[How-To Guide] Getting the Tech You Need in Your Classroom to Personalize Learning

Over the last few weeks we’ve shared best practices for how teachers can influence the technology purchasing process based on insights and real-life experiences from our own sales and services leaders. Together, these individuals have stimulated a rich conversation on this topic to help you navigate through the turbulent waters of turning your edtech wish list into a reality.

We kicked off this series with a message from our own VP of Sales and Marketing as he recounted key questions to ask that help define your program goals, as well as our National Intervention Consultant as she pointed out five key elements of a robust solution that enable personalized learning, and most recently from one of our regional sales VPs who delved into three tips to help you advocate for a solution. Today, in our final installment, we want to introduce our new an interactive how-to guide that brings all of these pieces together.

Get a peek at the key areas this guide will explore below, then download your own copy of Getting the Tech You Need in Your Classroom to Personalize Learning!

Set Program Goals

Do you know you need a new solution to shake up your classroom routine while saving you valuable time, but don’t know where to start? Answering five key questions, included in this section of our interactive guide, can help you outline your program goals. Don’t get distracted by a strictly assessment-focused tool, when you need something that offers instruction as well. Determine what you’re looking for before you ever begin your solution search, and you’ll stay on track to meet your goals.

Personalized Learning

Many solutions claim to personalize learning, but do they all understand what elements need to be included in a program to really facilitate this level of student agency? Use this section to understand what solution components you should be looking for in a program that is equipped to effectively tailor learning to each individual student.

Technology

Including technology as an element of an edtech evaluation may feel a little redundant, but it’s worth spending time understanding the inner workings and operations of the solution you choose. Much of vetting the actual technology relates closely the program’s scalability, which involves identifying the devices, bandwidth, and support resources that are available. Understand the questions you should be asking to determine if a program will fit within your school’s or district’s current technology plan.

Content & Assessment

Before an interface is laid out or reporting defined, rigorous content and assessments must first be built. Do you know if the solution you’re buying is based around content created, tested, and delivered utilizing the latest educational technology standards? We’ll provide you with tried-and-true curriculum attributes you can look for to engage in an informed conversation with your administrator.

Progress Monitoring & Reporting

You know a solution needs to reflect student performance and progress over time, but have you thought about the metrics other key stakeholders may require? We’ll parse out the different reporting needs for educators (both yours and those of your administrators), parents, and students.

Research & Efficacy

It may be tempting to leave this topic entirely up to the Curriculum and Assessment Directors, but the reality is your knowledge on the research and efficacy of an edtech tool can help ensure those folks actually spend time looking at the very solution you suggest. In this guide, we’ve broken down some of the complicated terminology of the field to help demystify the many pages of technical manuals and research papers that stand behind every credible solution.

Student Engagement

You know it’s necessary to avoid behavior problems in your classroom, but do purchasers see the merits of engagement features the same way you do? In this guide, we strive to impart the many benefits of gamification and engagement functionality, while helping you identify the language to avoid during conversations on this sometimes touchy topic.

Ready to dig in and start making your voice heard in the purchasing process? Download our complete How-To Guide to Getting the Tech You Need in Your Classroom to Personalize Learning. And, when you begin your search to find a solution that’s up to the challenge, check out this quick video for a sneak peek at Edmentum’s brand new Individualized Learning Solution!