Igniting student curiosity through career exploration

Key points:

Over my 25 years in the classroom, I’ve seen educators successfully overcome a variety of challenges to help their students learn. However, student engagement remains a challenge for many.

In speaking with colleagues from across the country, they all seem to agree that igniting student engagement and curiosity has become incredibly difficult since the COVID-19 pandemic. I think a possible solution to igniting students’ inherent curiosity is to show them how what they are learning in school connects to the real world through career exploration.…Read More

Case management solutions are redefining school safety, threat assessment

Key points:

Students continue to face a variety of challenges in and outside of school–especially at the K-12 level. Pressures can range from high expectations to achieve or bullying, to home-related insecurities and mental health concerns. These potential stressors can interfere with students’ ability to learn and excel. Sometimes, these students will act out or demonstrate early signs of inappropriate behavior.

As schools focus on empowering every student to succeed, they need to identify the signs of possible problems and intervene when necessary to provide the proper support.  …Read More

The importance of the ITS and Facilities relationship

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on CoSN’s blog and is reposted here with permission.

Key points:

One of our jobs as CTOs is developing great relationships with other district leaders. IT touches every aspect of the modern K-12 district, and our success, as well as the success of the district, relies on our ability to build and maintain these relationships. …Read More

Friday 5: Online learning’s evolution

Key points:

Online learning has limitless potential for students and teachers, offering the ability to learn from any location and at all times of the day. Let’s take a look at some of the latest online learning trends:

Is online learning really effective?

The short answer: Yes. Flexible, hybrid learning is key to student success. Schools should reimagine the learning processes and leverage in-person and hybrid learning to help students achieve the best possible results. The potential for innovation and student engagement are only scratching the surface when it comes to the advantages of online learning. Having many new, effective tools in educators’ toolboxes, it’s time to cast aside conventional processes and rethink the way we provide services to, and support, our students. Take the first steps toward this innovation.…Read More

CASE Once Again Endorses Classworks® Special Education Platform

The Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) has re-endorsed Classworks® for an additional three years. The CASE Executive Committee designated the award-winning platform as a CASE-endorsed product that delivers high-quality assessment and instructional resources to special education teachers and students.

CASE has recognized Classworks as a tool that “successfully addresses the inherent challenges of special education,” since 2010. This month, CASE re-endorsed Classworks as a top-tier special education resource through 2027. Every three years, the platform undergoes a rigorous evaluation by the CASE Executive Committee. As part of the review process, CASE considers the impact on achievement for special education students as well as any new enhancements. In addition to the tremendous impact Classworks has on special education students, two significant product changes were made:

  • Classworks released a new student experience focused on student ownership over their learning and growth
  • Dyslexia and Dyscalculia indicators were added to the screener assessments

These and several other  new Classworks enhancements answer the imminent need in the marketplace for comprehensive, valid and reliable programs that simplify processes for special education teachers, and provide a more engaging and motivating experience for students. …Read More

Museum of Science, Boston releases equity-oriented engineering curricula

Key points:

Bringing public science learning beyond its onsite exhibits and programs, the Museum of Science, Boston has launched Youth Engineering Solutions (YES), a collection of preK-8 engineering and STEM curricula designed to engage students in authentic, hands-on challenges connected to their lives and communities.

YES draws on more than three decades of research and development by the Museum’s PreK-12 education division, under the leadership of founding director Dr. Christine Cunningham, senior vice president of STEM Learning at the Museum of Science. …Read More

CoSN names 9 edtech hurdles, trends, and tools

Key points:

Teacher retention, learner agency, and, yes, generative AI are among the Hurdles (challenges), Accelerators (mega-trends) and Tech Enablers (tools) impacting education innovation for the year ahead as outlined in CoSN‘s 2024 global Driving K-12 Innovation report.

CoSN’s Driving K-12 Innovation Advisory Board–made up of 140+ global educators and IT professionals–has selected three top Hurdles, Accelerators, and Tech Enablers impacting education technology for the coming year. This year’s top topics shifted more from 2023 to 2024 than they have in any of the past five cycles of the project, underscoring a turning point in education and emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts.…Read More

Teacher Shortage Solutions for Computer Science and CTE

The lack of computer science technology educators in middle schools continues to be a genuine crisis, especially considering the critical role of STEM education in preparing students for future careers. Traditional hiring practices often result in non-specialist educators teaching computer science, leading to challenges in delivering effective instruction.

Graham Celine, VP of Business Development & Marketing for Intelitek, which offers the online platform CoderZ, emphasized this topic last month at FETC and in this conversation with eSchool. CoderZ aims to address this gap by providing comprehensive tools and resources for both students and educators, enabling structured and engaging computer science education. 

With increasing recognition of computer science as a fundamental skill, particularly evidenced by state standards mandating its inclusion in curricula, CoderZ offers a solution aligned with educational goals and industry demands. Graham says the program’s flexible implementation options cater to various educational settings, from individual subscriptions to district-wide adoption. Moreover, he points to the product’s assessment strategies focused on student outcomes, employing a combination of automated evaluations and teacher-led assessments to ensure comprehensive learning assessment. Have a listen:…Read More

Barberton High School Entrusts Metrasens Advanced Detection Technology to Strengthen Security Measures

NAPERVILLE, Illinois and BARBERTON, Ohio (PRNewswire-PRWeb) —  Metrasens, a leading provider of advanced detection systems for security and safety applications, is pleased to announce its partnership with Barberton High School (BHS), the primary high school within the Barberton City School District. BHS selected Metrasens as part of its proactive approach to fortify campus security measures and uphold a safe learning environment.

With recent incidents of bomb threats targeting schools across the United States, concerns about safety in educational institutions have heightened. Recognizing the evolving challenges in maintaining a secure environment, Henry Muren, Principal of Barberton High School, emphasized the need for increased security measures. In response, BHS took proactive steps partnering with Metrasens to enhance existing security protocols and identify potential threats.

“While no bomb threats were directed at BHS during recent incidents, the administration acknowledges the rising threat and the necessity to stay ahead of potential risks,” stated Henry Muren, Principal of Barberton High School. “We are not living in the world of comfort and security, as we once did.”…Read More

Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Education

Key points:

  • AI is a powerful catalyst for enhancing teaching effectiveness in many ways
  • AI augments teaching by offering real-time insights, and fostering PD
  • Discover more about why AI in education is essential for learning

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of education, ushering in a new era of innovation and transformation. AI technologies are reshaping traditional educational models, offering innovative tools that adapt to individual student needs, streamline administrative tasks, and provide valuable insights through data analytics. From intelligent tutoring systems to immersive virtual reality experiences, AI is transforming how knowledge is imparted and acquired. While the potential benefits are immense, there are also ethical considerations, concerns about data privacy, and challenges associated with equitable access.

This dynamic interplay between technological advancement and educational evolution underscores the significance of understanding and harnessing the impact of AI to create a more adaptive, inclusive, and effective learning environment.…Read More

Cybersecurity staffing shortage is districts’ top concern

Key points:

One in 3 school districts ranked lack of dedicated cybersecurity personnel as their top challenge in safeguarding schools, according to Cybersecure 2024, an annual survey from Clever that polls school administrators and offers an in-depth look at the state of cybersecurity across the U.S. K-12 landscape.

The survey of over 800 administrators, conducted in fall of 2023, illuminates the challenges and opportunities for schools in strengthening cybersecurity. …Read More