When it comes to technology in the classroom, the voices and opinions of students are critical to successful planning and implementation. Involving students in the decision-making process can be an impactful way to transform the efficacy of technology in the classroom. Both teachers and students are key end-users of classroom technology, and their experiences offer meaningful insight that can significantly shape decisions to better serve learning outcomes.
Here is how involving students in tech decision-making can enhance your EdTech implementation:
Students understand their own learning needs
The education landscape is rapidly changing. Students are uniquely positioned to offer relevant insight on how technology can serve them in their learning environment. They can often articulate which tools provide support and which tools are difficult to navigate.
When Cherry Hill School District involved students in their tech decision making, they completely flipped their 1:1 device strategy. Students said, “we don’t want your devices”, and instead they implemented borrowing options to give students a choice of devices that they needed to specific classes and projects. This had a big upswing in student engagement.
With a collaborative approach that involves student voice, educators are better informed on the technology that will directly support students with their studies through first-hand experience. This feedback is essential in creating a connected classroom that supports everyone.
Students as stakeholders boost adoption
Being involved in the decision-making process creates a sense of inclusion and sees students as stakeholders. This inclusion fosters a feeling of accountability towards the technology in use therefore organically boosting engagement. Having a hand in selecting tools used in the classroom increases the likelihood of maximising the potential of the tool for learning purposes.
The increase of engagement encourages students to explore the technology in meaningful ways, use it to its full capabilities and even learn to troubleshoot.
Teaches practical soft-skills for real-world situations
Involving students in tech decision-making helps them build critical problem-solving skills. When asked to assess strengths and weaknesses of different education tools, students must think critically about how the tools can be applied to different situations and scenarios in the learning environment. This process translates to real-world decision making and allows students to engage with multifaceted questions such as how technology can help achieve their learning goals or the drawbacks of using specific tools over others.
By participating in these discussions, students not only improve their understanding of technology and digital literacy but also become more thoughtful and strategic about the tools they choose to use in the future.
Increases long-term success of your EdTech strategy
Student feedback incorporated into your long-term strategy can keep your school up to date with the rapid evolution of technology. Collecting regular feedback from students can help educators stay ahead of the curve and give ongoing insight to refine and improve the use of EdTech tools.
Developing a culture that includes students in EdTech decision-making inspires continuous improvements, ensuring the technology remains effective, relevant and adaptable for future educational needs.
What steps can I take to engage students in technology decisions?
Student surveys: Performing regular surveys to gather feedback on new and existing technologies. Ensure to ask questions that encourage students to share both positives and negatives of current technology.
Student tech council: Create student-led committees that work alongside administrators to test new technology and products. They will be able to test products, rate efficiencies and provide feedback directly to education leaders.
Focus groups: Organize small focus groups (5-8 students) to give detail to information a survey might miss. In-depth discussion around their experiences with EdTech.
Pilot programs: Before implementing new technology, run a pilot-program with a select group of students to gather their feedback on functionality, user experience and overall experience.
Bringing students into EdTech decision-making is a critical strategic approach that ensures technology remains relevant and effective. By giving students a voice in the process, institutions can implement technology that meets their learning needs, boosts engagement and encourages long-term success. As the primary users, student insight is invaluable in implementing technology that truly enhances the learning experience.
The SMART Technologies EdTech Assessment tool gives educational institutions a comprehensive way to assess technologies performance in the classroom across several important areas. The Assessment Tool provides insight and recommendations to assist in strategic decisions regarding leadership, professional development, infrastructure, security and integration.
Learn more about the EdTech Assessment Tool and begin your assessment: