Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1480924
Sheila Joy/Unsplash restricted by your school/district, your current capacity to incorporate new tools, and other contextual factors. For example, are you teaching multilingual learners? Then you might choose to use tools like Flip or Keynote, which allow students to practice their listening and speaking skills via the built-in video and audio recording tools. Or, are you teaching in a district that has adopted specific devices or software (e.g., iPads, Chromebooks, Microsoft 365, or Google Workspace for Education)? Consider how you can leverage the embedded features of these tools. Also, if planning to incorpo- rate additional tools, consider how well they will integrate with the devices and software you and your students have. 3 Creed As educators, our beliefs influence our actions in the classroom. They affect our classroom management approaches, our pedagogical strate- gies, the ways we engage with families, the content we emphasize, and much more. This applies to edtech too. For example, if you believe in the importance of collaboration in the learning process, then you might choose tools like Google Docs, Google Slides, Jamboard or Padlet, which allow students to work together to create documents, develop presentations, and brainstorm ideas. Take the time to examine your beliefs and consider how they shape the tools you utilize. 4 Channels Just as a geographical channel pro- vides access for ships and other vessels, it's important to select edtech tools that will provide access for all learners. One key factor to consider is accessibility. For example, Google Docs has a dictation feature that turns speech into text and a feature that can trans- late documents from one language to another. Microsoft's Immersive Reader streamlines the text on a page, allows users to customize the display, and reads the text aloud. Apple's Clips has a built-in feature called Live Titles that makes it easy to create captioned videos, thus providing greater access for students who are deaf/hard of hearing and multilingual learners who would benefit from addi- tional linguistic support. Another important factor to consider regarding access is representation. When choosing or designing e-learning materials, take stock of the content and images used to ensure that they are inclusive and representative and do not perpetuate negative stereotypes. 5 Choice According to Universal Design for Learning, providing students with choices can be a powerful way to tap into their interests and, ultimately, foster greater engagement in the learn- ing process. When choosing edtech, consider which tools you can use to provide students with options in how they learn about a concept or how they demonstrate their learning. For example, at the conclusion of a unit of study, you may give students the option to create an infographic in Canva or Google Drawings; record a podcast in GarageBand; or record a video in Clips, Flip, Edpuzzle or iMovie. 6 Cauliflower Cauliflower is a vegetable that has been reimagined in many different ways in recent years. From pizza crusts to Buffalo wings, it seems that there is no limit to how cauliflower can be used. Similar to how society is tapping into the versatility of cauliflower, as educa- tors we should consider how we can take the edtech tools we already have and use them in innovative ways. Take Keynote, for example. You can use it to create presentations, animations, flash cards, infographics, animated GIFs, narrated slide shows, interactive notebooks, collaborative activities and more. Or, take Flip. You can use it for introductions, reflection activities, read-alouds, presentations, skills assessments, virtual guest speaker visits and more! This concept applies to many other tools as well. It's important to start with just one new idea and build on it over time. Hopefully, these six Cs will help you make tech choices that promote student learning, reflect your unique context, align with your creed, promote equity, support student choice and spark innovation. This article originally appeared in Edutopia. Tolulope Noah is a former K-12 teacher now at CSU Long Beach. "Similar to how society taps into the versatility of cauliflower, we should consider how we can take the edtech tools we already have and use them in innovative ways." 49 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 2 T T E C H T I P S