Sensory spaces may help support all students

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Since COVID, many schools across the country have been investing ESSER funds into sensory spaces. The availability of this funding, along with the complex trauma issues brought on by the pandemic–including social isolation, depression and generalized anxiety–have prompted educators to increase their focus on the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) to address all students’ needs. As 2023 winds down, it is important to note this trend and its origins from use primarily in special education to the current, continuing shift towards universal design and inclusion.

What is a sensory space?…Read More

In 2024, education will build systems that champion the science of reading

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Driven in part by Mississippi’s success in improving student literacy scores, educators across the country have been discussing the science of reading and working to align their materials and practices to this research into how students learn to read. In the coming year, that broad trend will continue, with a shift to looking beyond knowledge building as schools, districts, and states begin improving capacity and creating systems aligned to the science of reading.

Here are a few specific predictions about what that could look like in 2024 for policymakers, schools and districts, educators, and publishers.…Read More

STEM programs can’t keep up with AI–let’s focus on Power Skills

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First came headlines about AI-driven cheating. Next emerged a flood of time-saving tools for teachers. 

Attend any education event today, and one phrase will echo in the halls: artificial intelligence.…Read More

AI and connectivity: Pillars of the new education revolution

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The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its availability to the public implies a cross-cutting revolution in all areas of human activity. Like the surface of the internet, this event is profoundly transforming the way we think about creative and problem-solving processes in all industries. No other field will be more impacted in the medium and long term than education.

The application of technologies to improve the educational process, enhance the capabilities of students, and reduce inequality gaps was one of the great promises of the beginning of the XXI century worldwide.…Read More

What are the 8 trends in education technology that will have a major impact in 2024?

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In recent years, K-12 tech innovation news has spread the word about how edtech has witnessed transformative trends shaping the future of learning. The integration of digital tools, online platforms, and innovative applications is revolutionizing traditional teaching methodologies.

Edtech trends encompass personalized learning experiences, adaptive technologies, and the evolution of hybrid learning models. The emphasis on digital literacy, coding education, and the integration of immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality is reshaping classrooms. The landscape of K-12 edtech is dynamic and ever-evolving, reflecting a commitment to preparing students for the demands of the 21st century through innovative technological approaches.…Read More

What are the trends in learning in 2024?

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In 2024, K-12 learning experiences are evolving rapidly, shaped by technological advancements and educational paradigms.

Personalized learning gains momentum as AI-driven adaptive platforms cater to individual student needs, fostering a more customized educational journey. Virtual and augmented reality technologies immerse students in interactive, dynamic lessons, enhancing engagement and comprehension. Collaborative online platforms facilitate global connections, fostering cultural awareness and diverse perspectives. Additionally, emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills takes precedence, preparing students for a rapidly changing future. …Read More

What are the technological impacts on education?

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The technological impacts on K-12 education are profound and transformative, reshaping traditional teaching paradigms. The integration of digital tools, adaptive technologies, and online platforms as detailed in K-12 tech innovation news has personalized learning experiences.

Artificial intelligence tailors instruction, while immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality enhance engagement. Hybrid learning models, blending in-person and online elements, offer flexibility. Digital literacy and coding education prepare students for a technology-centric future. Despite these advancements, challenges like the digital divide necessitate attention.…Read More

What tools and technology are used for teaching?

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In K-12 education, a diverse array of tools and technologies enhance teaching methodologies, creating dynamic and engaging learning environments.

Educational software, interactive whiteboards, and learning management systems facilitate seamless lesson planning and content delivery. Virtual simulations and augmented reality applications–often in K-12 tech innovation news reports–provide immersive experiences, making complex concepts more accessible. Digital resources, including e-books and online platforms, offer versatile learning materials. Collaboration tools and communication platforms connect teachers and students, fostering interactive learning. Adaptive learning platforms, driven by artificial intelligence, personalize instruction to cater to individual student needs.…Read More

K12 cybersecurity threats to your school can be lowered-here is how

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The school bell is about to ring in another academic year, and as children pull out their lunchboxes and teachers decorate their rooms, schools continue to face an onslaught of K12 ransomware while also grappling with perpetually insufficient budgets, legacy IT, and under-staffing concerns.

The increased level of connectivity in today’s schools means richer opportunities for learning and community, but it also puts at further risk the financial data, personally identifiable information (PII) and other sensitive information that educational institutions hold.…Read More

Innovative ideas for school libraries

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What makes an effective school library?

School libraries have evolved from strict, quiet, hush-hush rooms to more interactive spaces with flexible seating, readily-available edtech tools, and educators on hand to help with research, critical resource evaluation, makerspaces.

It’s in school libraries where students often discover and hone their love of coding and programming, create amazing projects via makerspaces, and where they develop important 21st-century skills.…Read More

PBL isn’t used enough–let’s change that

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As teaching–especially in the lower elementary grades–becomes increasingly
challenging with having to manage difficult behaviors, widely varied learning needs,
and skill deficits still lingering from the pandemic, project-based learning (PBL) may
arguably be the most underutilized resource to accommodate these needs.

PBL is not a new concept; in fact, education research articles refer to the idea, though in a much broader sense, beginning in the 1970s. The pedagogical method has since evolved into just that–its own pedagogical approach to bringing learning to life for students through hands-on engagement that lends itself to both differentiation and personalization.…Read More

How video coaching helps us support teacher growth and retention

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At the Van Winkle Early Childhood Center within Jackson Public School District in Mississippi, we enroll students for one year to prepare them for kindergarten. Family engagement is critical to a student’s success throughout their academic career, so we also help prepare families to support their children every step of the way.

We believe that successful mentoring and instructional coaching sustains teachers, especially new ones, throughout the year and improves their ability to build strong relationships with students and families. To ensure that our mentoring and coaching is intentional, focused, and fits into everyone’s tight schedules, we recently began using video. Here’s how it works.…Read More