Teachers can find appropriate educational tools in various places to help them teach effectively. For example, you can look for different learning tools using search engines such as Google or Bing. Popular search terms among teachers include “English learning tools,” “math education apps,” etc. Alternatively, professional communities and forums can offer insights into beneficial learning tools. You can join Facebook groups, engage in Reddit subreddits, or participate in online forums to exchange ideas and offer recommendations.
However, having multiple teaching solutions can sometimes disrupt the flow of a class. Consider a scenario where you use a different program for each lesson and then use another application to manage class progress or check students’ homework. Finding the right balance between too few and too many educational tools becomes crucial in such situations.
In this article, we will examine teachers’ challenges and issues when selecting an educational tool and explore how to choose the best one.
Choosing an educational tools : Teachers’ main concerns
When I arrived in my Year 1 classroom, I found dusty Cambridge textbooks to use. These were the sort of books that you would hand out to high schoolers and expect them to take notes with, they were not workbooks. There were also no Jolly Phonics resources to use. Immediately, my start to the year was more difficult and I had to scramble to print off work to make into books. Each week, I spend hours creating and locating learning materials that are appropriate for my learners as the materials provided are outdated and not applicable to my learners. This process was frustrating and could have easily been avoided with access to adequate learning materials.
The above paragraph is from an interview with English teacher Megan Monczko and her initial challenges with educational tools at her school in Thailand. Indeed, many public school teachers encounter difficulties due to a lack of educational tools. The class materials provided are inappropriate because they are often outdated, do not meet current standards, or need to be properly edited for student understanding.
Usually, when the school year begins, teachers should prioritize building emotional connections with the students they will be spending the rest of the year with. However, teachers worry that if they invest a lot of time preparing new educational tools and making plans, they will not have enough time to interact with their students and build relationships.
Difficulties faced by teachers when choosing an educational tools
Why is it difficult for teachers to choose an educational tool? We will look at some common reasons below.
- Diversity and relevance
Teachers should consider diversity and relevance when choosing learning tools. Each student has a unique learning style and needs, making it crucial to find the tools to accommodate them. However, due to time and budget limitations, it can be challenging to achieve all requirements. - Technical problems
Some teachers may encounter difficulties adopting new educational tools due to their limited technical knowledge. This can be more challenging if they are unfamiliar with the latest technologies or online platforms, as it may make it more difficult for them to effectively configure, operate, and maintain these tools. - Cost
Some educational tools or software can be costly. Budget constraints often prevent teachers from purchasing or subscribing to the tools they want. - Time
Another difficulty is the time it takes to find and assess new educational tools. It can be challenging for teachers to find enough time to assess the pros and cons of new tools when they are already overworked and have limited free time. - Support and training
While certain educational institutions or software companies provide support and professional training programs for their products, sometimes those services are not offered or can be lacking. In such cases, teachers may need to invest a lot of effort in self-directed study and training to ensure they can utilize them appropriately. - Security and personal data protection
Personal data protection is also a concern for content on social media and online platforms.
Even though teachers face these challenges, they can overcome them by collaborating with partners to identify solutions. This process involves establishing clear goals and priorities and putting in place the necessary resources and support systems required for success.
Competent teachers’ criteria for choosing an educational tools
Classroom-friendly choices
First and foremost, you must analyze your student’s learning objectives and needs. The right tool selection depends on what skill, topic, or educational scope you cover. For example, it can be beneficial to use online language learning platforms or grammar check tools for language classes.
Also, it is crucial to ensure that the tools chosen align with the classroom environment and your teaching style. These elements should be considered while selecting a tool because every teacher and class has different characteristics and needs. For example, a one-way educational approach may not engage students in lower grade levels because they have short attention spans. In such cases, it is better to choose an educational tool that fosters an active and engaging learning environment.
Furthermore, you can comprehensively evaluate a tool’s effectiveness by reviewing related studies, user reviews, etc. You can use search engines to find specific reviews about educational tools, and it is even possible to use demo versions to determine your student’s preferences. Alternatively, you can assess the quality and efficacy of an educational tool by reviewing past pilot cases of the program.
Budget problems
The purchase and cost price of a tool and the subscription costs should all be taken into account when selecting an educational tool. Purchasing and maintaining various educational resources and services require a budget, especially for costs associated with learning tools, software licenses, online platform subscriptions, etc. If you choose an expensive tool without taking your budget into account, you might not be able to afford other crucial educational resources.
When choosing educational tools, taking your budget into account allows you to allocate resources effectively and maximize benefits. By choosing the highest priority tools within your budget, you can improve your students’ learning experience and performance. You can leverage your budget by choosing cost-effective options, such as reasonably priced tools or free open-source software.
For example, let’s say a math teacher is looking for an interactive, game-based learning app for her classroom. While numerous apps are available on the market, one of them called “App A,” comes with a monthly subscription fee of $50. They must evaluate the benefits and costs associated with App A. However, if the monthly subscription fee for that app exceeds their budget, they might need to explore alternative options that are financially more feasible or allocate additional resources accordingly.
If you decide without considering your budget, the “MathQuest” app may offer many features and benefits, but it may also include features that are too expensive or unused by some teachers. However, it may be too expensive for some teachers or include irrelevant features. Therefore, teachers need accurate information, careful planning, and collaboration with administrators to make appropriate decisions to balance effectiveness and cost among the various available options.
The problem is that teachers don’t use just one program. They often use separate programs to employ educational tools when they teach and manage homework and progress. These programs can be either free or paid software. However, there is a possibility that different programs are not compatible or the transfer of data is inconvenient.
Technical considerations
It is also important that the chosen tool is continuously improved and updated and that technical support is available when needed.
Having access to technical support is important to ensure the tool you choose runs smoothly and the users can utilize it without problems. Timely and efficient support should be available to address inquiries or troubleshooting issues related to the installation, configuration, or usage. Technical support can help both teachers and students focus on learning.
Educational tools are constantly evolving and improving. New feature updates, performance enhancements, and bug fixes ensure teachers have access to the latest information and resources to deliver more effective learning experiences. Updates are also necessary for critical reasons such as patching security vulnerabilities or strengthening personal data protection.
Interoperability with other systems or platforms is important. For instance, if you need to share data or analyze results by integrating with a learning management system (LMS), you must maintain the LMS’s latest version and API compatibility. Therefore, you will need technical support to ensure your chosen educational tool integrates and is compatible with other systems.
Given the large number of educational software and online platform providers globally, some may cease operations or discontinue their services. Therefore, you must choose a company or software that offers long-term stable service and ongoing updates, assuring availability and stability. Inadequate technical support and infrequent updates will not only make it difficult to resolve unexpected problems as they arise but will also result in a poor user experience. Therefore, instead of relying on their own technical expertise, teachers should pay attention to companies or software that provide practical help and professional services when choosing them. Hence, instead of solely relying on their own technical expertise, teachers should prioritize companies or software that offer practical assistance and professional services when making their selections.
What about the AllviA educational tools?
The advancement of digital technology is changing modern education, leading to more innovative and effective teaching methods. In response to these changes, various educational tools and solutions are emerging. Among these, AllviA stands out by offering innovative learning experiences for schools and teachers.
Providing LMS
AllviA is a powerful tool equipped with a Learning Management System (LMS) functionality to help schools and teachers simplify classroom management. An LMS facilitates the management of class schedules, assignments, tests, and grade tracking, consolidating these tasks into a single platform. Additionally, our product automatically analyzes students’ weaknesses and generates a report for each stage of learning based on the student’s results. This feature helps teachers to efficiently monitor student progress and provide individualized instruction.
Various multimedia content
Our solution provides various multimedia content. These materials come in a variety of formats, including video, audio, and interactive simulations to provide students with an enjoyable and engaging learning experience through visual elements and interactivity. This multimedia content enhances students’ comprehension of concepts and memory and promotes creativity and problem-solving skills.
As a result, teachers won’t have to worry about preparing guides, classroom materials, teaching methods, and educational platforms. You can experience for yourself how pleasant it is to be free from the stress of preparing for class.
The most effective curriculum
AllviA also provides tools for an effective curriculum composition. With access to pre-made curriculum resources and guidelines, teachers can craft personalized curricula that align seamlessly with the latest national standards and learning objectives. This approach helps maintain a consistent learning path for the entire class, establishing consistency in teaching methods and assessment systems.
AllviA has partnered with Oxford University Press to develop a digital version of the Oxford Discover Futures series. Additionally, we collaborated with MetaMetrics, the creator of Lexile Text, to enhance the curriculum learning efficiency. You can explore the curriculum that includes including the Lexile Test within AllviA’s elementary English program, ELiF.
All-in-One Solution
Wouldn’t it be great to have everything you need in one single program? AllviA combines LMS features, diverse multimedia content, and an effective curriculum all into one comprehensive solution. This powerful and practical solution puts everything in one place, offering a hassle-free experience.
Our products are constantly evolving with the latest technical support and updates. To help create a better user experience, we make improvements based on user feedback and requirements.
AllviA is a global EdTech solution developed by VISANG EDUCATION, a leader in the education field in South Korea. Our products empower teachers to create innovative teaching environments and foster enriching learning experiences. With AllviA, you can experience outstanding LMS functions, diverse multimedia content, and innovative curriculum composition, all within a single program!
