Juliana Finegan, VP of Educator Experience at Vivi, leads initiatives to enhance global educator impact, including a free web-based tool for teachers. With 20 years as a Title 1 educator, TFA alum, researcher, and non-profit leader, she is dedicated to advancing educational equity through the strategic implementation of edtech solutions. Formerly Managing Partner at The Learning Accelerator, she scaled best practices and fostered district collaborations nationwide. An expert in blended learning and designing personalized professional development, she is passionate about improving education by empowering educators, districts, and tech companies to work together to create equitable, effective, and engaging learning experiences for all.
As we close out 2024 and look toward 2025, one thing is clear—technology is here to stay. From advancements in AI to classrooms equipped with 1:1 devices, the opportunities are immense. Yet, so too are the challenges of using these tools effectively to enhance teacher capacity and student learning while fostering a positive school community.
Technology has the potential to save educators valuable time and empower students to create, build, and take ownership of their learning. However, a recent Pew Research Center study reveals a more sobering reality: 77% of teachers report stress from managing multiple, disconnected technology platforms, a major factor in burnout. Combined with 68% of teachers feeling overwhelmed—amid chronic absenteeism and student disengagement—this paints a challenging picture for today’s classrooms.
Having been a teacher for a decade and working daily with educators and leaders, I’ve seen these struggles firsthand. But now that we have more technology in our classrooms, how can we use it to empower students rather than exhaust teachers?
The best way to inspire change is to see it in action. Let’s reimagine the classroom as a place where technology isn’t a burden but a bridge to deeper connection, learning, and student empowerment. Here are a few ways I have seen districts and schools use existing tools to put students at the center of learning and shift the role of technology.
Start the Day with Joy
In Omaha, Nebraska, an elementary school in the Elkhorn School District reimagined its morning routine by replacing leader-led announcements with student-created content. Each week, two fifth graders produced and presented the “Morning News,” which streamed into every classroom. The short daily video segment highlighted upcoming events, lunch menus, the pledge, and birthday celebrations.
This five-minute activity creates a positive start to the day while giving students the chance to practice public speaking, collaborate as a team, and build a sense of belonging. By celebrating and broadcasting milestones across the school, this daily program promotes inclusivity and connection. Transforming morning announcements into a shared experience, it strengthens the school community and encourages students to feel engaged and actively involved in daily school life.
Build Culture and Community in Shared Spaces
Many schools already have digital signage in lobbies or hallways that often display announcements or reminders. But what if these spaces were repurposed to amplify student voices and foster community?
A high school in Denver uses its screens to showcase student creativity and encourage participation. “Dad jokes,” interactive puzzles with QR codes, holiday celebrations, student-made slideshows introducing clubs, and highlighting art projects or sports victories are just a few fun examples.
By empowering students to create content for these displays, schools not only encourage creativity and self-expression but also inspire others to get involved. These simple yet meaningful actions can transform shared spaces into hubs of connection and pride.
Shift from Independent to Collaborative Learning
In some classrooms, technology use is synonymous with individual tasks—adaptive software, learning apps, or independent research. While valuable, this approach can inadvertently isolate students and overlook these tools’ collaborative potential.
Research has shown that students who feel a sense of belonging and connectedness at school do better academically, attend school more regularly, and exhibit greater well-being. Hence offering opportunities for students to both work independently and transition to peer-to-peer learning and collaboration, leveraging their devices as a tool, not only builds confidence but also helps students develop the habit of sharing their voices and valuing their contributions – as well as seeing devices as a connector. Through the innovation of wireless student screen sharing, teachers have shared that even nonverbal students are able to gain the confidence to share their work or participate in “teach the class” activities from the safety of their seats. Students are more easily able to compare their work, offer feedback to their peers, and refine their approaches in real-time as a team. Eliminating fear and anxiety from students’ sharing at the front of the room and offering low risk at-bats increases participation and boosts engagement organically.
Unlock the Full Potential of Classroom Tools
Classroom displays are often underutilized, limited to content sharing, or functioning as high-tech whiteboards. Paired with the right strategies, however, these tools can become dynamic centers for collaboration and student-driven learning.
For example, using classroom displays for projects, interactive discussions, or showcasing student work throughout a lesson creates shared resources that boost active engagement. In Kentucky, teachers at Monroe County School have embraced this shift. Thanks to wireless screen sharing and mobile technology, displays are used as collaborative tools accessible from anywhere in the classroom. Now, teachers in the district are even requesting to remove their desks from the front of the room. This modern classroom design upgrades teachers from a traditional lecture style, allowing them to work alongside students rather than in front of them.
This transformative approach was also driven by a thoughtful rollout of technology that prioritized pedagogy over novelty. Leadership and educators worked together to ensure the tools supported both student engagement and teaching needs, turning classroom displays into powerful, interactive hubs for learning.
Aligning Technology with Instruction
To truly make an impact, technology and instruction must be integrated seamlessly. Schools need to view technology not as a separate entity but as an integral part of teaching and learning. This alignment ensures tools support teacher needs and modernize the classroom experience.
As you assess your current tech stack, consider how your teachers are involved in your tech rollout. And how can you better leverage the tools you already have to ensure every student feels seen, heard, and empowered to thrive in the classroom and beyond?
By shifting the focus to student agency and creativity, districts, and schools can transform their culture into one of collaboration, connection, and meaningful learning while not overtaxing their teachers. Technology isn’t just a tool—it can be a catalyst for change.