You can squeeze a lot of years out of certain things in your classroom—tables, chairs, dry erase boards. But most classroom technology has about a five-year shelf life. No matter how well-maintained it is, at a certain point it just won’t be compatible with evolving technology and teaching practices.
Replacing even a fraction of your school’s devices and equipment can feel overwhelming, though—and it can be a challenge to determine which technology will give you the most financial and educational return.
As you plan your next asset refresh, you certainly should take cues from successful technology programs at peer schools and review the latest educational IT research. You also should plan a pilot program. Nothing compares to learning firsthand—on a smaller, less expensive scale—what will work best for your school.
A well-planned device pilot can
- help you choose devices that support student learning goals;
- give teachers and students a chance to practice with new technology;
- prompt you to evaluate and update other components of your IT environment; and
- allow internal and external stakeholders to provide feedback about your school’s technology program.
Once you’ve committed to planning a pilot, download the “Guide to Great IT Pilots” eBook. From how to time your pilot to what intelligence to gather during the process, the tips in this guide can help you get the best results from your technology test.