School Technology in 2021: What’s Worth Keeping Around?

…and what needs to go the way of the dinosaurs!

Photo by Ola Dapo from Pexels

Technology in the classroom is a topic that has grown along with the growth of, well, technology. Of course, the events of 2020 forced a new level of reliance on tech. As countless classrooms went virtual, sometimes teachers and districts did what they had to do to remain afloat, and sometimes they were able to use technology to their advantage. In fact, one study found that 86% of teachers believe technology is helpful to teaching, but about a third may avoid it due to reliability issues. So, which elements of our relationship to technology in education are worth holding onto and which ones aren’t so helpful? Even the experts are all over the map on these questions, but hopefully our experiences over the past year can provide some insight.

Let’s start with what we still haven’t really mastered. (Keep in mind that these lists aren’t exhaustive or meant to represent all student experiences, and “technology” is used here to refer mainly to virtual learning and platforms used for home learning.)

Live virtual lectures: With some exceptions, this is a concept that works best only if it’s necessary. If, say, students are in another location, or social or learning differences make it a better option, or there’s a global pandemic happening, it’s wonderful and…