Developing Effective EdTech Routines Using Repositories & AI

Nelson Mandela famously quoted "Education is the most powerful weapon that we can use to change the world." With technology becoming an unavoidable part of our everyday lives, as educators, it is important that we arm our students with the skills to safely and effectively utilize technology both in and outside of the classroom. 

📌 What Are EdTech Routines?

EdTech routines are the integration of technology skills into curriculum and instruction to enhance student learning. Routines are done…well…routinely, so technology skills that can be incorporated into each class, at the end of each week, or at the end of each unit. 

🔑 Why Are They Important?

In adult education, one of the challenges we often face with technology integration is a lack of confidence, engagement or interest, and resistance towards the time commitment to learn these skills from all levels: administrators, teachers, and students. 

Clinical psychologist Becky Kennedy notes, “The learning space has one feeling…frustration…I want them to become experts, not experts at knowing, experts at staying in the learning space.“ By routinely incorporating hands on technology skills into our class curriculum and instruction, students have the opportunity to learn the basics, grow their confidence and comfortability with using technology, and, if the skills development is part of their regular content curriculum, students and educators won’t view it as something separate or another thing they have to learn.  

🎒 Developing EdTech Routines in Adult Ed Classrooms

EdTech repositories such as the EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit and Digital ATDN’s Digital Citizenship Educator Resources app offer a wealth of resources to support technology skill development. AI also provides a huge timesaver for teachers in creating EdTech routines, supporting materials, and differentiating content to meet student needs and curriculum goals. 

To make sure that the EdTech routines are supporting student needs and enhancing the curriculum and program goals:

➡️Assess learner factors, learner needs, & skills.

Student goals, interests, educator observations, and formal/informal assessment tools such as Northstar & Digital ATDN’s BRIDGES Digital Resiliency Checklists.

Example: A student plans to continue to certificate programs & want to help their kids with school presentations. Use Northstar to assess Google Slides Skills.

➡️Target skills, software/platform, & opportunities for differentiation.

Consider priority skills, platforms that they can practice these skills, and differentiation for beginner to advanced tech skills. Use AI to fill the gaps and differentiate content and instruction.

Example:  Most need basic skill development on presentation programs. Advanced students can focus on slide design, formatting, and animations/transitions. 

➡️Plan when & how to develop these skills & the resources needed.

Consider how these skills can enhance the curriculum, which can be implemented as routines, and what resources are needed to support technology skill development.

Example: Daily dictionary slides for new concepts & vocabulary words. It can be used for GED students to study for the exam. Presentations at the end of the unit(s) to learn & practice advanced skills.

➡️ Implement routines, assess as you go, & revise as needed.

As you implement, assess, and reflect on technology skill development, identify barriers or sticking points and revise as needed.

Example: Use Google Applied Digital Skills and Northstar Google Slides assessment and curriculum to target skill gaps and assess skill development/improvement. Appoint students as the leaders for certain skills to develop community and collaboration on skill development. Start building a YouTube playlist of specific skills for student reference. 

Looking for More?

• BRIDGES Digital Resiliency Toolkit

• Digital ATDN’s Bridges Digital Resiliency Checklists

• Digital ATDN’s Digital Citizenship Educator Resources

• Digital ATDN’s Digital Citizenship Student Resources

• DRAW

• EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit

• Boston Digital Literacy Initiative - Routines Library

• Digital ATDN’s AI Resources

• Illuminate by Bethany J. Petty provides numerous EdTech routines and platforms that can be modified for the Adult Ed Classroom.

Professional Development

• 10/25/24 | Navigating Digital Literacy Resources (Presentation | Video | Plan Template)

• 2/27/23 | Enriching the Pre-Beginner & Beginner Classroom Using OERS

• 1/30/23 | Navigating OER Resources: Learn Where to Go and What to Look For