EdTech Leader Shares Views on What’s Important Today

Susan Brooks-Young is a tech thought leader and consultant who currently sits on the advisory board of the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC). She has had her finger on the pulse of technology in the classroom for a long time and has some of the best insights into the present and future of EdTech.

edCircuit asked about her focus when it comes to integrating technology into education. “There are three things I’m focusing on right now,” she said. “The first one is leveraging the use of mobile technology in classrooms in ways that enable students to create content rather than consume. It means taking advantage of cameras, different kinds of apps and other tools that allow kids to create a product that’s theirs and not something somebody else made for them.”

“The second one is the need for adults and students to be able to differentiate between fact and fiction in media. We have not done a good job with that. I’m working with some folks in different areas on how to go about doing that.”

“The third is digital citizenship. It’s a different animal now than it was even five years ago. It’s not just ‘Keep your password safe and don’t go to bad sites’ anymore. It’s things like ‘avoid engaging in public shaming online’ and ‘think about your online persona.’ What does that look like beyond hiding who you are? It also includes student data privacy and teaching adults and kids how to protect that.”

Those in the EdTech industry and education would do well to listen to what Susan has to say. She clearly knows what she is talking about.

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