eSchool News | classroom tech page 1

From Mental Health to Math–New Insights on Improving Instruction

In this week’s episode of Getting There: Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan:

3 ways chatbots can support mental health in schools
3 classroom tech innovations & how to secure funding for them
How to bring creativity into mathematics

How to fund 3 must-have classroom tech tools

Classroom technology is essential, and nothing made that more obvious than the COVID-19 pandemic that forced learning to go virtual and hybrid. Technology upgrades help make students feel included and achieve their full potential. But funding for classroom tech tools is always a challenge.

Funding challenges aren’t impossible to solve, however. Join a panel of experts who, during this eSchool News webinar, will explore the most relevant technologies to help you upgrade your district’s classrooms and enhance learning for all students.

You’ll also learn about the key ways schools can access funding for these critical upgrades by understanding new federal sources, important timelines, and the checklist you need for ensuring your highest chances of funding success.…Read More

3 must-have classroom tech innovations–and how to fund them

Classroom technology is more than a nice amenity–it’s critical for student learning and engagement.

But with funding an ever-present concern, and with more classrooms moving to hybrid instruction, it’s important that classroom technology reach all students in a way that prioritizes 21st-century skills development.

“Really, the key in our classrooms today is student engagement,” says Jairo Casco, principal of Hogg New Tech Center in Dallas ISD. “We know that as our students are more involved in their learning, as we’re fostering student agency, they’re engaged. We have to look at what technologies are out there, look at how the teacher is able to facilitate the learning, differentiate the learning, and how students can own their learning in different spaces.”…Read More

Here’s why digital math tools are a must-have

Over the last 20 years, I have worked with education technology in many different ways. As a teacher, I saw how much time it took to search for and learn about new classroom tech. When I transitioned to a district employee, technology continued to be a part of my job in a different way. During this time, I worked on a program that put a laptop into the hands of every student. And now, I’m helping to develop technology for other teachers.

Regardless of where I was at in my career, one thing has always stayed the same. I’ve always found that technology can be an incredible aid in both teaching and learning.

Getting the right tools in students’ hands…Read More

1 2

Teacher absent? How tech can bridge the gap

The teacher-absence policy at my school was clear: The teacher isn’t coming to school? No technology for the class. The rationale is that it’s just not worth it. Devices are too valuable to be trusted with kids when they don’t have experienced supervision. Only the classroom teacher can manage classroom tech.

It’s true that subs don’t always find quick success with classroom management. Some can maintain a positive environment by establishing relationships with students right away. But devices cost a lot of money, and schools typically will do everything they can to protect that investment.

But how does this policy affect students?…Read More

1 2

8 creative classroom tech tips—from a teacher who had very little of it

School districts in the United States spend billions of dollars each year to purchase technology for the classroom, yet the lack of technology and internet access in the nation’s public schools continues to be an issue. Often, a teacher who is faced with little classroom tech will feel overwhelmed and will resort to more traditional teaching methods.

This article outlines strategies for teachers to increase the impact of the technology to which they are limited. I have purposely left coordinated and intentional BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) programs out of this list. Even with the best-planned BYOD program, there will be students who do not have devices to bring.

These are strategies I have used in my experience in education, which began in a room with one computer and no projector, as well as strategies I have helped teachers to implement in my role as a professional development consultant and instructional coach. It’s important for teachers to focus not on what isn’t in their classroom but rather how they can use what they have.…Read More

1 2

8 innovative ideas for the tech-strapped teacher

Slow internet? No devices? Here’s how to make the most of limited classroom tech for next to nothing

School districts in the United States spend billions of dollars each year to purchase technology for the classroom, yet the lack of technology and internet access in the nation’s public schools continues to be an issue. Often, a teacher who is faced with little technology in the classroom will feel overwhelmed and will resort to more traditional teaching methods.