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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.

Building a Successful Certification Program at Your Institution

In a world where competition for jobs, pay increases, and academic success continues to increase, certifications offer hope because they are a credible, third-party assessment of one’s skill and knowledge for a given subject. According to a study conducted across the state of Florida, those who earn certifications while in school are more likely to have a higher GPA, are more likely to graduate, are more likely to enroll in a post-secondary program, and are less likely to drop out. Furthermore, once the candidate is in the workforce, certification improves a candidate’s marketability and earning power, with some professionals making up to 7% more than their non-certified colleagues.

Building a certification program from the ground up often involves significant legwork from educators and administrators. Get advice below on the best ways to build a successful certification program at your school.

Research Funding Options

One of the common issues faced by many educators is a lack of funding. Asking for additional budget to grow or increase resources in your classroom can be a frustrating process.…Read More

One way to address student mental health? Bring the clinic to school

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

Many Michigan school administrators say they’ve often served as stand-in public health officials during the pandemic. So it’s no surprise that districts across the state are eager to get some backup from a program that opens clinics in school buildings.

School-based health centers make it convenient for students to leave class and walk down the hall for therapy, a medical checkup, or a dental appointment. While the first centers in Michigan opened decades ago, policymakers have renewed interest in them in the wake of COVID and the ongoing student mental health crisis.…Read More

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Many educators say video is more effective than text-based content

A new survey predicts that video in education will continue to grow, as a majority of educators say they believe video content is more engaging and effective than text-based content.

The State of Video in Education 2022 report from Kaltura assesses the growth and evolution of video’s impact on education over the past year and providing insights into the coming year. This is Kaltura’s eighth annual report on video in education and the first since vaccination programs for COVID-19 enabled many teachers and students to resume in-person education.

As the use of video in education has grown greatly over the past two years, the study’s goal was to provide answers to pressing questions facing educators about the long term value of video in education, namely, what are the benefits of using video for learning beyond the pandemic and how is video transforming education over the long term?…Read More

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The State of Utah Empowers Educators to Close the Career Exposure Gap for Students Across the State

AMERICAN FORK, Utah, Jan. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ —  YouScience, the only fully-integrated platform provider of highly accurate aptitude-based assessments, personalized career guidance, and industry-recognized certifications, today announced the results of its new statewide talent report of Utah middle school and high school students, ” 2022 Utah Talent Report.” These initial findings reveal that while Utah students possess the necessary talents needed for Utah’s in-demand careers, many students do not show interest in these areas. The results point to a potential “career exposure gap,” meaning that students who are naturally talented in areas such as computers and technology and manufacturing show little interest in these fields, often because of lack of exposure to existing opportunities and awareness of their own abilities.

YouScience analyzed the anonymized results of more than 23,000 Utah middle and high school students through its  YouScience Discovery aptitude-based career guidance assessment, which was made available to Utah schools statewide for the 2021–2022 school year. The findings showed that across all grade levels there was a mismatch between the careers students were interested in and the careers for which they had aptitudes.

Utah educators and educational stakeholders are leading the charge in working to close this gap by using YouScience Discovery, which assesses each student’s natural talents (aptitudes) and strengths and then introduces the students to a wide variety of related career opportunities. YouScience Discovery provides students with insights into how their natural talents translate to careers where they are naturally wired to perform well and find satisfaction, and can often be more successful. Natural talents can be detected as early as middle school (aptitudes solidify by age 14), providing educators and parents time to ensure students build on their natural strengths through course selection and, ultimately, college and career choices.…Read More

Oregon Department of Education Expands Availability of YouScience Discovery, Bringing Aptitude-Based Career Guidance to 180 Schools Across the State

AMERICAN FORK, Utah, Nov. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — YouScience, the only provider of a fully-integrated platform that delivers highly accurate aptitude-based assessments, personalized career guidance, and industry-recognized certifications, announced today that the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has expanded its pilot of YouScience Discovery, its chosen aptitude-based career guidance tool, free of charge, to 180 middle and high schools across Oregon.

YouScience Discovery was originally piloted to 25 Oregon middle schools earlier this year. Upon successful testimonies from teachers and district leaders, and with their current pathway programs filling up to capacity, the ODE decided to expand the pilot. With the expansion, now more students can be empowered by discovering their natural abilities, be directed into education and career areas that align with their aptitudes, and be exposed to in-demand jobs. 

Through YouScience, students are often introduced to careers they may not have been familiar with – helping to eliminate any natural biases and opening doors to previously unconsidered opportunities. Additionally, schools and districts are able to ensure that educational programs offered in schools match in-demand jobs in their areas.

“We’re dedicated to helping students uncover their natural abilities. This not only boosts their self-confidence, but also helps them reach their full potential in both their education and future careers. We’re proud to be working with the ODE to bring YouScience Discovery to more Oregon students across the state,” said Edson Barton, founder and CEO, YouScience.

YouScience Discovery is built on learnings from 50-plus years of scientific research, and delivers the most accurate aptitude assessment and career guidance solution on the market. While most career tests on the market only provide insights on an individual’s interests or personalities, YouScience Discovery delves into a person’s true abilities, enabling more personal, accurate and actionable career guidance. 

“We were seeing great success with our students in using YouScience Discovery (combining aptitude and interest) in determining their educational and career pathways,” said Jim Taylor, Career Education and Human Resources Education Specialist, Office of Teaching, Learning & Assessment, Oregon Department of Education. “YouScience also helped us identify gaps in our curriculum. Now we are able to see the population of students who have aptitudes in certain areas and ensure we have the educational programs that match these aptitudes for them to succeed.” 

“With YouScience we’re able to get students – as early as middle school – on the right educational pathway that match their natural talents so they can have a successful career in the future,” said Karla Clark, CC4A/STEAM Project Manager, Southern Oregon Education Service District. “YouScience is helping to close the career gap and increase access and equity for our students. Everyone who has tried has loved it.” 

About YouScience
YouScience is the only provider of a fully-integrated platform that delivers highly accurate aptitude-based assessments, personalized career guidance, and industry-recognized certifications, empowering individuals in their educational and career pathways. Leveraging proven research and industry input, YouScience helps individuals identify their natural talents, validate their skills and knowledge, and get matched with real-world educational and career pathways in high-demand occupations. YouScience is the preferred choice of individuals, parents, educators, and counselors to guide and support educational and career pathways, currently serving more than 7,000 educational institutions and nearly one million users.

What will it take to protect schools’ digital landscape?

Malicious actors have been turning their attention to the nation’s schools in a significant and unwelcome way. The State of K-12 Cybersecurity: 2020 Year in Review report found an 18 percent increase in publicly-disclosed incidents over 2019 – the equivalent of more than two incidents per school day in 2020. Education was the second-most targeted sector in the first half of 2021, according to the a midyear threat report.

The shift to remote learning last year is partly to blame for this rise in attacks, as teachers and students relied on technology to deliver lessons, complete homework, and interact with students. When attackers target schools, learning is often disrupted, sometimes for days, as critical systems are taken offline.

The problem is significant enough that President Joe Biden signed into law the K-12 Cybersecurity Act, strengthening federal efforts to examine the cyber risks facing these institutions. And just what are those risks – and what needs to happen next? Read on.…Read More

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SETDA Names Dr. Karen Richardson the Recipient of the 2021 Candice Dodson Influencer Award

June 17, 2021 (Washington, D.C.) – The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) announced that Dr. Karen Richardson, Executive Director, Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE) was selected as the recipient of the inaugural Candice Dodson Influencer Award (CDIA). The recipient of the Candice Dodson Influencer Award was selected through a competitive application process and was presented to Dr. Richardson during the 2021 SETDA Emerging Trends Forum on June 15, 2021.

The aim of the Candice Dodson Influencer Award is to commemorate the values, professional influence and personal contributions to the field of educational technology that Dodson championed every day, and to recognize similar qualities in EdTech leaders who can carry on this important work in the future.

Dodson was the Executive Director of SETDA from May, 2019 until her sudden passing on July 22, 2020. The award will be funded annually through donations to the Candice Dodson Memorial Fund and sponsorships.…Read More