6 tips to help your students collaborate on awesome podcasts
A 2019 Edison Research survey reported that 51% of Americans above the age of 12 have listened to a podcast. Interest in podcasts has increased 122% since 2014,…
district
How we turned around our new teacher retention
Gaston County Schools, located in North Carolina, is the 10th-largest district in the state. We have a very diverse, economically challenged population in our school system, with roughly…
How we turned around our ability to support BYOD for now and for the future
Rio Rancho (NM) Public Schools is the state’s third-largest school district; it has 18,000 students and more than 2,000 employees across 19 schools.
How we turned around our reading program
Rockford Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in Illinois. More than 28,800 students attend the 44 schools in the district.
Why K-12 accounts payable teams should embrace automation
Across the country, K-12 schools are embracing technology to strengthen learning and engagement inside the classroom. But while technology has an ever-increasing presence in the classroom, the opposite…
Is facial recognition in schools reassuring–or invasive?
In the wake of all-too-common school shootings, school and district leaders are confronted with decisions about how to prevent--or respond to--violent incidents. Some are turning to facial recognition…
5 key network steps for supporting educational technology
Today’s K-12 students are coming to the classrooms toting three or more mobile devices, from smartphones and laptops to tablets and smart watches.
6 lessons our district learned from our move to blended learning
Temple Independent School District (ISD), which is located north of Austin and south of Waco, Texas, has a very diverse student population. More than 75 percent of our…
10 findings about K-12 digital learning
Digital learning itself is expanding in schools, but access to classroom and home technology still remains a major obstacle, according to a new study from Schoology. The State…
5 things standing between K-12 schools and innovation
Sustaining and scaling innovation is one of the top hurdles K-12 district leaders face as they strive to bring new and bold ideas to education, according to a…
How to instill an entrepreneurial mindset district-wide
As the superintendent of a large urban high school district, I have the opportunity to help identify and implement innovative programs that help prepare our students for success.
3 must-haves for a mobile learning environment
Beekmantown (NY) Central School District, a rural district of 2,070 students, was on a mission to be the most progressive educational institution in the area. When funds were…
4 keys to supporting college and career readiness
Preparing students for college and a career is the mission of every public K-12 school system, and this work begins by establishing a strong foundation for success in…
5 new developments in physical and network safety
As technology improves, so do solutions to keep students and teachers safe in school buildings and on school networks. This is the main reason why school safety, including…
IT leaders, admins still fear network attacks
Balancing access to educational resources with security needs remains a top challenge for school district IT leaders, according to new findings from the Speak Up Research Project for…
5 different ways IT directors handle student data privacy
As districts continue to go 1:1 and encourage teachers to integrate digital tools into their lessons, IT directors need to pay close attention to the way edtech companies…
10 conversations about digital equity
Educators universally agree that equity should be one of the top priorities in every school and in every district across the country. Addressing equity issues is more difficult…
6 key principles for a successful SEL program
A social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum adds valuable lessons to a student’s normal school day that will help propel them beyond academic success and onto success in life. No…
3 reasons elementary schools should adopt an LMS—and where to begin
Is it really possible for young learners to effectively use a learning management system (LMS)? This is a common question administrators and educational practitioners ask when considering LMS…
Want to get struggling readers enthusiastic about reading? Here’s how
With 10 million students in grades K-12 struggling to read, taking those struggling readers from disengaged to enthused may seem like a huge feat. However, doing just one…
3 data-driven tips for successful bonds and levies
At some point during the year, many school districts will fall into one of these three areas: Thinking about planning a bond or levy measure Attempting to pass…
10 districts with awesome brands
No one is great at everything, but everyone is great at something. These 10 school districts identified why their district is awesome, then structured everything they do around…
Are virtual schools failing students?
Virtual schools continued to under-perform academically, including in comparison to blended schools. Overall, 36.4 percent of full-time virtual schools and 43.1 percent of blended schools received acceptable performance…
Beware of ransomware: Here’s how to protect your district
A new, disturbing pattern has cropped back up that is reminiscent of some nasty behavior from the early days of Internet nefarious exploits: targeting schools and students and…
6 reasons why district-wide tech implementations are the right choice
In any given K-12 district, you’ll find at least some teachers choosing their own edtech products. Why? If their district hasn’t shown tech leadership, there are no shortage…
Digital footprint? Try digital tattoo, experts say
In digital citizenship education, the idea of a digital footprint--the "tracks" students leave behind online as they interact on social media and put information online--is nothing new. But…
Fixing the grade passback pain point
Grade passback is a pain point for educators and school systems. Just go online and look up the help desk for popular grading platforms and you’ll notice the…
3 ways districts can use AR and AI
Artificial intelligence (AI), mixed reality, and cognitive science research sound like science fiction for today’s classrooms, but this technology is available today. Innovation and technology are as integral…
How do I share something difficult with my colleague?
Something happened. Your colleague said something you found a bit harsh or inappropriate. Something inaccurate or uncalled for. She said it to you. Or to a student. Gulp.…
The New Librarian: Using advocacy to promote leadership
As innovation coordinator for instructional technology, information & library media at Parkway School District in St. Louis, Missouri, Bill Bass has long demonstrated his commitment to 21st-century learning.…
3 tips for jumpstarting your district’s connectivity discussion
This year’s E-rate cycle may be over, but in order to be well prepared for the next one, now is the time to start the connectivity conversation with…
6 ways school bus wi-fi could benefit your district
Gaps in internet access are an all-too-familiar struggle for many schools, particularly those in rural or low-income districts where coverage is spotty or too expensive. In 2015, President…
Can I give you some feedback? And other ways to not offer ideas
Have you ever heard the question, “Can I give you some feedback?” Did you want to say “No” immediately? Did your fight-or-flight reflex go into hyper mode? If…
Why schools need a knowledge base
When I have a problem with my iPad, I look to Google. Google is my worldwide knowledge base for fixing my toilet, unsticking my iPad, and figuring out…
How to use data to increase student success rates
Roughly 10 percent of freshmen class students nationwide find themselves struggling to earn enough credits to pass ninth grade, leaving them with only a 20-percent chance of graduating…
How to ask the questions people want to answer
“How was your winter holiday?” “What are your resolutions for 2018?” “How are you today?” Lots of eager ears are awaiting your responses. Or are they? And are…
Teachers: English learners need resources, support
Most K-12 educators (80 percent) said they believe English Language Learner (ELL) instruction is a top priority for their school or district, according to a new survey. Ninety-nine…
A year in the life of a student-centered library
There’s no “typical” day for a library media specialist. In one school day, we can teach a class about fake ... Read more
Blog: Volusia County Schools Enhance Learning Through Digital Classrooms
Volusia County Schools set into motion a 5-year technology plan in order to transition to all-digital classrooms by 2020. Comprised ... Read more
Cost is still keeping districts from boosting broadband speeds
Cost remains the biggest hurdle for schools trying to increase broadband connectivity speeds for students, according to CoSN's 2017 Annual Infrastructure Survey. The majority of school districts--85 percent,…