Tech Trumps^®

The Tech Trumps^® are a product of more than 15 years educational research into how to make effective use of digital technologies in teaching and learning. They are designed to summarise the affordance of digital technologies in the context of six dimensions of teaching and learning. Using a custom made APT methodology, they align with AIM models that capture the needs and intentions of teachers.

Alignment between pedagogy and technology is key. This alignment means that teachers can use the Tech Trumps^® to find the right technology for them, at the right time, based on what they are trying to achieve in the classroom. Critically, this alignment then has the potential to catalyse the learning process, and hence improve learning outcomes.

The Tech Trumps^® are used in the Design module of our Approach, which combines the TPK quiz to measure competence with digital technologies and AIM models to plan for changes to practice.

You can browse the cards for free online using the Tech Trumps® browser, or buy a physical pack of Tech Trumps^® for only £4.99.
 

What technologies are included?

Some of the Tech Trumps^® have been designed specifically for education, some designed for business and some simply made for pleasure. There are 56 digital technologies in every pack, including popular apps like:

• ClassDojo
• EDpuzzle
• Kahoot!
• Khan Academy
• Padlet
• Plickers
• Prezi
• Quizlet
• Socrative
• Trello

Each technology has been selected based on its quality, robustness and maturity. The apps can be explored for free through the Tech Trumps® browser. The cards all include a summary strap line, short descriptions, a link to an introductory video and ratings against six dimensions of teaching and learning.

Try the Tech Trumps^® browser

How are they rated?

Technologies are rated on a scale of 1-10 against the six dimensions of teaching and learning using a custom made rubric developed by Catalysed. Each rating is derived collaboratively to ensure a balanced perspective. This robust approach provides a strong framework, ensuring edcators can find the best digital technology to suit their needs. Within the 1-10 scale technologies cna be roughly split into three grades of affordance:

• Technologies that score 1-3 have little or no affordance for the specific dimension
• Technologies scoring 4-7 have medium affordance, with some overlap and limited support for the dimension in question
• Technologies scoring 8-10 have strong affordance for the dimension, with significant potential to catalyse learning

The Tech Trumps^® approach pioneered by Catalysed helps to mitigate a classic problem in Ed Tech; putting technologies in boxes or silos. Instead of considering a technology just good for one thing or another, the Tech Trumps^® approach illustrates a digital technologies broader potential, and reflects the interpretive nature of technology itself.

Requirements for inclusion

Catalysed spends significant effort in ensuring that the database of technologies is up to date, and reflects the most appropriate and potentially powerful options available. In addition the digital technologies suggested must meet certain criteria in order to be included, notably:

• They must include a significant free component
• They must be available either on the web, or on both Android and iOS devices
• They must be proven, mature technologies with established privacy policies in place

Do you have a favourite technology that we don't include? Please contact us to let us know, so we can review it.

Please note that the majority of the technologies suggest a minimum age of 13.