The Promise (and Pitfalls) of AI for Education

Artificial intelligence could have a profound impact on learning, but it also raises key questions.

Personalized Learning Top Priority for Tech Usage in K–12

The top learning priority in education for technology use is personalized learning. More than nine in 10 respondents to a survey on the topic reported that in the pursuit of encouraging personalized learning their districts 1) provide software or digital curriculum to classrooms (designated by 96 percent of participants); 2) provide computing devices to classrooms (94 percent); and 3) provide professional development in personalized learning practices (92 percent). Two-thirds of districts (65 percent) also assess teachers on their implementation of personalized learning practices.

Gen Zers Look to Teachers First, YouTube Second for Learning

Students in Generation Z would rather learn from YouTube videos than from nearly any other form of instruction. YouTube was designated as the preferred mode of learning by 59 percent of Gen Zers in a survey on the topic, compared to in-person group activities with classmates (mentioned by 57 percent), learning applications or games (47 percent) and printed books (also 47 percent). The only method of instruction that beat out YouTube? Teachers.

Beyond Point and Click: Real Coding for Students Across the Curriculum

If we need students to be learning coding now, yet the schools are not ready for it on many levels, where does that leave us?

How to Craft Useful, Student-Centered Social Media Policies

Whether your school or district has officially adopted social media or not, conversations are happening in and around your school on everything from Facebook to Snapchat. Schools must reckon with this reality and commit to supporting thoughtful and critical social media use among students, teachers and administrators. If not, schools and classrooms risk everything from digital distraction to privacy violations.

3 Ways to Introduce AR into the Classroom

Some schools invest in technology but never find the right way to teach with it. Here, a school library specialist shares how she turned teachers and students from skeptics into evangelists.

Teacher Absent? How Tech Can Bridge the Gap

The teacher-absence policy at my school was clear: The teacher isn't coming to school? No technology for the class. The rationale is that it's just not worth it. Devices are too valuable to be trusted with kids when they don't have experienced supervision. Only the classroom teacher can manage classroom tech.

A Tale of Two Maker Cities: What One Silicon Valley City Learned from a Trip to Pittsburgh

Over the last few years, I've watched from afar as Pittsburgh's Remake Learning initiative has blossomed into a resource-rich network. Its 533-member organizations are striving to inspire and equip the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers and critical thinkers through hands-on, relevant learning.

How to Bounce Back After an 11th-Hour Technology Switch

Five steps to finding, implementing, and rolling out a technology platform in a pinch.

What We Can Learn from New Orleans' Post-Katrina School Reforms

Reforms put in place in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005 turned out to have many positive impacts, according to a new report published by the Education Research Alliance. The move to state-controlled charters boosted student achievement, high school graduation rates, college entry numbers, the college persistence rate and the college graduation rate.

Educators Largely Uncomfortable with Newer Tech-Based Teaching Practices

A majority of teachers expressed discomfort with newer teaching practices that rely on technology and said they need more collaborative planning time with their peers, in addition to traditional PD.

Combining Data from Multiple Digital Learning Tools Produces Better Predictions

A study undertaken jointly by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and education technology companies Blackboard and VitalSource found that early activity with digital tools is a "strong predictor" of passing a class — even more so than the grade point average a student enters the class with.

Feds to Pump $1.2 Billion into CTE Next Year

After six years of kicking around the official language for an updated Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education bill, Congress and the president have voted and signed the act into law. The Perkins Act, H.R. 2353 (115), which has been considered for reauthorization since 2012, commits between $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion for the program over the next six years.

6-Week Crash Course Brings Nontraditional Teachers to Classrooms in NC District

This summer a North Carolina district launched a crash course for career-changers and nontraditional college graduates who want to become teachers.

Education Attainment Genes Identified, but Power to Predict Outcomes Minimal

An enormous study has identified 1,271 genetic variants associated with education attainment among people with European ancestry. However, the international group of scientists that undertook the project warns that any kind of predictive power for education outcome suggested by the variants is minimal.

Acer STEAM Lab Makeover Contest Entries Due This Month

The application period for Acer's STEAM Lab Makeover contest is coming to a close in a few weeks. The contest will award a mixed-reality technology package to one school.

Access to Power a Limiting Factor for Classroom Device Use

A report being released this week finds that a sizable chunk of educators do not have access to enough outlets or charging stations to support the devices used in their classrooms.

Abre.io Releases IEP Builder, Forms and PD Tracker Apps

Ed tech company Abre.io has released three new apps as part of its education management platform, including one designed to help build IEP and 504 plans.

Flipped Learning Global Launches Lesson Planning Credential

The Certified Lesson Planning Specialist is a set of online courses designed for teachers who want to see what flipped classes look like and hear from other educators about the reasons for their instructional choices.

GitHub Expands Learning Lab Courses

GitHub has released four new courses on its Learning Lab, an online learning hub intended for people "of all skill levels."

Google Polishes Education Offerings

In time for back-to-school season, Google has polished its education offerings. Changes include updates to Classroom, Google Docs, its virtual reality offerings and teacher training.

Institute of Play Offers Free PD for Math Teachers in Grades 6-12

Participants will learn how to use game-design principles and tie games into their lessons. Teachers have until September 21 to get their applications in.

K–2 Digital Learning Collection App Launching in Fall

Excelligence Learning Corp., a K–12 technology provider, is almost ready to launch its first digital product. The Really Good Stuff Digital Learning Collection is expected in time for back-to-school activities in elementary schools.

Kahoot Gets New UI, Spreadsheet Import

Kahoot has released an update to its popular quiz/trivia game platform. The new version adds a spreadsheet importer and several UI enhancements.

Kaltura Intros Simple Personal Video Capture Program

Kaltura Personal Capture lets users record both screen and camera in one click.

Minecraft EDU to Make iPad Debut

Minecraft: Education Edition is coming to the iPad platform in September.

State Issues Plan for Taking High-Speed Internet to (Nearly) Every Household

A subsidiary of nonprofit Connected Nation has promised to bring high-speed internet to every user in Michigan, with the help of the state's governor.

Texas Report Tackles Dual-Credit Outcomes

A recent draft report on dual credit participation by Texas students confirmed that those who took such courses had better college outcomes than high school graduates who didn't; that they completed their college degrees faster; and that although progress is being made, a participation "disparity" still exists for "less advantaged groups."

Where Do Educators Turn for Research into the Effectiveness of Technology Tools?

A new survey published today reveals that classroom teachers, administrators and other professionals in education turn to a wide variety of sources for research into the effectiveness of technology tools but that they don't believe that some of them are particularly "well equipped to conduct reliable ed tech research."

Girls with Impact Taking Apps for Next Round of Online Mini-MBA Courses

A nonprofit to help girls learn how to launch businesses, nonprofits and community projects that "impact" their world is taking applications for its online 2018-2019 program. The latest success story is a website developed by a 16-year-old to help kids understand deportation in case their families are at risk.

Kahoot to Launch Teacher Certification

Educational game company Kahoot is launching a new certification program for teachers designed to help them use Kahoot in their classrooms more effectively. Kahoot is a popular competitive quiz game that's available free for educators.

Microsoft Ships $399 Surface Go Device for Schools

Microsoft has rolled out its new Surface Go, a $399 version of the popular Surface 2-in-1 device. Schools deploying Surface Go will have the option of running either Windows 10 Home in S mode or Windows 10 Pro.

Grants & Upcoming Events (Week of Aug. 27, 2018)

Upcoming K–12 Grants

Call for Papers & Proposals

Upcoming Events

Editorial Webinars