Hello, August! As teachers and students prepare to head back to the classroom, catch up on what's trending in EdTech news! In this edition of the DE EdTech News Roundup, we'll cover:
Putting Students First
Student success and achievement is a primary driver of K-12 education. Check out recent insights on what achievement means, including student mental health, STEM teaching and learning, where the U.S. stands in math education, and the importance of including the ‘A’ in STEAM.
ECINS recently surveyed more than 350 school social workers, teachers, counselors, administrators, and district leaders, where 85% of respondents agree or strongly agree that students are more stressed and anxious than in previous school years. EdTech can help schools support students by providing collaborative case management, digital learning platforms, and virtual counseling services.
A new survey from the Walton Family Foundation concluded that students want to pursue careers in STEM but feel unprepared to do so. This feeling is not a reflection of individual teachers but reflects bigger flaws in education. Teachers say better professional learning, increased access to resources and STEM equipment, and partnerships with universities could improve STEM lessons to help better prepare students.
Although the specific focus and reach of Social-Emotional Learning differs for each state, its inclusion in learning outcomes has led to improved academic achievement as well as reduced behavioral issues. Despite pushback and discussions of restricting its use in schools, SEL still proves to be a vital method for student success.
Thanks to advances in STEM such as generative AI and design, art and creativity are becoming more important in education. Emphasizing this importance in school will help prepare students for future jobs, improve their mental health, and increase the likelihood of continuing to higher education.
New Resources
Catch up on some of the most exciting advancements in educational resources, including a new platform that connects movies to lessons, ‘walled garden’ AI advancements, and interesting perspectives into the use of AI in education.
AcadeMe+, a newer company in the EdTech world, provides teachers with curriculum-focused Hollywood movies and scenes to help keep students engaged and interested in the lessons. The platform is easy to use, with teachers able to search keywords to find relevant movies and scenes as well as use an AI tool to help incorporate the films into lesson plans.
The main concern of educational AI and chatbots, such as Stretch and Khanmigo, is how to ensure that the information being propagated by the software is true and accurate. The ‘walled garden’ model is one way to potentially achieve this. It limits the resources the software pulls from to only those vetted and approved by organizations like ISTE and ASCD. This model could be useful to teachers, but concerns regarding bias, viewpoints, and possible negative outside influences remain at the forefront of educators’ minds.
Despite initial fears that students would use AI tools to cheat in school, a recent survey shows that students are less likely to use chatbots like ChatGPT on a regular basis than teachers. In fact, more and more teachers are embracing generative AI to assist in their day-to-day needs and encourage schools to teach AI to students.
Insights from Leaders
What have industry leaders been talking about recently? Read on for guidance on AI use from the Department of Education, international trends in EdTech, and an inside look into the inner workings of some of the most successful education companies.
Artificial Intelligence’s impact on education can be confusing and intimidating. The Department of Education recently released a report highlighting its recommendations for using AI in education, including keeping humans in the loop, developing new models, and strengthening trust. The 71-page document dives into the details of AI, the ethics and equitability of its use, how it can affect learning and teaching, and more.
Various CEOs of successful education companies, including Discovery Education’s Jeremy Cowdrey, speak on what drives their company’s ingenuity and innovation. From building strong internal and external relationships to leveraging social media and encouraging big risks, most agree the best ideas come from seeing a problem that is affecting their audience and actively working to fix it.
Online learning platforms, adaptive learning technologies, and AR and VR are rapidly expanding in the international EdTech industry. The recent boom in world-wide EdTech access has allowed children all over the world to use and benefit from these diverse materials. Read on for a look at how different countries are navigating these changes to education.
