The “Who, What, and How” of Choosing the Right Device

When it comes to choosing the right tech for your situation, it’s important to consider exactly what you want the outcome of the implementation to be. According to Education Elements, the biggest takeaway is this: "When selecting the right device for your district, assess key areas such as student population (and staff population) served, implementation challenges, and software availability before making the hardware decision."When deciding on the proper equipment for the task, this can be summarized as considering the “who, what, and how” of device implementation.





Firstly, administrators need to consider WHO will be using the technology. This is very important to consider because the “who” determines how you will roll out the equipment. For example, if the district is buying newer, more sustainable laptops for teachers and staff, their professional development will consist of care, use, and instructional implementation.
 If the new tech roll out is for students, a technology coordinator must make sure that the technology is easy to understand (for parents and students) and easily serviceable as well.



Secondly, administrators must consider the “what” of the device implementation. One key question to ask with any newly proposed technology is, “what are the expected outcomes if this device is implemented?” Is this hardware being used to update/upgrade the school’s technology? Is it being used for classroom instruction? Will it be used to explore/expose students to new areas of technology or instruction? Considering the “what” is critical because it allows administrators and coordinators to create a road map to where they want the technology to take their students, teachers, and staff.


Finally, coordinators must consider the “how” of hardware implementation. Along with looking at the “who and what” pieces of implementation, thinking about the “how” will bring all of the pieces together. One key question is “how will we be able to future proof this purchase?” As a technology administrator, you must think about how this technology will be used at a later date. Is it cost effective? Does it wear or break down easily? Are there other, more suitable devices on the market? When considering these questions, it is best to consult a group of stakeholders to gather information and make the best decision.  



Resources: 

Frazier, M., & Hearrington, D. (2017). The Technology Coordinator's handbook. International Society for Technology in Education. 

Owens, D. (2018, December 27). It's not about the device, it's about what you do with it - edsurge news. EdSurge. Retrieved April 10, 2023, from https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-11-28-it-s-not-about-the-device-it-s-about-what-you-do-with-it 

The Learning Accelerator. (2022). Advice: Hardware selection. Resources & Guidance from The Learning Accelerator. Retrieved April 10, 2023, from https://practices.learningaccelerator.org/strategies/advice-hardware-selection 

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