Disruptive Technology in Ridgewood Public Schools

What IS Educational Technology?

Educational technology, sometimes referred to as edtech, combines tried and true educational strategies with digital tools that facilitate learning by leveraging data, automation, and student engagement. Edtech is not only student engagement-focused but empowers teachers with immersive and data-generative tools to meet the needs of the most diverse learners.

Educational technology meets students where they are, allowing teachers to more easily offer students choices in their own learning journey according to their interests, learning styles or differences, while still meeting rigorous content standards. It is “disruptive” in that it fundamentally shifts the traditional top-down dynamic of teaching and learning. Provided that most current digital platforms, devices, and technical support are available to all stakeholders, educational technology means powerful learning is accessible, data-driven, personalized, immersive, and automated, freeing up time for teachers to devote precious time and resources to more meaningful learning strategies for their students. (Marr, 2020) This paper looks critically at educational technology in our district, focuses on why we are at a critical crossroads and reflects on the importance of continuing to invest in technology in Ridgewood Public Schools.