Category: Education Technology

  • How Technology Can Improve the Classroom for All

    How Technology Can Improve the Classroom for All

    Since going viral with her “Gen Z history” TikTok series, teacher Lauren Cella is using her platform to advocate for strategically utilizing — not restricting — technology in the classroom.

    How did you get started in your career in teaching, and what led you to start sharing your journey on social media?

    I didn’t initially plan on teaching. I studied journalism at San Diego State, inspired by movies featuring magazine editors. I later chose history as a minor just for fun. After college, I pursued journalism, but I eventually tried substitute teaching, loved it, and got my credential in history. 

    During COVID, my students encouraged me to post lessons on TikTok, where I shared content in a humorous, easy-to-understand way. My Russian Revolution video went viral, which led me to keep creating these quick, story-like history lessons. I love reaching people worldwide and making history engaging. My videos are only about a minute long, which helps with attention spans, although I know they simplify complex topics. My hope is these videos spark curiosity, encouraging viewers to explore history further. 

    What are some emerging trends in technology that you think are shaping the future of education or that you have used in your classroom to engage students? 

    AI is a major topic in education now, especially around how its used and the ethics of it. Initially, my school blocked ChatGPT but then allowed it when teachers started using it to adapt lessons for different reading levels or languages. In my journalism class, we discussed the ethics of AI. My students agreed it wasn’t ethical to let AI write an article for them, but they saw value in using it to generate interview questions. These discussions highlight that we can’t avoid new technologies — we need input from students, teachers, and administrators to navigate them responsibly. 

    Companies like Adobe are creating student-friendly versions of AI tools, helping ease the burden on teachers. I also use AI to caption videos, which saves time. Students heading into creative fields need to learn these tools, as AI proficiency is essential. Just as learning to type or use email became necessary, so will understanding AI. 

    Do you have any advice for balancing the benefits of technology with the need for face-to-face interaction in the classroom?

    Teaching during the pandemic proved technology can’t replace teachers. Students need human connection. While tech has its place, it should be used to build specific skills, not just replace traditional methods. For example, students should still use a pen and paper daily, as it activates different brain functions and builds motor skills. Using technology in class should go beyond digitizing worksheets; it should add real value, like using AI in art to analyze creative elements. Ultimately, tech should support, not replace, essential hands-on learning for students’ overall development. 

    Do you have any tips for teachers looking to stay organized and efficient so they can focus on engaging their students in the classroom? 

    My biggest advice: Don’t grade everything. It’s okay to assign work as practice without grading it. Focus on priority standards — what students truly need to know — and build multiple assignments into one when possible. Trying to do it all leads to burnout without improving student outcomes. Start small, establish routines, and add more gradually to avoid overwhelming yourself and your students. 

    Is there any technology that you recommend that helps with the behind-the-scenes side of teaching, like lesson planning and grading? 

    I recommend using tools like Illuminate and Google Classroom extensions like Brisk and Magic School to manage data effectively. For one-to-one schools, Google offers many helpful extensions, and programs like IXL provide valuable insights. The key is to focus on areas where students struggle most, using data to streamline your lesson planning. With large classes, pulling reports helps make sense of data and can guide your approach without being overwhelming. 

    Are there any key digital safety practices that teachers should be implementing to protect students online? 

    It’s challenging when schools block tools like ChatGPT or YouTube, as they can also be valuable educational resources. We’re at a crossroads and need more digital citizenship education to teach students about online risks and the lasting consequences of their actions. Many students don’t realize that certain online behaviors, like sharing inappropriate images, can have serious legal consequences. They’re also vulnerable to scams, online blackmail, and bullying, particularly on group chats and gaming platforms. Parents should be aware that even if kids aren’t on social media, they’re still interacting with others online. We must educate young people on these dangers, as laws haven’t fully caught up to technology. Parents, teachers, and students need to support each other, staying vigilant and reporting harmful situations online just as they would in real life. 

    Do you have any advice for teachers who are facing burnout or mental health struggles right now?

    It’s not you; it’s the system. You’re not doing anything wrong, and you can’t change everything on your own. If you burn out, they’ll replace you, but students benefit from experienced teachers. High turnover isn’t good for schools or students. 

    Social media can distort reality, making it seem like everyone is angry and divided. In reality, most people are not like that. Social media algorithms promote outrage, which skews our perception of others. Many teachers online appear to have perfect classrooms, but that’s often not the case — they face the same challenges as everyone else. I try to share positive experiences to stay motivated, but I’ve encountered many difficulties that I don’t discuss publicly. 

    It’s also easy for students to idolize influencers, but most of what they see online is curated and not real. They should focus on real-life skills instead of just consuming online content. Encourage students to engage in offline activities like sports, arts, or social groups to foster real interactions. For example, in my classroom, I limit phone use during free time to promote conversations and social skills. 

    To support students academically, tools like Canva and Google Classroom can help organize assignments and instructions in one place. This is important because students juggle multiple classes and responsibilities. They need resources to manage their workload effectively, like accessible rubrics and checklists. Technology allows students to take ownership of their learning, especially during emergencies. Teaching them to use project management tools can build important skills. At my school, we even grade time management alongside project quality. Overall, digital organization and project management are valuable skills for students and teachers alike.



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  • Harnessing AI in Education: Opportunities and Challenges

    Harnessing AI in Education: Opportunities and Challenges

    The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the nation’s classrooms presents both remarkable benefits and significant challenges. 

    In school districts around the country, school board members are working with key education stakeholders, including superintendents, principals, teachers, parents, and students to determine how to harness AI’s benefits while protecting student and teacher agency, ensuring student privacy, and safeguarding data.

    One of the most exciting benefits of AI in education is its potential to personalize learning experiences. Imagine a student who struggles with a particular math concept receiving additional practice and resources tailored to their needs, while advanced learners receive more challenging problems. Or, a student who enjoys fantasy stories could read those, while another who prefers nonfiction gets recommendations in history or science. With lessons tailored to each student’s needs and interests, the result is a more engaging and effective learning experience for the student that improves grades and fosters a love of learning.

    AI-based applications can also help teachers with administrative tasks like scheduling, giving them more time for instruction and one-on-one interactions with their students. Additionally, AI tools can facilitate communication between teachers, students, and parents, helping everyone stay informed about a student’s progress.

    Equitable and fair learning

    Despite its benefits, the incorporation of AI in schools poses several challenges. Equal access to the technology is paramount. If some students have inequitable access, learning gaps could widen further. This divide is a crucial concern for school board members who must ensure that each student benefits from AI educational innovations, regardless of their socioeconomic status, ZIP Code, or background. 

    Another critical concern is student privacy. While school districts have established student privacy policies in the wake of the rapidly evolving technological landscape, educational leaders must ensure that their guidance is stringent enough to continue to protect student information as AI continues to evolve. 

    Concerns have been raised about possible cheating, plagiarism, and misinformation. As with any new technology, students must be taught how to use AI responsibly and ethically. Twenty-five years ago, teachers thought graphing calculators, which could store sophisticated formulas and programs, would lead to rampant cheating. The same concerns were raised about smartphones, which could answer any question with a simple internet search.

    Additionally, while AI can enhance the learning experience, it cannot replace the invaluable role of teachers. Effective teaching involves emotional intelligence, empathy, and personal connections — qualities that artificial intelligence cannot replicate. School board members and other educational leaders must emphasize the importance of a balanced approach, integrating AI resources as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for traditional teaching methods. They must also ensure that educators receive appropriate professional development and other support to know how to effectively incorporate AI into their teaching practices and help students leverage AI to enhance their learning. 

    Equipping teachers and students for success

    Ensuring each student’s access to artificial intelligence tools, as well as the appropriate safeguards, technology, and training needed to accompany these innovations, will require additional funding from federal and state sources for school districts with already limited resources.

    In the end, each community must decide its own approach toward the use of AI. When implemented correctly, it can be used ethically and effectively to enhance the educational experience for each student by empowering teachers, bridging educational gaps, and maximizing student potential. 

    As we look toward a future where jobs increasingly rely on AI, it is imperative that we equip our students today with the skills they need not just to adapt to this evolving landscape, but to lead in a world transformed by artificial intelligence.

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  • How to Equip Your Students With Essential Soft and Hard Skills Using Ed Tech

    How to Equip Your Students With Essential Soft and Hard Skills Using Ed Tech

    Today’s employers don’t just hire based on educational achievement. They’ve increasingly prioritized higher-order learning skills during the hiring process. To help students become job ready and land a role in the current workforce, professors need to empower learners with the necessary 21st-century skills, often called ‘soft skills.’

    This guide lays out key information on how to create opportunities for skill-based learning to help smoothen the transition from college to the workforce. It will also describe how to develop these skills in students while they’re still in the classroom. Most significantly, you’ll learn how educational technology can sharpen the essential soft skills students need beyond your course.  

    Below are 15 soft and hard skills that make up 21st-century learning.

    The 4 Cs of 21st-Century Learning

    The first four of these higher-order learning skills are widely considered the most vital 21st-century skills in the classroom for students to learn. Commonly known as the 4 Cs of 21st-century learning, they comprise:

    1. Critical thinking:

    Critical thinking is about problem-solving, and being able to bring a skeptical, discerning perspective to assertions of fact and opinion. Students are given opportunities to question and challenge the information presented to them. Troubleshooting and IT support are two hard skills that rely heavily on critical thinking as a foundation and are in-demand skills for the wide variety of technology-based careers in today’s job market.

    How Top Hat helps: Donna M. Smith, a math instructor, is a recipient of the Top Hat Black Educator Grant. A teacher of College Algebra at Sierra College, she has leveraged Top Hat to build a framework that helps students learn how to develop critical-thinking skills, and other soft skills like teamwork, adaptability and time management. She uses this framework to provide students with practice opportunities that demand specific actions from students, then gauges their higher-order learning using Top Hat’s range of assessment tools, spanning all six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. As a result, she reports, she’s found her students’ rate of success improved dramatically.

    In the same vein, 93 percent of students surveyed in a Top Hat research report said the variety of assessment types Top Hat offers help them learn how to develop critical-thinking skills.

    2. Creativity:

    This is the process of approaching problems from a variety of perspectives, including ones others might not notice. It helps develop trust in one’s own instincts and helps students seek out new solutions to old problems.

    3. Communication skills:

    This is the ability to convey thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively. In a 21st-century education, that includes being able to communicate well digitally, from texts, emails and social media, to podcasting and video conferencing.

    How Top Hat helps: Top Hat’s Discussion feature helps develop skill-building via collaboration in the classroom. While not all students are always on an equal playing field when it comes to comfort in group discussions, this Top Hat feature meets students where they are by allowing them to respond to comments and questions from any device. They can use simple text or incorporate images, sound bites and videos to propel the conversation forward. Teachers can even employ anonymity to make students comfortable engaging in sensitive topics. Teachers can use this Top Hat feature to drive up classroom participation significantly.

    4. Collaboration:

    This is the ability to work with others as a team to solve a problem or achieve a shared goal. It helps develop the abilities to share control, pitch solutions and discuss and decide with others the best course of action. It also helps students learn to effectively deal with others who may not agree with them, develop the critical abilities to resolve conflicts effectively and consider different viewpoints from their peers.

    Research shows that students who enter the workforce with knowledge and experience in the 4 Cs of 21st-century learning tend to be more adaptable and flexible in the constantly-shifting workplace environment. The 4 Cs of 21st-century learning, in turn, empower students to work better across cultures and are more prepared to take on leadership roles.

    Key Higher-Order Learning Skills

    Other important 21st-century skills in the classroom include:

    5. Problem-solving:

    This is the use of both conventional and innovative methods to solve different types of unfamiliar problems. It involves identifying and asking meaningful questions to clarify different viewpoints and arrive at more effective solutions.

    How Top Hat helps: The Top Hat Assignment feature enables teachers to provide students with interactive homework assignments that actively engage them in their own higher-order learning outside the classroom. A multimedia-friendly tool with 14 easy-to-use question types and automatic grading, this versatile feature keeps collaboration, communication and other essential skills front and center. It incorporates reading, answering questions and viewing media with worksheets, case studies and simulations to help students develop a deeper understanding of a problem and a multifaceted approach to its potential solutions. An added benefit for instructors is that it provides insights into students’ comprehension, participation and completion in real-time.

    6. Information literacy:

    This includes the ability to access, evaluate, utilize and manage information, critically and efficiently. It also involves the accurate and creative application of available information to the current problem or issue. It requires managing data flow from multiple sources, and the application of fundamental legal and ethical knowledge regarding access to and use of that information.

    7. Technology skills and digital literacy:

    Often abbreviated as ICT literacy (Information, Communication and Technology,) this is the collective set of abilities that allow students to effectively apply digital technologies to researching, evaluating, organizing and communicating information across digital channels. This may include using computers, mobile devices, social networks and other communication tools. Jobs in machine learning, product management and software development require understanding of technological platforms and apps. Individuals in these careers must be proficient in these skills in order to suceed.

    How Top Hat helps: Top Hat improves general literacy and digital literacy at the same time with Interactive Textbooks. Dynamic courseware incorporates text with high-quality images, videos and 3D simulations to captivate students’ interest and help them absorb and retain information better. They include case studies and customizable, interactive assessments, and students can access them anytime and from any device. Teachers can use Top Hat’s interactive textbooks in combination with physical textbooks, or on their own.

    Incorporating interactive textbooks and other digital technologies also helps students with skill-building and better prepare them to enter the 21st-century workforce by providing one-to-one computing, giving them the technology required to utilize their higher-order thinking skills in coursework.

    8. Media literacy:

    This includes the ability to analyze media and create media products. It involves understanding how, why and for what purpose various entities construct media messages, including what values and viewpoints they choose to include or exclude, and why. It also examines how people interpret messages differently and how that influences behaviors and beliefs. 

    9. Global awareness:

    This is the use of 21st-century skills to comprehend and address issues of global magnitude, and to collaborate with those from diverse backgrounds. It also involves taking an equitable or inclusive mindset when presenting new information. For example, educators might draw connections between cultural references in an English or cultural studies course. Teaching students the importance of global awareness also starts with reflecting on current and real-time events in your teaching, such as incorporating case studies on political or social uprisings.

    10. Self-direction:

    This is the ability to effectively set goals and manage time, as well as to work independently. It requires determining tangible and intangible criteria for success and balancing short-term tactical goals with long-term strategic ones. It also requires demonstrating initiative and commitment and working independently, including defining, prioritizing, monitoring and completing tasks without oversight, while reflecting on past experiences and learning from them.

    11. Social skills:

    This is the ability to effectively interact with others and work in diverse teams. Students recognize the appropriate times to listen or speak while remaining open-minded to diverse values and ideas. Students also learn how to conduct themselves professionally in a respectful manner, including when working with people from different backgrounds. Those looking to pursue careers in nursing or other areas of healthcare must be proficient in providing both emotional and physical care to patients. Common hard skills required for these careers include Basic Life Support (BLS), Patient Safety and Critical First Aid.

    12. Perseverance:

    This is the ability to persist in a determined effort in spite of obstacles and setbacks. It requires many of the other higher-order thinking skills, including problem-solving and self-direction, to employ effectively.

    How Top Hat helps: Top Hat’s 21st-century learning suite includes many tools that help educators make sure no student falls behind. Not least among them is learning insights. By tracking every interaction between a student and the software automatically, Top Hat enables you to see which students need additional help, in what area and when. Gauge attendance, progress, comprehension, participation—and act on these insights proactively in real-time.

    13. Literacy skills:

    Basic literacy skills include the abilities to create, comprehend, analyze, absorb, retain and recall written information. In the 21st-century workplace and modern economy, they especially apply to business, economic, financial, health and entrepreneurial interests.

    14. Civic literacy:

    Students become familiar with how civic decisions have local and global implications. This type of literacy involves effective participation in civic life by remaining informed and comprehending the processes of government. It also requires knowing how to exercise citizenship rights and obligations.

    15. Social responsibility:

    This encompasses everything from human rights, labor practices, the climate and the environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues and community involvement and development. It requires accountability, transparency, ethical behavior and respect for stakeholder interest, the rule of law, international norms of behavior and human rights.

    Why 21st-Century Skills Are Important

    Importance of Soft Skills for Students

    At its most basic level, teaching 21st-century skills, like critical thinking, provides a framework for higher-order learning. Beyond that, however, it also helps students develop the skills that ensure they will thrive when they leave the classroom and enter the workforce.

    Today’s workplaces are changing constantly, and the role of technology is ever-evolving and growing. That means that persistent, continual learning is essential to succeed and an emphasis on the importance of soft skills for students. Today’s graduates require not only the knowledge and skills for their chosen careers, but critical-thinking skills to navigate an always-changing landscape.

    Good for the World

    The greater community also benefits from new workers entering the workforce with a 21st-century education. The wellbeing of our broader society requires workers with competence and experience in:

    • Civic engagement
    • Critical thinking
    • Digital literacy
    • Effective communication
    • Global awareness

    Graduates equipped with these higher-order learning skills comprehend their role as good citizens and their connection to their neighbors and their shared environment. This way, they are more tolerant, they think more equitably and they aim to build a more diverse workforce. They are empowered to approach all they do in their work with a civic-minded focus.

    Conclusion

    As a 2017 research review in Nurse Education in Practice reported, “Technology has advanced in quantity and quality; recognized as a requirement of 21st-century learners.” Integrating curricula on critical thinking and other soft skills in your classroom will help your students enter the 21st-century workplace better equipped to meet the challenges facing future workers and leaders. As technology becomes an increasingly inseparable part of the working world, it’s becoming more evident that teachers who make effective use of it have an advantage in helping students prepare for life beyond the classroom.

    The developers and designers of Top Hat, including professional educators themselves, are singularly focused on employing the latest in 21st-century education technology to help educators empower students to achieve these aims.

    References

    Ross, D. (2017, April 24). Empowering Our Students with 21st-Century Skills for Today. Getting Smart. www.gettingsmart.com/2017/04/24/empowering-students-21st-century-skills/

    What is social responsibility? (n.d.). ASQ. asq.org/quality-resources/social-responsibility

    LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise 2022: The 25 U.S. roles that are growing in demand (2022, January 18). LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-jobs-rise-2022-25-us-roles-growing-demand-linkedin-news/

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  • 10 Top Hat Tips for a More Engaging Semester

    10 Top Hat Tips for a More Engaging Semester

    What does the future of higher education look like? At Top Hat, we believe engagement, affordability and equity are at the heart of a great classroom experience. That’s why we’re excited to highlight a number of features in our platform and content solutions to empower students and faculty alike. Take a look at these unique capabilities in Top Hat and get ready to level up your lectures, assessments and grading strategy.

    → Free Toolkit: Get strategies, templates and videos for a successful new term

    1. Add AI-generated questions to every lecture

    Top Hat Ace, our AI-powered assistant, is the latest milestone in our mission to make education more effective, inclusive and accessible. Instructors can use Ace’s Lecture Enhancer to instantly generate assessment questions based on their lecture content. Doing so will spark engagement in class and help educators assess comprehension in the moment. Faculty can even edit generated questions as they see fit, maintaining control over the questions generated. Learn more about our AI-powered Lecture Enhancer here. In addition, educators can save time designing assignments and readings in Top Hat Pages by adding questions automatically generated by Ace.

    2. Assign homework to specific students

    Shore up learning gaps sooner rather than later. With personalized data delivered to your inbox every week, identify which students didn’t answer discussion or poll questions in your lecture and re-assign your PowerPoint slides to this group as homework. This will give students a chance to refresh themselves on your material, which may prove especially beneficial for those who weren’t able to join your class live. Learn more about assigning homework to specific students here. You can also watch the video below as we explore the difference between homework and review mode.

    3. Make your discussion and poll questions media-rich

    Give students an interactive assessment experience. You may know how to add videos or simulations to your Pages, but you can also directly embed media into your quiz questions. Not only will students get a more dynamic, immersive learning experience, they’ll get an opportunity to consume your course material in a different medium. Plus, using videos in your quiz questions makes for a more engaging alternative to the static Scantron or multiple-choice test. Learn more about using videos in questions or discussions here.

    4. Offer line-by-line feedback on document submissions

    Enjoy feedback functionality that will be familiar to those who regularly use Google Docs. Using our file submission question, students are able to upload PDFs, lab templates or spreadsheets to Top Hat. Take your feedback to another level by offering annotated comments at various points in PDF or image submissions. This level of detailed commentary allows students to fully understand their own learning gaps, while giving you an opportunity to flag specific areas for improvement in advance of a high-stakes assessment. Learn more about how to leave detailed feedback in PDF file submissions here.

    5. Measure comprehension of the same concept over time

    If you’re preparing students for an exam and want to check their understanding of tricky concepts multiple times, this feature is for you. Compare student comprehension over a period of your choosing by keeping a record of responses to the same question asked more than once. After enabling this feature, you’ll be able to compare responses submitted on date X with date Y, seeing what percentage of students answered a particular way and letting you adapt your instruction accordingly. Explore how to create multiple question report sessions for your next quiz here. You can also watch our video below to see how to segment question results over time.

    6. Annotate your slideshow with whiteboard sketches

    Sometimes, visually explaining a new concept can be easier than describing it in words. Top Hat’s Whiteboard Sketch tool allows you to insert blank slides into your slideshow, which you can then draw on in real time. For instance, complement a presentation on mitosis by drawing out the various stages live, answering student questions along the way. This tool doesn’t just allow for richer, more detailed discussions, it ensures students get a visual depiction of challenging concepts before moving on to your next topic. Learn how to embed interactive elements into your slides here.

    7. Embed iFrames to create a truly interactive learning experience

    Tailor your learning materials to the needs of Generation Z. When creating assessments, homework or customizing chapter readings in Pages, use iFrames to link to media such as podcasts, websites, simulations and GIFs. Open the interactive toolbar in your page, select the iFrame option and paste your desired link in the field. Learn how to embed iFrames in your course content here. You can also watch our video below for guidance on creating course materials using Pages.

    8. Use Presenter View to view personal notes and real-time responses

    In a single view, get all the information you need to deliver a high-quality presentation. Use Presenter View to get a second screen that’s only accessible to you. View lecture notes that you added into your slide deck and get a live report of students’ responses as they answer questions live. Plus, preview which slide is next—and shift your conversation with students accordingly. Explore the power of Presenter View in helping you deliver an impactful slideshow here.

    9. Keep your course textbook fresh and relevant with in-app content updates

    Give students a learning experience that mirrors the world around them. Incorporate the latest content updates without losing any customizations in your interactive Top Hat textbook. You’ll be alerted whenever new author-created content is available for your text and will be given a chance to review all updates before accepting or rejecting them. This functionality ensures that educators have access to the latest content when it becomes available, on their own terms. In-app content updates are currently available in beta format for select Top Hat textbooks. Discover how our content enhancements make it easy to keep any textbook up-to-date here.

    10. Provide AI-powered study support 

    Make sure every student has in-the-moment study support. Students can use our AI-powered study assistant to clarify challenging concepts, generate examples of specific topics and quiz themselves in advance of a test. Ace delivers relevant responses built from the context of your uploaded materials, making it easy for students to review lectures and study notes in one place. Read more about our personalized study assistance here. You can also watch the video below for a closer look at our AI-powered study tools.

    → Free Toolkit: Get the Most Out of Top Hat

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