What does your university run on?
No, I’m not talking about coffee or donuts; I’m talking about educational technology.
Do you realize how many different software and hardware tools power your institution’s daily operations?
You may have even gone so far as to covet new EdTech products on the market or those employed at other institutions. Thinking about your own institution, you may have wondered who selected these tools and why. When serving or pertaining to your area, you probably wish your perspective and needs would’ve been taken into consideration.
I asked what your institution runs on to surface an underlying point: Many people do not understand the purpose of EdTech in their work. There must be a purpose — as technology is a tool, not a solution or a strategy unto itself.
To that end, we must know our purposes and needs, as well as all the possible uses for tools at our disposal. Yet, even if you’re envious of other institutions and their tools, you’ve surely overlooked features and usages for the tool you do have.
What follows are some considerations to fully leverage EdTech. Your institution made the investment, so you should look to get the most from these tools and their resources.