each year - more often than not for feeling that they lacked a supportive school culture. As schools increasingly move toward becoming "future ready" and adopt new learning strategies, not meeting the needs of faculty can lead to unforeseen setbacks.

Administrators can take steps to avoid such a consequence by actually listening to what teachers want and working to understand their hesitations. For instance, Principal Lourenco Garcia of Revere High School was able to successfully implement strategies to prepare his school for the 21st century by focusing in on faculty professional development, support and facilitation of student-centered learning communities, which helped teachers feel as though they had a sense of ownership over transformation in their classrooms. In another case, Superintendent Mario Andrade of Bristol Warren Regional School District in Rhode Island made professional learning communities a 24/7 commitment by always paying attention to what faculty needed. When he had t eachers collaborate on ideas for technology adoption with reviews, assessments, and data, he could see issues with projects and immediately respond to them.

It's an issue at the higher ed level, as well, with this reality becoming unavoidable as colleges and universities must adopt modern technologies and innovative strategies to stay ahead. Education Dive attended the Council for Higher Education Accreditation's meeting last month, where education experts spoke toward disruptive innovation in the industry, saying that institutions will fall behind if they don't start to make changes that meet the demands of a more diverse and technologically savvy student body. As higher ed leaders adapt, faculty buy-in will be an important factor in ensuring that changes are made successfully.

Examples of college leaders taking steps to include staff in the decision-making conversation include Harvey Mudd College President Maria Klawe, who created steering committees around chief concerns expressed through campus-wide surveys. And Robert Morris University President Christopher Howard has noted that it can be difficult to get support for change in universities, but often times ideas for innovation actually come from the faculty members.

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How administrators can get teacher buy-in on change initiatives

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Technology adoption and innovative teaching practices are becoming commonplace in the classroom, particularly as educators look toward more blended and experiential learning strategies - but ensuring success will also require school leaders to consider whether teacher buy-in is critical for a given initiative, according to eSchool News.

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Benefits, Challenges, & Impact on Students

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Benefits, Challenges, & Impact on Students

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Many of today's high-demand jobs were created in the last decade, according to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). As advances in technology drive globalization and digital transformation, teachers can help students acquire the necessary skills to succeed in the careers of the future.

How important is technology in education? The COVID-19 pandemic is quickly demonstrating why online education should be a vital part of teaching and learning. By integrating technology into existing curricula, as opposed to using it solely as a crisis-management tool, teachers can harness online learning as a powerful educational tool.

The effective use of digital learning tools in classrooms can increase student engagement, help teachers improve their lesson plans, and facilitate personalized learning. It also helps students build essential 21st-century skills.

Virtual classrooms, video, augmented reality (AR), robots, and other technology tools can not only make class more lively, they can also create more inclusive learning environments that foster collaboration and inquisitiveness and enable teachers to collect data on student performance.

Still, it's important to note that technology is a tool used in education and not an end in itself. The promise of educational technology lies in what educators do with it and how it is used to best support their students' needs.

Educational Technology Challenges

BuiltIn reports that 92 percent of teachers understand the impact of technology in education. According to Project Tomorrow, 59 percent of middle school students say digital educational tools have helped them with their grades and test scores. These tools have become so popular that the educational technology market is projected to expand to $342 billion by 2025, according to the World Economic Forum.

However, educational technology has its challenges, particularly when it comes to implementation and use. For example, despite growing interest in the use of AR, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technology, less than 10 percent of schools report having these tools in their classrooms, according to Project Tomorrow. Additional concerns include excessive screen time, the effectiveness of teachers using the technology, and worries about technology equity.

Prominently rising from the COVID-19 crisis is the issue of content. Educators need to be able to develop and weigh in on online educational content, especially to encourage students to consider a topic from different perspectives. The urgent actions taken during this crisis did not provide sufficient time for this. Access is an added concern - for example, not every school district has resources to provide students with a laptop, and internet connectivity can be unreliable in homes.

Additionally, while some students thrive in online education settings, others lag for various factors, including support resources. For example, a student who already struggled in face-to-face environments may struggle even more in the current situation. These students may have relied on resources that they no longer have in their homes.

Still, most students typically demonstrate confidence in using online education when they have the resources, as studies have suggested. However, online education may pose challenges for teachers, especially in places where it has not been the norm.

Despite the challenges and concerns, it's important to note the benefits of technology in education, including increased collaboration and communication, improved quality of education, and engaging lessons that help spark imagination and a search for knowledge in students.

The Benefits of Technology in Education

Teachers want to improve student performance, and technology can help them accomplish this aim. To mitigate the challenges, administrators should help teachers gain the competencies needed to enhance learning for students through technology. Additionally, technology in the classroom should make teachers' jobs easier without adding extra time to their day.

Technology provides students with easy-to-access information, accelerated learning, and fun opportunities to practice what they learn. It enables students to explore new subjects and deepen their understanding of difficult concepts, particularly in STEM. Through the use of technology inside and outside the classroom, students can gain 21st-century technical skills necessary for future occupations.

Still, children learn more effectively with direction. The World Economic Forum reports that while technology can help young students learn and acquire knowledge through play, for example, evidence suggests that learning is more effective through guidance from an adult, such as a teacher.

Leaders and administrators should take stock of where their faculty are in terms of their understanding of online spaces. From lessons learned during this disruptive time, they can implement solutions now for the future. For example, administrators could give teachers a week or two to think carefully about how to teach courses not previously online. In addition to an exploration of solutions, flexibility during these trying times is of paramount importance.

Below are examples of how important technology is in education and the benefits it offers to students and teachers.

Increased Collaboration and Communication

Educational technology can foster collaboration. Not only can teachers engage with students during lessons, but students can also communicate with each other. Through online lessons and learning games, students get to work together to solve problems. In collaborative activities, students can share their thoughts and ideas and support each other. At the same time, technology enables one-on-one interaction with teachers. Students can ask classroom-related questions and seek additional help on difficult-to-understand subject matter. At home, students can upload their homework, and teachers can access and view completed assignments using their laptops.

Personalized Learning Opportunities

Technology allows 24/7 access to educational resources. Classes can take place entirely online via the use of a laptop or mobile device. Hybrid versions of learning combine the use of technology from anywhere with regular in-person classroom sessions. In both scenarios, the use of technology to tailor learning plans for each student is possible. Teachers can create lessons based on student interests and strengths. An added benefit is that students can learn at their own pace. When they need to review class material to get a better understanding of essential concepts, students can review videos in the lesson plan. The data generated through these online activities enable teachers to see which students struggled with certain subjects and offer additional assistance and support.

Curiosity Driven by Engaging Content

Through engaging and educational content, teachers can spark inquisitiveness in children and boost their curiosity, which research says has ties to academic success. Curiosity helps students get a better understanding of math and reading concepts. Creating engaging content can involve the use of AR, videos, or podcasts. For example, when submitting assignments, students can include videos or interact with students from across the globe.

Improved Teacher Productivity and Efficiency

Teachers can leverage technology to achieve new levels of productivity, implement useful digital tools to expand learning opportunities for students, and increase student support and engagement. It also enables teachers to improve their instruction methods and personalize learning. Schools can benefit from technology by reducing the costs of physical instructional materials, enhancing educational program efficiency, and making the best use of teacher time.

Become a Leader in Enriching Classrooms through Technology

Educators unfamiliar with some of the technology used in education may not have been exposed to the tools as they prepared for their careers or as part of their professional development. Teachers looking to make the transition and acquire the skills to incorporate technology in education can take advantage of learning opportunities to advance their competencies. For individuals looking to help transform the education system through technology, American University's School of Education Online offers a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master of Arts in Education Policy and Leadership to prepare educators with essential tools to become leaders. Courses such as Education Program and Policy Implementation and Teaching Science in Elementary School equip graduate students with critical competencies to incorporate technology into educational settings effectively.

Learn more about American University's School of Education Online and its master's degree programs.

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How Important Is Technology in Education? | American University

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How important is technology in education? Learn how American University's School of Education can prepare you to serve as a leader in educational technology.