For people of a certain age, Jennifer Womble could be described as the E.F. Hutton of edtech—when she talks people listen. Since 2010, she has served as the Conference Chair for the Future of Education Technology Conference (#FETC), the largest independent #edtech conference in North America. I had the opportunity to tap Jennifer in the weeks leading up to this year’s events. Her insights, as per usual, are invaluable whether you can make it to the show in person or not. Have a listen:
Live at FETC 2025—eSchool News Exclusive Coverage
One highlight from FETC’s Startup Pavilion is Florida-based Scholar Education, which uses AI chatbot dogs to help tutor students and give feedback to teachers. How it works: A friendly AI-powered classroom assistant provides academic guidance and encourages engagement. The AI dogs will deliver daily reports to parents so they can see feedback on their kids’ learning, creating a direct line of communication between home and school. See it in action for yourself:
Once again, Pitsco Education has come to FETC with cutting-edge content that includes preK-12 core science, CTE, and hands-on STEM curriculum. Through Pitsco’s diverse range of products, interactive activities, standards-aligned curriculum, and scalable resources, the company creates engaging and meaningful learning experiences that enhance student involvement and promote lasting academic success. Check them out at Booth 2256 and http://www.pitsco.com.
For more than 50 years, Pitsco has offered a comprehensive range of scalable hands-on STEM resources and curriculum. Helping educators create learning environments that address all learning styles and help all students find success while tackling challenges, being creative, articulating ideas, and thinking with their hands.
AI can’t replace teachers, but it can support them. Merlyn, a voice-controlled AI classroom assistant from Merlyn Mind, is designed to help teachers and students stay engaged and focused.
Merlyn empowers teachers to move around the classroom and manage classroom technology seamlessly, keeping distractions to a minimum and ensuring teachers and students remain connected.
Its ability to adapt lessons in real-time means that Merlyn create a dynamic, engaging environment that fosters better learning outcomes.
As the lines further blur between media and journalism, between real and fake, and sources become more obscure, there may be no greater imperative for educators than helping students navigate the evolving landscape of information. At FETC, Liz Collins, a senior product manager for K-12 at Gale, part of Cengage Group, is sharing best practices and stories from their customer school districts. Click through for some of her insights.
eSchool News scored a backstage tour of the latest Chromebooks, workstations, and peripherals offered by CTL, and was able to chat about how their lifecycle services help roll out successful, sustainable technology implementations for students, teachers, and staff. CTL is a global computing solutions provider on a mission to empower success at school, in the workplace, and at home. For 30+ years, customers in more than 50 countries have relied on CTL’s award-winning offerings of Chromebooks, Chromeboxes, laptop and desktop PCs, monitors, high-end servers, and video collaboration tools.
CTL also serves as a computing configuration partner to deliver customized solutions with comprehensive lifecycle services and support from purchase through recycling. CTL’s expertise has earned designations as a Google Education Premier Partner, a Google Cloud Partner, and an Intel Technology Platinum Partner. In 2024, CTL was officially certified as a B Corp™ for its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Visit CTL at Booth # 2463. For further information and to purchase products, go to ctl.net.
Linewize, the North American division of global safety and student wellbeing leader Qoria, announced the launch of EdTech Insights, a new platform designed to transform data into actionable intelligence for K-12 schools and districts at Booth #1083.
Linewize EdTech Insights brings a school district’s entire app inventory into one location, giving IT leaders deeper analytics into adoption, licensing, compliance, and more. This solution will empower IT leaders to optimize costs, ensure compliance and, ultimately, drive instructional impact.
The key features of the new tool will equip district IT leaders to:
The National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) announced a groundbreaking effort to help support its members with the creation of a recruiting portal. This collaborative effort brings together the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF), LeagueOS, and the NECC to create the largest recruiting platform in North America. The recruiting portal will be managed by LeagueOS, the official competition platform of the NECC. The portal can be accessed by visiting https://portal.leagueos.gg/
eSchool News was able to catch up with Mittal Parekh, Senior Director, Product Marketing and Technical Marketing for RUCKUS CommScope about the role of AI in primary education, especially when it comes to district network maintenance. As digital curriculum is becoming mainstream and IT teams are getting leaner, AI is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity.
Listen as Mittal breaks down these technology shifts and how RUCKUS is enabling schools to use AI in delivering digital learning through RUCKUS One. RUCKUS One is an AI-driven network assurance and business intelligence platform that enables you to easily manage a converged multi-access public and private enterprise network, make better business decisions, and deliver exceptional user experiences. For more information about Ruckus CommScope at FETC see them at Booth #1349 or click here.
The Forney Independent School District sought to break away from traditional classroom setups, aiming to enhance teacher mobility and foster greater interactivity. Their primary priorities were reliability, consistency, and cost-effectiveness. By pairing Vivi with a projector in every classroom, the district found an ideal solution that satisfied the needs of both teachers and technology staff.
Forney ISD faced a challenge familiar to many educational institutions: traditional classrooms with setups that limited teacher mobility and interactivity, hindering dynamic engagement with students.
Prior to implementing Vivi, Forney ISD encountered significant challenges with their classroom technology. Teachers were confined to fixed AV systems located at designated desks, restricting their mobility and limiting opportunities for interactive learning. Furthermore, the district aimed to standardize AV technology across all campuses, ensuring equal access to high-quality resources regardless of each school’s fundraising capabilities.
KinderLab Robotics, creator of the award-winning KIBO robot, is expanding its curriculum offerings to serve students in grades 3–5 with Exploring with KIBO. Building on KIBO’s proven success in early childhood education, KinderLab’s playful, screen-free robotics kits now offer a seamless learning progression that spans pre-K through 5th grade.
The new curriculum includes 60 hours of standards-aligned lessons and activities specifically designed for upper elementary grades, with 20 hours of instruction per grade level. Serving as a direct follow-on to the Growing with KIBO K-2 curriculum, Exploring with KIBO allows older children to expand their computational thinking and computer science skills utilizing KIBO’s playful extension sets and engaging cross-curricular activities.
This new curriculum allows district leaders to extend their existing KIBO implementations with age-appropriate, challenging content that maintains the platform’s signature screen-free, hands-on learning approach. The expanded curriculum features:
LEGO® Education‘s new LEGO® Education Science is intended to help educators bring hands-on science learning to more students. Designed to boost engagement, LEGO Education Science features 120+ engaging, standards-aligned science lessons and ready-to-use class presentations that bring science to life for teachers and students (K-8 or ages 5-11+).
Critical thinking skills and an understanding of science concepts and practices are increasingly needed for the future. Yet, the State of Classroom Engagement Report: Science Edition, a survey commissioned by LEGO Education, found that 45 percent of students who listed science as one of their “least favorite” subjects described it as “too hard”, and 37 percent felt they were “bad at it.” Notably, 58 percent of these students were girls, highlighting the ongoing STEM gap.
These findings underscore the need to reimagine science class to be more inclusive for students and teachers. In addition to understanding scientific concepts, science learning also plays a crucial role in developing skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity. Every student deserves to succeed in science, and, together with educators, LEGO Education wants to make that a reality.
Who: There are few people in Orlando as prepared to talk about the state of play in edtech than Sandra Paul, Director of IT and Operations, Township of Union Public Schools and past Senior Instructional Technologist at Rutgers University. From AI to cybersecurity to digital literacy, you can find her in multiple sessions listed below. Want a sneak peek? Click and listen:
Sessions:
15-Jan-2025 08:00 AM 08:45 AM
Information Technology Leaders Track Orientation
15-Jan-2025 09:00 AM 09:45 AM
Cybersecurity: Hacking Education
16-Jan-2025 11:00 AM 11:45 AM
AI: Data Privacy, Security and Cybersecurity
16-Jan-2025 02:30 PM 03:15 PM
Diversity/Equity in IT: A Personal Story
17-Jan-2025 08:00 AM 08:45 AM
Engaging Students After School with STEM Programs
Cellairis announced the launch of The Cyber Pouch, a solution designed to address the growing challenge of cell phone usage in schools. Distraction caused by mobile devices has become a pressing issue in classrooms nationwide, impacting focus, security, and even academic performance. The Cyber Pouch offers a proactive solution to this problem by creating a distraction-free learning environment while ensuring accessibility when needed. The Cyber Pouch is simple yet highly effective:
• Blocks RF Signals: Once a device is secured in the double-sealed Velcro enclosure, it is shielded from all incoming and outgoing signals, eliminating distractions.
• Accessible in Emergencies: No additional hardware is required to unlock the pouch, allowing easy access to devices when necessary.
• Durable Design: The Cyber Pouch is built for long-lasting use.
• Customizable: Schools and organizations can personalize their pouches with custom logos, ensuring a professional and cohesive look.
• Practical Features: Includes a transparent ID holder pocket and a carabiner for convenient attachment to backpacks.
For more information: Cyberpouch@cellairis.com.
zSpace unveiled the zSpace Imagine Learning Solution—a headset-free AR/VR laptop system designed specifically for elementary learners. The all-in-one solution offers a platform that integrates hardware, software, and hands-on lessons. The devices feature zView technology, allowing for collaborative group work and presentations. All laptops come with a 3-year warranty. Each app is designed to align with elementary-level learning standards. To help teachers integrate this powerful tool into their classrooms, zSpace offers on-site and virtual professional development. This includes comprehensive training and ongoing support to ensure educators are fully equipped to deliver immersive learning experiences. To learn more about the Imagine Learning Solution, go to zSpace Booth 588 or visit zSpace.com.
Who: Brittney Tarr is a PreK-6 STEM Specialist at Thomas Metcalf Laboratory School and a doctoral student at Illinois State University researching the development of STEM identities within elementary aged students and the benefits of play-based, exploratory learning. In her 10 years of teaching, she has been a special education teacher, and ELL teacher, and a STEM specialist. Her passion lies in making STEM accessible so all students are empowered to be change agents in their world.
Listen in as she updates her POV on the state of classroom robotics:
Sessions:
Key points:
At the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC), forward-thinking educators and edtech leaders gather to brainstorm strategies and promote innovations that transform and teaching and learning in their classrooms, schools, and districts.
Running Jan. 14-17, 2025, in Orlando, the annual conference looks to the future of edtech’s role in teaching and learning is full of inspiring keynotes, information-packed sessions, dynamic exhibit hall presentations, and more.
Session tracks focus on topics and insights relevant to various K-12 leadership titles: district leaders, school leaders, classroom leaders, IT leaders, coach leaders, inclusion leaders, esports leaders, and library leaders.
Here’s a look at just a few of the sessions on tap:
1. Best Practices for an AI Infused Classroom: Our conversation surrounding AI must evolve beyond mere usage. Instead, we must delve into the nuanced characteristics of various Large Language Models (LLMs) and student-facing AI to discern how their unique capabilities can be leveraged to achieve diverse educational objectives. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each LLM, we can strategically deploy them to optimize learning outcomes, personalize instruction, and foster critical thinking and creativity in our students.
(January 15; 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.; South 320GH)
The Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) welcomes forward-thinking educators and edtech leaders as they seek to transform and innovate teaching and learning in their classrooms, schools, and districts.
Running Jan. 14-17, 2025, in Orlando, the annual conference is full of inspiring keynotes, information-packed sessions, dynamic exhibit hall presentations, and more.
Session tracks focus on topics and insights relevant to various K-12 leadership titles. Attendees can customize their learning experience according to their preferred tracks, which are designed to focus on specific topics and roles within the education technology landscape.
Session tracks include:
Like it or not, AI is definitely here to stay. And while generative AI tools will continue to evolve and offer new capabilities in all industries, AI’s influence on education is far-reaching and, at times, a bit scary.
Some educators have embraced generative AI for teaching and learning, while others are a bit hesitant.
At FETC 2025, AI-focused sessions delve into the practicalities behind classroom AI, explore the potential to personalize and expand learning for students, and look to the innovative potential AI has to transform education.
There’s bound to be a session that’s right for you and will meet (and expand) your AI comfort level. Find one now!
(Editor’s note: These sessions are just a few of the many insightful and enlightening AI sessions at FETC. We recommend searching the program for additional AI-focused sessions.)