It's not often you come across a podcast that so elegantly describes what you're building toward: "pedagogy first, technology second."
For us, this captures the core question in educational technology: How does technology extend what instructors already do well? How do you treat human expertise as the foundation, use technology to augment that expertise and create new capabilities, without letting tools get in the way or diminish the teaching experience?
The key is recognizing what people are already excellent at and what technology allows them to do better at larger scale.
For anyone following EdTech and AI, this podcast with Emma Zone, EdD and Julie Schell is worth your time!
Julie talks about the importance of developing strategies that allow students to apply concepts rather than prove their ability to recall information. To do that, you have to design around where students are actually coming from. You also have to clearly articulate to students what they need to know after the lesson, what they should be able to do, what frameworks they should develop, and what perspectives they should adopt. Then you have to connect all of that to actual learning outcomes - the things you really want to teach to.
Here are five practical questions to take from that discussion:
- What do students already know, and where do they need support?
- What should they understand after the lesson?
- What should they be able to do?
- Which learning activities will prepare them?
- How will they demonstrate that learning?
Instructors bring expertise in their students and subject, but they also need time to plan, review and revise the course. Departmental support and available resources vary. The practical question is how to support that work without taking the academic decisions away from the instructor.
Technology should help instructors express what they want students to learn and develop materials that serve those goals. With Curriculus, you confirm the course direction and readings. We develop the course plan and lesson guides, and you guide revisions. The complete package also includes assessment materials and teaching decks.
Listen to the full conversation.
