Ask any educator and they will tell you, edtech is here to stay. The variety of tech products in the education space has increased exponentially in the last five years. Based on a report from LearnPlatform, the number of tech products used by schools has almost tripled since the 2017-18 school year from 548 to 1,417! According to Education Week: “It’s clear from those numbers that teachers are increasingly willing to experiment with a broad range of digital products to improve instruction.” The article goes on to explore the issues that having too many tech options brings; namely, “if every teacher in a school or district has a different favorite product, it can be tough for district and school leaders to offer effective professional development and make sure student data privacy is protected.” 

So, how does one choose which products will work best for their classrooms and students? And perhaps more importantly, how can schools ensure that all teachers are receiving meaningful training on how to implement these tools in a safe and effective manner? There is no single best answer to these questions. Much like the tech itself – different needs require different solutions. The first step in solving these issues is to have a good understanding of which tools are being used in your school, how they are being used, and what they bring (or don’t bring) to the educational environment. 

The most popular tools listed in LearnPlatform’s EdTech Top 40 were Google Workspace Apps, followed by YouTube, and Kahoot!. Google Classroom is also a top tool and Google Workspace apps like Docs, Sheet, Slides, and Forms also dominated the list last year. Newer edtech tools to the Top 40 include Gimkit, Schoology, BrainPOP, Grammarly, Canva, PhET Interactive Math & Science Simulations, and Math Playground. PhET Interactive Math & Science Simulations was recently featured on our blog as content that easily integrates into SMART’s Lumio software for creating engaging, interactive lessons that can be sent directly to student devices. Similarly, the built in game-based activities and interactive assessments available in Lumio can make a huge difference in student engagement. We’ve covered these features frequently both on our blog and in our PD courses (such as Using Lumio’s Monster Quiz to Create Competition). 

The Education Week article goes on to mention how the proliferation of edtech tools means that schools are using different tools to achieve the same goals, for example delivering quizzes or assessments. Most of the tech being used is learner focused. There’s a clear trend for interactivity and engagement tools – essentially, what seems to be working best (or at least being most frequently used) are tools that capture student interest and make the content more comprehensible through video, simulation, and gamification.  With so many different options in play, it is crucial that administrators be able to provide professional development and training support in a way that is accessible. OTIS is answering the call by being a one-stop shop for professional learning and resources for a wide range of edtech tools. Check out the course library for videos on different edtech tools, technology infused pedagogical approaches, and subject-area content utilizing edtech.

For more tips, tricks, and tools for teaching in and out of the classroom, check out more content on the Teq Talk blog or our YouTube channels OTIS for educators and Tequipment.

We also offer virtual professional development, training, and support with OTIS for educators. Explore the technology and strategies that spark student success — no matter where teaching or learning are happening!

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