Educational technology (edtech) has been transforming classroom-based learning combining educational practices and digital tools. Edtech tools enable school students to understand a topic by accessing digital learning materials in various formats. They create opportunities for school students to replace conventional textbooks with eBooks, infographics, videos, and podcasts.
Likewise, students can use edtech solutions to acquire knowledge and develop skills in a virtual learning environment. Both public and private schools in the USA meet the changing needs and preferences of students by implementing edtech tools. Some of these edtech tools for schools enable educational institutions to support online learning and remote learning.
At the same time, schools implement edtech solutions to boost the learning experiences of students by facilitating self-paced learning and self-directed learning. Hence, primary and high schools in America have been implementing edtech solutions. Also, they configure and customize cloud-based edtech solutions according to precise needs. We are discussing some of the prominent edtech solutions for schools in America.
Overview of 7 Widely Used Edtech Tools for Primary and High Schools
Learning Management System
Learning management systems (LMSs) help schools support distance learning and online learning. Schools implement this edtech tool to create, deliver, manage, and monitor various online courses. The software enables students to acquire knowledge at their own pace by accessing digital learning content in multiple formats and languages.
At the same time, the learning management system in education fosters learner engagement and learning experience by supporting collaborative learning and gamified learning. They enable students to collaborate in the virtual learning environment by featuring discussion forums, query corners, and chat rooms. The badges, virtual coins, scorecards, and similar features offered by the LMS help schools gamify students’ learning experience.
Online Classroom Software
As the name suggests, the edtech tools enable schools to set up virtual classrooms. Students can use online classroom software to attend live classes and watch recorded sessions. At the same time, instructors can use the software to replace conventional backboards with digital whiteboards. The digital whiteboard enables them to collaborate with students visually regardless of their current locations.
Instructors can explain topics and ideas clearly using the drawing tools provided by the online whiteboard. In addition, they can use the virtual classroom software to share screens, make live presentations, provide eLearning content, and conduct polls. Most schools support hybrid learning by integrating online classrooms and learning management software.
Digital Library Software
No school can make online courses successful without enabling students to access digital learning content in a variety of formats. Digital library software overcomes this eLearning implementation challenge by providing a content repository. Students can access the digital library on computers or mobile devices to access content in several formats – eBooks, videos, audio, simulations, and quizzes.
New-age digital library software further helps students understand a topic deeply by sharing curated content. They use artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to collect and share content produced by subject matter experts In addition, they foster student engagement by featuring gamification tools like badges and virtual coins. Schools ensure seamless eLearning content access by integrating the software with LMSs.
eLearning Dashboard
Edtech tools enable students to acquire knowledge without being present in a physical classroom. However, schools can implement eLearning successfully only by monitoring the academic and engagement levels of students. Schools implement eLearning dashboards to monitor students and online courses in real time. The software enables users to visualize learning data in a centralized location.
Administrators can customize the dashboard to gather real-time information like course progress, student performance, assignment submission, and course completion. In addition, the dashboard facilitates informed decision-making by supporting custom report scheduling and generation. Most schools these days implement LMSs featuring customizable eLearning dashboards.
Learning Analytics
Despite supporting online learning, schools often find it difficult to increase online course completion rates. As highlighted by several studies, only 15% of students complete online courses and earn online certification. Learning analytics help schools understand what is working and what is not. The edtech tool gains actionable insights regularly by analyzing large amounts of eLearning data.
The data-driven insights shared by the software help schools measure the online learning process based on important metrics like course effectiveness, learner engagement, learning experience, and learner performance. Hence, it becomes easier for educators and administrators to increase online course completion rates by making informed decisions.
Educational Chatbots
This AI-powered edtech tool helps schools boost online and distance learning by acting as a virtual instructor. Educational chatbots interact with students by emulating human-like conversations. Also, students can interact with the chatbots anytime and anywhere. The 24/7 availability and seamless interaction make it easier for students to understand a topic and clear doubts.
In addition, schools customize AI chatbots to share and recommend eLearning content to students according to their needs and preference es. While building eLearning portals, schools embed chatbots to answer frequently asked questions. They further implement edtech tools and platforms that feature customization AI chatbots.
Adaptive Learning Platform
No school can increase online course completion rates without personalizing students’ learning experiences. Administrators and instructors need data-driven insights to adjust and personalize the learning experiences of individual students. Schools implement adaptive learning platforms to personalize the learning experience. The edtech tool facilitates learning experience personalization by sharing data-driven insights.
The data-driven insights help schools run individualized learning programs for schools. The software uses data mining techniques to recommend ideas and tactics that help schools tailor courses and content according to the precise needs of a student. In addition, the edtech platform detects trends and patterns using data analytics solutions. Several studies have highlighted that schools can increase course completion rates and reduce course withdrawal rates by implementing adaptive learning software.
Conclusion
Edtech tools help schools modernize conventional classroom-based education by supporting self-paced, self-directed, and hybrid learning models. In addition to supporting online learning and distance learning, they enable students to access learning materials in various formats. However, most schools in America implement multiple edtech tools and solutions. Also, they form unified learning platforms by integrating cloud-based edtech solutions using application programming interfaces (APIs).
