Accessible electronic and information technology is technology that can be used by people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. It incorporates the principles of universal design. Each user is able to interact with the technology in ways that work best for them. Common accessibility features include text-to-speech, closed-captioning, and keyboard shortcuts. Complete some accesibility challenges so you can be more informed on how to help the wide variety of students in your classroom. 

Would you love to try more tech with your students but not sure where to get started? Do you need a little one-on-one guidance? Book one of the EdTech team members to come meet with you and develop a plan together. 

Canva for Education is 100% free for K-12 (primary and secondary) teachers and their students, powering creation and collaboration in every classroom. You and your students can create and personalize your own designs from scratch, or choose from thousands of high-quality, copyright-free educational templates. 

Technology integration works best when it is paired with research based strategies and structures. Explore these challenges to learn how to digitize some old strategies and some news strategies as well. 

Empowering students to own their Learning starts with providing meaningful feedback to students. Explore tools and ways you can make giving feedback more efficient and effective. 

The gamification theory in education is that learners learn best when they are also having fun. Not only this – they also learn best when they have goals, targets and achievements to reach for, of course in a way the learner still perceives as fun. Gamification in learning involves using game-based elements such as point scoring, peer competition, team work, and score tables to drive engagement, to help students assimilate new information and test their knowledge. 

Game-based learning continues to be a very popular teaching tool, and with good reason. The gaming nature makes it immediately appealing and engaging for students, especially so for Minecraft, which is played by children around the world, with the Education Edition played in more than 115 countries. Minecraft: Education Edition is a learning-specific version of this very popular block-based game. So while students will be drawn to the game anyway, this also allows teacher controls to help educate them as they interact with this virtual world. Learn how to use the over 600 standards-aligned lessons or build your own!

Nearpod is a website and app-based digital tool that lets teachers create slide-based learning resources that are interactive for students to engage with and learn from during direct instruction or at independant learning centers. Nearpod can also use gamification of information to make learning more engaging and fun with features that mimic EdPuzzle and Kahoot built right in.  Get real time data during teaching to check for understanding while engaging your students with technology while learning. 

If you are not using Seesaw, you shoud be!! Seesaw is a fantastic district approved tool to use to for digital workflow and parent communication. Seesaw empowers learners to be creators and not just consumers. The flexible features can provide opportunities for students to explain their thinking to an authentic audience and take ownership of their growth.