Education technology, or edtech, is becoming an increasingly popular tool in the classroom. However, teachers mustn’t purchase just any technology. They need to ensure that it will suit the needs and wants of the students in their class. 

This article will discuss 5 questions that you should ask yourself before incorporating an edtech tool into your lessons. This will help you decide how effective the technology will be for your students. 

Who Are The Learners?

This is the first question that you should ask yourself when using edtech. There is no point in purchasing or using an educational tool that will not meet the students’ needs or wants. 

For this reason, you should consider any learning styles or disabilities that your students have. For example, if most of your students respond well to visual lessons, you could consider video or image-based learning devices. 

What Are The Students Learning?

You will also need to consider what subject you teach or plan on using the edtech to teach. For example, if you are a mathematics teacher, purchasing an image-based learning device might not be the best idea. There are plenty of other tools that you could invest in, such as Geometry Pad or Pedagogue. 

Pedagogue is a social tool that incorporates social media with the traditional aspects of a learning management system. It can be used by teachers to manage or organize learning materials. 

Also, Pedagogue can be used to communicate and collaborate with students via a virtual classroom feature. If you wish to find out more about this innovative app, visit the Pedagogue website. 

How Is The Tool Used In The Classroom?

You will need to think about how you use the edtech tool in your classroom. Do you rely solely on the technology for your teaching, or do you only use it occasionally? 

It is recommended that you vary your lessons to provide the students with a more diverse and engaging education. More so, you will need to learn how the technology works before implementing it into your lessons. 

How Does Technology Help?

You will then need to think about which sections of work you use the technology for and which teaching materials you make use of. How does the technology enhance the learning of your students during these lessons? 

You also need to contemplate how the tool displays the teaching materials to the students. For example, if the children prefer being taught via the whiteboard, your technology tool is obviously not effective. 

How Popular Is The Edtech Tool?

Do the students in your class enjoy using the edtech tool? If they groan every time you mention it, it is clear that the technology is not satisfactory. Closely monitor the grades of your students before and after introducing the edtech tool. If the results improve, it could be a sign that the technology is useful. 

Concluding Thoughts

If you are unsure whether your edtech tool is effective, you should ask yourself these questions: 

• Who are the learners in your class?
• What are they learning? 
• How will the tool be used in the classroom? 

Lastly, consider whether or not the technology helps the students and how popular it is.