The Education Technology world is an exciting place! New apps, web tools, extensions, and add-ons for teachers and students are constantly appearing. Some of these technology tools, like our adopted District curricula and District-wide technology licensed programs, can be essential to your students' learning. However, many of the educational technology tools we encounter may not be ideal for learning and can even be insecure, unsafe, or downright illegal for students to use. So, how are teachers to know which tech tools are approved for use, and which ones should be avoided?
Where Can I Find Whether a Tech Tool is Approved?
Fortunately, there is one convenient database where teachers, staff, and administrators can quickly search which technology tools are currently approved for instructional use. To access the database, simply click this link, or the image below. Here you'll find a searchable list of all technology tools that are currently approved.
Our database is constantly being updated as new tech tools are being approved, as technology companies merge with (or spin off from) one another, and as privacy agreements expire. Please check this database often to make sure the tech tools you're using with students are continuing to be approved.
What New Tech Tools Have Been Approved?
The District has recently approved several new tech tools for instructional use over the past month, including:
AVID
Flip (formerly known as Flipgrid)
Grammarly
What Tech Tools Have Expired?
Unfortunately, as company policies and practices change, we sometimes must make the regrettable decision to withdraw approval for some tech tools. Here are some tech tools that have recently been removed from our approval list and may NOT be used with students:
Animoto
Khan Academy Kids
Slido
How Can I Request a New Tech Tool Be Reviewed?
Requesting approval for a new tech tool couldn't be easier! Simply submit a Tech Help Desk ticket under the category of "Technology Review." Check out the infographic below for details about how the process works:
Ceres Unified is committed to protecting student safety, privacy, and data security while our students use technology. Reach out if you have further questions!
Stay Techie,
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