Giving Compass' Take:

• Jill Hobson of IMS Global explains how districts can develop a strategic plan to ensure EdTech interoperability, allowing faculty and students to experience the full benefits of the improvements.

• How can funders help districts coordinate their systems? Is this a good use of district funds? 

• Learn about the need to evaluate EdTech. 

Interoperability of learning technology is the foundation that enables an institution to continuously improve instruction and innovation in their educational technology. But achieving true interoperability is not an easy task.

Open interoperability standards—agreed upon ways to exchange information—can enable your educational technology to work together. Basically, standards are the most efficient way to achieve interoperability.

Tips for Implementing Open Standards and Interoperability

  1. Determine a shared vision with your IT and curriculum and instructional leaders: It is essential to have inter-departmental collaboration and routine communication to make interoperability possible, so work with academic and technology executive team members to develop implementable plans and organizational processes to phase in the adoption of products that meet your institution’s needs.
  2. Develop an implementation roadmap that’s aligned with your district’s strategic plan: Change takes time and can be represented with an digital ecosystem development blueprint. The program emphasizes that before you buy new learning tools and applications or change existing resources, you must align these choices with the institution’s or district's strategic plan. Coordination among organizational units before buying edtech can make—or break—your digital ecosystem.

Read the full article about EdTech interoperability by Jill Hobson of IMS Global at EdSurge.