What Is EdTech? A Teacher’s Perspective on Purposeful Technology
By Kimberly Barnes, Director of Special Education Learning Experience
In today’s classrooms, educational technology is no longer a luxury; it’s a way of life.
As a former special education teacher, I know what it feels like to be asked to do the impossible. In a system that was already stretched thin, I was pushed far beyond what was manageable in the classroom. Each student had a unique learning profile, vastly different foundational skills, and in many cases, significant behavior needs.
I tried to differentiate and manage the chaos while building relationships because I knew that connection was everything. But when you are expected to be everywhere at once, all the time, something always gets lost. And too often, what got lost were the moments that mattered the most.
Educational technology has become the backbone of how students and teachers connect, learn and thrive. Recent articles highlight this shift. Edutopia shares innovative uses of EdTech in 2025 that are transforming classrooms, while EdTech Magazine explains why schools should invest in EdTech. Both spotlight how the best EdTech solutions do more than digitize content; they boost engagement, enable educators, and support students in real time. The best EdTech is about purposeful implementation.
That vision resonates deeply with us.
At HiNAIA we’re building an platform to support students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and ADHD, and the educators and families who champion them. We have experienced the gaps, the overwhelm and the missed opportunities. So we are creating something different.
Our mission is to:
Deliver learning that adapts to the individual student
Provide insight into student progress, eliminating guesswork
Foster & strengthen connections between students, teachers and families
Offer a platform that supports teaching and learning while being simple to use
Use tools to help educators with never ending to do lists
Reduce the emotional and academic load on families
Our goal is to help students grasp content before frustration sets in, to help teachers respond in the moment, not days later, and to give families the peace of mind that their child is being understood, not just accommodated.
At HiNAIA, we believe in a future where every student’s unique learning profile is not a barrier, but a roadmap for success.
EdTech done right doesn’t complicate. It clarifies. It connects. It empowers.
If you're passionate about inclusive, thoughtful EdTech, we’d love to connect.