During the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2017 Conference and Expo, itslearning held panel discussions on curriculum-driven technology. The overarching topic of discussion was the need to provide tools that that increase student engagement and learner outcomes. The panel speakers explored three technological trends that support these objectives: data-informed, student-centered learning; technology as the great equalizer; and rigorous learning environments and 21st-century skills.
The main guest speaker was Alan November, an international leader in education technology whom Tech and Learning has named as one of the United State’s 15 most influential thinkers of the decade.
Trend #1: Data-Informed, Student-Centered Learning
Beatriz Arnillas, the senior educational advisor at itslearning, talked about the need for immediate feedback data on student learning so that educators can better move students forward. “We need the data to see what’s trending, what’s happening, and how to differentiate instruction, divide the students in groups,” she said.
Trend #2: Technology as the Great Equalizer
Andrea Winters, director of learning technology at Clear Creek Independent School District in Texas, spoke about the district’s one-to-one initiative and how technology can be a powerful tool for transforming learning. “It can help affirm and advance relationships between educators and students, reinvent our approaches to learning and collaboration, shrink long-standing equity and accessibility gaps, and adapt learning experiences to meet the needs of all learners.”
Trend #3: Rigorous Learning Environment and 21st-century Skills
During the 21st century skills discussion, November asserted that educators should teach students how to learn. “If we teach you to memorize and regurgitate content, and your job is wiped out by technology, you’re not well prepared to reinvent yourself if you didn’t learn how to learn,” he said.
These topics and others will be discussed further in an upcoming webinar, “Back to School: Putting Lessons Learned from ISTE Into Practice, ” to be hosted by Tech & Learning on August 29. Education experts and district leaders will discuss the most impressive developments in educational technology, and how educators can actually put a few into place. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/2v1z72f.
