Technology has become an invaluable tool for educators and is now being used during every stage of the teaching and learning process. It not only assists with lesson planning but also makes lessons more engaging for students. In HMH’s 2025 Educator Confidence Report, 2 in 3 educators say that technology boosts student success. With that in mind, let’s take a look at tips for designing lesson plans that incorporate technology.
What is ICT in education?
ICT stands for information and communication technology. ICT in education, also known as edtech, refers to the technology educators use to assist in planning, teaching, assessing, and gathering data. There is a wide range of technology that can be used in the classroom from interactive whiteboards and collaborative platforms to new innovative tools like AI and 3D printing. Edtech is constantly evolving, and educators are always coming up with new exciting ways to use technology in education.
4 tips for developing an enhanced lesson plan using technology
Technology can save you time and help you easily organize materials when it comes to lesson planning. Here are four things to consider when you are developing technology-infused lesson plans.
1. Start with the learning goal
Before adding technology into the mix, take a moment to consider your learning goals and objectives. What do you want your students to know or be able to do by the end of the lesson? How does this align with curriculum standards? How will you know if your students have achieved this goal?
When your learning goals are well-defined, it becomes much easier to evaluate the value of each component in your lesson. As you plan, you can ask yourself, “Does this activity support the learning objective?” This will help ensure that every part of your lesson plan contributes to student success.
2. Use data to inform instruction
The best lessons are the ones that reflect students’ needs. Data gives educators important insight into what students know and their learning progress, as well as identifying any learning gaps or where students may need additional help. Many edtech tools are gathering data when students complete polls, assessments, or even games. For instance, HMH’s Classcraft delivers real-time data during whole-class instruction, helping teachers adjust their lesson plans in the moment.
Another HMH program that uses data to enhance instruction is Personalized Path. Using NWEA’s MAP Growth to accurately assess students, Personalized Path puts them on pathways tailored to their needs, providing targeted intervention or adaptive practice. When you use data to inform instruction and technology to personalize learning, your students will receive the support they need to reach their learning goals.
3. Choose the right tech tools
You should find tech tools that will best help students meet learning goals. During whole-group instruction, this may look like an interactive slideshow that uses a mix of visuals, videos, or discussion questions that communicates the materials in an engaging way.
Classcraft takes whole-group instruction a step further by offering educators three different views to help with classroom management. The classroom panel uses an interactive board to display information to the whole class while teachers use a separate screen to keep notes and monitor student performance. The last view is for students, where they can respond to prompts and questions on their own devices. Teachers can pause this screen to ensure everyone is paying attention.
During independent or small-group work, you may want to differentiate instruction, so that students can choose how they practice skills or demonstrate understanding. Programs like Waggle can gamify the learning experience with personalized practice that keep students motivated and engaged. Gamification in education is just one of many ways you can use technology in your lesson plans. HMH has a collection of educational technology resources and articles that explore different ways to incorporate technology in the classroom.
4. Consider how AI can help
Another finding in the Educator Confidence Report is that the number of educators using AI has increased sixfold since 2023. AI has been especially helpful when it comes to lesson planning. 68% of educators who use AI feel it saves them between 1-6 hours in the classroom per week.
HMH recently announced a new suite of generative AI tools that will be directly embedded into its Ed platform. These tools are informed by evidence-based, standards-aligned curriculum and assessments, ensuring that lesson plans generated through AI maintain instructional integrity. HMH’s AI Tools will include reading generators, vocabulary scaffolders, and quiz generators.
Writable also uses AI to analyze student writing and offer personalized feedback based on their unique learning needs. With over 1,000 prompts, assignments, and rubrics to choose from, teachers will be able to find resources regardless of what subjects and skills they are focusing on.
Technology infused lessons: Technology and learning go hand-in-hand
Educational technology is a wonderful resource that can help educators throughout the teaching process. From using data to help pinpoint learning goals that reflect your students’ needs to using AI to create lesson plans and study guides, technology can help teachers focus on what matters most: supporting student success. When incorporated properly, lesson plans using technology make learning more fun, engaging, and highly effective.
This article was adapted from a blog post initially developed by the education technology company Classcraft, which was acquired by HMH in 2023. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.
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