Incorporate Literacy Tools in K–12 STEM Subjects mol.doak_fhrr Thu, 04/04/2024 - 10:53 K–12 students across the U.S. are struggling with literacy skills. “We have secondary students who have third-grade reading levels,” says Sharo Dickerson, director of digital and learning resources at El Paso Independent School District in Texas. Reading levels for 13-year-old students have been declining since 2012, with the sharpest drop between 2020 and 2023, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress’s long-term trend assessment. Interestingly, mathematics scores closely follow the sam ..read more

Computer Science: What Schools Need to Know to Teach It Today mol.doak_fhrr Wed, 03/20/2024 - 11:07 Students can build many skills when learning computer science, beyond the ones typically taught in traditional computer science classes. They can learn pattern recognition, problem-solving through debugging, and even project management as they break down a problem into its requisite parts and test and implement solutions. All of these skills can benefit students in a wide variety of jobs, whether related directly to technology or not. There has been buzz around computer science in K–12 educatio ..read more

FETC 2024: Could Esports Reverse the Trend of K–12 Boys Falling Behind? mol.doak_fhrr Fri, 01/26/2024 - 09:03 The numbers don’t lie. Compared with K–12 girls, boys are disciplined at higher rates and are more likely to be expelled than girls. Additionally, their test scores are lower, and they are less likely to graduate from high school. These devastating numbers are a cause for action, said Kristy Custer, president of educational innovation for High School Esports League. Custer spoke during a presentation at the Future of Education Technology Conference, held at the Orange County Conventio ..read more

CITE 2023: Emerging Technologies for Modern Classrooms Steal the Spotlight mol.doak_fhrr Thu, 11/30/2023 - 12:18 K–12 IT professionals are always seeking modern technology for their schools’ users, from connections that serve IT departments to gadgets that advance student learning. As the calendar year comes to a close, admins and technology leaders should begin thinking about the solutions they’ll purchase in the spring. CITE 2023 in Sacramento, Calif., has proved to be the perfect location to find new and trending technologies for the K–12 classroom. A showcase of products, services and dem ..read more

Watch & Learn: Maritime High School Students Navigate Their Own Learning Students at Seattle’s Maritime High School decide when they’ve mastered a subject area, submitting work through an online portfolio to show their competency. Lessons in marine science, maritime construction and vessel operations are held in traditional classrooms and in the field, which often involves the school’s 40-foot ferry, Admiral Jack. Teachers such as Joanna Rodriguez rely on Google Workspace for Education to track student progress and manage projects. “Every student is provided a Chromebook,” she says. “We u ..read more

10 K–12 IT Rising Stars to Follow in 2023 Rebecca.torchia_c7Ks Tue, 08/29/2023 - 08:46 From blended learning to cybersecurity to esports, there are many branches of educational technology, each with powerful voices leading the way for their peers. Every year, EdTech features a selection of these leaders in its list of K–12 IT Influencers to Follow. This year, we’re releasing a second list, featuring K–12 IT’s rising stars. These experts are quickly becoming influencers in their respective ed tech circles, growing their followings as they share technology insights and solutions ..read more

How Robots Are Helping Better K–12 Schools mol.doak_fhrr Wed, 08/23/2023 - 15:42 K–12 schools everywhere are facing challenges with staffing. Teacher shortages are making headlines across the country, but other departments are feeling the staffing strain too. Job openings persist, proving hard to fill, in IT, transportation, food service and other departments at K–12 institutions.  While some schools have found relief in turning to outside services to ease the burden, one school district in Texas is making lemonade from the sour situation. Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School Distric ..read more

ISTELive 23: How Can Schools Ensure Equity for All Students? mol.doak_fhrr Mon, 07/03/2023 - 12:21 Equity problems persist in K–12 education, and speakers at ISTELive 23 didn’t sugarcoat the challenges schools and students are facing. Some sessions at this year’s conference focused specifically on equity and inclusion struggles, while others — specifically targeting esports, artificial intelligence and additional topics — included an equity component. Experts advocated for marginalized populations, students in rural areas and students with disabilities. In a panel Wednesday, speakers shared t ..read more

ISTELive 23: Esports Leads Students to STEM Careers mol.doak_fhrr Tue, 06/27/2023 - 13:14 Students won’t know what esports careers are out there without the right mentorship at the K–12 level. Kids play video games at home, but those are not necessarily aligned to the ways competitive video games are played in schools. Speakers Chris Aviles, esports coordinator for Monmouth Beach School District and founder of Garden State Esports, and Julian Fitzgerald, executive director of Cxmmunity, reiterated this at ISTELive 23 on Monday in a session titled “Kickstart Esports: Learn from the Best!” Core ..read more

ISTELive 23: What to Include on Your Conference Agenda mol.doak_fhrr Fri, 06/16/2023 - 11:49 As digital transformation continues in K–12 schools, it brings changes to education at an accelerated pace. From modern classroom devices to artificial intelligence software and cybersecurity, today’s learning environments require a technology-forward mindset and leaders who understand how to implement the next great teaching and learning tools. ISTELive 23, taking place June 25–28 in Philadelphia, is an opportune setting for K–12 admins, IT pros and educators to learn more about the newest ed tech. T ..read more