e2L is on fire with hot EdTech trends | engage2learn

We firmly believe that education will continue to modernize thanks to the growing technology trends. EdTech promises to make our learning more efficient as it plays a central role in public schools.

In fact, ISTE recently released a report on the 11 hottest trends in EdTech for 2018. Guess what? e2L has already been working with our partners in accomplishing them all!

Here are ISTE’s 11 hot EdTech trends, and how e2L is bringing each of them to our partners.

The Four C’s

Critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity are the Four C’s that educators frequently reference when talking about desirable learner traits. These have been called everything from 21st Century Skills to Future Ready Skills.

e2L implements 7 Life Ready Skills that are in the same vein as the Four C’s, but with several significant differences. First, we take the Four C’s a step further by adding Growth Mindset, Autonomy, and Professional Ethics as necessary skills learners need to thrive. Second, Life Ready Skills aren’t something students will have one day, or that they’ll use in their futures beyond school. To be Life Ready is to be ready for life as it is right now and in the future.

Innovative learning environments

ISTE calls for more innovative learning environments that encourage active learning. e2L loves taking on the challenge of helping our partners design a more flexible learning environment that works for both educators and learners.

Our Learning Environment Design (LEDe©) process helps our partners plan a learning environment and tech plan that works. We partner with school districts to help them create a locally-designed ideal learner experience through technology profiles, technology assessments, long-range technology plans, and facilities planning. This process ensures that facilities aligns to the learner experience, rather than being an afterthought.

Digital citizenship

It’s crucial for young learners to know how to conduct themselves in the digital space. As we integrate more technology into our classrooms, it’s critical to coach students on its proper use.

Through our LEDe© process, we implement e2L’s Learning Environment Assessment of Readiness and Needs (LEARN©) Rubric, which helps educators seamlessly integrate tech into the classroom while coaching learners on appropriate technology use. Our Life Ready Skills, especially Professional Ethics, also help students learn to use technology in a positive way.

Project-, problem-, and challenge-based learning

Too often we hear students ask, “Why are we learning this?”

Problem-based learning lets learners apply their knowledge in real-world contexts to give more motivation and meaning to their assignments.

e2L’s Learning Innovation Framework (LIFe©) provides authentic learning experiences that empower students to lead their own learning with structured focus. When a district designs their own framework with LIFe, it’s grounded in research-based best practices, like Authenticity, that ensure the learning experiences connect with students.

Maker programs / activities

Many students are tactile and learn from getting their hands dirty. ISTE recommends installing maker spaces and activities into the classroom to encourage tactile learners to apply their knowledge in real, relevant ways.

e2L’s LEDe© design process helps our partners implement makerspaces unique to their student and community needs, ensuring personalized learning happens for all learners and they have opportunities to tinker and explore.

Professional learning models and coaching best practices

ISTE emphasizes the importance of professional learning models to help educators feel supported with tools to help them and their learners succeed. e2L firmly believes that you can’t successfully implement an initiative without training and regular coaching. In fact, we believe in coaching so strongly that we don’t even offer training without it.

e2L’s eGROWE© coaching system ensures educators, leaders, and students continue to grow and improve with measurable goals through our online tool, e2L Studio©.

Computational thinking, coding, and robotics

As we integrate tech into the classroom, our learners need to understand the computational thinking that makes these devices function. Again, the trend is to make learning actionable with real-world examples, like robotics and coding, that students can use outside of the classroom.

e2L’s LEDe© and LIFe create dynamic learning environments that encourage students to think outside the box by participating in activities that are both fun and educational.

Augmented and virtual reality

Field trips are a great way for learners to synthesize information, but they’re often expensive and require a significant paper trail. Augmented and virtual reality allow learners to explore the world in new ways to help them integrate information. For example, elementary school students can explore the Great Wall of China to synthesize information from their geography and history subjects.

e2L’s LEDe© process guides our partners through the process of integrating VR into the classroom in ways that significantly enhance the learner experience.

Personalized learning

Learners aren’t cookie-cutters; everyone is different and requires a unique approach to their learning. Although personalized learning often seems like an unreachable dream for educators, it’s entirely possible to implement.

e2L’s LIFe© process guides our partner districts through the process of implementing a uniquely-designed framework based on local community input that will serve each individual learner.

Leadership

Leadership has never been “out,” but it’s critical in the digital age. Leaders need to communicate clearly and have a defined initiative with goals for tech implementation in the classroom.

Through Responsible Innovation Design (RIDe©), e2L helps our partners plan thoughtful initiatives to design the best possible student experience. e2L also offers executive training and coaching along with our digital tool, e2L Studio©, to coach leadership.

ISTE Standards best practices

ISTE is the one-stop shop for digital best practices for educators and learners. Sometimes districts feel overwhelmed meeting their own best practices on top of implementing ISTE Standards. e2L coaches on ISTE Standards through our eGROWE coaching model. ISTE Standards are also integrated into e2L Studio, so our partners don’t have to worry about following a separate set of standards.

These are just a few of the technology trends that will transform the learner experience in our public schools. What trends do you think are on the horizon for technology in education? Let us know in the comments!