Instructional Design: Tech with Purpose

Educational technology feels like an overload, right? There is so much of it out there, most of it with potential to benefit students, teachers, and families in powerful ways, however, the challenge can be choosing the right set of tools and using them well. 

Teachers, schools, and districts are faced with a new reality of education in the post-remote-learning world that is rapidly changing. Educators are tasked with the challenge of closing social emotional and academic achievement gaps that were amplified by the pandemic. 

Image Source: Lindsey Bailey/Axios

There are many technology tools out there that can feel like the knight in shining armor, and schools are often quick to bring tools on board in hopes that they will save them. This stockpiling of edtech tools can leave teachers feeling overwhelmed and ill-equipped. By developing an instructional design proposal for the implementation of an edtech personalized learning platform, I hope to equip teachers with the resources needed to implement tools thoughtfully, with intentionality, and rooted in learning theory. 

That old saying feels appropriate here: "It's about quality, not quantity." 

So How's That Proposal Going? 

With the budget cuts we experienced this year, asking for an edtech platform was a daunting task. Initially, when a colleague and I addressed our concerns and asked for a learning tool, our ideas were squashed. This was frustrating and defeating; however, through doing research, having additional conversations, and joining the Professional Solutions Committee, I was able to problem-solve and make progress. 

Now, we have been approved for a platform and have had one professional development session providing an overview of the platform. My next steps are to help ensure that the professional development does not end there and that teachers feel supported and equipped to use the platform effectively. 

With continued support, training, and commitment, I firmly believe that this platform will close gaps in achievement. An instructional designer recognizes potentially valuable learning tools and invests in them in order to ensure they are being used with purpose.