You want to improve your skills in Educational Technology. How can you use online learning to achieve this?

1 Choose your goals and interests

Before you enroll in any online course or program, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what you are interested in. Do you want to learn the basics of edtech, or do you want to specialize in a specific area, such as gamification, adaptive learning, or artificial intelligence? Do you want to earn a credential, such as a certificate or a degree, or do you just want to expand your knowledge and skills? Do you want to apply edtech to your current or future role, or do you want to explore new career opportunities? By answering these questions, you can narrow down your options and find the online learning path that suits your goals and interests.

2 Compare different platforms and providers

There are many online learning platforms and providers that offer edtech courses and programs. Some of them are general platforms that cover a wide range of topics and disciplines, such as Coursera, edX, Udemy, and Skillshare. Others are specialized platforms that focus on edtech or related fields, such as EdSurge, EdTechX, Teachable, and Udacity. Each platform and provider has its own features, advantages, and disadvantages, such as the quality of the content, the level of interactivity, the flexibility of the schedule, the cost of the enrollment, and the recognition of the credential. You need to compare different platforms and providers and choose the one that meets your needs and expectations.

3 Engage with the content and the community

Online learning can be challenging, especially if you are not used to self-directed and independent learning. You need to stay motivated, organized, and disciplined to complete your online courses and programs. One way to do that is to engage with the content and the community. You can engage with the content by taking notes, reviewing key concepts, completing assignments, and applying what you learn to your own context. You can engage with the community by participating in discussions, asking questions, giving feedback, and joining groups or networks of edtech enthusiasts and professionals. By engaging with the content and the community, you can enhance your learning experience and outcomes.

4 Experiment with different tools and strategies

One of the benefits of online learning is that you can access a variety of tools and strategies that can help you learn more effectively and efficiently. For example, you can use digital tools such as podcasts, videos, quizzes, simulations, and games to supplement your online courses and programs. You can also use online strategies such as spaced repetition, retrieval practice, interleaving, and elaboration to improve your memory and retention. You can experiment with different tools and strategies and find out what works best for you and your learning style.

5 Reflect on your progress and feedback

Online learning can also help you improve your edtech skills by providing you with opportunities to reflect on your progress and feedback. You can use online tools such as portfolios, journals, blogs, and badges to document and showcase your learning achievements and challenges. You can also use online tools such as surveys, rubrics, peer reviews, and analytics to collect and analyze feedback from your instructors, peers, and yourself. You can use reflection and feedback to identify your strengths and weaknesses, celebrate your successes, and address your gaps.

6 Keep learning and updating your skills

Online learning is not a one-time event, but a continuous process. Edtech is a dynamic and evolving field that requires constant learning and updating of skills. You can use online learning to keep up with the latest developments and innovations in edtech and to refresh and expand your knowledge and skills. You can also use online learning to explore new topics and areas of interest in edtech and to discover new opportunities and challenges. By keeping learning and updating your skills, you can stay relevant and competitive in the edtech field.