Who Decides Which EdTech Tools Belong in the Classroom?

April 14, 2023 by Mark Tweedy, Data Storyteller at OneScreen

teacher edtech

EdTech Tools in the Classroom

Administrators and teachers don't always agree on which tools belong in the classroom, but a new survey sheds light on what all educators need most right now.

The Disconnect Between Administrators and Teachers on EdTech Selection

EdTech Magazine revealed in a 2022 survey that while 85% of administrators said they rely on input from teachers in selecting EdTech for their classrooms, 60% of teachers say they are rarely or never involved in the process. 

There are several ways to explain the disconnect, but what matters is whether teachers are able to use the tech tools provided.

While 3 out of 4 teachers said they are happy with the classroom tools provided by administrators, almost half say that they have to supplement those with digital tools they provide themselves. 

For 44% of teachers, deciding which EdTech they need now comes from seeing what's been successful for other teachers.

One of the biggest challenges is that technology is advancing so rapidly that some EdTech tools go obsolete before teachers have mastered them. This was a prime reason why OneScreen introduced EdTech as a Service, so that schools can buy tech that automatically upgrades hardware every 3 years. Students are assured of current tech and educators get the most value from their investments.

 Read more about securing ever-current EdTech

The Teacher's Take: We Need Adequate Tech Training

A concurrent trend in classroom tech is that teachers overall need more training in tech than they are currently receiving. 

The National Center for Education Statistics survey of school leaders reported that:

  • Only 18% agreed that “teachers are sufficiently trained in how to use their technology.”
  • Just 34% said that the technical support they receive is good enough. 
  • 65% said that teachers don’t have enough time to learn new EdTech on their own.

The need for tech training has grown as teachers have increasingly recognized the value of new technology in doing more for their students.

Survey results included observations from teachers about the best aspects of technology, especially in helping students to:

  • “be more independent and self-directed”
  • “learn at their own pace”
  • “work together collaboratively with peers”
  • “think more critically about the lesson materials”

No matter who decides which types of EdTech students need most, adequate training on that tech should be a top priority.

This has always been one of the prime missions for OneScreen: to create EdTech that is easy enough to use right away and to support educators with free, unlimited help and training for the life of our devices. 

We are committed to success in schools by giving administrators the best tools for the classroom and supporting teachers as they ignite the desire for learning in their classrooms.

Learn more about our holistic approach to equipping schools with the tools they need in our EdTech as a Service whitepaper.


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