Catch up on EdTech this week as we dive into policy changes, insights on AI, and how to prepare for the upcoming school year. In this July 24 edition of DE's EdTech News Roundup, we'll cover:
Policy Updates
As we prepare for the start of a new school year, there are policies proposed around teacher licensing, AI and technology, and state-specific curriculum choices. Check out what to expect for the 2023-2024 school year!
Ten states have signed onto the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, reaching the minimum for the agreement to go into effect. The compact will make it easier for qualified teachers to teach in other states by receiving equivalent teaching licenses from participating states. This could remove many barriers prospective teachers face and help address teacher shortages.
The 2022-2023 Legislative Sessions introduced many new bills that address two key issues in EdTech; artificial intelligence and technology in the classroom. These bills, coming from different states, create new limitations and standards for educators, such as prohibiting/monitoring students’ personal devices in school, restricting the type of content that is available, and authorizing studies on the impact and use of AI in education.
K-12 education has become more politicized in recent years. Read these seven studies and analyses compiled by the Pew Research Center to better understand how this divide came to be and what issues are at the forefront of the discussion.
In case you missed it, July kicked off a new fiscal year in most states, which also brought new laws that will affect K-12 and higher education. Take a more in-depth look at three states that introduced new education laws on July 1!
Cultivating Classroom Culture
Creating a welcoming classroom dynamic is the best way to start your new school year off on the right foot. Check out the newest insights on building a supportive learning environment, including giving students greater agency, prioritizing scientific thinking, and more.
Giving students a “choice and voice” in their education is an important motivator of learning. But it can be hard to find the right balance of teacher guidance and student-led learning. Here are 6 tips to help support teacher efforts to increase student agency.
The percentage of kids who read for fun has dropped in recent decades, negatively affecting their reading ability and achievement for the school year. Encourage students to read over the summer by engaging parents, considering access to books, and framing reading in a positive light.
Passively learning science concepts does not give students an intrinsic understanding of the material, leading to students knowing what answers will receive a good grade but not actually engaging with the material. Having students use scientific practices with new content, such as a greater emphasis on questions and observations first, encourages them to seek out more meaningful explanations, as explained by Ted Willard, Discovery Education’s Senior Subject Matter Expert in Science.
Elementary schools in Johnson County, a school district in Kentucky, are receiving new EdTech resources as part of an expanded partnership with Discovery Education. Students and teachers will have access to the Discovery Education Network and Discovery Education Experience, including all curricula, tools, and content.
Strong Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) skills directly correlate with higher math and reading performance. The study, conducted by Branching Minds, highlights different ways SEL interacts with learning and recommends steps to use when developing individual learning plans.
Insights from Leaders
Catch up on industry leaders‘ thoughts about the impact of AI, cybersecurity in education, and creating equitable school systems.
Dr. Kristal Ayres, Education Leader Strategist at Google for Education, shares her insights on AI and EdTech and ways it can be used to support educators. In her view, the new technology can support personalized learning and improved accessibility while it could potentially have negative impacts like cost, potential bias, and security concerns.
As technology continues to evolve, cybersecurity is still the biggest source of concern and anxiety for educators. Keith Krueger, CEO of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), and Amy McLaughlin, CoSN’s cybersecurity subject matter expert, share tips on how to protect confidential information in the coming years. This includes backing up information offline and offsite, using two-factor authentication, and changing the conversation around cyber security so everyone is involved.
Read how educational technology could help make schooling in Bangladesh more equitable, as discussed by teacher and researcher Mohammad Ehsanul Islam Khan.
