District Administration® and FETC®’s Top Ed Tech Products of the Year contest spotlights the most innovative new solutions on the market that are helping school leaders meet the ever-evolving education technology needs of their districts and schools.
A panel of experts chose 15 winners from more than 160 submissions, all of which will be featured during the Virtual Future of Education Technology Conference® Jan. 26-29.
Click here for more information and to register for the free 2021 Virtual FETC.
Here’s a look at one of the Top Ed Tech Products of 2020:
Open P-TECH
IBM Corporate Social Responsibility
What it is: Technology and jobs are changing much faster than education systems. Open P-TECH closes the gap by providing free online learning on the industry-leading technological and professional skills required to be successful in the new economy. Open P-TECH is easy to try, free to use, and available to students and teachers everywhere! Even students from privileged backgrounds are often unaware of the opportunities offered by technology-related careers. Most parents and teachers are simply unaware of what the possibilities are in fields such as AI or cybersecurity since tech changes so quickly. Internet information is only helpful if a student has the context to ask the right questions. Open P-TECH illuminates this possible future–especially for disadvantaged students–by providing inspiring career information and age-appropriate learning to spark student interest and build skills. It also demystifies hot tech for teachers so that they can better support their students.
Why we like it: Free! And an excellent resource for high school students who may not even know they could pursue a career in technology. Industry-recognized digital badges are also a really nice feature. The curriculum includes AI, cybersecurity, data science, professional skills, blockchain, design thinking, and mindfulness. Students can use Open P-TECH on their own, and teachers can supplement their existing curriculum with new resources to help students build the skills that employers are seeking. Free virtual mentoring also gives students connections with industry professionals and equips them with the tools they need to build successful career paths. And did we mention, it’s free?
See the full list of winners here.
