Teachers are drowning in educational technology updates. How can you help them stay afloat?

O problema n?o é a exigência de forma??o contínua e a cobran?a por resultados em rela??o aos professores, mas sim a devolutiva, isto é, o quanto as empresas est?o inclinadas a devolver aos professores os resultados obtidos por eles em desempenho e a valoriza??o deles, seja em respeito, seja em remunera??o adequada.

I firmly believe that less is more when it comes to edtech. Helping teachers utilize one tool very effectively is far more impactful than teaching them to use 5 tools at a surface level. The emphasis should be first on meaningful pedagogy, and how a tool can help support learning (for example, by helping educators leverage the principles of Universal Design for Learning.)

By concentrating on a small number of essential tools, engaging in frequent professional development, and utilizing peer support, educators may effectively handle the avalanche of educational technology upgrades. Their experience can be streamlined by setting up specific tech learning times, encouraging cooperation through Professional Learning Communities, and creating a central center for succinct updates. Teachers may effectively integrate technology into their teaching and stay afloat by promoting a growth mindset and using feedback to guide decisions.

To help teachers manage educational technology updates, simplify the tech they use. Identify essential tools that align with educational goals and focus on those, reducing the number of platforms to avoid cognitive overload. Provide clear, step-by-step guides and ensure accessible support. By streamlining technology and offering robust guidance, teachers can more effectively integrate these tools into their teaching without feeling overwhelmed.

In the present day, the best training should be the sharing of best practices of tech being used by other teachers. If the technology requires constant training, it is likely badly designed and should not have been chosen in the first place.

Simple things like a TL:DR type of weekly newsletter can go so far for busy teachers. Create a short summary of any important updates that were released during that week. Link to full release announcements, tutorials, or other longer versions for those teachers thank want to know more than the summary provided.

In my journey as a professional development partner with a Google for Education company, I've seen firsthand that development training isn’t just the icing on the cake for educators—it’s the oil that keeps the wheels turning smoothly. Beyond the Google Certified Educator Level 1 & 2 certifications, there are numerous resourceful tools to keep educators fresh and motivated with modern adaptive learning solutions. We also create professional learning networks for educators, providing a space for them to share feedback and insights. Continuous professional development is essential for keeping teachers up-to-date with the latest educational technology.

To help teachers stay afloat amidst constant educational technology updates, ongoing training is essential. Regular, practical training sessions should be offered to boost confidence and competence with new tools. Creating a community of practice allows teachers to share experiences and strategies, fostering peer learning and reducing isolation. This collaborative approach ensures continuous professional development and keeps teachers up-to-date with the latest EdTech advancements.

There is a difference between teaching educators how to use a tool (I.e. understanding the user interface and basic product features) and helping them learn how to leverage a tool to improve pedagogy. Too often, professional development opportunities focus on the former (if teachers get access to it at all) and not on the latter.

It never ceases to amaze me how many companies don’t include educators when designing their products. This results in products that don’t meet educator or student needs and are a waste of money. Including educators in ALL stages of the design and development process is critical for edtech product success.

As the Digital Lead at The Stour Academy Trust, I understand the importance of establishing effective feedback mechanisms to address the challenges teachers face with educational technology. We use forms to gather input on their experiences, identify useful tools, and areas needing more support. Additionally, we conduct case studies and trial products to ensure they meet our teachers' needs before wider implementation. This feedback shapes our training sessions and guides technology selection, ensuring updates are relevant and user-friendly. By valuing teachers' opinions, we improve the tech experience and empower them in the technology integration process.

To help teachers manage the constant influx of educational technology updates, it's essential to establish robust feedback loops. Encourage teachers to share their experiences with new tools, highlighting what's effective and where they need more support. This feedback can inform targeted training sessions and guide the selection of user-friendly technologies. By actively involving teachers in the technology integration process, you not only enhance their tech experience but also empower them as key contributors to the educational ecosystem.

Una de las cosas que más me ha ayudado a la hora de desarrollar nuevos conocimientos y capacidades ha sido participar en grupos de investigación colaborativa así como en grupos de trabajo. Compartir ideas, inquietudes, problemas, nuevas herramientas….,con compa?eros/as enriquece muchísimo, a mí personalmente me amplió mucho la perspectiva sobre diferentes herramientas tecnológicas y a comprender que a veces la tecnología no es siempre la mejor opción.

Para esto, es crucial crear un entorno donde sentirse escuchados y valorados. También ayuda organizar reuniones periódicas donde los docentes puedan presentar sus experiencias con las NNTT. Otra idea es participar en foros donde poder compartir las ideas y soluciones de manera continua. Esto motiva a los maestros a participar y a aprender unos de otros, mejorando no sólo la experiencia tecnológica, sino también ajusta las sesiones de capacitación y selección de herramientas más efectivas.

Oferecer suporte individualizado a cada professor pode gerar uma cultura de dependência e sobrecarregar a equipe de suporte. Em vez de estimular a autonomia e a proatividade dos educadores, essa abordagem pode criar um ambiente de busca constante por ajuda externa, desincentivando o desenvolvimento de habilidades de resolu??o de problemas e a explora??o individualizada da tecnologia.

En mi opinión en todos los colegios e institutos debería existir la figura del coordinador de las tecnologías del aprendizaje y la comunicación. Soy consciente de que esta figura ya existe en muchas instituciones pero creo que hay que ponerla en valor, además de generalizarla, pues permite afrontar el abordaje del enfoque tecnológico del centro desde una perspectiva compartida y coordinada.

A ênfase na colabora??o entre professores é crucial para o sucesso da integra??o da tecnologia na educa??o. No entanto, focar apenas na cultura colaborativa pode negligenciar a necessidade de suporte individualizado para educadores com diferentes níveis de experiência e familiaridade com a tecnologia.

Collaboration is key when staying afloat in an ever changing world of technology advancement. Pooling knowledge and disseminating experiments between a team can be a good way of exploring and fact finding in a sea of new shiny tools! Network meetings are becoming about sharing tools, creative methods and experience, rather than repeating the same old national curriculum review. Even better is seen when the collaboration extends past the network meeting into collaborative teams channels, or shared Google drives. A culture of collaborative CPD is exciting to be part of.

La colaboración inter e intraescolar en la escuela es fundamental para gestionar eficazmente las actualizaciones en NNTT. Compartir ideas y desarrollar estrategias conjuntas para integrar la tecnología en el aula es clave. Esto puede materializarse mediante programas de tutoría entre colegas y sesiones de planificación colaborativa para dise?ar lecciones innovadoras. La colaboración no sólo alivia la carga individual, sino que también fortalece el sentido de comunidad y propósito compartido entre los educadores. Este enfoque no solo optimiza el uso de recursos tecnológicos, sino además enriquece la experiencia educativa, preparando mejor a los alumnos para el futuro.

A prolifera??o de recursos informativos sobre tendências em tecnologia educacional pode sobrecarregar os professores com informa??es irrelevantes ou de difícil aplica??o em suas práticas. Inundar os educadores com boletins e redes de aprendizagem profissional pode levar à fadiga tecnológica e à dificuldade de discernir quais ferramentas e estratégias s?o realmente úteis para seus alunos.

A oferta de suporte e recursos de forma genérica e descontextualizada pode n?o atender às necessidades específicas de cada professor e de seus alunos. é fundamental considerar o contexto da escola, o currículo, as características dos alunos e o nível de conhecimento técnico dos educadores ao fornecer suporte e treinamento em tecnologia educacional.

As atualiza??es constantes podem ser como uma onda avassaladora para os professores, que se veem obrigados a se manter à tona em um mar de inova??es e ferramentas.

As a PA educator, I was initially trained as a clinician and learned educational concepts on the job and through my doctoral degree. These days, it feels like you almost need an IT certification to keep up with educational technology. How I keep up: Stay updated with technological blogs to learn about the latest tools and trends. Utilize Google search to find solutions and tips for new technologies. Participate in training sessions and workshops on educational technology. These strategies help me integrate tech into my teaching and enhance the learning experience for my students.

In my experience, advocating for the adoption of user friendly platforms, institutions can significantly alleviate this burden. These platforms should be designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind, allowing teachers to navigate and utilize them without extensive training. Features like intuitive interfaces, clear instructions, and robust customer support can make a substantial difference. Additionally, these platforms should seamlessly integrate with existing workflows, rather than requiring teachers to drastically change their practices. This integration can be achieved through compatibility with widely-used educational software, single sign-on capabilities, and customizable fits to the specific needs of different classrooms.