The ChatGPT-4 genie is out of the bottle

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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

Now is the time to plan for next year’s technology upgrades

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While school districts are well underway into their new year – and their new budget – many are already planning for the year ahead, and technology remains one of the top priorities schools focus on to keep their students, faculty, staff, and administration effectively moving forward.

There are significant advantages of planning technology upgrades over the winter, not the least of which is moving your school forward by giving your leadership team — including the technology and finance directors, as well as operations staff and even your school board —time to research, plan, and coordinate any upgrade initiatives that will need to happen over the summer. Here are just a few advantages to planning ahead of time for next year’s technology upgrades.…Read More

Driving Innovation, Discovery Education Reaches New Heights in New Hampshire Classrooms 

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Department of Education and Discovery Education are thrilled to announce that Granite State educators, students and families have reached one million engagements on the Discovery Education digital platform – helping to support learners statewide.  Discovery Education is a worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.     

“This unique digital learning platform is sparking curiosity and igniting wonder for both students and teachers through a suite of educational strategies that are helping students learn now and into the future,” said Frank Edelblut, education commissioner. “This milestone deserves to be celebrated, as we know public school districts across New Hampshire have taken advantage of Discovery Education’s innovative and engaging instructional content.” 

In 2021, the New Hampshire Department of Education selected Discovery Education’s award-winning K-12 learning platform to support all New Hampshire learning environments with high quality instructional material. Since then, there have been more than one million engagements statewide for all Discovery Education resources. …Read More

Big Deals—AI GUIDANCE for Schools Toolkit, Assessment PD for Teachers, and EV Buses Hit the Road.

This month, TeachAI, an initiative led by Code.org, ETS, the International Society of Technology in Education, Khan Academy, and the World Economic Forum, launched an AI Guidance for Schools toolkit to help education systems globally address gaps in AI guidance and policy. This resource was co-authored by Code.org, CoSN, Digital Promise, European EdTech Alliance, and PACE with input and review from policymakers, school leaders, teachers and leading tech organizations.

A recent global survey by UNESCO found that only seven percent of schools worldwide provided guidance on the proper use of AI in classrooms. The toolkit provides a framework for incorporating AI in education, real-world policy examples, sample guidance language, and resources aimed at staff, parents, and students.

“We offer the AI Guidance for Schools Toolkit in a spirit of humility and with the desire to help education leaders meet the urgent call for practical guidance on the safe, effective, and responsible use of AI,” said Pat Yongpradit, Chief Academic Officer at Code.org and lead of the TeachAI initiative. “By providing real-world examples and sample language, we hope education systems now have a place to start their discussions.” …Read More

Illustrative Mathematics and Imagine Learning Expand Partnership to Empower More Students in Math

TUCSON, Ariz. /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ —  Illustrative Mathematics (IM), a nonprofit dedicated to creating a world where all learners know, use, and enjoy mathematics, announces the organization is expanding its partnership with  Imagine Learning, the largest provider of digital curriculum solutions in the U.S.

The fortified relationship with the Imagine Learning team will continue scaling the reach of the high-quality curriculum with the launch of Imagine IM, Imagine Learning’s new edition of the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum, empowering even more students to learn grade-level mathematics and develop positive mathematical identities. Available for implementation in the 2024–2025 school year, Imagine IM provides reinvigorated print resources along with an immersive digital experience. Imagine Learning will support its district partners with effective professional learning and ongoing implementation support.

According to a recent research brief from the RAND Corporation, more than 50% of educators reported wanting materials that better engage students and provide more options for students with diverse abilities. With math scores taking the largest dip in decades, as evidenced by the 2023 NAEP scores, this need is greater than ever. Imagine Learning and Illustrative Mathematics are answering the call with engaging materials that meet students where they are and provide opportunities to learn grade-level mathematics.…Read More

How a true teacher hero advocates for student equity and belonging

The 2023 eSchool News K-12 Hero Awards honors educators for their exemplary use of innovative edtech to support student learning. Interviewed and profiled here is winner John Arthur, a 6th grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School nominated by Follett. Stay tuned for two more winner profiles to come.

John Arthur, a sixth-grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, was the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year and one of four finalists for 2021 National Teacher of the Year.

Now in his 10th year of teaching, John’s students have gained national recognition as champions for children and immigrants like them through music videos and other digital content they create and share across platforms as @9thEvermore (on YouTube and Twitter/X). Moreover, he uses Kwame Alexander Bookfest book club from noted author Kwame and Follett to help his students see themselves in story, build literacy skills, and allow students to share their experiences and emotions through books.…Read More

Poptential™ High School Economics Curriculum by Certell Offers Free Stock Market Investment Lessons

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — October historically has been a month of notable volatility in the stock market, with historic crashes like the 1929 Great Depression and Black Monday in 1987. These events have given rise to a sense of “Octoberphobia” among some investors. Lessons on these events and others are included in Common Sense Economics from Poptential™, a comprehensive and free high school digital curriculum. Click to tweet.

“It’s never too early for teachers to engage students in discussions about the history of the stock market, its impact on economic growth or decline, and how it can potentially empower students to invest in their own futures,” said Julie Smitherman, a former social studies teacher and director of content at Certell, Inc., the nonprofit behind Poptential.

Poptential course packages boost student engagement by using a variety of pop culture media to illustrate concepts, including those taken from sitcoms, movies, animations, cartoons, late-night shows, and other sources. Lessons on the history of the stock market and how to invest in stocks are covered in the new 2023 Poptential Common Sense Economics e-book, including:…Read More

How schools can help students overcome the digital divide

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When it comes to digital equity, U.S. schools are well-positioned to help families get online with low-cost, high-speed internet options through the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), according to a new study from Discovery Education and Comcast.

However, the study also found that educators lack centralized resources and direct support necessary to successfully overcome barriers to the digital divide. Released to help support this year’s Digital Inclusion Week theme of “Building Connected Communities,” key findings include: …Read More

OpenAI releases ChatGPT teaching guide

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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

Fixing the K-12 cybersecurity problem

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In early September, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced a voluntary pledge for K-12 education technology software manufacturers to commit to designing products with a greater focus on security. In the announcement, CISA mentioned that six leaders in the education software industry had already committed to the pledge: PowerSchool, ClassLink, Clever, GG4L, Instructure, and D2L.

“We need to address K-12 cybersecurity issues at its foundation by ensuring schools and administrators have access to technology and software that is safe and secure right out of the box,” said CISA director Jen Easterly. “I want to thank ClassLink, Clever, D2L, GG4L, Instructure, and PowerSchool, who have already signed this pledge and for their leadership in this area. We need all K-12 software manufacturers to help us improve cybersecurity for the education sector by committing to prioritize security as a critical element of product development.”…Read More