Education technology is among the most rapidly evolving trends in the field of education. With modern technology pervading almost every aspect of our lives, it is not surprising that it would begin to infiltrate education. The fundamental point of educational technology is to employ cutting-edge tactics to create a better environment for learning. Students nowadays have a great ability to quickly adapt to new technology. Regardless of review level or expertise, every educator should be striving to improve their understanding of technologies in the classroom.
In the digital age, the Edtech industry is prospering, and it has carved itself a unique following on social media that uses the channels to learn, grow, and thrive! So, if you want to develop an EdTech savvy feed, we have compiled a list of the top 10 best EdTech Influencers to follow. Professionals in developing talent, course technology, and knowledge representation are among those on the list. That is why there is no specific order – ranking them would be impossible.
Top 10 Best Ed-Tech Influencers to Follow in 2021
Mike Tholfsen
Mike Tholfsen is number one on our list of the top 10 best Ed-Tech influencers. As the main product manager for Microsoft Education, he strives to create technology that is moderately easy to use and supports learning. This puts a strong emphasis on STEM and innovation in the study hall during the development of the products. He is spent more than 25 years at the IT behemoth and now oversees the development of a variety of features and functionalities for teachers and students.
Most recently, he worked on Immersive Reader, a solution that enables children with dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, as well as non-native speakers and emerging readers. With 23M dynamic clients monthly, the gadget is integrated into over 20 Microsoft programs and platforms, like Word, Teams, and OneNote, to name a few. He has endeavored to engage a diverse group of pupils by developing tailored technologies that are inclusive of minorities and students with disabilities. Here is his LinkedIn account to follow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketholfsen
Matthew Lynch
Matthew is an educator, writer, and education dissenter who has spent his professional life researching and examining educational difficulties, developments, and adjustments. He created the Education Futures blog for Education Week and moderated an interview session for Diverse: Issues in Higher Education called ” Diverse Conversations.” Matthew is also the writer of The Tech Edvocate, a more rooted perspective in the EdTech industry that provides readers with the most up-to-date news and opinions on the subject. Education Week, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, and The Huffington Post have all published his pieces and op-eds. Check out his website here: https://www.drmattlynch.com/
Alice Keeler
Teacher Tech, a website and academic network for educators wishing to incorporate EdTech within their study sessions, is owned by Alice Keeler. She is an instructor, author, speaker, and Google Certified Innovator. Aside from creating an online community rich with resources, Alice has also held workshops to assist educators in learning about Google Classroom-related topics. She spent a long period teaching secondary school mathematics and is now an Adjunct Professor of Instruction, Curriculum, and Technology at California State University, Fresno. She founded #coffeeEDU and #profchat, two fantastic networks for educators to collaborate and share new, breakthrough ideas, as a firm believer in the importance of availability. Alice is enthusiastic about working with all students and embracing technology to revolutionize the way we study and review. Here is her website: https://alicekeeler.com/
Steven W. Anderson
He is an educational technology teacher, speaker, and Edchat creator. Steven is also He is the organizer of Web20Classroom, an Ed-Tech counseling group that helps teachers all over the world. He has a strong background in Ed-Tech integration through the use of social media for learning as a former educator and Head of Instructional Technology. He travels throughout the country regularly, speaking with schools and communities on the use of social media in the classroom and why they can better serve learners via tech. Steven is a strong supporter of EdTech advancement; he has spoken at several conferences, including ISTE & FETC, and he helped to create #edchat, a popular weekly education debate on Twitter. Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/web20classroom
Donald H Taylor
He is a renowned analyst and lecturer on learning technology, as well as a veteran of the education, abilities, and human capital sectors. He has headed the Learning and Performance Institute, a global organization for learning and development experts, since 2010, as well as Learning Technologies, one of Europe’s largest learning conferences and exhibitions. He is the writer of several publications and contributes regularly to a variety of instructional journals and periodicals. Follow his blog: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/insights/
Scott McLeod
Scott McLeod is a teacher and education specialist who runs a blog, dangerously irrelevant, on EdTech assets and experiences to help instructors with technology integration. He is also the founder of the University of Kentucky’s UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education, which promotes research, administration, and leadership to usher in a new era of well-informed education leaders around the world. Dr. McLeod contributes to “Dangerously Irrelevant” regularly and has been a featured researcher and workshop leader at local, public, state, and international conferences. Dr. McLeod is possibly the most well-known education instructor in the US, having written four books, 170 articles, and several publications. Here is his Twitter profile: https://twitter.com/mcleod
Cathy Moore
Cathy Moore created some incredible e-learning tools and processes for some of the world’s most prestigious companies while she worked at Skillcast. She is now a well-known international training designer and speaker dedicated to rescuing the world from boring designs. She is a frequent speaker at international conferences, and large firms value her advice and design concepts. Cathy is an author who developed the well-known action-mapping methodology, which continues to influence e-learning design. Here is her blog for you to follow: https://blog.cathy-moore.com/
Amelia Vance
Amelia Vance works at the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) as the Director of the Education Privacy Project. It is a non-profit dedicated to advancing principled data policies in the face of emerging breakthroughs. She also oversees the FPF’s FERPA|Sherpa resource center, which provides education security tools for teachers, parents, students, lawmakers, and more. She speaks at conferences on learning and confidentiality in the US and around the globe. The Workforce Committee and House Education approved her & she is also permitted to introduce herself to the US Department of Education and the Federal Trade Commission. Here is her profile: https://fpf.org/person/amelia-vance/
Josh Bersin
Josh Bersin is a human resource, education, and talent analyst who built the namesake and powerful firm Bersin, which is now owned by Deloitte. He also operates the Bersin Academy, which aims to help businesses enhance their efficiency. He is a very famous research analyst and speaker who assists HR and learning organizations in aligning their services to corporate purchasers’ requirements. Here is the link to his blog: https://joshbersin.com/
Jennifer Parker
She is a Data Consultant, writer, instructor mentor, and co-founder of the 21things Project, which creates and distributes free EdTech tools that adhere to ISTE standards. This project provides materials for students, professors, and directors on a variety of topics, such as iPads, apps, and other EdTech trends. Parker received the ISTE Award for Outstanding Leadership in 2018. She’s also had some fantastic experiences, like serving on various ISTE panels and initiatives. Here’s her LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-parker-16816b19
