Four Practices to Help Teachers Master EdTech

Rapid changes in technology require teachers to know not only how to use the tools that are available now, but also to be able to see the untapped potential of new technologies.  At Saint Leo University in Florida, a graduation requirement for students in the education department includes the ability to use a vast array of technology tools. According to Candace Roberts, an education professor there, four processes can help teachers unlock the full potential of new technologies:

• Substitution: Identifying existing teaching functions that the new tools can perform
• Augmentation: Identifying functional improvements the new tools can provide, such as making grading more proficient
• Modification: Using the tools to redesign existing projects and tasks
• Redefinition: Using the tools to develop assignments and tasks that are not inconceivable

The Hechinger Report (04/24/17)