Cognitive Offload: How to Keep Students’ Critical Thinking & Engagement with Digital Education Lead for University of Birmingham Dubai, Dare Pitan - S2E34
As with all new EdTech, we need to consider two things: its impact in the classroom, and its impact on students’ brains - for better, and for worse…As this week’s guest on EdTech Unwrapped warns, digital tools are able to create a sense of ‘cognitive offload’ which switches off students’ critical thought processes.Dare Pitan is the Digital Education Lead at the University of Birmingham Dubai, and this week he takes us through how students and educators are shaping a strategy which enhances students’ engagement, rather than eroding it.This episode coversOvercoming resistance and fostering acceptance of digital technology among educatorsThe importance of demonstrating both the usefulness and ease of use for technology adoptionThe impact of AI and digital tools on time management, assessment, critical thinking, and academic integrity in universitiesThe value of student voice and feedback in shaping the integration and responsible use of technology Collaborative initiatives and ongoing projects that promote AI integrationLooking at your school’s digital strategy? SMART’s free EdTech assessment tool is designed to help you ask the right questions and have the right conversations for an aligned, cohesive digital strategy that will stand the test of time. After answering the questions in the quiz, you will receive an immediate, individual comprehensive report filled with precise recommendations designed to enhance and refine your school’s digital strategy. Get started aligning your digital strategy here!Duncan Verryhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-verry-aa44175/Dare Pitanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dare-pitan/University of Birmingham Dubaihttps://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-birmingham-dubai/Discover Bett: https://uk.bettshow.com/ Discover SMART: https://www.smarttech.com/education https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-technologies/
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Managing Migration: How to Overhaul a Tech Strategy with North London Collegiate School Dubai’s Chrishantha Dias - S2E33
What does it take to make the huge migration from one EdTech ecosystem to another? How do you bring everyone together for that transition, and leave no student or teacher behind?Chrishantha Dias is Director of IT at North London Collegiate School Dubai, and as he headed up their school's journey from Microsoft to Google, the focus on teacher involvement and strategies for overcoming resistance during the transition was second-to-none. Join Chrish in conversation with Duncan on EdTech Unwrapped this week as they also delve into integrating AI and generative technology with privacy at the core, teacher empowerment,and how to showcase tech for good.This episode coversStrategies for migrating from one system to another, as North London Collegiate School Dubai did from Microsoft to GoogleThe role of planning, teacher involvement, and overcoming resistance to changeUsing technology to monitor and guide digital behaviours, assisting with safeguarding and student wellbeingThoughtful evaluation and cautious adoption of AI platforms in schoolsSharing best practices and collaborating with other schools internationally, while adapting approaches to different cultures and demographicsHow technology promises to personalise learning, support special educational needs, and involve students in shaping the school's tech landscapeLooking at your school’s digital strategy? SMART’s free EdTech assessment tool is designed to help you ask the right questions and have the right conversations for an aligned, cohesive digital strategy that will stand the test of time. After answering the questions in the quiz, you will receive an immediate, individual comprehensive report filled with precise recommendations designed to enhance and refine your school’s digital strategy. Get started aligning your digital strategy here!Duncan Verryhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-verry-aa44175/Chrishantha Diashttps://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishanthad/North London Collegiate School Dubaihttps://www.linkedin.com/school/north-london-collegiate-school-dubai/https://nlcsdubai.ae/Discover Bett: https://uk.bettshow.com/ Discover SMART: https://www.smarttech.com/education https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-technologies/
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30:10
The Collaboration Behind a Pioneering EdTech Strategy with Director of IT and EdTech at Creative Education Trust, Ash Mudaliar - S2E32
The Creative Education Trust is pioneering technology adoption across 17 schools, and it’s the collaboration between each which drives EdTech forward for all.Ash Mudaliar, Director of IT and EdTech at the trust, joins us for a dive into their strategies for empowering countless students and educators across the country.We’ll explore frameworks for tech adoption, how to inspire teachers’ confidence, and how individual schools sharing their experiences can filter through to an entire trust.This episode coversStrategic development of EdTech in line with educational prioritiesBuilding teacher confidence and competence for meaningful technology integrationSafe and policy-driven adoption of AIDigital accessibility & inclusion for students with SEND and EAL needsCollaboration & knowledge sharing throughout schools within a trustLooking at your school’s digital strategy? SMART’s free EdTech assessment tool is designed to help you ask the right questions and have the right conversations for an aligned, cohesive digital strategy that will stand the test of time. After answering the questions in the quiz, you will receive an immediate, individual comprehensive report filled with precise recommendations designed to enhance and refine your school’s digital strategy. Get started aligning your digital strategy here!Duncan Verryhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-verry-aa44175/Ash Mudaliarhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-mudaliar/Creative Education Trusthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-education-trust/https://www.creativeeducationtrust.org.uk/Discover Bett: https://uk.bettshow.com/ Discover SMART: https://www.smarttech.com/education https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-technologies/
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24:24
Future Readiness: The Tech That’s Worth Teaching with Director of Digital Strategy at O’Dea High School, David Olinger - S2E31
What does it mean to truly prepare students and teachers for a world shaped by digital innovation and AI?O’Dea High School is building digital literacy from the ground up, training educators to thrive alongside their students, fluent in the tech that matters most.David Olinger, Director of Digital Strategy, joins us on EdTech Unwrapped with his candid insights on the challenges and opportunities of AI in the classroom, leaders’ roles in tech adoption, and why wellbeing remains at the heart of every decision!This episode coversThe importance of preparing students for future readiness, including both digital and life skillsChallenges and strategies for training teachers to keep pace with rapidly evolving EdTechStreamlined, consistent digital ecosystems in schools to reduce cognitive load for studentsHow leaders create a positive environment for AI adoptionSecurity, student wellbeing, and the risks of over-dependence on AILooking at your school’s digital strategy? SMART’s free EdTech assessment tool is designed to help you ask the right questions and have the right conversations for an aligned, cohesive digital strategy that will stand the test of time. After answering the questions in the quiz, you will receive an immediate, individual comprehensive report filled with precise recommendations designed to enhance and refine your school’s digital strategy. Get started aligning your digital strategy here!Duncan Verryhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-verry-aa44175/David Olingerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/davidolinger/Discover Bett: https://uk.bettshow.com/ Discover SMART: https://www.smarttech.com/education https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-technologies/
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Unifying Schools in a Futureproof EdTech Approach with The 3-18 Education Trust’s Director of IT, Tim Goodman - S2E30
The 3-18 Education Trust has a huge role in unifying their schools’ approach to EdTech, and heading up that mammoth task is Director of IT, Tim Goodman!Harnessing data to create a better environment for teachers and learners has never been more possible, but only when schools are empowered as they are within the trust…So join Tim, chatting with Duncan Verry, and explore what turns data points into progress, and how collaboration and passion transforms classrooms across the trust’s schools!This episode coversIntegrating technology across a growing multi-academy trustThe challenges and benefits of migrating schools onto a single technology stackLeveraging AI and data intelligence platforms to improve decision-making across diverse school systemsThe importance of professional development and ongoing training for educatorsCollaboration, shared learning, and open communication both within the trust and with external partners Balancing centralisation with respect for individual schools’ autonomyLooking at your school’s digital strategy? SMART’s free EdTech assessment tool is designed to help you ask the right questions and have the right conversations for an aligned, cohesive digital strategy that will stand the test of time. After answering the questions in the quiz, you will receive an immediate, individual comprehensive report filled with precise recommendations designed to enhance and refine your school’s digital strategy. Get started aligning your digital strategy here!Duncan Verryhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-verry-aa44175/Tim Goodmanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/itme/Discover Bett: https://uk.bettshow.com/ Discover SMART: https://www.smarttech.com/education https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-technologies/
Welcome to a new series of EdTech Unwrapped: Lessons from Leaders - brought to you by Bett, supported by SMART.In this series we’re bringing you the insights and experiences of 40 leading educators from around the world.I’m your host Duncan Verry, Portfolio Director at Bett. With over 17 years experience in education and education technology both in schools and as a solution provider, I am excited to hear more from frontrunning voices. On each episode, you’ll hear from pioneers in education and EdTech - we’ll explore the growing, evolving impact of technology on students, educators, and learning experiences.Technology is helping us to solve some of the biggest challenges facing the education sector, and throughout this series you’ll discover how digital transformation and AI-powered tools are helping to deliver a better, bolder future for the next generation.We’re proud to share that the series is supported by SMART, the world leader in interactive technology whose mission is deeply aligned with the challenges and innovations shaping education today.Whether you’re an educator, decision-maker, tech-enthusiast, or you’re fascinated by the future of education, this series of EdTech Unwrapped is for you.You can catch new episodes of EdTech Unwrapped: Lessons from Leaders weekly, so follow the show wherever you access your podcasts to be the first to hear from our forward-thinking guests.Join us for the new series of EdTech Unwrapped - Unwrapping the big tech questions in education.
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