Collaborate with teachers and administrators to select and evaluate digital tools and resources that enhance teaching and learning and are compatible with the school technology infrastructure
ISTE Coaching Standards (2014)
Resonant Idea: Collaborative evaluation of digital tools
While supporting teachers as they try new technology during this time of emergency remote learning, I notice how often I learn something about a digital tool from them. Either they find a feature I was unaware of, or they want to use the application to do something I hadn’t thought of. This is a classic example of why products need to be heavily tested in the field before a commitment is made to purchase them for a school or district. The teachers who will ultimately be the users of a technology tool must put it through its paces and communicate the pros and cons of the device or software before an administrator places an order. Tools also need to integrate with the existing hardware and software infrastructure and support the usage and privacy policies of a district.
Importance of Pilot Programs
In my post Leveraging the Power of Teacher Innovators and Early Adopters, I describe how pilot programs are one of the best ways to evaluate technology products before committing to them. In addition to the obvious field trials, pilot programs should be designed to reflect the vision and goals of the district or school. The post above provides links to resources that can facilitate that process.
Tying into the Infrastructure
In Digital Classroom Commons, I did an informal evaluation of OneNote and SeeSaw, both of which I thought would solve the need for a classroom hub that a teacher had inquired about for her 5th grade class. Though I thought SeeSaw would be easier to use, I worried that it wouldn’t be sanctioned by the district, whereas OneNote was already in our middle schools and high schools. It turns out that SeeSaw doesn’t meet the state and district privacy requirements, so even if it was the best product for the job from a usability perspective, it wasn’t going to fly from the district standpoint. It also is most useful on a tablet with an outward facing camera, and our district uses Lenovo Thinkpads (which don’t have one). All these things – both big and small – must be taken into consideration to determine whether a digital tool is a good fit for a district.
