I’ve taught edtech for almost twenty years to a lot of different grade levels–elementary school, middle school, and educators. Teaching technology is as much about the tech skills as overcoming the dread associated with geeky subjects like computer, science, and math. I usually spend a good bit of time make it user friendly before I can even get into the what’s and how’s.

Turns out there’s a trick to teaching this subject. The Ask a Tech Teacher team put some ideas together for you below:

What Makes a Great EdTech Teacher?

Educational technology, or EdTech, is much more than a buzzword. It’s become a building block of modern classroom teaching. Blackboards and textbooks have been accompanied (or replaced) by things like digital whiteboards, learning apps, virtual reality, and AI tutoring tools. These advances continue to redefine how students engage with learning — but being a great EdTech teacher is about more than just introducing or using apps — it’s about understanding how students learn and how technology can supplement meaningful teaching.

So what makes a good EdTech teacher great? Here are a few key qualities to consider.

A Strong Foundation in Principles

At the heart of it, great teaching starts with pedagogy — how students absorb, retain, and apply knowledge. Before embracing any technology, new or old, EdTech teachers must have a firm grasp on the science of learning.

This includes such things as child and adolescent development (understanding how age affects attention and motivation), differentiated instruction (tailoring lessons to meet diverse needs), and learning design (structuring lessons that engage curiosity while teaching).

It’s important that strong teachers not employ technology merely for its own sake, but rather to reinforce and enhance solid teaching practice. For example, giving students a gamified quiz can help with engagement, but it’s of no real utility if it doesn’t line up with learning objectives.

Fluency in Digital Tools

Digital fluency is about more than just being able to use devices and software. It’s about being able to use those tools strategically and critically. Some common tools great EdTech teachers should have mastery of include:

• Learning management systems (LMS) such as Canvas or Google Classroom
• Collaborative platforms like Padlet, Jamboard, or Miro
• Assistive technology like text-to-speech or speech recognition tools
• Basic coding and data literacy, which helps teachers understand the inner workings of digital tools and evaluate them effectively.

For those looking to enter the education field or transition into EdTech, earning an online Bachelor’s in Learning & Education Studies can be an excellent starting point. Programs like this help students understand how people learn, how to design effective digital learning environments, and how to integrate technology into instruction. Plus, the online format allows aspiring educators to gain hands-on experience or work in related roles while completing their degree.

A Curious, Flexible Mindset

A crucial part of using technology is being able to adapt. Technology changes fast, and those changes just keep coming — even the most reliable platform or app might evolve or even disappear. The best EdTech teachers will learn to embrace these changes rather than resisting them.

Having a curious, flexible mindset means experimenting with new platforms and testing the outcomes, adapting quickly when technology fails or school systems retire / upgrade tools, and learning alongside their students to act as a model and inspiration for curiosity and resilience.

An experimental approach helps create a dynamic classroom environment where students and teachers alike can explore and innovate. With your help, students will not just learn how to use technology, but how to learn to use technologies independently of the classroom.

Supports Accessibility and Equity

One of the cornerstones of EdTech, and one of its most important promises, is that of inclusion. Thoughtful implementation of technology is vital to making the promises of accessibility, equity and inclusion a necessity. A good EdTech teacher prioritizes accessibility and equity by:

• Designing lessons according to the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles
• Providing multiple ways to access content, whether it’s visual, auditory, or tactile
• Ensuring students can still participate even if they have limited access to devices or Internet connectivity
• Using adaptive technologies to assist learners with physical, cognitive, or language-based challenges
  By using technology to help lower the barriers created by socioeconomic and accessibility issues, EdTech teachers can give every student an excellent chance to learn.

Teaches Ethical “Digital Citizenship”

As digital platforms become more and more the norm, teaching how to responsibly use these platforms — all digital platforms, really — will become paramount. A great EdTech teacher should be able to include ethical and safety lessons into their everyday instruction.

For example, they might discuss subjects like online privacy, data protection, cyberbullying, respectful communication, showing empathy and accountability online, and digital footprints.

Commits to Lifelong Learning

Finally, it’s important to remember that learning doesn’t stand still and is always evolving just as technology is. The most effective educators are those that stay ahead by committing to lifelong learning, whether it’s through professional development workshops, peer communities, online forums, or more formal education such as seeking out a postgraduate degree. One of the most important aspects of lifelong learning is maintaining a sense of humility, curiosity, and adaptability, as well as passing on those same habits and qualities to their students.

As education becomes increasingly more digital, the ability to embrace technology will be ever more important — but more important still is the commitment to time-honored and solid principles of teaching.

–image credit Deposit Photo

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to NEA Today, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.