EdTech’s Sweetspot: Empowering Teachers Through Technology

Technology has long been a part of education, with PCs and interactive whiteboards being a staple during the 90s and early 00s. However, technology has continued to evolve within the education sector as more and more institutions utilized web-based learning and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

Some schools embraced social media, some rejected it. Then in 2010 the iPad was launched. With this came a brand new way to teach without the outdated chalkboards and textbooks. Children could proactively engage in what they found interesting around a subject, whether it be dinosaurs, equations or thermodynamic Heating systems.

In 2015, gamification became a buzzword used within the sector as schools embraced tools such as Minecraft to engage with their students. In addition to this, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are starting to flourish as teaching tools for nurses, learner drivers and undoubtedly schools in the near future.

Fredrik Olofsson is the CEO of Sensavis. Sensavis’s focus is on developing products that help the educator explain complex and abstract subjects in a manner that is easily understood by students of all ages. In the fall of 2013, Sensavis released its first school product, The 3D Classroom, and it is currently being used by schools in the Nordic region (including Iceland), the UK, Ireland, Central America, Singapore and the US.

With the rapid evolution of technology within education, what role will it continue to play at it further develops?

Whilst the benefits of technology are apparent, there has been debate over the past few years about whether technology could eventually replace teachers altogether; particularly if VR becomes more mainstream. Now, here’s where edtech and technology companies need to take a step back and reconsider. It is us that need to adapt to education, not try to force education to adapt to technology.

But technology could never replace teachers. They will always be the most important person in the classroom. They are the ones who know the student body, and can decide who needs what. The map to the final goal looks different for every student, and the teacher is their professional guide. The teacher can recognize each and every student as well as sense the group dynamic in the classroom, and adjust the lesson to reach all students.

What we need to do is to work alongside them to give them the right tools to engage with their students, aid in their teaching methods, give them freedom to personalize education to all students, and not be a barrier or try to take over. This is where the true sweetspot of technology in education lies.

Improving Engagement

Engaging students can be one of the most demanding tasks a teacher faces. Teaching classes of children, sometimes numbering into the twenties, is not an easy task. However a recent survey carried out by the International Society for Technology (ISTE), showed that 74% of school administrators believed digital content in schools increases student engagement.

With new and inventive educational tech coming out every year, it is becoming easier and easier to engage with children from a professional teaching standpoint. By giving teachers the tools necessary to motivate and present lessons in a totally different way, lessons become much more effective in actually educating children.

Another great advantage of using technology in the classroom is not only the freedom it gives the teachers, but the more proactive role it allows students to take. The study by ISTE also showed that 76% of teachers said that technology allows them to respond to a variety of learning styles. Gadgets and tech in the classroom lets students independently seek more information on the subject they are studying, in turn assisting the ‘teacher in teaching’.

Preparing Students for the Future

In this day and age having knowledge about technology is an essential skill. With schools introducing coding and robotics into their curriculum, it is apparent that this know how is key in succeeding in the future. A study by IT Trade Association CompTIA revealed that 9 out of 10 students revealed they felt using technology in the classroom would better prepare them for the future.

Using technology in the right way is also a skill that needs to be mastered. In working with 21st century learning design, technology can be a crucial tool for teachers. By utilizing edtech solutions in combination with internet and textbooks, the students can learn how to collaborate, communicate, solve problems, be creative, and finding out together. This will help them to apply an adaptable and problem solving way of thinking at later stages in life.

New education technology is an essential tool for both students and teachers alike. However, the technology is only as good as the person behind it and it is up to the schools and teachers to find the right way to use the tech. Technology can work alongside teachers in assisting them to educate children, in a more interactable proactive way.

Nevertheless, the teacher will always maintain a key part of the learning process as traditional learning methods are still invaluable to inspire their students to become lifelong learners.