Want to pick the best ed tech tool? Loop teachers in
Summary
• Ed tech tools like adaptive learning software can help personalize the path and pace for students as they master material, and educators can further support these goals by working with administrators to ensure tech resources are clearly linked to the curriculum and thoroughly vetted before they’re put in front of learners. • Sarah Radcliffe, director of Future-Ready Learning with the School District of Altoona in Wisconsin, is a proponent of doing extensive research with the educators and students using these tools before writing a purchase order. We bring stakeholders together, teachers who will be using it, along with curricula and technology folks, and talk about what we want the software to do first," said Radcliffe, a board member of The Consortium for School Networking, a professional organization of K-12 ed tech leaders. That’s why Radcliffe believes educators need to know how they’re going to use adaptive learning software with classes or have the skills to manage the tool once it’s in the classroom. She encourages teachers to ask vendors about free training options, but also said schools and districts should ensure there is ongoing support for educators.