"If EdTech is interested in student success, it needs to listen to educators"

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Vice President of Course Hero and co-author of «An Urgency of Teachers: the Work of Critical Digital Pedagogy», with experience as a senior lecturer in learning, design, and technology at the University of Colorado at Denver. His expertise in digital pedagogy fosters innovative approaches to learning and education, making him a key figure in the field of educational technology.

Sean Michael Morris, an expert with a background in teaching, discussed how EdTech companies can improve their solutions for universities in an interview with Higher Ed Dive. He emphasized that while digital technologies are designed to make educators' jobs easier, developers often fail to understand the real needs of both teachers and students. Morris argues that EdTech product creators must shift their focus from improving efficiency to addressing the social needs of educational stakeholders. He noted that an important goal of technology is to make learning more human, which, despite its paradoxical nature, is key to the successful implementation of innovation in education.

For over twenty years, educational technology has driven universities to invest in solutions aimed at enhancing learning effectiveness, improving access to education, and increasing student success along the path to degree completion. These technologies play a key role in transforming the educational process, enabling the implementation of innovative teaching and learning methods and ensuring a personalized approach to each student. Investments in modern educational solutions contribute to the creation of a more flexible and interactive learning environment, which, in turn, leads to improved learning outcomes and increased student satisfaction.

EdTech provides solutions to a variety of problems educators face, including plagiarism, cheating, student engagement, and progress monitoring. However, EdTech often assumes a deeper understanding of the educational process than teachers themselves, ignoring their experience and knowledge of how learning occurs. This leads to the ineffectiveness of the technologies being implemented and a decrease in educator trust. It is important to consider the opinions and practical experience of educators to create truly useful and effective educational tools.

If EdTech is truly committed to student success, it must take educators' perspectives into account, the expert emphasized.

Morris emphasized that educational technologies are primarily aimed at improving the effectiveness of learning. In particular, the use of LMS systems plays a significant role in this process, allowing educators and students to maintain communication, share learning materials, and take advantage of a variety of additional features. However, according to the expert, focusing on such technologies does not always ensure student success, and it is important to consider other factors that influence the learning process.

Efficiency does not always coincide with student success, and the latter is not determined solely by grades. Student success lies in meeting their needs, developing creativity and resourcefulness, and improving their quality of life. These aspects go beyond the traditional behaviorist approach, which relies on a system of rewards and punishments and is widely used in educational methods. It is important to consider that successful learning requires a more holistic approach that includes emotional and social development, as well as the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Morris noted that perceptions of students often do not reflect their real social portrait. Previously, working students or those combining studies with family responsibilities were perceived as exceptions. Currently, students having additional responsibilities has become commonplace. These changes require the adaptation of educational technologies and approaches to more accurately reflect the modern realities of student life.

If we are wise, higher education must move from a model focused on institutions and the number of graduates to a model focused on on students and their lives. This new model will require the EdTech segment to shift its approach—from a focus on efficiency to a focus on connections and relationships. These changes will create a more personalized and supportive learning experience, which will ultimately lead to better outcomes for students and educational institutions.

He shared his personal experience teaching online courses and noted the importance of a broad approach to learning. In his opinion, to better understand your students, it is necessary to consider not only the data provided by the platform but also actively monitor their activity in discussions. He carefully analyzed all student messages, taking into account both their words and the lack of comments. If a student left short or infrequent messages, or stopped participating in discussions altogether, this alerted him to potential problems, to which he responded immediately. This approach allows the instructor to better connect with students and create a more effective learning environment.

Sometimes students experience pain and fatigue from long classes. An increasing number of college students are facing difficulties in meeting their basic needs. My experience and training as a teacher allow me to recognize when students need help and provide them with the necessary support. How effective is this? Not always. However, in most cases, this support contributes to student success.

EdTech companies should actively collaborate with educators to identify and solve real-world problems that arise in the teaching and learning process. This collaboration will help create more effective educational technologies that meet the needs of teachers and students. Morris emphasizes the importance of such collaboration in developing innovative solutions in the field of education.

Teachers need educational technologies that foster connection and strengthen relationships with students. They seek autonomy to teach their students in ways that align with their own background and experience. It is important that technology provides freedom and creativity, allowing them to use educational tools more effectively. Educators are looking for solutions that adapt to real classroom conditions and student lives and that support their role as teachers, complementing their teaching methods.

In conclusion, the expert emphasized that many EdTech companies mistakenly believe they understand the language of education, while in fact their approaches may be outdated or unfounded. Technology has the potential to make education more humane and effective, but to achieve this, developers must consider the opinions and needs of users.

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