In the era of technology-driven education, the evaluation of hardware and software is crucial to ensure effective instruction and protect student data privacy. These best practices help ensure that you can alight hardward and software with the instructional goals and privacy requirements: the alignment of technology tools with instructional goals, protection of student data privacy, consideration of usability and accessibility, reliance on research-based evidence, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation are crucial aspects of the evaluation process Alignment with Instructional Goals To evaluate hardware and software effectively, it is crucial to align them with instructional goals. According to the IES practice guide, "Developing and Evaluating the Instructional Materials for Mathematics," instructional materials should be designed to support the specific content and goals of the curriculum. Similarly, the Brookings Institution emphasizes the importance of ensuring that educational technology tools align with learning objectives and enhance pedagogy. When evaluating hardware and software, educators should consider how these tools enable or hinder the achievement of instructional goals, ensuring they effectively meet the needs of students and teachers. Impact on Student Data Privacy In the digital age, protecting student data privacy is a paramount concern. There is a risk associated with educational technology and the importance of safeguarding student privacy. Evaluating hardware and software should involve a thorough examination of data collection practices, storage, and sharing mechanisms. The Student Privacy Compass resource provides a scenarios user guide that offers practical examples of data privacy considerations for educators. By prioritizing student data privacy during the evaluation process, schools can select tools that comply with applicable laws and policies, and protect students' sensitive information, these too must be conveyed to parents, something that we by law must do. Usability and Accessibility When assessing hardware and software for instructional purposes, usability and accessibility should be key considerations. The Brookings Institution emphasizes the need for technology tools that are intuitive and easy to navigate, ensuring that both students and teachers can effectively utilize them. Additionally, accessibility features should be evaluated to ensure that all students, including those with disabilities, can access and engage with the educational content. Evaluation criteria may include considerations such as the availability of closed captioning, text-to-speech features, and compatibility with assistive technologies. Research-based Evidence A robust evaluation process should rely on research-based evidence to assess the efficacy of hardware and software. The IES practice guide emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence when evaluating instructional materials. Educators should seek tools that have been rigorously tested and shown to have positive impacts on student learning outcomes. The Brookings Institution further highlights the value of conducting thorough research studies to assess the effectiveness of educational technology tools. By incorporating evidence-based research into the evaluation process, educators can make informed decisions about the adoption and implementation of technology in the classroom. Ongoing Monitoring and Evaluation Evaluation of hardware and software should not be a one-time process but rather an ongoing endeavor. The IES practice guide recommends establishing a continuous improvement cycle to monitor and assess the effectiveness of instructional materials. Similarly, the Student Privacy Compass resource encourages schools to regularly review their data privacy policies and practices. By continuously monitoring and evaluating the hardware and software used in classrooms, educators can identify areas for improvement, address emerging privacy concerns, and ensure that instructional goals are consistently met. In conclusion, evaluating hardware and software for instructional goals and student data privacy requires a comprehensive approach. The alignment of technology tools with instructional goals, protection of student data privacy, consideration of usability and accessibility, reliance on research-based evidence, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation are crucial aspects of the evaluation process. By following these best practices, educators can make informed decisions that enhance instructional effectiveness while safeguarding student privacy in the digital learning landscape.
Mrs. Alice is a teacher at Dunkin Middle School who keeps in touch with her students using social media. Jax is one of her students. As Mrs. Alice scrolls through student posts, she notices a post by Jax in response to some pretty nasty exchanges from other students. Clearly Jax is being bullied online.
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Using Technology to find, organize, and curate educational resources is a daunting task. With each web article I read I found myself traveling further down a rabbit hole, clicking on this new article, trying this curation tool, trying this other curation tool, and what I discovered is that curating and organizing educational resources is very important. Every year I find myself reinventing the wheeling, searching for new games, as well as trying to remember where I bookmarked things from my past. Had I been more organized, like all the tools I read about help do, I would have had a large curated and organized lists of games, resources, and other educational tools for my classroom. Some of the tools that I tried: 1. diigo.com -Helps you curate links and also allows you to create a group to collaborate and share links with.. 2. https://wakelet.com/collections -Is a really cool site you can put all your bookmarks with descriptions, and then you can embed them. I tested this out and embedded it on my class website, which is super exciting since every school I've been at requires me to use their own website, so I can just embed my links instead of having to recreate a page. Courses designed with strong social learning overtones will optimize and diversify peer communication and collaboration. Structured discussions, groupwork, peer review, and background “watercooler chat” combine to create a rich and holistic social learning experience. Physical learning spaces are flexible enough to support social learning workflows naturally. By comparison, many online learning spaces seem limited, unfamiliar, and awkwardly compartmentalized. Please share ideas you have to create social networks in online settings that mirror strong social learning overtones in face to face settings.
When I think about ways in which we can create strong social networks in online settings, a few ideas come to mind. First, create a jamboard where students can go to post their strengths (what they can help tutor with) and weaknesses (I need help with...). This would allow students to help each other and give them an opportunity to reflection on their learning, or lack of. Next, an online parking lot would also be great where students can post questions and other students/teachers can answer. Time can be given at the end of each day for student reflection, as well as time to go to the parking lot and see what people are mulling over. Additionally, weekly discussion questions that build upon in-class learning where students are required to respond to the question and respond to 2-3 others (just like in this class) would help them interact academically. Finally, a wall of fame, where students post work they are proud of as exemplars and teachers can post student work that was an exemplar if a student does not post their own work. This would help digitize and document exemplars for the teacher, as well as document their sense of self-pride. Reading & ReflectionArticles:
To succeed in distance learning, it's essential to stay organized and disciplined. The guide emphasizes the importance of clear communication and engagement, so make sure to actively participate in virtual classes and discussions. Additionally, these articles gave helpful information on incorporating technology in education and how to empowering teachers to adapt to the virtual learning environment with confidence. First, we need to take advantage of interactive learning tools and online platforms. We need to encourage students to stay motivated and proactive in their studies, seeking support from teachers and peers when needed. As a teacher, we need to teach students to embrace the flexibility of distance learning and use it to tailor their learning approach to suit their unique preferences and pace. A key thing to remember is that consistent engagement, effective time management, and proactive use of digital learning tools are key to succeeding in your distance learning journey with the help of these online resources. K-12 education is transforming substantially with the surge of hybrid and remote learning. Having the appropriate technology and resources is important for students’ learning experience and development. Identify technology solutions that support security, immersive learning, and smart schools in your school or district. How is your implementation of them supportive of your K-12 learners?
Before COVID my school was more of a cave-man education teaching approach with basic paper and pencil, shared mobile computers on wheels, and sometimes projector and document camera usage (if they were working), now we have more document cameras, digital whiteboards, school-wide usage of Remind and Canvas/Google Classroom, ipads, and 1-to-1 chromebooks/tablets in every class. We have been working to move towards a more differentiated approach with integrated technology. I think that COVID really helped push us towards this, as we had to learn to use technology to engage our online learners. My students have really loved engaging with the digital whiteboard and are always so excited to come up to the board to share their thinking. As we have moved back into the classroom, we have found a hole in our security for students. We do not have personal software installed on each computer, such as GoGuardian, and we only have a school filter that prevents key words from being searched and/or flagged. We need to find something that will allow us to protect our students. |