The term “Education Technology,” or “EdTech” for short, is used to describe the subfield of IT that focuses on creating and using digital resources (including computer programs, hardware, and relevant technical procedures) with the express purpose of bettering schooling. To rephrase, “Educational Technology” (or “EdTech”) is “the research and ethical practice of inventing, implementing, and managing suitable technological processes and resources to facilitate student learning and improve student performance.” This emerging subject may seem like a narrow focus, but it really has the ability to touch a wide range of people. Find out whether you’re in the target audience for EdTech’s development and what you can do to help it flourish on the following pages.
For Educators and Educational Institutions…
As educator and EdTech specialist Caleb Clark puts it, “Geeks can’t educate, and teachers can’t geek.” Just what does he mean by it, exactly? The brilliant brains behind the data-driven pedagogy and the learning apps designed to support it may have a firm grasp on how to put such solutions into practice, but they are no substitute for those who have dedicated their careers to spreading knowledge among the masses. On the other hand, effective teachers may not have the time or interest to learn how to use the myriad of digital resources at their disposal in order to advance their field. They will be the first to tell you that learning IT on top of their regular duties is too much to expect. Services like Alma and Engrave show how far we’ve come in the realm of education technology by providing comprehensive support for school administrators and teachers. Technology in the classroom has the potential to revolutionize the teaching profession by easing formerly laborious tasks (such as lesson preparation, reporting, and record-keeping) and improving communication between teachers and students. According to EdTech Magazine, this new technology may provide schools “a very clear grasp of any number of reference points – student growth, budget performance, alumni snapshots; the list of options and insights actually is unlimited.” Educators, academic institutions, and IT industry workers all need to keep talking to each other if we want education to thrive in the future.
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For Technologists and Designers…
With the proliferation of connected devices and new forms of digital media, the need for skilled technical labor in this field is only expected to increase. And that’s a difficult order in a world where these factors are evolving nearly as quickly as they can be understood and applied to student learning in an educational context. As could be expected, there are still holes in the educational technology landscape. K-20 vision study conducted by Software & Information Industry Association in 2014 found a “strong demand for increased technology integration — and need for additional assistance at all educational levels.” The results of the 2014 edition of the annual survey conducted by the International Society for Technology in Education showed that “the ideal level of technology integration is significantly higher than current levels” in education. The survey polls nearly 1,000 educators from kindergarten through university. Several of the report’s conclusions were highlighted in EdTech Magazine, including the following problems: Most students in grades K-12 do not feel “well prepared” for final exams that will be taken entirely online. 42% have sufficient bandwidth, while 36% have enough devices and other gear for students.
K-12 students and teachers agree that technology integration is crucial, yet there is a discrepancy between their actual and desired levels of implementation. Of those polled, just 22% reported having well-integrated schools. These results point to the necessity for innovation at all edtech levels, as well as the existence of new avenues for professional growth.
For Career Seekers…
Finding employment that is both rewarding and financially stable is a goal for many people in the labor market, but the two goals aren’t necessarily compatible (just ask a teacher). But this is exactly what is expected, thanks to the meteoric rise in venture capital investment in Education Technology. Forbes writes, “While teachers often max out at approximately $80,000 (and only if they acquire master’s or doctorate degrees), education entrepreneurs have proved that generating money and doing well are not necessarily incompatible.” Whether you’re just starting out in the workforce or looking for a change, the promising future of the expanding area of educational technology offers exciting prospects for putting your abilities to use in an educational context that has a real, global effect.
For Everyone Else…
At the risk of sounding like an overzealous promoter, it’s safe to say that the future of our species will be profoundly affected by the progress made in Education Technology. Both the student and the instructor are able to put their whole attention on the lesson at hand when they have easy access to efficient tools for providing a high-quality education in the classroom. The more they can accomplish with the resources they have, the better off the world’s youth will be in terms of access to a high-quality education that will prepare them for the challenges of the future. Educators’ abilities to structure curriculum and encourage student involvement in traditional and alternative classroom settings improve with each new EdTech product that comes to market. This prepares young people for future success by giving them access to all the learning resources they’ll need. These scientists, educators, and activists will shape the future of our country. The future of all living things, and of the planet itself, will be better if we equip them with the greatest educational resources now available to educate them for their tasks. There will be no lack of difficulties for the future generation to tackle; it is our responsibility to ensure they have an abundance of resources at their disposal.
