Key points: Virtual field trips have staying power and help engage students Taking the classroom into the world with VR and AR 5 immersive learning tools for the classroom For more news on virtual field trips, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub While virtual field trips are not a new phenomenon, they gained popularity shortly before COVID due in part to their ability to expose students to places and experiences they may not otherwise access due to funding barriers or geographical limitations. When COVID mandated at-home and hybrid learning, many educators turned once again to virtual trips to ..read more

In partnership with CoSN, eSchool News is highlighting the innovative and dedicated work of IT leaders in school districts across the country. This month, the spotlight is on Lisa Higgins, Chief Technology Officer in Tennessee’s Collierville Schools. 1. What is your biggest IT challenge today? Cybersecurity, for us, is the biggest challenge. Tennessee’s Department of Education (TDOE) has initiated an assessment of over 150 controls at varying levels. As one of three districts to pilot the program, completing the survey was an hours-long process completed as a team. Additionally, to be able to ..read more

AMERICAN FORK, Utah –  YouScience®,the leading technology provider dedicated to solving the skills gap crisis for students and employers, is proud to announce the recipients of the esteemed  YouScience Innovative Educator Award. This award celebrates educators who have implemented innovative approaches to empower the next generation of professionals through academic and career exploration.  After reviewing nominations received from around the country, YouScience is excited to congratulate the following educators as the winners: Darren Zink, Paige Kanaly, and Megan Hollowa ..read more

In partnership with CoSN, eSchool News is highlighting the innovative and dedicated work of IT leaders in school districts across the country. This month, the spotlight is on Lisa Higgins, Chief Technology Officer in Tennessee’s Collierville Schools. 1. What is your biggest IT challenge today? Cybersecurity, for us, is the biggest challenge. Tennessee’s Department of Education (TDOE) has initiated an assessment of over 150 controls at varying levels. As one of three districts to pilot the program, completing the survey was an hours-long process completed as a team. Additionally, to be able to ..read more

Key points: Putting play into lessons is easy if teachers get creative 4 keys for unlocking student curiosity and critical thinking 6 trends to watch in K-12 schools in 2024 For more news on play in learning, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching hub As a longtime educator, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible benefits that play can have in a K–8 classroom. Unstructured play is how students learn to interact with the world around them. It’s what allows them to master social skills and shapes their communication, cooperation, and responsible decision-making abilities. A quick Google search on t ..read more

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. I fell in love with teaching while working as an assistant educator at a preschool 16 years ago. I had not studied education, so I enrolled in an alternative certification program specifically designed for people who were already working in education. There were many advantages: evening classes, minimum tuition, and, most importantly, no need to quit my job. My classroom, where I planned to continue teaching after student teaching, even counted toward my student teaching requirement. That p ..read more

NAPERVILLE, Illinois (PRNewswire-PRWeb) —  Metrasens, a leading provider of advanced detection systems for security and safety applications, is pleased to announce its partnership with Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC), which provides cooperative purchasing programs for member school districts across Indiana. Through this partnership, CIESC member schools, as well as 270 other districts that are members of other Education Service Centers (ESC) across Indiana, can now purchase Metrasens Ultra weapons detection systems through the CIESC Cooperative Contracts program ..read more

Key points: Expanding classrooms mean IT leaders must prioritize network security as much as possible Here’s how to protect schools from cyberattacks in 2024 Rising ransomware attacks on education demand defense readiness For more news on K-12 cybersecurity, visit eSN’s IT Leadership hub Every time a parent sends their child to school, there’s a list of things they expect their child to remain safe from. That list probably includes protection from bullies, injuries during gym class, and probably rotten cafeteria food. In 2023, the internet is likely near the top of those concerns. As the sc ..read more

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. Christian Rojas Linares can’t finish his financial aid forms because he’s been blanketed with error messages. The New York City high school senior has even received incorrect emails telling him his application was canceled. In Philadelphia, Yasmeen Mutan had better luck: Finishing the form only took her an hour. But the federal government has been so slow to process and share her data that, four months later, she still doesn’t know how much she’ll get in financial aid. Without that, she can ..read more

Key points: Digital tools and AI can prepare students for active citizenship in a global society 6 ways you’re already using AI in the classroom 4 ways to ensure academic integrity as AI tools gain popularity For more news on AI in education, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub In recent years, the integration of digital tools into educational settings has revolutionized the way students engage with and learn about social studies. From interactive simulations to online databases of primary sources, these tools offer educators a wide array of resources to enrich their curriculum and foster stud ..read more