Supporting teachers in their efforts to foster student success.
GUEST COLUMN | by Kris Astle
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education in ways we are still understanding. For many students, the shift to remote and hybrid learning left lasting academic gaps, particularly in foundational subjects like math and reading. A recent report found that U.S. students showed no significant progress in closing these gaps during the 2023-24 school year, with many falling even further behind. This ongoing struggle adds to learning loss that already existed before the pandemic, making it even more challenging for educators and school districts to help students get back on track.
‘This ongoing struggle adds to learning loss that already existed before the pandemic, making it even more challenging for educators and school districts to help students get back on track.’
At the same time, the past few years have highlighted the incredible dedication of teachers who went above and beyond to support their students in difficult circumstances. As we look ahead, it’s clear that closing the achievement gap will require a multifaceted approach. Thoughtful implementation of edtech tools into classrooms has the potential to enhance teaching and learning, creating more personalized, engaging, and accessible education for all students.
How Edtech Can Support Teachers and Students
Technology can be a powerful tool in helping teachers bridge learning gaps—such as platforms that enable teachers to create interactive lesson plans, offering flexibility to modify lessons, incorporate engaging resources, and design activities that keep students actively involved, regardless of their learning environment.
Personalization is another area where edtech can offer support. Data-driven insights help teachers to identify learning gaps, track progress, and adjust instruction in real-time. By analyzing student performance trends, educators can personalize lessons, provide targeted support, and ensure every learner stays on a path to success. This can be especially helpful for identifying and addressing specific learning gaps—whether that’s in reading fluency, math skills, or other areas where students may need extra attention. With a clear view of student activity and real-time feedback, edtech tools can make it easier for teachers to spot areas where students may be struggling and provide timely support as needed.
Managing large class sizes is another persistent challenge that edtech can help teachers address by offering students various ways to engage with content, such as through video, game-based activities, or self-paced learning modules. This flexibility is key to engaging all learners, including students who may benefit from visual cues, alternative expression methods, and personalized pacing.
Edtech as a Valuable Resource for Overburdened Teachers
Teachers are the core of education, often balancing increasing class sizes, limited resources, and time constraints. With school budgets tightening, edtech platforms can offer valuable support by streamlining tasks like grading, tracking progress, and organizing materials, giving teachers more time to focus on fostering student relationships and providing targeted support where it’s needed most.
Edtech can also be a cost-effective solution for schools and districts looking to maximize their limited resources. When used intentionally, these tools can enhance the learning experience for students while allowing schools to do more with less. Technology can also be used to connect students to learning experiences that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. For smaller districts, this could be using video conferencing tools to allow specialist teachers to deliver content, such as AP or IB classes, that a district isn’t staffed to offer. A single teacher can teach students in multiple schools. While it might not make sense to provide AP Calculus for five students in one building, when spread out across multiple buildings, it becomes achievable.
These experiences aren’t limited to just instruction, but also include connecting with students from across the globe. Students at Delta Waters School in Botswana and Keelham Primary School in Bradford, UK have been connecting weekly via a video conferencing app installed on their classroom’s SMART boards. The technology facilitates active learning and helps build empathy and understanding among young learners. During the live sessions, students engage in various activities, from joint lessons to cultural exchanges, enabling them to broaden their horizons and gain new perspectives.
The Future of Education and the Role of Edtech
As teachers face growing demands, larger class sizes, and tighter budgets, edtech tools can offer valuable support to both students and educators. While these tools aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution, they can play a meaningful role in enhancing instructional efforts and supporting the hard work teachers do every day.
Without the right support and resources, students may continue to struggle to catch up from the disruptions caused by the pandemic. Technology offers a way to support teachers in reaching more students, addressing individual learning needs, and creating more effective and engaging classroom environments.
Conclusion
The pandemic has exposed deep challenges in education, and closing the achievement gap will take time and effort. When used effectively, technology can play a pivotal role in supporting both teachers and students. Platforms like Lumio help to create engaging, personalized learning experiences that can be adapted to meet the diverse needs of students. edtech offers teachers a way to work more efficiently, increase engagement, and better track student progress—allowing for timely interventions and more personalized support.
As schools continue to face challenges such as budget constraints and larger class sizes, integrating technology thoughtfully can be an important part of the solution—helping educators work more efficiently and providing students with an environment where they can thrive.
—
Kris Astle, Education Strategist with SMART Technologies, is skilled in the integration of educational technology, instructional design, and strategic planning. She understands trends, research-based best practices, educational needs, and facilitating change. Kris started her career in the classroom, teaching first in Switzerland and then in the US. She has launched both IB and ESL programs, and is passionate about meeting students and teachers where they are to help them use technology to follow their passions. Connect with Kris on LinkedIn.
Share this:
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
Like this:
Like Loading…
Related
Original Article Published at Edtech Digest
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________