New Dept. of Education guide lists the kinds of tools ed tech needs

The Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology (OET) has released a new guide for developers, startups, and entrepreneurs in the ed-tech space, written with help from educators, researchers, and others in the industry. The goal is to help entrepreneurs apply technology to solve real, persistent problems in education

Focus areas for new ed tech tools, according to the guide, include: mastery of academic skills, foster and measure non-cognitive skills, embed formative assessments, engage families, support college and career exploration, provide job-embedded professional development, improve educator productivity, increase access for all students and close achievement gaps.

Richard Culatta, director of educational technology, added, “The demand for high-quality educational apps is increasing as communities become more connected, devices become more affordable, and teachers and parents are looking for new ways to use technology to engage students. Yet, many existing solutions don’t address the most urgent needs in education. Opportunities abound for software designers and developers to create impactful tools for teachers, school leaders, students, and their families.”

“All students have the right to an equitable education,” Culatta said. “This right should not be affected by geographic location, family income, or any other demographic factor. Ed tech tools have the potential to close the opportunity gap by providing access to rich educational experiences not available in all communities, for example, virtual labs and field trips, advanced coursework, access to field experts, and opportunities to interact with students around the world.”

The guide also stresses the importance for developers and entrepreneurs to work with educators at every stage of development to make the best possible educational tools and apps.

For additional information visit OET’s new page for developers: http://tech.ed.gov/developers/.