Maximizing Instructional Time With EdTech
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Keeping students focused is the eternal struggle of teaching. About 30 hours of instructional time is lost to distraction annually, and most teachers have to pause instruction multiple times a day to repeat information and demonstrations that students missed. Fortunately, technology can be used to reduce and recover lost time. But how does one pick and maintain the right tools?
In the edLeader Panel “Maximizing Instructional Time: How Effective EdTech Solutions Improve Classroom Efficiency,” Grace Lee, Head of Design at Logitech Education, spoke with Sarah Radcliffe, Director of Future Learning at the School District of Altoona (WI), and Parker Van Nostrand, Product Certifications Project Director at Digital Promise, about using technology in class to help students learn and how to handle technology issues without hindering learning.
It’s no surprise that so much instructional time is lost. Background noise varies at different times of day making it hard for students to focus, attention spans waver, and not all students learn the same ways. Tools like voice amplifiers make it easier for students to hear instructions, and providing multiple methods of engagement, like different forms of technology, helps ensure more students can learn.
When choosing tools for the classroom, it’s important that technology minimizes disruptions and support instruction. This requires clear learning goals and ideas on how technology can support those goals. Since every school is different, what they need to meet their learning goals can vary. To find the right technology, schools must keep their specific goals in mind.
Piloting new technology lets teachers and students get a feel for tools and provide feedback before schools enter into lengthy contracts. It also improves implementation when schools feel the technology does meet their needs. In addition, schools having strategies for repairing and loaning out technology makes it easier to monitor equipment status, track loaner equipment, and get students back to class faster.
The best way to determine if technology is helping student learning is to talk with teachers, students, and anyone else with firsthand experience with the technology being used in classrooms. Feedback is crucial for knowing what works, what doesn’t, and what is needed.
It’s vital that all students are equipped with the necessary hardware accessories. Studies show that tools such as headphones, styluses, and computer mice increase instructional time by making technology easier to use. Every second of instructional time matters, so students need to be able to use their tools as soon as possible.
A big part of this is educator buy-in—they need to see how technology will help with instruction and learning. Giving educators support and opportunities for professional development will help them feel more comfortable with the technology, meaning they’re more likely to use it in classes to see how it helps students.
The more educators feel confident working with the technology, the more likely all students—not just some— will have access to it and the same chances to develop tech skills. Therefore, to ensure equity of access, schools must budget for teachers to be properly trained. In addition, schools should have a clear plan for if something breaks, which can impede learning and require repairs.
Technology can be a great tool for optimizing efficiency, reducing lost instructional time, and helping students learn. With a clear plan and the right tools, educators can focus more on teaching and less on having to repeat themselves, giving all students the opportunity to thrive.
Learn more about this edWeb broadcast, Maximizing Instructional Time: How Effective EdTech Solutions Improve Classroom Efficiency, sponsored by Logitech.
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For over 40 years, Logitech has been a global leader in connecting people through innovative computer peripherals. Now we’re a multi-brand company designing products that bring people together through video, audio, gaming, creating, and more. We believe in the power of bringing best-in-class design to classroom tools to help both students and teachers achieve their very best. We do that by designing products for students and educators, with students and educators. We work with hundreds of students and teachers throughout our design process—from earliest concepts to prototype testing and final product input. Their feedback and insights unlock meaningful product choices.
Article by Jon Scanlon, based on this edLeader Panel
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