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.

5 essential digital learning reads

Key points:

  • Digital learning is a key part of students’ school experiences
  • As technology evolves, so, too, do students’ learning opportunities
  • See related article: Is AI the future of education?
  • For more news on edtech trends, visit eSN’s Digital Learning page

Digital learning is a critical component of what happens in today’s classrooms. Edtech tools, connected learning experiences, and 21st-century skills all play a role in preparing students for the future.

But digital learning trends and technologies change so quickly that sometimes, it’s difficult to know where to focus or where to invest funding, time, and resources.…Read More

5 ways I’ve leveraged AI in my English classroom

Key points:

  • Students will be immersed in an AI world—they need to learn about it
  • One English teacher brainstormed creative ways to get students talking about, and working with, AI
  • See related article: 5 positive ways students can use AI
  • For more news on AI in education, visit eSN’s Digital Learning page

Last spring, a few weeks after I started using ChatGPT, I challenged my high school English students: “Artificial intelligence can do any of your class assignments,” I told them flatly. “Now prove me wrong.”

I wanted to provoke them, to get them to ask questions, and to start using these tools—not to cheat—but to flip their learning on its head. I knew we needed to learn this together. And since that day, we didn’t just shift the paradigms—we sent them into somersaults.…Read More

The ChatGPT-4 genie is out of the bottle

Key points:

  • Education systems that fail to adapt to our new AI reality risk becoming obsolete
  • AI has a role in learning—but we must implement it in the correct way
  • See related article: OpenAI releases ChatGPT teaching guide
  • For more on AI in learning, visit eSN’s Digital Learning page

The education landscape is undergoing a tectonic shift propelled by rapid technological advancements. From the introduction of calculators in the 1970s to the ubiquity of ChatGPT-4 AI in academic settings, the transformation is profound and irreversible.

As Andy Nguyen, a leading expert in artificial intelligence in education, aptly puts it: We are at an inflection point where technology is not just an adjunct to education; it’s becoming the backbone. This article delves into the evolution of educational technology and the challenges and opportunities presented by AI and offers a clarion call for educational systems to adapt swiftly.…Read More

OpenAI releases ChatGPT teaching guide

Key points:

  • OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, is releasing a guide to help educators incorporate the AI tool in their instruction
  • The guide includes use examples and answers frequently-asked questions
  • See related article: An AI to-do list for educators
  • Get the latest news on AI in education by visiting eSN’s Digital Learning page

Educators face myriad dilemmas in the wake of ChatGPT’s explosion, with some of the most popular including teaching with ChatGPT and how to address student use of AI chatbots in assignments.

OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has released a new guide to help educators navigate the many ways AI can be used in teaching and learning. The guide contains examples of how some educators are teaching with ChatGPT, along with a series of frequently-asked questions that may help guide teachers as they seek to strike a balance between accepting AI’s presence and an over-reliance on such tools.…Read More

Crunch the numbers: The latest edtech data you can use right now

Clever, the platform used by more than 75% of U.S. K-12 schools to simplify and secure digital learning, announced last month its Classroom of the Future Report 2023, a new survey of school administrators, teachers, and edtech vendors highlighting five trends shaping classrooms of the future.

According to the data, almost two-thirds of teachers (63%) reported that edtech has been key in lightening their workloads, underscoring its ongoing role in supporting teacher wellness. Moreover, while 68% of teachers said efficiency gains are edtech’s main advantage, even more administrators (74%) attributed its impact on teacher effectiveness – the ability to successfully educate and engage students.

“Edtech applications provide teachers with insights into student progress, identifying their student’s needs and in many cases offering supplemental resources – a significant relief for teachers and a major support for struggling students,” said Mark Choi, Instructional App Specialist of Bellevue School District.…Read More

5 edtech tools to save time this year

Key points:

Back-to-school and the first weeks of the new year are definitely busy for teachers as they are diligently preparing lesson plans and getting to know their students–all while building a sense of community in their classrooms. Teachers must meet the challenge of creating engaging instructional resources to support personalized learning, develop lessons to spark student curiosity, and facilitate opportunities for collaboration.

As an educator for more than 26 years, I understand the importance of leveraging technology to “work smarter, not harder” when planning and implementing lessons. As a digital learning specialist, I support instructional technology implementation in my district as well as provide training for teachers on edtech tools. …Read More

Half of teachers expect AI to make their jobs more challenging

Key points:

A majority of teachers and administrators in a recent survey believe artificial intelligence (AI) will have a significant impact on teaching and learning–but that impact may not be all positive, as roughly half of surveyed teachers believe AI will make their jobs more challenging.

As artificial intelligence (AI) quickly becomes a focal point in U.S. schools, the new survey of educators and administrators conducted by Clever, a digital learning platform, underscores the need for greater preparation for educators and administrators on the use of the emerging technology in classrooms.…Read More

How 5G connectivity supports K-12 innovation—now, and in the future

Key points:

Having reliable, high-speed internet access isn’t a privilege—it’s an absolute essential right for students if they are to have access to the digital learning resources and tools that will help them build skills for future success.

At ISTELive 23, Dr. Kiesha King, senior education administrator for T-Mobile and a former educator, sat down with educators in districts partnering with T-Mobile to examine how 5G connectivity is working in schools and districts across the nation.…Read More