Tag: virtualreality

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Why Digitizing Traditional Teaching Isn’t Innovation

Technology has been hailed by many as the answer to every problem in education. Digital technology is supposed to allow students to learn in entirely new ways, bringing new innovations to every classroom. But this isn’t always the case. In fact, many EdTech programs and tools are simply digitizing traditional teaching—and it isn’t innovation.

When schools and teachers bring technology into the classroom, they must ask themselves what their goals are. Using technology simply for the sake of checking off a box and saying that your classroom is in the 21st century is a waste of time, money, and resources. Teachers who want to use technology must do so for the right reasons.

The true purpose of technology in the classroom should be to change the way we teach, not to digitize what we already do. Yes, it’s possible to have students take notes in a Google Doc or create a PowerPoint instead of a poster. But in the end, students won’t be using technology to its full potential with such assignments.

Assignments like these, and others that simply take what teachers have always done and add technology, can be fun for students. However, they don’t create the kind of engagement that’s possible with technology.

Instead, teachers should be looking for ways to use technology to get students active. That doesn’t mean physically active, but mentally active. With technology, it’s possible to get students to do more critical thinking, evaluating, and creating. Students can take responsibility for their own learning.

Teachers can achieve this through models like the flipped classroom. With a flipped classroom, students read information or watch videos from home, then come into class the next day to discuss what they learned or practice their new skills. Instead of sitting in their seats and listening to a teacher lecture, students are interacting with one another or creating a product themselves.

This is the kind of innovation we need when it comes to EdTech. Technology gives students the power to research, create, and explore. By simply digitizing traditional teaching, we give up opportunities to engage students in these kinds of meaningful activities.

Next time you have the chance to bring technology into the classroom, ask yourself—is this really enhancing my lesson, or is it just a way to do the same old things with more technology?

How do you use technology to bring your lessons to the next level? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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Can Digital Equity Close the Achievement Gap?

Closing the achievement gap has been a focus of those looking to improve education for decades. The term “achievement gap” refers to the gap between the test scores of low-income students (or students of color) and their wealthier (or white) peers. There are dozens of theories on why this gap continues to exist and what we can do to bring low-income students’ achievement levels up. In recent years, one idea has come to light that has promise—using digital equity to close the achievement gap.

Digital equity has also been the focus of education advocates for some years now. As digital technology becomes an integral part of our world and our schools, a gap has emerged in access to technology. Students from wealthier backgrounds tend to have greater access to the internet and digital technology when compared to their peers who come from poverty. This puts wealthier students ahead and adds another barrier for schools with a high poverty rate to overcome.

Some education experts now say that digital equity could help to provide a level playing field for all students. If all students have access to the same technology, it could help to close the achievement gap. It has already been established that students without access to technology have trouble completing homework assignments. While more than half of teachers assign homework that requires internet access, there are millions of children who live in homes where they can’t get online.

In theory, closing this digital divide could have tremendous effects for low-income students. Giving students from poverty access to technology certainly improves outcomes. Researchers at Stanford have found that, when used correctly, technology does indeed help boost test scores for low-income students.

However, digital equity is not a magic fix for closing the achievement gap. The achievement gap existed long before the invention of the internet. Creating true equality for all students is far more complex than simply giving them all laptops. Further studies have shown that even when students in high-poverty schools have greater access to technology than their peers in low-poverty schools, their test scores remain lower.

While digital equity is a part of closing the achievement gap, it’s not the solution. Digital technology can be used to widen the achievement gap or to help close it.

How has your school used digital technology to try to close the achievement gap? Do you think digital equity can close the achievement gap?

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6 EdTech Companies That Are Disrupting K-12 Education

When most people think about K-12 education, the image of a classroom with rows of students staring at a teacher usually comes to mind. And while this may represent education in the past, it most certainly does not represent education in the present. In particular, edtech companies are one of the reasons why K-12 education has been disrupted, hopefully for the betterment of students. Here is a list of six edtech companies that are making their mark in the classroom.

  1. Donors Choose

Crowdfunding has become a new industry where ordinary people can fund projects or charities for just a few dollars. It is a chance to see exactly where your money goes, which is refreshing when compared to large charity operations. Donors Choose deals exclusively with education projects. Teachers, students, or community members can advertise for projects specific to the needs of their school. Most fundraising goals are small and attainable, like a new classroom iPad or school supplies for underprivileged children.

  1. Coursera

University classes provide a wealth of information on a wide range of subjects, but access to this information used to be based on both grades and financial aid. Now anyone can access free university lectures through the aid of Coursera. While degrees can’t be earned, there is a certificate program which, in conjunction with practical experience, can mean a lot. Coursera is great for high school students who want to expand their knowledge base before even paying for university.

  1. Kramer

Harnessing the power of the internet, Kramer allows students across the globe to connect with each other to collaborate on projects. Students are linked through their own computers but the teacher is able to oversee the work from a control panel.

  1. Khan Academy

Originating from a responsible uncle who wanted to help tutor his niece who happened to live across the country, Khan Academy has become a wildly successful tutoring website. Easy to understand videos are posted on a wide range of subjects that anyone can access. More and more, teachers refer students to this website in order to help with their homework.

  1. Tynker

Coding has become a buzz word in the education community with many schools trying to implement lessons on it, throughout each grade. The problem, however, is that many teachers, in particular older teachers, do not know how to code, let alone teach it. Tynker is a website built to solve this problem. It provides interactive lessons for students as well as understandable tutorials for teachers.

  1. Story2

Getting into a good university is a competitive process. More students see university as a necessary achievement but top universities are struggling to keep up with the demand. The personal essay that is often found in a college application is looked on with more prominence, and Story2 is a useful tool to allow high school students to practice and prepare their essays.

Education, whether it is kindergarten or grade 12, is an adaptable entity and these edtech companies have seized on the malleable nature of school in an attempt to help students achieve more.

 

 

 

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6 EdTech Companies That are Disrupting Early Childhood Education

It’s never too early to think about the best way to help children learn. Children start learning from birth, and it is important to be able to keep their natural curiosity alive while encouraging new skills. Here are six edtech companies that have tried to harness the spirit of youth, and disrupt early childhood education for the better.

Future League

Coding may seem like a challenging concept best left to students in high school or college. Future League, however, thinks otherwise and instead offers coding, robotics, and engineering workshops for grades K to 8. Through the lessons, children learn important skills and complete impressive projects. This company is proving that even at the age of five, engineering is a subject that can be learned.

Camperoo

Another engineering-focused company is Camperoo which offers workshops primarily for children aged six to ten. It focuses on developing skills such as creativity, team work, and design thinking. As children age, they can move on to more specific programs through the company that focuses on robotics, coding, and gaming.

Byteknack

With programs designed for children as young as six, Byteknack is a company that uses online interactive storybook systems. Through these systems, children learn computer science, programming, and computational thinking. One of the main components of the company is an iPad app called Logicland. This app included multiple levels of activities and puzzles that reinforce logic and critical thinking. Byteknack is also notable because it has a focus on encouraging more girls to become interested in STEM subjects.

Noodle

Parents want the very best for their children and can often agonize over each decision that impacts their child’s life. This is especially true when it comes to education. From choosing a preschool, a kindergarten, or a tutor, it can be overwhelming to sift through reviews and recommendations and find one that fits with your child. Noodle is an education website that helps families choose the right place for their child. They have a large database of services that span across the country. While its main focus at the moment is larger cities, it is an ever-growing company that hopes to be able to help more families in smaller communities.

Matific

Math can be a tricky subject for a lot of students. Concepts can be hard to grasp during class, and at home, parents might not be able to help their children with homework accurately. Matific is a company hoping to change this. It focuses on grades K to 6 and uses hands-on, interactive games to help students learn math concepts. Their worksheets are linked to the standard curriculum so that students can easily find additional help with what they are currently learning in class.

Speakaboos

Speakaboos is a company that has designed an app to promote reading through tablets, iPads, and computers. Their content is more than just eBooks. Instead, there are interactive stories that include narration, vocabulary building, and even animation. Their target audience is children aged two to six.

Did we miss any?

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6 EdTech Companies That Are Disrupting Higher Education

There was a time when community colleges, online universities and learning annexes were the only options for individuals looking to broaden their skill set without committing to a pricey four-year undergraduate or graduate program.

Now that almost everyone is technologically literate, tech companies have found their place in the higher education market and are slowly but surely changing the way we approach self-improvement.

Looking to better yourself after high school or in between jobs? There’s an app for that.

1. CodeAcademy: According to recent reports and corporate executives, coding is the single most important skill for job seekers in an era of tech-based business models. With an abundance of free online coding courses like CodeAcademy, there’s no need for a $200,000 college degree to learn and apply coding skills in a time where, according to Burning Glass, programming jobs are growing 12% faster than the average market. CodeAcademy offers free coding classes in 12 different programming languages including Python, Java, Ruby, and SASS. The website encourages users to start with a fundamentals course where they learn basic HTML and CSS before progressing into the complex world of Python and other advanced programming languages. Users learn interactively, creating websites, resumes, and social profiles while accessing virtual “labs” for extra practice. Other free coding sites include Coursera, Google’s Python Class, Khan Academy, and LearnStreet.

2. LocoRobo: LocoRobo may be designed for kids, but the company has launched professionals, professors and college students alike into programming literacy. LocoRobo is a non-profit organization that uses robotics hardware and high-tech mobile apps to help users learn about programming with hands-on robotics-related activities. Completion of LocoRobo’s program also provides learners with IOT skills and sensor training. Whether you’re a parent interested in helping your child advance in an ever-growing technological world, or an executive searching for a fun way to add a line on your resume, LocoRobo is replacing the college robotics classroom one app at a time.

3. Pearson (eText): Buying brand new copies of your required college textbook is cumbersome, ridiculously expensive and, thanks to Pearson, unnecessary. In 2012, Indiana University shifted required textbooks online to save students money. Since then, other universities and college students have taken the hint and switched from hard cover to screen-sized. Pearson’s eText app allows you to hear audio, highlight, take notes, bookmark sections, and even take practice quizzes and homework assignments. The app is slowly replacing the need for an in-person instructor to lay out lesson plans and break down complex material. Not to mention, replacing the age-old textbook, a once universal staple of student debt and the quintessential college experience.

4. Lynda.com: More and more universities are implementing Lynda tutorials into digital media, video curation, design, web development and software courses, which begs the question: why bother going to class? The site offers thousands of video courses taught by industry experts, and members are offered unlimited access to this massive educational library. If you’re a professional looking to sharpen your skills in any area, consider Lynda a convenient alternative to community college and expensive post-graduate programs.

5. Cerego: The twenty-first century is the era of personalization and, in that regard, the edtech industry is no different than a fast-casual restaurant or popular driving service. Cerego is a learning platform that uses neuroscience to personalize your educational experience. If your education requires memorization, Cerego uses spaced repetition, a scientifically-proven technique that increases intervals of time between previously learned material, to maximize retention and help you remember longer. To ensure user success, Cerego’s algorithm adjusts based on the user’s performance. In other words, their service adapts to the learner and doesn’t stop until the material is memorized. Say goodbye to tutors and hello to Cerego!

6. Udacity: Udacity is similar to Lynda.com in that it offers a massive archive of online courses equivalent to university courses and vocational training. What makes Udacity unique is its “nano degree” – an online certification earned in 6-12 months that teaches basic programming skills that all entry-level software and analyst positions require. In 2014, the Georgia Institute of Technology partnered with Udacity to launch the largest online open degree program in computer science. If a cash shortage has stopped you from furthering your tech education, their master’s degree program costs only $7,000. Not to mention Udacity nano degree holders work for companies like Google, AT&T, and Adobe.

The skyrocketing cost of a college education combined with the fierce competitiveness of today’s job market has allowed edtech companies to reach increasingly large numbers of online learners with thin wallets.

While traditional four-year universities haven’t lost their top spot in the world of higher education, these six edtech companies are filling in educational gaps, satisfying an ever-increasing demand for online assistance, and introducing breakthrough educational initiatives faster than anyone imagined.

Harvard, beware.

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Give Your Students a Free Laptop or Tablet and Watch Your Enrollment Rise

Are you looking for new ways to attract students to your higher education program? Colleges around the world are trying something that sounds a little crazy, but it’s helping them increase enrollment and serve students better—giving students a free laptop or tablet.

It’s easy to see why this increases enrollment. Students love the idea of getting a free, brand new laptop or tablet. On a limited budget, these items can be costly for students. Yet most students buy laptops anyway, because they know they need it to succeed. Instead of asking students to stretch their already-tight budgets to buy their own device, colleges should be giving away laptops to every new student.

Many college administrators immediately assume that giving students a free laptop or tablet will break their budget. After all, these devices aren’t cheap. But giving students their own laptop can actually increase enrollment enough to offset the costs.

Students know that they’re going to need a laptop when they start college. Seeing that one school offers a free laptop or tablet, while others don’t, makes it that much easier for students to decide where they want to go. Drawing in more students equals more tuition money. In the future, more students mean a bigger alumni network with more connections—that can also lead to more donations to your college.

But there’s more to it than just increasing enrollment. Students who have access to technology are going to be better students. They can more easily do research, write papers, and complete online assignments. They can stay in touch with professors and other students.

When instructors know that every student has a laptop or tablet, they’re free to use technology in their teaching more. Students have no excuse not to complete online assignments. Plus, if every student has the same type of device, it’s easier to connect with one another. Instructors don’t have to worry about whether students have a Mac, PC, or mobile device.

Programs that give students a free laptop or tablet also create good publicity for colleges and universities. It’s harder for students to complain about the cost of college when they get a free device, and other colleges are sure to take notice. This, in turn, can increase enrollment further, as more potential students hear about the opportunity to get a laptop or tablet.

Does your higher education institution offer any tech-related perks to students? Have you considered giving out free laptops or tablets to new students? Tell us about your experiences.

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5 Ways to Improve Your District’s Digital Leadership

Educators are counting on your digital leadership and your support to help everyone embrace edtech. Here are five ways you can help them embrace digital technology.

1. Recognize Concerns

Change doesn’t come easy for everyone, especially in the digital technology space. Educators stress about their ability to fully implement technology in the classroom and their workspace – even after decades of classroom technology. Nine out of ten teachers will agree that ed tech is here to stay, and yet only 40% of teachers report being prepared to implement it competently and confidently.

Worries about digital footprints, security, and privacy, or something else, can slow the adoption process unless you intervene.

2. Walk the Talk

Get your human resources department to help you set the expectations for digital leadership. Write job descriptions that require the use of current technologies.

Next, provide professional development to make sure that employees have the digital skills you need, and then evaluate every employee on how well they have met the digital expectations of their job descriptions.

3. Celebrate the Early Adopters

Teachers and administrators who are fearless in embracing new trends often lead their peers. Identify these influencers right away, celebrate their successes, and place them in a position of digital leadership.

Early adopters of new technologies can lead their peers in the right direction; these leaders often make excellent technology coaches.

4. Allow Time for Transition

Learning new ways to incorporate digital technology in your district takes time. Just as students learn at varying rates, your district employees will learn at different rates as well. Teachers, for example, need opportunities to thoughtfully engage with the technologies used for instruction, communication, and collaboration.

5. Create a Culture Based on Change

Adding digital technology to an already full plate for district employees doesn’t create change; it foments resentment because it comes across as one more thing to do. Instead, encourage a real metamorphosis of your culture.  Changing the culture of your organization allows you to change the way everyone thinks and works collaborates. Technology allows educators to create a synergy that doesn’t exist within the isolated classroom.

By setting edtech expectations early on and providing adequate support, your district’s digital leadership can create a new culture of digital use and citizenship.

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5 Must Have Classroom Management Apps, Tools, and Resources

For most teachers, classroom management is one of the biggest challenges. Managing twenty-six young people with a variety of interests, skill levels, and behaviors is no easy task.

Luckily, edtech can help. Use these five classroom management apps, tools, and resources to minimize classroom management issues and maximize instructional time.

1. NetSupport School

Award-winning NetSupport School Classroom Management software, allow instructors to monitor and interact with any student desktop or device in real-time. Deliver lesson content and assessments, show an instructors screen to all or selected students, and promote digital citizenship & responsibility with internet and application usage controls.

Collaboration tools, including group chat and showcasing screens, allow instructors to demonstrate positive digital interaction while ensuring the safe and ethical use of information technology. Ideal for BYOD with dedicated Windows, Chrome, iOS, and Android versions, plus full support for thin, zero, or virtual client environments

2. ClassDojo

Used in 90% of K-8 schools in the United States, ClassDojo is popular for a reason. It’s a simple, fun way to manage classroom behaviors and keep your lesson on track. On ClassDojo, you award students points for positive behaviors and subtract points for negative behaviors.

Each student has a customizable “monster” avatar with their points total displayed. The app lists predefined positive and negative behaviors, but you can also create your own. Parents are able to track their child’s Dojo points in real time, and the app generates weekly behavior reports for parents as well.

3. Socrative

Socrative is a student response system that engages students in the learning process and gives you immediate insight into student understanding.  You can pose multiple choice, true/false, or short answer questions to your students through Socrative. Students respond on any device, and you receive immediate data about their responses.

If needed, you can adjust your lesson to address confusion or misconceptions. Socrative also allows you to assign exit tickets, and it features the game Space Race, in which students race spaceships across the screen by answering questions correctly.

4. Google Classroom

Learning management systems like Google Classroom can help you conduct most of your classroom tasks in one convenient location. Through Google Classroom, you can make announcements, administer quizzes or surveys, and assign and grade classwork and homework.

Classroom is integrated with other Google apps like Google Docs, which automatically saves student work and allows students to collaborate on assignments. Using apps like Google Classroom can help you stay organized and reduce management issues like student forgetfulness and lost papers.

5. Stick Pick

Stick Pick allows you to differentiate instruction and manage student responses. You can categorize students based on their proficiency level, and the app will pair each student to questions that are most suited to his or her ability level. The app also allows you to select students at random, the perfect solution when no hands go up after you ask a question.

Conclusion

Whether your classroom management issue is student engagement, organization, or disruptive behaviors, there’s a classroom management app, tool, or resource for you.

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How is Ed Tech Shaping the Future of Assessment?

There’s no doubt that edtech is changing the future of education. But how will technology change the way we assess student learning? As the world of EdTech continues to grow, you can expect to see big changes in the future of assessments.

First, say goodbye to traditional paper-and-pencil tests. These will soon be as outdated as the idea of having students write an entire essay by hand. Everything in education is shifting towards the digital, and assessment is no exception.

Once assessments switch to a digital format, educators are presented with many more opportunities to evaluate student learning. Rather than simply evaluating whether or not a student answered a question correctly, we can now get a peek into what’s happening in the minds of students.

One way to do this is by recording everything a student does digitally during an assessment. For example, computers can measure how long it takes a student to respond to a question. This gives educators a better idea of which students thought long and hard about their answer and which simply guessed.

Computers can also track what students click on, highlight, or re-read during an assessment. If a student clicks on the correct answer, then changes to an incorrect answer at the last minute, this could be recorded. Insights such as this will provide invaluable feedback on what students are thinking and where they might need further instruction.

Computer-based testing also opens the door for students to receive instant feedback. Assessment programs can grade some types of student work in mere seconds and provide immediate feedback to the student. This can help students see right away where they went wrong. When students take paper-and-pencil tests, it can take days or even weeks to get feedback. By that time, they may end up forgetting how they got their answer in the first place, making the feedback useless.

However, we have a long way to go before this kind of assessment becomes standard. Multiple studies have found that students who take tests on computers or tablets don’t score as well as their peers using pencil-and-paper assessments. It’s still unclear why this gap exists. The problem may be students who are unfamiliar with technology and therefore unable to use it properly.

Despite this uncertainty, edtech is undoubtedly changing the way we assess students. How have you seen edtech influence assessments in your schools?

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9 Must Have Blended Learning Apps, Tools, and Resources

Students in all educational settings are self-selecting blended learning. What this actually consists of varies depending on the opportunities, policies, and student preferences. An app well-suited for blended learning needs to make learning seamless across time and space. This seamless experience is essential when considering learner flow and cognitive demands. The blended learning apps and tools presented in this article have been carefully curated with the above considerations in mind. There is no one-size-fits-all blended learning solution. Think about what will work with your students and try those.

1. Digital Badges

One challenge of blended learning is capturing learning that occurs in a variety of contexts. Students are no longer constrained by the four walls of the classroom. Tools that capture and recognize learning are essential as pathways to track student progress. Digital badges are a tool that stores metadata and credentials micro learning moments. Systems like Badgr and Credly are great options to begin using badges.

2. Edmodo

Edmodo is a solution that integrates with both Google Apps and Microsoft Online. It serves as a collaborative, sharing platform for teachers, students, and parents. It is intended to support discovery, create groups, administer quizzes, and learn from like-minded teachers. It should be noted that Edmodo is not considered a learning management system.

3. Khan Academy

Khan Academy is an entirely free platform that has hundreds of videos on every topic imaginable. Also, there are practice exercises for all types of content. Students often use Khan Academy to prepare for a more collaborative activity in class.

4. Lesson Paths

Blended learning can take the pathway of a flexible and individualized learning environment. In this setting, playlists become very important to structure student learning. Lesson Paths is a system where you can assign an existing playlist or create your own. Students can also set up their own playlist.

5. Go Formative

Rapid formative assessments become a critical piece of the puzzle in a blended learning environment. Wherever your students are, Go Formative lets you create assessments, track real-time learner analytics, and see students work in real time.

6. Voicethread

Voicethread is a platform for collaborative participation and articulation of student thought. You can upload more than 50 different types of files to Voicethread and students can comment on them using chat, video, text, or phone call.

7. BrainPop

BrainPop lets you assign short and engaging videos to your students. They are an excellent way to introduce a topic or give students extra practice. BrainPop Junior is for students younger than third grade.

8. Base Camp

While BaseCamp is traditionally thought of as a tool for businesses, it can be invaluable for teachers as well. Manage projects, multiple versions, and different students all in one platform. Students working on a project can keep all of their documents and resources in BaseCamp.

9. PhET

Science labs are an essential part of the educational experience. Virtual simulations allow students to explore and play with a science concept before completing a real lab. Also, for science labs that cannot be performed in the classroom for whatever reason can be replicated via a PhET simulation. Developed by the University of Colorado, these simulations are open ended and inquiry-based.

Blended learning has the potential to be beneficial or negative. The actualities will depend largely on intention and use. All of the technologies described in this article help to connect students or provide additional practice. It is important that blended learning does not turn into individualized micro learning opportunities, but rather realizes the potentials of a digital world for learning across formal and informal environments.