Giving Compass' Take:

• EdSurge explains that edtech specialists and teachers should work together to focus on transforming the learning environment, rather than worry about bells and whistles.

• A successful partnership can encourage engagement, risk-taking, interest and collaboration. What is the best way to make sure that new technology in the classroom works for every student?

• Here's the importance of creating equitable design in edtech. 

In the last decade, schools have dedicated tremendous resources to deploying technology into the classroom. As they invested in hardware and software, they began employing educational technology specialists to incorporate technology that improves pedagogy. Ideally, these specialists partner with teachers to design unique and creative experiences using new technology to boost engagement and risk-taking.

In practice, however, teachers tend to seek out specialists for a technological solution that makes an assignment or grading practice more efficient: A teacher takes a new tool or technique and applies it to previous content or assignments. These interactions are transactional rather than transformational; they enforce the status quo. And ultimately, they make it harder to transform learning in the long run.

To create a successful system between specialists and teachers:

  1. it must be simple,
  2. both parties must collaborate and must be willing to try something new,
  3. it must apply to all disciplines and all divisions, and
  4. it must be self-sustaining.

Read the full article about transformation and edtech by Nate Green and Sam Moser at EdSurge.