Tech-Focused Platforms Impacting Education

Educational Technology Youtube

Educational technology youtube encompasses a broad range of teaching-and-learning-related software and hardware. It involves learning how to use applications, mobile devices, and virtual worlds for facilitating education and implementing theories of learning, cognitive, behavioral, and instructional psychology. It also includes evaluating and designing applications for students. Instructional technology differs from educational technology in that it focuses on how-to instruction along with education processes.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is an educational platform that features short videos that serve as lectures on a variety of topics, including math, science, history, art, and finance. The platform also provides practice problems and other learning materials for students. Its user base has grown to 137 million people worldwide.

This non-profit organization aims to make education available to everyone, for free. Its videos are produced in partnership with some of the world’s best universities, such as Harvard and MIT. They are also translated into multiple languages, allowing a wide audience to access the material.

The platform is not a replacement for class, but it can be an effective supplement. For example, students preparing for a test can log in to practice questions and watch the Khan Academy videos to improve their scores. This can help students become more confident in their abilities. It can also inspire them to learn more about the subjects they enjoy. This may lead to their pursuing careers in these fields.

Edutopia

The George Lucas Educational Foundation-backed Edutopia features high-quality videos produced with big (for education) budgets. Its site is a trove of practical teaching ideas. Its “Schools That Work” series focuses on schools with strong college-bound cultures, and its “How-To” section provides advice on how to create ideal classroom environments. Its resources are a must for teachers looking for innovative teaching strategies.

As Edutopia’s articles tell the stories of schools that work, core strategies begin to emerge. Project learning, integrated studies, social and emotional learning, comprehensive assessment, teacher and leader development, and technology integration are among these strategies. These approaches empower students to think critically, access and analyze information, solve problems creatively, and work collaboratively. In other words, they learn the skills that will make them productive, well-adjusted adults. Search for “real life” on Edutopia’s web database and you’ll find hundreds of articles, videos, and blogs. Educators who visit the site will probably notice that William Heard Kilpatrick and John Dewey smile quietly in approval.

Y Combinator

Y Combinator is a world-renowned startup accelerator that provides funding and mentoring to aspiring entrepreneurs. Its mentor network includes successful entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts. Its intensive three-month program allows startups to rapidly iterate on their ideas and develop a scalable business model.

Founded in 2005, Y Combinator has had a profound impact on the tech startup landscape. In fact, it has shaped the industry more than any other venture capital firm. Its accelerator program and mentor network have provided a springboard for thousands of entrepreneurs to launch their businesses. You can thank Y Combinator for many of the services you use today, whether it’s Dropbox, AirBnb, or Coinbase.

YC has evolved over the years, extending its reach and investing in a wider range of companies. The expansion has also allowed YC to offer additional resources for its startups, including access to discounted software and investor databases. Its growth has positioned YC as an accelerator that can support founders from pre-idea through pre-IPO.

ISTE

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is dedicated to bringing new technologies to teachers and students. The organization has shaped education for hundreds of years and envisions a world where technology is used to help learners learn.

One of the key features of ISTE is creativity. It encourages creative expression through digital media and promotes innovative thinking. This includes designing, coding, and collaborating on projects. It also provides tools to support learning through the flipped classroom model.

To meet ISTE standards, administrators must be good communicators and demonstrate that they are using the latest technology to improve their teaching skills. They must also show that they are addressing student needs and making learning more active. They must also establish metrics and data to measure their progress. Finally, they must work with peers to create a community that supports them in their professional development journey. This can be done through video conferencing and social learning tools.

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Graduate students receive professional development in digital education through Curriculum Associates and the Education Technology Fellowship.

Curriculum Associates and the Education Technology Fellowship

Education Technology Fellowship is a full-time, six-month program designed to give graduate students professional development opportunities in the field of digital education. It teaches students how to design, create, and implement digital projects in support of undergraduate learning.

Annual cohorts work together and with the Northwestern IT Teaching and Learning Technologies team to bring educational innovation ideas to life. This includes pedagogical projects with structured guidance.

Renee Waldron

Renee joined CA in 2009 after a successful career at the American Museum of Natural History, where she increased funding by $40 million and transformed business operations. Since joining the company, she has been a key leader in product development for online assessment and instruction, Common Core, and foundational skills.

She is currently leading the development of i-Ready, a powerful online assessment and instruction solution that supports students in meeting AYP standards. i-Ready’s single K-12 adaptive diagnostic pinpoints student needs down to the sub-skill level, and provides targeted, personalized online instruction for students.

Rob Waldron is CEO of Curriculum Associates, a Boston-area edtech company supporting learning gains for more than 12 million students and educators nationwide. He runs the company with a long-term focus, upholding its founding mission to improve classrooms everywhere. Prior to joining CA, he was an operating executive at Berkshire Partners and CEO of the education division of Kaplan. He is a Pahara-Aspen Fellow and a graduate of Northwestern and Harvard Business School.

Rob Waldron

Rob Waldron is the CEO of Curriculum Associates, which he took over in 2008 after leading Jumpstart for Young Children and the K-12 tutoring division of Kaplan Education. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and has served on the Northeastern YPO Social Impact and EdTech Digest CEO Councils.

One of the lessons that Waldron has taken from his career is that a legacy company can “disrupt” itself by focusing on its Job to Be Done. This approach has helped him transform the company into a leader in the education technology market, even though it doesn’t receive the same level of media attention as other companies.

As an example, he shared the story of a ninth grader who was four levels behind and was using i-Ready to catch up. She moved up two and a half levels in one year and started believing in herself. This made Waldron smile because he knew that the software had a meaningful impact on students.

EdTech MBA Community

The EdTech MBA Community empowers current and aspiring education leaders with the critical academic knowledge, cross-sector tools, and business skills necessary to innovate within their organizations and start new ventures. This unique program offers students a comprehensive, rigorous curriculum spanning the fields of education, design, and innovation. It also provides premier access to Penn GSE and Wharton startup resources and clubs, and educational and ed tech networks.

The fellowship includes mastery of multimedia design and extensive content creation, teaching and mentoring responsibilities, scientific investigation, and an understanding of the administration of technology in medicine. Ultimately, the fellow will be able to use their knowledge to develop innovative technologies for medical education that can engage undergraduate and graduate (residency) medical students, physicians, and patients in diverse learning environments.

Kohn believes many of the products currently on the market are not addressing the real problems educators, students, and families face. He said they are using tactics that would not work in a business setting, and that they fail to build on small successes or gain buy-in.

EdTech Fellows

The Fellowship matches top graduate student fellows with EdTech companies. The companies provide a structured role for the students to work on projects and operations critical to the company, working closely with senior leaders. This opportunity provides a valuable learning experience for both the students and the companies.

The program is funded by the Mastercard Foundation and offers a unique blend of specialised acceleration support for 12 selected startups. This includes access to equity-free venture capital, mentoring, and the development of a scalable solution for Africa’s education challenges.

The Fellowship is part of the HP Cambridge Partnership for Education and is run in collaboration with NGO OpenDevEd and Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge. Full and 80% funded scholarships are available. The programme is designed to help leaders implement digital education transformations in their countries. They will learn from each other and from experts who will support them with evidence-based understanding of education and technology trends.

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Harnessing Technology for Effective and Collaborative Education

How to Get a Good Education Using Technology

Students can learn at their own pace with access to a wide range of educational resources online. They can also use technology to communicate with teachers and other classmates.

Education using technology makes it easy for kids to concentrate in class and finish assignments without getting distracted. It also helps them enjoy the subject and get better marks by preparing comprehensive papers.

Online Learning

Online learning has become a popular choice for many students in higher education. In fact, 48 states now offer either full-time online education or at least courses that supplement traditional classroom instruction.

For the student who is well-suited to an online learning environment, there are numerous benefits of this type of instruction. For example, it allows students who work to complete their coursework at times of day when they are most productive.

It also allows students who live far from campus to have the same immediate access to faculty and classmates as on-campus students. Concordia University Texas offers online programs with a virtual classroom where students can communicate instantly with their professors and peers to discuss class materials, ask questions or get feedback on assignments.

Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning is a form of learning in which students work together to explore topics or create projects. The approach allows for discussion and debate, which helps students understand complex concepts and apply their knowledge. It also improves teamwork and communication skills.

This type of learning is often more effective than classroom lectures, and has a positive impact on student achievement. However, it is important to note that this technique can be problematic if not structured well. Pupils must be taught how to effectively collaborate and the tasks need to be carefully designed in order to get the best results.

This method can be used in small groups of three to five individuals, with clear instructions and a set goal. It is recommended that the groups be mixed, as this will allow students to use different strengths and experiences.

Communication

Students who have better communication abilities do well in the academic sphere and in their professional fields later on. Technology allows students to share their ideas, express themselves and collaborate in ways that were impossible before.

This makes the learning process fun and interesting for young children, which in turn translates into greater marks and better performance overall. It’s also easier for students to retain information with technology than it is in a traditional classroom.

Education using technology also facilitates student connections with experts and professionals in other countries and disciplines, expanding their worldview. Video conferencing tools and virtual exchange programs allow students to connect with peers and educators from around the globe. This helps them build better global awareness and fosters the communication skills necessary in many professions.

Differentiation

Differentiation is a process that allows all students to keep pace with learning objectives by tailoring instruction to meet their needs. This involves assessing students’ current abilities, interests and learning styles. It can also help motivate students to learn new material.

Teachers can differentiate using a variety of tools, including web-based learning resources and software applications. One example is a translation service that translates newspaper articles into multiple reading levels and Spanish, which allows all students to participate in class discussions on social studies topics.

Differentiation requires teachers to be proactive in planning lessons and activities that promote transformational learning. It does not mean providing a separate lesson for each student in a classroom, which can result in low students being isolated from high students.

Independent Thinking

Independent thinking involves a willingness to express original thought. It also includes a healthy skepticism and the ability to question authority. For example, if someone with authority tells you to leave work by a certain time, you’ll consider whether it’s the safest or wisest thing to do.

Independent thinkers also examine obstacles from all sides. If a problem seems unavoidable, they’re flexible enough to ask for help. They’ll even think about how the problem arose in order to avoid it in the future.

This may seem unconventional or taboo, but it’s a crucial aspect of independent thinking. It helps you evaluate new knowledge and information objectively, build strong arguments, and solve problems systematically. It’s also a critical component of the learning process and the success of your career.

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