Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

Promoting digital citizenship during a pandemic

When the coronavirus pandemic forced school closures and stay-at-home orders across the country, the internet became a social and academic lifeline for young people. Students are now engaging in distance learning daily. They’re also spending more time on social media as a way to stay connected to friends and family.

This increase in the amount of time spent online also means there is greater potential for problems such as cyberbullying and other concerns. It highlights the importance now more than ever of understanding and practicing good digital citizenship.

Related content: Moving from digital citizenship to digital leadership…Read More

Want to be a stronger digital leader?

In a rapidly changing world, educators have been forced to self-examine and come to terms with approaches that are inefficient and irrelevant–from outmoded ways of setting up classrooms to equating school success solely on standardized metrics. Innovation and transformation in schools can’t happen unless we tackle entrenched practices and mindsets in bold and specific ways.

How can we best harness the positive aspects of technology to improve student learning and the schools we work in?

As a first step, we need to disrupt the status quo that’s embedded in the education system by developing new ways of looking at things that transform the world. We create permanent change only by identifying and communicating what shifts need to occur as well as illustrating how effective these approaches are at improving education. When we apply principals of efficacy to the Pillars of Digital Leadership, we’re well on our way toward integrating technology with confidence that learning will be transformed.…Read More

How to build human capacity for a digital leap

Today’s school technology leaders must move forward to leverage tech

digital-leadersStrengthening the human technology capacity in our school systems is imperative if we are to enhance the digital learning environment and prepare students for success in college, career, and life.

The above statement sounds simple, but in fact, it is a “wicked problem” facing education systems today.

There are many challenges surrounding the effective use of technology in the classroom: lack of devices, slow networks, inadequate technical support, too little professional development, insufficient budgets, and much more. But, in the words of the old Pogo cartoon, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”…Read More