Ep 054 — 1,400 Programs, One Clear Choice: Decluttering EdTech with Naomi Church & Sarah DeCotis

Can you imagine navigating a world where your child's education is simplified and more effective? Join us on the Minimalist Educator Podcast as we uncover how to streamline online educational programs with the help of our insightful guests, Naomi Church and Sarah DeCotis from Age of Learning. Naomi, an expert educator and national math curriculum specialist, and Sarah, a national literacy director, share their wisdom on managing the overwhelming number of ed tech tools in schools. With the typical school district juggling around 1,400 different programs, they reveal the critical need to reduce this number to ensure smooth implementation and ease of use for everyone involved. They highlight the power of selecting research-backed, evidence-based programs to genuinely enhance the educational experience while keeping things straightforward and efficient.We dive into pragmatic strategies for prioritizing and implementing educational programs amid a sea of available platforms and technologies. Emphasizing a minimalist approach, we explore how to choose the most effective programs backed by robust research and efficacy studies, particularly those vetted by third-party organizations. Our conversation includes practical tips for gathering user feedback, conducting pilot tests, and ensuring alignment with school or district goals. Naomi and Sarah also stress the importance of high-quality professional learning to guarantee successful program implementation, focusing on quality over quantity. Tune in to learn how to make informed decisions that maximize resources and significantly improve student learning outcomes.Social Media:  Naomi Church @GrowingMindsK12, Age of Learning @AgeofLearning The Reading LeagueUDL Guidelines from CASTAge of Learning websiteEvidence for ESSA websiteSend us Fan MailSupport the show Find our book The Minimalist Teacher  and Your School Leadership Edit: A Minimalist Approach to Rethinking Your School's Ecosystem at the links!Follow on Instagram @PlanZEducation and @minimalist_ed_podcast.The Minimalist Educator Podcast is a Plan Z Education Services adventure.