Resources about Education Technology to Help You Succeed

If you’ve ever been curious about how education technology can improve your school or institution, look no further than this comprehensive resource page.

Integrating education technology (edtech) into your learning institution can be daunting. You might not even know exactly what education technology is or the benefits it can offer you.

We’re here to help. This resources hub gathers everything you need to know about edtech so you can make key decisions about the right tools for your needs.

What is eLearning?

eLearning refers to the process by which learning occurs electronically. It can involve something as simple as watching a YouTube video or taking a professional development webinar. It can also be as intense as taking an accredited class to get a college degree.

eLearning has become crucial for many K-12 and higher education learning institutions over the past few years as more and more learning is done online.

Whether it’s asynchronous learning (where learning is done independently outside of the classroom, often steered by instructions and assignments by an educator) or with blended learning that combines asynchronous and synchronous learning (traditional, in-person learning), eLearning is a cornerstone of education now.

Technology for classrooms is crucial to improving student learning

Edtech in the classroom has come a long way since overhead projectors were introduced. More than ever before, education technology software has become hyper relevant for the success of both students and teachers inside and outside of the classroom.

In that same Department of Education report, 45% of schools reported having a computer for each student, and that number is likely to increase each year. These computers help students stay engaged with their lessons because they more closely resemble the way students engage with the world outside of the classroom.

More than ever, schools are transitioning to adopting learning management systems to help support students’ learning and development. The basic use of a learning management system in education is to create and manage online learning curriculums.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of useful resources to help you make an informed decision about which specific tools to consider when searching for education technology.

Other related articles to help you choose the best education technology:

What is the future of technology in education?

Education technology software has exploded in popularity and necessity, so the future is bright for any learning institution that might have jumped on board in recent years.

More education technology software is being developed these days, which means features that might have been niche or hard to find in the past are becoming more and more accessible for even smaller learning institutions. Essentially, you get more bang for your buck now that there’s more competition.

That’s why we’ve written a series highlighting several key concepts or features that are common in edtech that can take your learning institution to the next level.

The Gartner Hype Cycle

We narrowed down the following features and concepts using the Gartner Hype Cycle for higher education by focusing on innovations that were accessible enough for smaller institutions versus some of the more cutting-edge innovations that might not yet be applicable or mature enough for smaller education institutions.

The Gartner Hype Cycle depicts the progression of expectations for any new technology or innovation, from inception through mainstream adoption.

You can learn more about all stages of the technology Hype Cycle here.

By taking advantage of the Gartner Hype Cycle, you’ll be in a position to adopt emerging technologies in the digital marketing space before anyone else, and will reap the ongoing benefits as these features become more advanced over time.

Innovations like quantum computing and immersive technology are still too far away from maturity to make much sense for small learning institutions currently, but you can take advantage of the following innovations now.

Master data management helps education institutions process and maintain information

Master data management refers to the network of people, processes, and technology that work together to maintain a company’s master data assets and ensure that they’re consistent, accurate, and secure.

A master data asset, also known as a master data entity, can be defined as any customer, employee, vendor, supplier, account, product, or site in a business transaction. Put simply, it’s any person, place, or object involved in the operation of your organization.

While master data management is useful for K-12, it should be of particular interest for colleges and universities because of the vast network of offices and departments that have to process and maintain information.

Master data management helps education institutions with registration, scheduling, transcripts, grades, tuition payments, scholarships, meal plans, housing arrangements, and any other of the various different data points that schools used to have to manage manually.

Chatbots help students interact with education institutions about questions or concerns

Chatbots are a computer program with a conversation interface that allows the chatbot software to hold a conversation with human users via textual (and auditory in some advanced cases like Google Assistant) methods.

Chatbots are useful in education because they allow students and parents to engage with the school 24/7. A student or parent can go to the school’s website and ask questions about facilities, programs, how to sign up for classes, parking information, etc.

These tools help relieve some of the administrative stress on faculty and staff because they offer an elegant, instant solution for students and parents who want efficient and quick answers to their concerns rather than combing through a more traditional FAQ page.

Scenario planning helps schools and universities strategically plan for the future

Scenario planning is a management methodology that helps organizations gain strategic foresight by envisioning and analyzing possible outcomes.

Scenario planning is important because it gives organizations the opportunity to ideate and “future test” a variety of business strategies, weigh risks, and prepare to make key decisions in anticipation and/or during periods of uncertainty.

K-12 and postsecondary learning institutions can benefit from scenario planning in a variety of ways. Whether that’s figuring out a way to improve student retention in a university or implementing the most effective and successful learning initiatives, well executed scenario planning is crucial.

Education analytics can improve learning outcomes

Data analytics is the collection and analysis of data to gain actionable insights with the goal of increasing organizational efficiency and business outcomes.

In education, this can range from optimizing the enrollment process to improving learning outcomes and the student experience overall.

K-12 and higher education organizations are using data analytics to improve student recruitment and admission processes, increase the effectiveness of curriculum development and management, help with financial aid, and improve eLearning.