OTAN News
When It Comes to Edtech, How Much Influence Do Teachers Have?
One thing which came out of the COVID Pandemic, that seemed previously impossible, is "it thrust virtually every school into the deep-end of edtech, starting with remote learning." As the education field combats learning loss and everyone is "feeling frayed" to get back to some semblance of normalcy, the edtech market has "surpassed $100 billion (about $310 per person in the US) in value." EdSurge investigated three questions:
- How are edtech companies making sure their products are working best for teachers?
- How much influence do teachers have on the edtech tools they use?
- What can we glean from the number of former educators in the leadership ranks of edtech companies?
In the past, "it used to be accepted as fact that, no matter how much work a district did to try and implement a new tool, roughly 10 to 30 percent of its teachers still wouldn't touch edtech."
In contrast with today, schools now have 1:1 devices with a tablet or laptop and it should come to no one's surprise that when teachers are "enthusiastic about a product" then it will be a good fit for other educators in the same district.
However, when it comes to company investors, not all solicit teachers for their expertise. It depends on the product and sector. Some companies invite teachers for their input on advisory boards or ambassador programs for a free sticker or t-shirt. Most might have a former teacher on their team though "teacher ambassadors typically have little or no influence over the product." In the end, it is not about how many tools a teacher uses, but how effectively they are used in the classroom.
EdSurge wants to hear from educators on this issue via this form. To read the full article, click here.