Educational Technology Usage Within a Classroom: Educator Perspective
Arduino Education is a platform that promotes STEAM education for students K-12 and beyond. Upon entering the platform, you will see several subtopics. The main subtopic that sticks out is the solutions, resources, and blog. In the solutions section, there is a section where users can view potential kits that can be purchased, including the various kits related to the field of STEAM. Additionally, students can access the online course section, where they can create an account and learn from the pre-created courses. Lastly, the final subtopic that stuck out to me was the blog section, where users can read articles about their educational experiences and STEAM-related tasks. This website is multifaceted and can be used in a variety of classrooms; it would work well in a library or tech class. The information is applicable to any grade level, but I believe it would be most suitable for late elementary, middle, high school, and beyond.
Usefulness in a School Library
This particular website is useful in the library because it aligns well with maker spaces. While libraries are more than just maker spaces, they are still a significant part of the library space where students can explore, learn, and grow. This website, in particular, offers kits that can be utilized in various activities when working with students. Additionally, the website offers group activities (such as the kits) and individual resources, including the online course, which can benefit all students in the library space. Another component that I find quite convincing about the website is the presence of a blog section, which can be utilized by both students and educators to learn, grow, and gain a deeper understanding of the evolving STEAM field.
Implications
While the website is useful and offers many features, it has some limitations. Firstly, many of the tools within the website require payment, which, to me, makes the site less attractive as it no longer truly caters to all demographics; it becomes exclusive. As a user, the goal should be to have as accessible information as possible. Additionally, another implication within the website is the time it takes to log in to the course. It may have just been my experience, but when signing up for a course the page crashed several times before it fully loaded. For many users, this would be a serious issue that would force them to leave the website altogether.
Accessibility
As I mentioned in the implementation, there were some accessibility issues, as many of the website’s resources are not free. While there are some features that can be accessed without payment, it is still frustrating to see a website that has the potential to disseminate information through an accessible lens close itself off to demographics who are curious and want to learn.
Overall
While there weren’t that many issues with the website itself, I do wish the website were more accessible for all students to use. I appreciate that blog section, and I thought that resource was helpful. However, from the student’s end, I wish students did not have to pay to use some of the platform’s features.