Address Edtech Issues with Three Key Questions

The power of visibility in schools

 

Mention edtech, and the first thought that usually comes to mind is collecting data to evaluate students’ progress. And during the recent edWebinar “Get Smart with EdTech: Track Usage on Every Device,” presenters Jeremy Bunkley, Director of Information Technology Services, School District of Clay County, FL, and Leo Brehm, Product Manager, CatchOn, acknowledged that one goal of edtech is to provide educators with data so that they can develop a more effective and personalized learning plan for each student. They also said, though, that with the silos of information that still exist in many schools and districts, one of the most important pieces of data to collect is to find out what edtech resources are actually being used in your classroom. By asking three key questions, leaders can get a better sense of their K-12 edtech ecosystem.

  1. Do you know all of the applications that are being used in your district?
    Starting from the early days of online education tools, teachers have been downloading their favorites and sharing them with students. If asked what resources they are using, however, many will leave a few off of the list for fear that they will be told to stop using them. Thus, while a school may think it has 20 official edtech tools in the classroom, the unofficial list could be over 200. This can cause several issues from inequity in how students are taught to network issues as teachers access their personal playlists. In addition, PD leaders can’t possibly provide appropriate professional learning on using tools in the classroom when no two teachers have the same ones. Schools and districts need to have a system that collects data on all programs being used so that leadership can get a clearer picture of what’s happening in the classroom.
  2. Do you know how these applications are being used?
    Tracking usage data can further help leaders refine professional development and understand where there may be a disconnect between teachers and school leaders. For example, if the school has adopted a specific reading program for K-3, and the teachers are using supplemental materials more than the program, the teachers might need further training on the adopted program. Data can also show where programs may be contributing to student success and where the resources show minimal impact.
  3. Do you know if any of these applications violate student data privacy?
    Sometimes, even approved edtech tools may have an add-on that doesn’t follow your school’s privacy standards. More important, when educators can download and add digital resources on their own, they may be giving companies unintended access to private student information.

K-12 edtech ecosystem

Finally, school leaders should help teachers understand why they can’t just download the latest fad, especially in light of current school budgets.

“I’m not interested in checking a box. If checking a box is the only reason that you’re buying a program, you are wasting money, in my opinion,” remarked Bunkley. “We don’t have enough money in education as it is. I don’t need us frivolously spending it on flavor-of-the-month technology and programs.”

This edWeb broadcast was sponsored by Education Networks of America (ENA) and CatchOn.

Watch the Recording

This article was modified and published by EdScoop.

About the Presenters

Jeremy Bunkley is the Director of Information Technology Services at the School District of Clay County (Clay), located in Northeast Florida. The district serves approximately 35,100 students and is comprised of 48 schools, including its adult education program and alternative schools. Since Jeremy’s arrival a few years ago, he has rapidly transformed Clay’s technology staff into a 21st century IT department that works closely with Clay’s digital instruction team to produce positive outcomes in the district’s classrooms. He’s formed a tight-knit team that shares a unified vision for Clay’s students.

Leo Brehm is an accomplished senior executive, consultant, board member, and thought leader with more than 22 years of success in the education and e-learning industries. At present, Leo serves as the product manager for CatchOn, Inc. Leo has been actively involved in the design and development of the CatchOn API, which empowers school districts to use data in aggregate with student performance, leveraging dashboarding business intelligence tools. He has worked for the Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough, MA as Director of Technology and Digital Learning; Newton, MA Public Schools as Director of IT and Library Media; Sharon, MA Public Schools as Director of Technology; and as Consultant at Creativemindz Consulting Group LLC. He has a proven history of dedication to the advancement of learning through a schooling model that is both student centered and personalized.

About the Host

Monica Cougan joined ENA in 2012 and oversees ENA’s partner program and product marketing initiatives in her role as product marketing manager. Monica has over 30 years of experience in education technology integration that she leverages to help assess, identify, and support the needs of today’s education and library communities. She has extensive experience in building collaborative network opportunities which include assisting in project development, professional development, implementation and training, and the evaluation of program implementation. An educator at heart, Monica is a former middle school mathematics teacher and technology coordinator who has had teaching experience in grade levels ranging from preschool through college.

Join the Community

Leadership and Innovation is a free professional learning community on edWeb.net that serves as an online forum for collaboration on leadership and innovation in schools to meet the needs of the next generation.

 

ENA ENA delivers robust and reliable broadband, Wi-Fi/LAN, communication, and cloud services to K–12 schools, higher education institutions, and libraries across the nation. We work side-by-side with our customers to ensure they have the connectivity, communication, and collaboration solutions they need to be successful.

CatchONCatchOn is a user-friendly data analytics tool that collects real-time data on every device, enabling school districts to make data-informed decisions about the apps and online tools their educators and students are using. In 2018, CatchOn joined forces with ENA, a leading provider of comprehensive technology solutions to education institutions and libraries across the nation. Collectively, CatchOn and ENA leverage their respective resources and expertise to deliver critical services and solutions that help school districts produce positive outcomes in the communities they serve.