Learning Objectives

• Apply enhanced reports, including technology information, to the material selection process.

Changing Landscape of Education 

In today's current learning environment the importance of quality materials remains high. However, other components have become increasingly necessary as well. Technology plays a major factor in the types of materials adopted for student learning. Remote, hybrid, and in-person instruction and learning are all options available in materials. To meet these needs for the adoption process, EdReports has included additional information about the interoperability, compatibility, security, support, and digital design for many of the materials they have reviewed. Working closely with publishers, EdReports has provided additional information to "help consumers better understand the digital design and capabilities of their instructional materials" (EdReports, 2020). If your school or district is planning to adopt materials to meet the needs of hybrid or remote learning, consider implementing EdReports' exercise to help identify the priorities and capabilities of digital resources and materials. This is also a Related Resource for step 1 of EdReports' Adoption Steps. 

Finding Reports with Techology Reviews

If your school or district is searching for materials to meet the diverse needs of learners and their environments, choose Explore Reports from the menu. Use the limiters to narrow your search for subject, grade level, alignment and usability. The final filter is More Filters. Click to choose an option from the dropdown menu. Choosing "Yes" will result in reports with technology information included in Gateway 3, Usability.

To access the information about the material's technological capabilities, click Gateway 3. Use the chart on the right and choose the critierion labeled "Technology Use". 

 The indicators for this critierion are:

• Materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning. Digital materials are accessible and available in multiple platforms.
• Digital materials (either included as supplementary to a textbook or as part of a digital curriculum) are web-based, compatible with multiple Internet browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.), "platform neutral" (i.e., are compatible with multiple operating systems such as Windows and Apple and are not proprietary to any single platform), follow universal programming style, and allow the use of tablets and mobile devices.
• Materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning, drawing attention to evidence and texts as appropriate.
• Materials can be easily customized for individual learners.
• Materials include or reference technology that provides opportunities for teachers and/or students to collaborate with each other (e.g. websites, discussion groups, webinars, etc.).

The evidence for these indicators are presented in narrative form. 

Using the Technology Review Content

Use this information paired with the questions related to the context and needs of your district or school. See the Using EdReports Adoption Steps lesson for helpful guidance on how to prepare your team for this step.

For more information on finding materials that address remote learning needs, read 3 Trends in How Instructional Materials Address Technology. This EdReports article provides additional considerations when adopting quality instructional materials with technology capabilities. By using these enhanced reports in the adoption process, schools and districts will be able to choose the best materials to fit the changing settings for learning in the 21st century. 

Extend the Learning

Use the EdReports Adoption Steps Worksheet with your team to begin working through the outlined steps. Use the Action Checklist and Related Resources for Prepare: 1. Develop Your District Lens and 2. Establish Your Process. Use the Reflection Questions to generate conversation and develop the team's collective goals. Record notes, summarize discussions, and synthesize decisions in the space provided in the EdReports Adoption Steps Worksheet. An additional resource, Understand the Technology Features of Your Aligned Materials, will also be helpful during these steps in the process.