THE IT Trends
Strategies & Insights for Technology Leaders in K-12 8/27/2020

IT Spotlight


  • Schools Turn to Tech for Return-to-Campus Health Checks

    emocha's "return-to-learn" program is a mobile application that uses short, asynchronous virtual check-ins to identify, track and manage symptoms of COVID-19. The schools are using the program to help resume classes in person this fall.

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Ed Tech Research & Trends



K-12 Technology News


  • VMware Horizon 8 Adds Instant Cloning, More Cloud Support

    VMware has introduced updates to its flagship virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) platform with the introduction of Horizon 8, as well as new additions to its VMware Workspace ONE, its digital workspace platform.

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  • Crestron Debuts Web Conferencing Systems

    AV company Crestron has developed a new line of tabletop conferencing systems that provide for "one-touch" web meetings for small work spaces, such as home offices.

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  • Minecraft for Chromebooks Arrives

    As Microsoft promised a few weeks ago, the company has announced general availability of Minecraft: Education Edition for Chromebook devices, just in time for the start of school. The release comes with two new features for all users.

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  • Penda Learning Adds New Science Activities, Boosts Integrations

    Education technology company Penda Learning has added 850 new interactive science activities for grades 3-10 to its digital, game-based learning platform and introduced program improvements and integrations.

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  • Private Online HS Teams with Minerva on Baccalaureate Program

    A private online high school has announced a new baccalaureate program for beginning ninth graders, developed in partnership with a company that built the technology for an innovative classroom- and campus-free university.

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  • Screencastify Updates Video Submission Tool

    The software includes webcam and screen recording, video privacy controls, mobile usage, submission alerts, no limits to video length, Google Classroom integration and auto-save to Google Drive.

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  • Back to School Prep: Tools & Best Practices for Returning Online if the COVID-19 Pandemic Demands It

    For many schools, preparations are underway for returning to school in person following summer vacation. However, what happens if the COVID-19 pandemic demands that schools shift back online at some point during the school year? It is imperative that brick and mortar schools prepare now for what could potentially happen once learning has already commenced in the physical classroom. We offer insights around the tools and best practices that teachers and school leaders can leverage should the pandemic require them to return to a fully online learning environment.

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  • Get Ready for Your Return to School: 15 Ideas in 40 Minutes

    Educators have already learned plenty from their spring-time experiences about remote learning. In this fast-paced session, a panel of teachers and technologists will share what they've learned about remote instruction and the use of technology and how they expect to do it better in the fall.

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  • Making Learning Active and Engaging, Whether Face-To-Face or Remote ... or Somewhere in Between

    This session will focus on using technology to address how teachers can actively engage all learners in class discussion, whether face-to-face or remote; how teachers can give all students (including the introverts and those who need time to process) the opportunity to share their voice; and how teachers can foster a peer-to-peer learning culture and encourage students to see mistakes as part of the learning process.

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  • THE Journal Distance Learning Summit

    Four months after schools began shutting down nationwide, educators now face a new challenge: planning for the fall amid the uncertainty of partial school openings and potential continued or renewed shutdowns. What have we learned from this spring's short-term responses, and how can they lead to more effective, longer-term solutions amid all of this uncertainty? Over the course of three one-hour sessions, including three audience Q&A periods, our expert educators and technology pros offer guidance for the coming semester for America's K–12 schools.

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  • Upcoming K–12 Grants

    Quarterly K–12 Grants

    • MicroGrant Program for Educators & Teachers

      Sponsor: Educators of America
      Award: Equipment (varies by request)
      Number of Awards: Not specified
      Application Deadline: Ongoing (quarterly:January, April, July, October)
    • Mobile Beacon Connect for Success

      Sponsor: National Education Association Foundation
      Award: Up to 25 laptops and 4G LTE hotspots with free 4G LTE high-speed Internet service for 12 months
      Number of Awards: Not specified
      Application Deadline: Ongoing (quarterly)

    Ongoing K–12 Grants

    Call for Papers & Proposals

    Upcoming Events

    Webcasts

    • THE Journal Distance Learning Summit

      On Demand
      Presenters: Lisa DeLapo, Director of Information & Instructional Technology at Union School District in San Jose, CA; Rick Bray, Instructional Technology Professional Development Specialist, Professional Learning and Innovation Center at Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES); Dr. Caprice Young is the National Superintendent of Learn4Life, a network of nonprofit public schools that serves Opportunity Youth and formerly disengaged high school students; David Nagel, Editor-in-Chief of THE Journal and Editorial Director, 1105 Media Education Group (moderator)
      Sponsor: Connection, Veeam
    • NGSS Deep Dive: Middle School Grades

      On Demand
      Presenters: Elliot Soloway, University of Michigan; Idit Adler, CREATE for STEM Institute at Michigan State University; Renee Bayer, CREATE for STEM Institute at Michigan State University; David Nagel (moderator)
      Sponsor: Microsoft
    • NGSS Deep Dive: Middle School Grades

      On Demand
      Presenters: Elliot Soloway, University of Michigan; Idit Adler, CREATE for STEM Institute at Michigan State University; Renee Bayer, CREATE for STEM Institute at Michigan State University; David Nagel (moderator)
      Sponsor: Microsoft
    • NGSS Deep Dive: Elementary Grades

      On Demand
      Presenters: Elliot Soloway, University of Michigan; Sam Severance, Michigan State University; Monique Coulman, Haas Elementary School (Genesee, MI); David Nagel (moderator)
      Sponsor: Microsoft
    • NGSS Curricula: A Deep Dive into an NGSS-Aligned Curricular Unit

      On Demand
      Presenters: Joseph Krajcik, Michigan State University; Elliot Soloway, University of Michigan; David Nagel (moderator)
      Sponsor: Insight Public Sector, Microsoft, HP, Intel
    • Speak Up Survey: Trends in STEM and STEAM Education

      On Demand
      Presenters: Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow; David Nagel (moderator)
      Sponsor: Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
    • Critical Thinking and Next Generation Science Standards

      On Demand
      Presenters: Joseph Krajcik, Michigan State University; Elliot Soloway, University of Michigan; David Nagel (moderator)
      Sponsor: Insight Public Sector, Microsoft
    • STEAM Research from the Front Lines: The Impact of STEAM on Teachers, Students, Administrators and Parents

      On Demand
      Presenters: Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow; David Nagel (moderator)
      Sponsor: Connection Public Sector Solutions
    • Funding STEM: How Schools Can Get Creative with Federal Dollars

      On Demand
      Presenters: Anand Vaishnav and Jacob Waters, Education First; David Nagel (moderator)
      Sponsor: Acer, Connection Public Sector Solutions
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Professional Resources