Although most people might imagine that professors make many edtech mistakes, they forget the necessity of higher education administrators. They set the tone for the school and lead by example. They must understand how to implement tech properly, but most of them still make some mistakes. Take a look at these top four mistakes that higher education administrators are making with tech.
They Don’t Understand Tech
Higher education administrators are the ones in charge of making purchasing decisions. They should understand how to use the products they purchase before deciding to implement them in the classroom. This helps administrators to set the tone for instructors. Understanding the tech upfront also enables administrators to understand how an education app or tool meets a specific need.
Not Keeping School Needs in Mind
It is mind boggling how many education technology solutions are available on the market today. Higher education administrators need to be clear on their school’s needs, so they don’t become distracted by flashy tech. Talk with educators to understand their needs before planning to find tech that will meet them. This prevents you from wasting educator time, causing frustration for learners, and wasting valuable budget dollars on tech that nobody needed or wanted.
Not Providing Preparation for Educators
Most higher education administrators wrongly assume that educators already know how to use these devices in the classroom. Although most of them indeed have laptops and tablets at home, the experience doesn’t necessarily translate. Educators still need training and preparation on effectively using these tools.
Not Modeling Tech Use
Administrators set the standard for what is appropriate around the school. Where they need to begin when it comes to tech is by modeling proper usage. Maximize what you can do with tech to demonstrate to your staff what it is capable of. Administrators who model good tech usage set the bar high for educators and get a more realistic concept of whether the current solutions are helpful.
