Unlocking the power of co-collaboration: the impact of educator involvement in educational technology development

Abstract

The study investigated users' perspectives on My Path to Learning (MPTL), an interactive cloud technology, as a tool for differentiating instruction in phonology and spelling for K-8 students.The study aimed to enhance the digital platform by incorporating and acting upon user feedback.The researcher collected qualitative data to examine the acceptance and perceived satisfaction with using the technology in clinical and classroom settings. The researcher included two cycles of data collection and analysis. Cycle 1, completed in the fall of 2022, gathered initial user feedback on the embryonic MPTL platform in educational settings. The input informed significant platform enhancements. Cycle 2, completed in the summer of 2023, tested the improvements with original and new users to evaluate the platform's impact on teaching and learning. The results indicated that the collaboration between the users and developers generated unique features, which motivated students, encouraged instructional differentiation, provided performance indicators, and led to meaningful practice and perceived usefulness. User customization also resulted in navigational difficulties, decreasing participants' perceptions of ease of use. However, student enthusiasm significantly influenced the perceived value and utility of technology by educators. The research shifts the view of user input from a challenge to a catalyst for innovation, essential for creating dynamic and inclusive educational tools.