Technology has had a profound impact on virtually every aspect of modern life, including how people learn and teach. In the last 30 years, technology has completely reshaped the educational landscape, particularly the K-12 classroom and teaching environment. Time-tested teaching methodologies are now being combined with (and in some cases replaced by) the use of technology in schools, such as laptops, tablets, interactive smartboards, collaborative software, wearable technology, and other digital tools that promise more effective and engaging lessons than ever before.
Principals, administrators, and other leaders and decision-makers in education also use technology to help improve student outcomes and drive positive change within their respective organizations and the educational field as a whole. For example, technology has made it easier for administrators to collect, compare, and analyze data into meaningful, actionable reports that create more productive and efficient learning environments for all.
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Using Advanced Innovations in Education
The COVID-19 pandemic brought many technologies to K-12 classrooms, including tools that make it possible to teach from anywhere. According to Education Week,1 many of those tools are likely to stick around, including:
- Videoconferencing platforms that foster remote teaching and virtual parent/teacher conferences
- Software for gathering data on student well-being to support social-emotional learning
- Digital instruction resources that strengthen math skills
Teachers can also use tools powered by artificial intelligence to save time and become more efficient. As outlined by Edutopia,2 these AI-enabled tools include:
- Voice-to-text platforms for producing correspondence and lesson plans
- Text-to-image tools that assist with creating engaging assignments
- Curriculum-development platforms for producing class content and syllabi
- Presentation tools that help keep students engaged during lectures
Minimizing Risks Associated with Technology
While classroom technologies can help boost student engagement and immersion, some platforms come with drawbacks. For instance, a 2022 study by TechTrends3 uncovered various concerns related to technological use among elementary school students, such as risks for students to:
- Use the internet to access inappropriate content
- Interact with ill-intentioned strangers
- Target classmates for cyberbullying and other abusive behavior
- Share personal information that could lead to identity theft
Each of these concerns highlights the need for educational administrators, teachers, and parents to leverage safeguards against risky online behavior. In many cases, school systems must invest in digital safety alongside new technologies, preventing digitally vulnerable students from using technology in ways that expose them to risks.
Learn More About Using Technology in Schools
Whatever your position in education, if you have the drive to improve classroom instruction, you can bolster your efforts (and even advance your career) by learning how to master technology. This free eBook from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will provide you with an overview of how technology has transformed education thus far and how teaching professionals can leverage technology to improve student outcomes. You’ll also discover how a mastery of technology can open up new opportunities and advance your education career.
Inside this comprehensive eBook, readers will discover:
- How technology has shaped modern teaching methods
- How school officials collect and interpret data to drive change
- New and emerging classroom technologies
- The 6 best free data tools for educational administrators
- Tips for leveraging technology for improved student outcomes and career advancement
The insights provided in this complimentary eBook support the skills and knowledge students acquire in the Master of Educational Leadership.
Sources
- Herold, B. Education Week. “Pandemic Tech Tools That Are Here to Stay.” March 8, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2025, from https://www.edweek.org/technology/pandemic-tech-tools-that-are-here-to-stay/2022/03.
- Dené Poth, R. Edutopia. “7 AI Tools That Help Teachers Work More Efficiently.” October 20, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2025, from https://www.edutopia.org/article/7-ai-tools-that-help-teachers-work-more-efficiently/.
- Martin, F., Bacak, J., Polly, D., Wang, W., and Ahlgrim-Delzell, L. TechTrends. “Teacher and School Concerns and Actions on Elementary School Children Digital Safety.” October 7, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9540205/#Sec18.
