3 Reasons why you should be using EdTech on a daily basis

We live in a digital world and being digitally competent means more than securing isolated computing skills in a ‘once per week’ ICT/Computing Session. Digital competence is the set of skills and knowledge that equip pupils with the “confident, creative and critical use of technologies and systems” (DCF Wales - Framework Guidance 2018). Using technology to assist and support our tasks is an essential life skill, and by using it every day within lessons fosters abilities that are transferable to the ‘real world’. However, it is important that these digital skills are developed in meaningful, naturally occurring ways, rather than forced, artificial activities. Using Edtech tools across the curriculum not only promotes authentic learning experiences but ensures our lessons are inclusive, interactive and engaging.

Inclusive: Using a range of Edtech tools can help meet the unique learning styles of your cohort whether your aim is to support or extend activities. The artificial intelligence of apps like Google Lens can be used for a range of tasks; but the ability to search for pictures instead of words, and translate both written and typed text caters tremendously for your EAL pupils. Tools like Immersive Reader allow pre-reading children to access higher level texts independently and offer text decoding solutions for dyslexic pupils. Emerging writers or those lacking in confidence/ability can use Edtech such as ‘Explain Everything’ or ‘Puppet Pals’ which allow voice recordings over pictures, drawings and photographs for children to express opinions, tell stories, and recount events in ways which their writing level may not match.

Interactive: Platforms such as Flipgrid, Jamboard and Kahoot! promote interaction both inside and outside of the classroom. These not only allow children opportunities to collaborate asynchronously, but transforms the traditional ‘hand-raising’ showcasing of knowledge into a more game-like, social media driven style of learning that children have plenty of ‘real-life’ experience of interacting with. These interactive Edtech tools are a simple way to tech-infuse your lessons, whilst providing you with the added advantages of easily recorded evidence, assessment and perceptions of the learning taking place.

Engaging:  If a lesson is inclusive, interactive and purposeful, it most certainly will be engaging! Using apps as ‘hooks’ to learning is a sure-fire way to captivate even the most uninterested of pupils. Minecraft Education Edition is a fantastic example of recognising and building upon children’s interests and allowing their prior experience of technology to assist their learning. ‘Magically’ making faces of famous people or characters through tools like Talkr and Chatterpix can be used by both the teacher as a hook for the lesson, but also by the children as a vessel for their work.

There have been numerous studies over the years that conclude that purposeful and authentic use of digital tools across the Curriculum enables richer, more engaging learning environments. This is only reinforced by my own personal experience of implementing the Digital Competency Framework (DCF) within my classroom since 2018. My journey into tech-infusing my lessons involves keeping up to date with the latest Edtech tools and not being afraid to trial them with my pupils, allowing the innovation that Inspecting Bodies wish to see within classroom practices. There are a number of social media accounts and blogs that frequently showcase the latest Edtech Tool updates and following the hashtags #edtechchat and #edtechteachers will link to extremely informative posts and tweets. However, if you aren’t sure where to begin with using Edtech across the curriculum, you may wish to read the series of “Top 10 Edtech Tools” articles on the CAS Website that feature a range of practical ways to ensure more inclusive, interactive and engaging lessons.