How A Midwestern State Became a National Leader in K-12 Robotics Teams in 4 Years

One state leads the nation on the number of students participating in robotics competitions, and it’s probably not the state you’d guess. Indiana’s robotics initiative reaches about 20,000 students each year, with higher levels of diversity than STEM fields usually see — and all that on an annual budget of under $200K.

Report: 96% of School Apps Send Kids’ Personal Data to Potentially Harmful Third Parties

In a new K–12 ed tech safety benchmark report, “School Mobile Apps Student Data Sharing Behavior,” Internet Safety Labs finds that 96% of all apps used in schools share children’s personal information with third parties without the knowledge or consent of the users or the schools.

4 Considerations for Tutoring in the Wake of NAEP

How can district leaders best mobilize the tutoring infrastructure they’ve invested in over the last 18 months?

Drones as Competitive Flying Robots? How the REC Foundation is Expanding to Prepare Students for the Future Workforce

THEJournal.com editor and podcast host Kristal Kuykendall visits with REC Foundation CEO Dan Mantz, who explains the foundation’s recent adjustments to its mission and vision, the addition of curriculum and competitions for drones and automation, and all the ways that the REC Foundation programs are helping prepare the workforce of tomorrow.

A High School Class on the History of Poison and Murder As a Mini-Case Study for Competency-Based Education

Todd Ryckman of Cypher Learning joins THEJournal.com editor Kristal Kuykendall for a discussion about the competency-based education movement, what it looks like in school districts that have been implementing CBE over the past five years, and how Cypher Learning’s NEO LMS empowers educators and students, regardless of whether their school uses the traditional or “modern” instructional model or more of a CBE approach.

Report: Federal Broadband Funding, States, and Internet Providers Together Can Close the Digital Divide for the Greater Good

A new report examines how bringing internet connectivity to all results in broader benefits to society, using federal funds, with states and internet providers cooperating.

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.

ASUS Unveils Windows Education Laptop for K–12 Students

At CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2023, computer technology company ASUS showcased its new BR1102 laptop geared for the needs and demands of K–12 students. The new laptop features military-grade durability: a compact, modular 11.6-inch design that fits into any backpack and can withstand drops, bumps and everyday wear and tear.

Aver Introduces Large Meeting Room 4K Audio Tracking Camera

Aver Information Inc. USA has announced the release of its CAM570 PTZ (pan/zoom/tilt) 4K dual-lens audio tracking camera, specifically geared for large meeting room and conferencing applications. The camera features three pairs of built-in sensors that detect human voices up to 10 meters away. The company showcased the camera at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2023.

NWEA Assets to Be Acquired by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) said today that it's planning to buy out the assets and brand identity of NWEA, a not-for-profit organization that provides assessment and other solutions (including its flagship MAP Growth assessments). HMH is owned by private investment firm Veritas Capital.

Free Music Curriculum and 500 VR Headsets Traveling to Under-Resourced K–12 Schools

With a $250,000 grant from the Tides Foundation Unity Charitable Fund, Rotu Entertainment has created the Harmony Program in a year-long initiative to travel to under-resourced K–12 schools across the United States to help implement music education.

Instructure Acquires Ed Tech Evaluation Provider LearnPlatform

Instructure has acquired LearnPlatform, a company that provides real-time, evidence-based data on the effectiveness of education technologies chosen by universities and K–12 schools.

Registration Opens for the Third Year of the KidWind Simulation Challenge

The KidWind Project will partner with Flinn Scientific for the third year in a row to offer K–12 students a chance to compete in the 2023 Simulation Challenge. Contestants will use Flinn Scientific’s WhiteBox Learning STEM to virtually construct and test wind turbines and wind farms. Registration and the competition are open now through March 1, with challenge completion due April 1.

EarlyBird Dyslexia Screener and SoapBox Speech Recognition Technology Paired to Help Predict Reading Problems in Young Pre-Readers

EarlyBird Education and SoapBox Labs have partnered and paired their technology to identify potential dyslexia or other reading problems in young children who have not yet learned to read. The technology was developed at Boston Children’s Hospital, along with faculty at the Florida Center for Reading Research. It is now available for pre-K and first-grade levels, and will be expanding to second- and third-grade levels, EarlyBird reports.

Patent and Trademark Office Launches Free Invention Platform for K–12 Teachers and Students

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has contracted with Second Avenue Learning to launch EquIP HQ, a free K–12 platform for teachers and students to learn how to invent solutions to real-world problems using STEM and STEAM skills. The grade-level, standards-based program takes learners through design, prototypes, tests, improvements, and the intellectual property rights patent process.

Reading Horizons Launches Free Online Community for Educators

Reading Horizons, a company whose goal is to help educators eradicate illiteracy, has launched a free online community called the Science of Reading Collective. The community seeks to support teachers with any years of experience or grade level by offering free access to all, whether or not they purchase the company’s materials.

Kanga Adds New Scheduling Capabilities

Presence has released an update to Kanga, its comprehensive therapy platform designed for clinicians who serve children in schools and other settings.

ReadSpeaker Adds Text-to-Speech Offerings to Total 245 Voices and 68 Languages

ReadSpeaker, an integrated text-to-speech (TTS) provider, has announced its audio library now features 245 voices and 68 languages, including some considered threatened and endangered, with new ones continually being developed by on-staff linguists and language experts. The audio library is available to both K–12 and higher education.

Rural Schools Eligible for USDA Telecommunications Grants; Deadline is Jan. 30

Now through Jan. 30, K–12 school districts in rural areas (serving populations of 20,000 or less) are invited to apply for the USDA Distance Learning Grants program.

ALAS Educational Leadership Prize, $10K, Awarded to Connecticut Educator Daisy Torres

The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents recently named Daisy Torres as the recipient of its 2022 ALAS Scholarship, sponsored by Curriculum Associates, according to a news release.

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