Features


Speaking Up About Data Privacy in Ed Tech

Tech Tactics in Education speaker Kevin Lewis on his journey from school security and IT support staffer to data privacy advocate — and his mission to bring greater transparency and accountability to ed tech privacy practices

Digital Tools Deliver ROI for District Finance Leaders

Technology can not only save money and administrative resources for school districts, but it can also lead to improved accuracy, real-time reporting and budget management capabilities, and speedier purchasing and accounts payable processes. Here, one district CFO shares his insights on digitally transforming finances in K–12.

title says " ‘I Had No Tools to Help Struggling Readers’:  A Teacher Turned Coach  Explains Why Every  Educator Prep Program  Should Include the  Science of Reading"

'I Had No Tools': Why Every Teacher Prep Program Should Include the Science of Reading

With nearly half of the nation’s new teachers still graduating without an understanding of high-quality reading instruction, former classroom teacher-turned-literacy coach Kathleen Law discusses why — now more than ever — every teacher prep program in the country should include the Science of Reading and give future teachers the foundational tools they need to help struggling readers.

a bar chart shows the top five areas that school districts have spent ESSER Funds on

As ESSER Spending Ramps Up, Experts Offer Tips to Make Sure Students Truly Benefit, Now and Later

The pace of K-12 school districts' spending of ESSER Funds has picked up significantly this school year, and education leaders and researchers have shared tips and guides to help district leaders efficiently evaluate — or re-evaluate — their options when making procurement decisions, to ensure students benefit and stakeholders don't come to see spending decisions as failures.

Image shows THE Journal Insider podcast logo and the text reads Season 2 Episode 3 "The Sky Is Not Falling: Turnitin Urges Educators to ‘Meet the Moment’ of ChatGPT" alongside a quote from the podcast

Is ChatGPT the End of Writing? Turnitin Believes It Could Actually Boost Students' Writing Instruction

Two former classroom teachers who have been working on Turnitin’s AI writing detection tool and related features to help educators better understand ChatGPT — and show them teachers how to use AI to save themselves time and how to tweak assignments so that ChatGPT cannot earn a good grade on writing homework — both believe that ChatGPT has presented a growth opportunity — or perhaps more of a growth demand — for writing instruction, which they explained in a podcast interview with THE Journal recently.

What K-12 IT Leaders Need to Know About the Proposed Expansion of E-Rate Eligible Services

A Funds For Learning E-rate expert shares what K–12 procurement officers and IT leaders need to know so they can be prepared to apply for the expanded funds if and when the FCC decides to expand the E-rate eligible services list — particularly if the expansion plan of choice means that the amount of E-rate funds to cover modern cybersecurity services is limited, at least for the first few years.

illustration created by DALL-E shows a teacher in front of a blackboard wielding a sword over a futuristic robot

Why Ed Tech is Not Endorsing a Ban on ChatGPT in Schools

Depending on who’s speaking, ChatGPT is projected to either further erode K-12 learning outcomes or it will boost writing instruction and overall learning outcomes when used with appropriate guardrails. Several education technology leaders explained to THE Journal why they fall in the second category and how K-12 education should and can embrace ChatGPT in classrooms.

photo of THE Journal Insider podcast host and guest with text reading Tutoring Triumphs How a Texas District

Tutoring Triumphs in Texas: Ector County ISD's Unique Approach is Yielding Remarkable Results

Over the three years since Ector County ISD launched its tutoring program, the district has achieved remarkable growth, and superintendent Scott Muri recently joined THE Journal Insider podcast host Kristal Kuykendall to share some of the lessons learned during the pilot and implementation, such as its use of outcomes-based tutoring contracts, strictly structured tutoring sessions, and teacher involvement.

logo and image reads: ed tech explainer 7 questions Lenovo plus LanSchool

7 Questions with Lenovo + LanSchool: A One-Stop-Shop Approach to School Technology with an Emphasis on Inclusivity in Classrooms

For THE Journal's 7 Questions Ed Tech Explainer series, Lenovo’s Education Software General Manager Coby Gurr shares how Lenovo’s K–12 division and particularly its classroom management software LanSchool emphasize inclusivity, accessibility, and a holistic, integrated approach to school technology — and how Lenovo EDU’s line of hardware, software, and services aim to provide a “comprehensive learning environment.”

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Wishes and Worries for 2023: What Ed Tech Leaders Are Thinking About

During the final weeks of 2022, THE Journal asked scores of ed tech leaders about their wishes and worries for 2023. Cybersecurity and teacher resources were the most common topics addressed in the responses — many of which include specific ideas for new policies and practices for K–12 education in the United States.