Teaching Trends

Smartphone Bans & HQIM: Why Alignment Matters

bford — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 19:03:14 +0000

Smartphone Bans & HQIM: Why Alignment Matters

EdTech

Hot Topic

State Highlight

Teaching Trends

bford Fri, 08/08/2025 - 12:03

Statewide Smartphone Bans & High-Quality Instruction: Why Alignment Matters

August 08 2025

Author

Bryan Ford

Upcoming Statewide Classroom Cell Phone Bans

Since the arrival of smartphones in classrooms, schools worldwide have grappled with how to reduce their impact on student learning and academic benchmarks. This past year, many states have begun taking decisive action against student-owned smart devices, with certain states, such as New York, soon requiring bell-to-bell restrictions statewide. Several states’ smart device bans, including those in Texas, Utah, and North Dakota, are poised to take effect by the beginning of the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. States such as California and Colorado will begin enforcing their bans by the 2026-2027 school year.

Some stakeholders view these actions as too strong a step in the wrong direction, noting that many specialized learning tools rely on students using their own devices. Others have claimed this to be a necessary step forward in changing classroom culture for the better. While creating aligned, high-quality educational content is undoubtedly valuable, it is just one part of a bigger equation involving classroom culture and policy – one that EdGate is here and ready to help you navigate.

How High-Quality Instructional Materials and Classroom Culture Intersect

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, investments in K-12 education funding have increased significantly, largely due to billions of dollars in federal pandemic relief aid. With these newly available funds, thousands of districts across the United States have been able to adopt and reform curricula, as well as obtain high-quality instructional materials, tools, and devices aligned to state education standards. This unprecedented funding has been instrumental in enabling schools to meet rising educational needs and has presented new opportunities for education companies. However, getting these high-quality materials to be successfully used in modern classrooms requires additional alignment and forethought.

As classroom culture changes and schools around the United States are becoming more technology-integrated than ever, EdGate helps your product retain effectiveness and relevance. With ExACT’s many innovative tools, ensuring that your educational content is fully aligned and delivered to today’s classrooms is made simpler, regardless of the format. Automatically aligning to new standards and policies in our changing world is no longer an issue, either, as ExACT allows you and your team to fully streamline the process, keeping you ahead of the competition.

Throughout the ever-changing educational landscape, EdGate will always be here to help you adapt to any changes and challenges that arise. Do you have any questions? Our highly experienced, expert team is always happy to discuss how we can support you and your team.

What’s Next for STAAR? Texas Testing Reform on Hold for Now

sschuller — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 21:46:24 +0000

What’s Next for STAAR? Texas Testing Reform on Hold for Now

EdGate Services

State Highlight

Teaching Trends

Current Timeline

Introduced to the Texas House of Representatives on February 25th, 2025, Texas HB4 proposed ending the use of STAAR tests in the curriculum. In its place, the bill suggests that schools give students three shorter tests at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year. These proposed tests aim to act as “learning checkpoints” to examine student progress throughout the year. If passed, the bill proposed administering the tests as early as the start of the 2026 spring semester.

Although HB4 passed through both legislative chambers, it ultimately failed due to disagreements about implementation, such as when tests would be given, whether they would be norm- or criterion-referenced, and how performance would be rated. The Texas House and Senate were unable to reach a final compromise before the end of the 89th Legislative Session on June 2, 2025

What Does This Mean For The Future of Texas’s Standardized Testing?

The Texas Education Agency confirmed that STAAR will continue to be administered during the 2025–2026 school year.

Despite HB4 being unsuccessful, the TEA is working to develop a potential replacement for STAAR tests, the Texas Through-Year Assessment Pilot (TTAP). The TTAP tests are not planned to be administered during the 2025-2026 school year. Instead, as per the Texas Education Agency, the organization will be using the duration of the school year to analyze test data collected over the past three years. After this, TEA plans to gather feedback and create new, replacement testing materials accordingly.

Outside of TEA, discussions regarding what should be done about the STAAR testing format continue. In the meantime, STAAR continues to act as Texas’s forefront testing initiative for measuring student progress and readiness. The development of future adjustments will also proceed as planned, with TEA’s research also going towards STAAR test refinement.

As this situation unfolds, EdGate will continue to monitor all developments to keep your curriculum tools and alignments up-to-date.

SEL Standards and the Educational Landscape

sschuller — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 20:40:26 +0000

SEL Standards and the Educational Landscape

sschuller Wed, 12/20/2023 - 12:40

Navigating the Controversy: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Standards and the Educational Landscape

December 20 2023

In recent years, the topic of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has become a focal point of discussion in the education sector, generating significant debate and occasional controversy. While some state representatives have raised concerns and even attempted to ban SEL in schools, it is essential to delve into the core of SEL, free from political entanglements, and understand its intrinsic value in shaping the educational experience.

Defined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), SEL encompasses a set of vital life skills that extend beyond traditional academic knowledge. Ranging from emotional management and goal-setting to the cultivation of empathy and positive relationships, SEL seeks to equip students with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities of the real world.

Despite the occasional political turbulence, all 50 states have recognized the importance of SEL to varying extents, incorporating its principles into academic standards. According to CASEL, 27 states have implemented comprehensive SEL standards spanning from pre-K through grade 12, while others concentrate primarily on younger students. This widespread adoption is a relatively recent development, with 45 states introducing SEL competencies within the past decade.

Mississippi and New York stand out as two states that have taken notable steps in advancing SEL within their education systems. The commitment to college and career readiness standards, underscored by the integration of SEL, is evident in Mississippi's educational initiatives. Similarly, New York's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reflects a dedicated approach to nurturing social and emotional well-being among students.

Despite the political challenges, SEL remains a resilient and integral component of the education system. As we navigate the ever-evolving educational landscape, it becomes increasingly evident that SEL is not a passing trend; rather, it is a vital and enduring aspect of educational standards.

For those seeking additional information on SEL standards, including insights into which states have incorporated them, we encourage you to reach out to our EdGate representatives for detailed information and support.

Keeping Up with Educational Changes

sschuller — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 15:49:01 +0000

Keeping Up with Educational Changes

sschuller Wed, 09/06/2023 - 08:49

New School Year, New Standards: Keeping Up with Educational Changes

September 06 2023

As students and teachers return to the classroom for a new school year, many changes are taking place in the world of Education Standards. From Arkansas to Utah, states across the nation are implementing changes to enhance the quality of education and better prepare students for the future. We have been updating the EdGate Standards Repository with these new and updated standards, adding appropriate metadata, and preparing them for immediate use. Below is an overview of these updates and what they mean for your company and solutions.

Comprehensive Coverage

Understanding the importance of staying up-to-date with evolving educational standards, EdGate is committed to provide publishers with the most up-to-date information available in standards. Here's a glimpse of the states and standards that have been updated this school year or are currently in progress:

Arkansas Language Arts Updates
Arizona Educational Technology Updates
Florida Social Studies:
Adjusts the way social events can be taught in the classroom.
Georgia Mathematics:
Promoting strategic mathematical thinking and reasoning to align with industry and workforce needs for the 21st century.
Louisiana Social Studies:
Cultivating a broad knowledge of U.S. and world history and civic principles.
Minnesota Arts:
Fostering artistic literacy across K-12 students through five arts areas: dance, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts.
Mississippi Social Studies:
Emphasis on mastering the five key social studies strands: civics, economics, geography, civil rights, and history.

New Mexico Social Studies:
Shifting towards inclusive narratives, inquiry-based questions, purposeful skill-content integration, providing opportunities for meaningful student discourse, and empowering student agency and identity pride.
Oklahoma Health and Physical Education Updates
South Carolina Language Arts Updates
Tennessee Computer Science:
Introducing students to computer systems and digital citizenship. In high school level students will be offered basic level introduction to computer science, including languages, app development, and hardware.
Tennessee Mathematics Updates
Texas Science:
Four high school courses were updated: Biology, Chemistry, Integrated Physics and Chemistry, and Physics.
Utah Language Arts:
Reduction in standards to simplify and clarify while combining Reading Literature and Reading Informational standards.

Indiana's Bold Move

One of the most significant developments this year comes from Indiana, where they have reduced their state standards by a remarkable 25 percent. This change aims to streamline curriculum, allowing educators to delve deeper into key concepts and foster a more profound understanding of the topics. To learn more about these transformative changes in Indiana, check out our detailed overview.

In addition, Indiana is one of the many states which require independent third-party reviews of existing alignments. EdGate offers third-party reviews and can provide feedback as well as a detailed statistics report and letter of confirmation of your material. Reach out to our representatives to find out how we can help.

Explore EdGate's Collection

At EdGate, we take pride in our world-class collection of educational standards. To explore these standards further and discover how they align with your educational goals, visit our Standards Library page.

Teaching Beyond the Textbook with Current Events

sschuller — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:54:53 +0000

Teaching Beyond the Textbook with Current Events

News-O-Matic, EdGate’s partner, and its standard-aligned news content.

Educators have the monumental task of adapting their teaching methods to the rapidly changing technological landscape, thereby preparing students for the challenges that lie ahead in the modern world. While many programs and apps have emerged to increase student achievement and encourage engagement, nothing supports students’ acquisition of knowledge quite like genuine learning experiences. It’s imperative to provide students with opportunities to explore their world and embrace diverse perspectives.

Over the past 18 months, News-O-Matic has been partnering with EdGate to successfully align daily news content to national and state standards. With a collection of over 14,000 authentic and relevant news articles, News-O-Matic supports the ELA, social studies, science, and SEL curricula.

Why are current events important?

Students possess an innate curiosity, always eager to unravel the mysteries of their world. Early exposure to current events and news cultivates individuals as global citizens, preparing them to make well-informed decisions about important issues.

By reading the news daily, students learn skills required for navigating dense information, understanding complex concepts, and extracting relevant data. News-O-Matic encourages students to explore the viewpoints of experts and formulate their own opinions by thinking critically. In addition to critical thinking and media literacy skills, reading news articles allows students to practice empathy and compassion, fostering a greater understanding of the struggles and successes of individuals and communities.

Additionally, news articles expose students to a wide range of vocabulary, enhancing their language skills and making them more proficient readers and writers. And students who are aware of current events improve their communication skills through discussions and debates. Staying up-to-date with the news leads to more engagement in a student's academic learning by relating contemporary global events to topics discussed in the classroom.

How can reading current events impact student learning?

News articles play a pivotal role in enhancing students’ comprehension abilities. Apart from fostering critical literacy skills, they are a great resource when teaching students how to interpret multimedia to form their own conclusions.

News-O-Matic incorporates comprehension questions for every article, acting as a guide for students to acquire nonfiction reading skills, such as identifying the main idea and summarizing the content. This not only improves their ability to infer information, but also encourages them to differentiate between their own perspectives and those presented in the articles. News-O-Matic improves students’ vocabulary acquisition, listening comprehension, and oral communication skills.

How can educators incorporate the news into everyday teaching?

Incorporating current events into the school day offers teachers a chance to foster healthy discussions about global affairs including complex topics such as wars and natural disasters. Such exposure nurtures empathy and respect, especially for those with perspectives that differ from one’s own.

Allowing students the freedom to choose texts that align with their passions and ignite their inner drive fosters a positive and individualized approach to learning. Whether it’s our most recent edition or a searched-for article from the past, News-O-Matic supports student agency and encourages independence.

Alternatively, teachers can make use of the Search by Standards feature to easily locate safe, authentic, and relevant articles supporting their current curriculum.

EdGate strives to achieve their vision of an enlightened world by inspiring and supporting companies like News-O-Matic with informed and dedicated support coupled with advanced data and technology.

Try News-O-Matic with a free trial.

AI in the Classroom - How it Affects Publishers and EdTech

sschuller — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 17:31:52 +0000

AI in the Classroom - How it Affects Publishers and EdTech

EdTech

Hot Topic

Teaching Trends

sschuller Fri, 08/04/2023 - 10:31

AI in the Classroom - How it Affects Publishers and EdTech

August 04 2023

Artificial intelligence is all the buzz recently and has the potential to reshape the educational approach of teachers and the learning experiences of students.

We are seeing a surge in corporate investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) as computers are programmed to understand the next logical step with AI and ML. For computers to “see” and “hear” requires a plethora of data points and algorithms. At the same time, society needs to be ready to embrace, and as needed, challenge this technology.

Within educational settings, AI-powered tools can efficiently analyze student data on performance and provide tailored support to improve their grades. These tools can predict future performance or potential struggles and provide additional assistance where needed.

While creating new capabilities for computers to learn and improve classroom learning, consideration should also be given to issues that may infringe on privacy and personal rights. The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) and the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) are leading the Artificial Intelligence for K-12 (AI4K12) steering committee in an effort to educate students in the need to balance how AI and ML should be used. This initiative continues to develop national guidelines for AI education for K-12 and learning resources for AI instruction. At least a dozen states and the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards include concepts on ethics in their computer science/technology education standards.

EdTech developers and publishing firms play a central role in advancing the use of AI in the classroom. Even more importantly, these developers must ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI using these concepts.

EdGate's comprehensive standards repository includes computer science/technology education standards for numerous states, as well as the CSTA standards. If you have computer science/technology education content and need assistance aligning these to standards, please contact our Sales Team for more information.

Indiana Approves Massive Reduction of Standards

sschuller — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 20:29:23 +0000

Indiana Approves Massive Reduction of Standards

Standard Updates

State Highlight

Teaching Trends

sschuller Tue, 07/11/2023 - 13:29

Indiana Approves Massive Reduction of Standards

July 11 2023

Clients are scrambling to get up to speed on the nearly 25% reduction of standards recently approved by the Board of Education in Indiana. Based on a study by the Office of Student Pathways, the goal was to ‘define essential postsecondary skills necessary to promote future success in employment, enrollment, or enlistment leading to service.’ In doing so, they prioritized standards for English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The work, outlined by the Indiana Department of Education, was part of a mandatory review of standards conducted once every six years. A implementation guideline for the changes was issued in May, 2023.

Our team of Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) have been working through these changes, organizing the new standards, and are ready to assist in updating the alignments required to stay in compliance. For more information on the Indiana DOE changes, please contact Gina Faulk, General Manager of EdGate.

Video in the Classroom: What Content Creators Need to Know

sschuller — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 20:45:01 +0000

Video in the Classroom: What Content Creators Need to Know

EdTech

EdGate Services

Teaching Trends

sschuller Wed, 06/07/2023 - 13:45

Video in the Classroom: What Content Creators Need to Know

June 07 2023

Teachers today want to show more and tell less when introducing new information, concepts, and skills to students. They know that seeing rather than listening is a more effective way for many kids to absorb information.

The desire to show rather than explain means content creators must create videos that teachers will want to use and administrators will feel confident about approving for use in the classroom.

This guide explains what you need to know to create videos that will be popular with teachers and education officials alike.

Uses for Video in the Classroom

Here are some of the top ways educators use video today and how content creators can support them.

Building comprehensive understanding. Students learn best when provided with information in different forms, for instance, through reading, drawing, listening to a teacher’s explanations, group discussion, and viewing visual media. Content developers must create materials in all these formats, especially visual media like videos. Some learners, especially those who speak English as a second language or facing reading comprehension challenges, require visual content to understand basic concepts.

Example: A teacher explains extreme weather events such as blizzards, hurricanes, and tornados as part of his science curriculum. They can seem similar, especially if students have never experienced them. A short video showing these storms in action and their aftermaths will help build understanding, and learners will be more likely to remember the different concepts.

How to provide support: Publishers should create videos that help clarify lessons and make them more memorable.

Enhancing text. Whether they’re reading a piece of fiction or nonfiction, students benefit from having additional context about the person, place, or thing they’re studying. Video clips help them envision an event or a person. They also provide historical, political, social, and emotional context.

Example: An 11th-grade history class is learning about ancient Rome. It’s a period very different from today. The teacher uses videos that include historical recreations of the time and place to help bring it to life.

How to provide support: Content creators should consider when it makes sense to produce videos that enhance the learning experience by bringing concepts that fall flat on the page to three-dimensional life.

Deepening learning. Certain lesson types are conveyed better through a dramatization, demonstration, or animated journey than a lecture. Many performative, science, and engineering concepts are more effective when shown rather than explained.

Example: A music teacher is teaching the basics of performing vocals. Music can be challenging for educators to explain and younger learners to understand. That’s where videos come in. Instead of students listening to a teacher describe music concepts, students can actually hear them.

How to provide support: Of course, academic content producers should consider when video content can support or enhance other forms of learning. They must also go beyond that by taking time to figure out the optimal media to deliver a message.

Video: Factors to Consider

Here are things to think about when producing academic video content.

Be selective. A clip can have a significant impact on students, so you will want to use video when it makes the most sense. Videos can also lead to visual overload if used too much. Be clear on your purpose for creating a video. If you can’t find a compelling reason for developing one, it’s probably not worth doing it.
Ensure it’s age appropriate. It’s easy for most content creators to know when a textbook chapter is suitable for a particular grade level. It can be more challenging for visual media like videos. Always test videos with teachers and parents to ensure they’re entirely comfortable with every aspect of them.
Encourage active watching. For many younger people, video is a passive experience. Provide teachers with a goal to share with students before playing a video as part of the lesson plan. Setting a goal for what students are about to watch makes them accountable, which keeps them attentive.
Provide video-related activities. Give teachers tools that encourage students to reflect on, interpret, and discuss video content. Include tools like discussion guides and assignments that transform watching a video into a more active and personal experience.
Offer close captioning. Some students will require them. Others will benefit from reading while watching.

Leverage these tips to ensure learners get full value from your videos.

Videos in the Classroom: Challenges for Content Creators

Many educational publishers find it difficult to get their video content approved for use in schools. The process of ensuring it meets academic standards or curricula is often more complex than for traditional textbooks or other printed content.

The good news: EdGate’s dedicated film team, leveraging our state-of-the-art ExACT technology, makes aligning video content to educational standards a relatively fast and easy process.

In addition, our subject-matter experts and suite of automated tools can make your film content more useful for teachers with our digital chaptering, metadata creation, and keyword development functionality. If you want to make your video material more valuable for an educational audience, the team at EdGate is available to help. For more than twenty years EdGate has served publishers in their quest to make their educational films classroom-ready. Contact us to find out how we can help you.

K-12 Standards Integrates Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

sschuller — Thu, 18 May 2023 17:25:04 +0000

K-12 Standards Integrates Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

sschuller Thu, 05/18/2023 - 10:25

K-12 Standards Integrates Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

May 18 2023

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has been in the spotlight in recent years, especially in the workplace and on college campuses. DEI is now increasingly being integrated into K-12 curriculum to create inclusive learning environments for all students. But what exactly is DEI, and how does it relate to US education standards?

What is DEI?

Diversity, equity and inclusion are interconnected terms that are used together to promote programs to represent and allow participation from different groups of people.

Diversity acknowledges the many ways that people differ- including race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, socio-economic status, language, culture, national origin, religion/spirituality, age, (dis)ability, military/veteran status, political perspective, and more.

Equity ensures fair and just treatment to all people. Equity differs slightly from equality, in that whereas equality gives everyone equal access to opportunities, equity takes into consideration each individual’s unique circumstances and adjusts accordingly, so everyone has opportunities proportionate to their needs.

Inclusion is the act of welcoming, supporting, respecting and valuing all of the diverse individuals and groups.

How is DEI Being Implemented in Schools?

DEI is being implemented into curricula and teaching pedagogy, to create more equitable and inclusive learning environments for all children; however, the approach can differ, depending on the state. Some states have implemented tools to help school districts identify and eliminate bias in instructional materials. Others are implementing programs for educators to prepare them to support their students with culturally responsive learning. Additionally, some states are increasing DEI concepts in their state standards.

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has developed a model tool geared toward the review of instructional material for biased content. This tool helps schools work toward equitable and culturally responsive education.
The CC Network, in support of the Michigan Department of Education, has created a report to aid in the identification of resources and tools that can be used by instructional teams to evaluate and assess bias in curricular materials.
The New York State Department of Education has created a culturally responsive-sustaining (CR-S) education framework for educators. This framework helps educators create student-centered learning environments that affirm racial, linguistic and cultural identities; prepare students for rigor and independent learning; develop students’ abilities to connect across lines of difference; elevate historically marginalized voices; and empower students as agents of social change.
The Washington State Educator Standards Board has adopted a new version (2021) of cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion (CCDEI) standards. The purpose of these standards is to prepare educators to support their students with demonstrated cultural responsiveness, diversity, equity and inclusion.
The New Mexico Public Education Department has created a handbook to provide guidance on culturally and linguistically responsiveness.
The Illinois State Board of Education 2020-2023 strategic plan addresses DEI by aiming to adopt culturally responsive teaching and leading standards for educator preparation programs; embed the history and accomplishments of historically underrepresented groups (e.g., Latino/a, African-American, LGBTQ) in the Illinois Social Science Learning Standards; and establish a school/district leadership department that will support the recruitment of a diverse leadership pipeline with a focus on race and culturally responsive leadership.

Additionally, Learning for Justice a has put together a set of standards to be used as a road map for K-12 anti-bias education. The standards are divided into four domains- identity, diversity, justice and action. These standards establish learning outcomes and anti-bias scenarios, organized by grade bands, and can be used by educators to guide curriculum development.

What About State Standards?

US education standards vary by state, and are updated periodically, and in accordance with the individual state’s timeline for standard updates. We currently see DEI concepts mostly incorporated into Social and Emotional Learning standards, Social Studies standards, and occasionally in Heath and PE standards. Other subjects, such as Science and Technology Education, may currently include standards relating to scientific contributions from diverse people or cultures, or equality of technology access for diverse users. As individual states continue to focus on integrating diversity, equity and inclusion into curriculum and teaching methodologies, we should expect to see an increase in DEI concepts in state standards across disciplines as they are updated. Because of the update timelines, standards tend to lag behind the trends in education.

Keeping Your Standards Current

DEI standards are currently in flux and we expect to continue to see changes, additions and modification as state begin incorporating more DEI standards into their curriculum. EdGate offers many different options for ensuring your content stays aligned to the most recent standard changes. Contact the experts at EdGate to find out how we can help.

Diversity and Inclusion in Educational Content

sschuller — Wed, 17 May 2023 22:49:29 +0000

Diversity and Inclusion in Educational Content

Teaching Trends

sschuller Wed, 05/17/2023 - 15:49

Diversity and Inclusion in Educational Content: What Publishers Must Know Now

May 17 2023

Addressing diversity and inclusion in traditional academic content and open educational resources (OERs) is critical these days. Students must engage with materials fully and will only do so if they see themselves in them and find them accessible. School districts and parents demand it because it’s the right thing to do. It helps prepare learners for the realities they must deal with every day or could face in the future.

Even the best efforts of content creators and academic publishers may fall flat when it comes to diversity. They may not include all the perspectives of the students in a classroom or meet everyone’s learning needs.

This article explains how to create educational content that reflects the diverse perspectives and learning styles of everyone in a classroom.

Diversity and Inclusion in Educational Content

A dictionary definition of diversity is the inclusion of different types of people, such as those of a range of races, cultures, or religious backgrounds, in a group or organization.

Diversity is typically thought of as an organizational or ethical goal. In the classroom and materials used in them, diversity and representation are critical, and the definition of these concepts is broader. It also includes meeting different learning styles (through reading, listening, gaming, watching, and more), media preferences (video, diagram, the printed word, audio, and more), and learning abilities (advanced students versus those with challenges.)

The traditional forms of diversity can be addressed in OERs and other educational materials by including a variety of sociological perspectives in the content. Doing this ensures that learners can identify with and relate to course material. What’s critical is that all cultures and groups are presented authentically and not based on stereotypes or the perceptions of content creators and publishers.

Presenting groups realistically can be challenging. Whether intentional or not, ethnocentrism or the tendency for people to view other groups or cultures from the perspective of one’s own culture or background often creeps into the content. It’s something all authors, editors, and publishers should be aware of.

It may be impossible to create course content that includes and accurately represents all cultures and perspectives. However, you must make it a point to be respectful toward other people and be aware of biases as they come up.

One way to do this is by being completely transparent. Openly acknowledge and document the perspectives that are included in your materials and those which are not. Content creators can explain the social and cultural backgrounds reflected in their work and the rationale for excluding others. Don’t just cite authors and experts in your content. Also, present their backgrounds and your reasoning for including their ideas in your material. Acknowledging the perspectives contained in your materials and explaining why others are not included could help build trust in students and educators at a time when including an infinite number of viewpoints is a goal that may be unattainable.

In short, including diverse perspectives in your course materials can help:

Engage more students because they see themselves and their life experiences in your resources
Get instructors and school administrators who care about diversity to adopt your content
Provide a richer and deeper learning experience for students who feel themselves in your materials.

Another thing to consider: If you aren’t sure about how or where to add examples relevant to other cultures or if you unintentionally leave something out, it doesn’t mean your resource will never include those perspectives. It’s relatively easy to incorporate feedback from teachers in OERs and content that’s delivered digitally.

Instructors from other countries, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds could recommend that you:

Translate resources into different languages and dialects
Update the material to address local cultural, regional, and geographical realities
Adjust the content for different learning environments, for instance, long-distance education.

An additional way to make your academic material more inclusive is to invite diverse instructors and subject matter experts to contribute to or review it. However, you want to avoid taking a non-inclusive approach to working with diverse collaborators. Be conscious of how your project plan and development process may deter or welcome people of other ethnicities, races, and cultural backgrounds. For example, you never want to set up regular meetings for collaborators that aren’t convenient in all time zones or facilitated by an app not available to everyone.

Keep inclusivity in mind if you want people from other places to collaborate on your project.

Addressing a Diverse Array of Learning Needs and Styles

Including different types of people and perspectives in your content isn’t good enough. To be truly diverse, educational resources must address a range of learning styles and preferences.

For instance, it should include different pathways for those who want — and need — more information to understand a concept and those who can comprehend things quickly and don’t want to waste time working through too much material.

Also, assessments should make it easy for those who pass them to move ahead and those who do not to re-explore the concepts they didn’t fully understand quickly and easily.

On top of this, content creators must make it easy for people to explore more material on a subject that interests them, perhaps by linking to appropriate OERs

In addition, students today aren’t readers like those in previous generations. Many are more likely to absorb information through video, games, experiences, diagrams, and more.

In short, being genuinely diverse and inclusive in educational content is a form of three-dimensional chess. It involves adequate representation in one dimension, addressing different learning needs in another, and meeting media and content consumption preferences in a third.

Include Students in Your Content Development Process to Ensure Adequate Representation

Let students have some say over your content development process. Engaging students in creating materials is the ultimate way to make certain they see themselves in it. Ensure your student panel comprises people of different races, sexes, classes, ethnic backgrounds, learning styles, regions, and other factors that could impact your resources.

Once you put together a panel, ask students:

Their ideas on how to expand the inclusivity of your resources
How to make the content more diverse, including adding pictures, examples, videos, and more
To point out harmful depictions of different populations.

Ensure you have a plan in place to address issues if they arise. Your student panel will feel used if you ask them for advice and don’t take it, act on it, and report back on how you make changes.

Prepare ALL Students for College and Work Life

Many students these days may not go to diverse schools or have meaningful contact with people who are different from them. However, they must be prepared to deal with a wide range of people who are not like them once they get to college and into the work world.

This is a challenging aspect of diversity for educational content creators to address. It’s teaching a reality that students aren’t experiencing in their lives but will in the future. It’s why publishers must include hypotheticals so that students who have not experienced them can comprehend them. Videos, examples, demonstrations, and other novel treatments can help bring these concepts to life in a way that makes them more real than words on a page.

Never “Other” Students

When making your course materials more inclusive, you must watch out for the possibility of “othering” people. The dictionary definition of othering is treating or considering a person or a group of people as alien to oneself or one’s group because of different racial, sexual, or cultural characteristics or abilities.

Some best practices for avoiding othering include:

Never assume your audience’s gender identity, ability, or sexual orientation.
Avoid calling the most common traits normal.
Make materials accessible for all students at all times.
Don’t make one style or type of learning seem better or preferable to another.

If you have a student or teacher review panel to check your content, ask them to look for areas where you may unintentionally “other” other people.

Get the Support You Deserve to Encourage Diversity

Creating, developing, and distributing truly diverse content is, as already referenced, like playing three-dimensional chess. Getting all aspects right can be impossible for a single firm to do. That’s why many turn to the experts at a company like EdGate. They can offer you a fresh perspective on how to make your content more diverse and inclusive and accessible to different learners.

In addition, our ExACT platform makes it fast and easy to align these more complex materials to a wide array of educational standards across the United States and the world almost instantly. Contact the experts at EdGate to find out how we can help. We’ve supported countless people at many education companies make their content more inclusive and get it approved for use in many school districts.