Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

It’s budget season: How are you preparing for the fiscal cliff?

Key points:

The final chapters of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding are drawing near.

The imminent end of ESSER funding has pushed school districts to a critical juncture, compelling them to confront budget deficits for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year before the “fiscal cliff” hits in 2025-2026.…Read More

3 considerations to ensure a future-proof network

Key points:

In 2024, Wi-Fi and wired networks are critical infrastructure for educational organizations. Thanks to the continuous push for digitally literate students and interactive, immersive, and connected eLearning environments, chief technology officers (CTOs) are responsible for networks that must support greater demand than ever before.

There are three top technologies for school district CTOs to consider when planning for the health and longevity of their wired and Wi-Fi networks. Addressing these three key areas–video collaboration, the 6GHz migration, and network automation–will prepare networks to meet the needs of today’s and future students.…Read More

How to direct a districtwide tech transformation on a budget

Key points:

Irvington Public Schools is an urban district with the hometown feeling of a place where everyone knows each other. Our student body is predominantly Black, but we are quite diverse and have many cultures represented among our students. Approximately 20 percent of our scholars speak English as a second language.

I have been with the district for 20 years, though I didn’t become the superintendent until April 2020. When I came into the office, I had a tech-focused vision for the future of our district, but the pandemic was beginning to force us to move in that direction anyway, albeit without the careful consideration and planning we would have preferred. I gave our technology department marching orders to get every student and every teacher on a Chromebook and trained in the Google Suite within two weeks. It was immensely stressful for them, but they got it done and we haven’t looked back.…Read More

Carolina Certified Version of OpenSciEd for Middle School Receives All-Green Rating from EdReports

BURLINGTON, NC – Leading school science supplier Carolina Biological Supply Company announced that its Certified Version of OpenSciEd for grades 6 to 8 received all-green ratings from non-profit EdReports. The organization provides free reports and reviews online that help K-12 educators evaluate math, language arts and science instructional materials because high-quality content matters to teachers, to kids, and to their collective future. The materials are rigorously evaluated for alignment to standards and usability by teams of educators. EdReports’ content reviewers consist of outstanding classroom educators, district coaches, and state content leaders who deeply understand college-and career-ready standards and the importance of high-quality instructional materials. Read the full report on EdReports.org.

            In simple terms, the all-green rating from EdReports means that the Carolina Certified Version of OpenSciEd meets expectations for all three categories of review: Designed for the Next Generation Science Standards* (NGSS); coherence and scope; and usability. It further demonstrates that the enhancements Carolina made to its version of the program also meet expectations for alignment and usability.

  “As a non-profit science developer, OpenSciEd intentionally created an open-source science curriculum so that teachers could edit and adapt and localize the content for their students,” said Jim Ryan, Executive Director of OpenSciEd. “By making the OpenSciEd for grades 6-8 curriculum easier to use last year, the Carolina Certified Version paved the way for teachers to make these changes, while maintaining the high quality of the instructional materials. Working with Carolina as a certified partner resulted in another excellent version of our curriculum.”…Read More

The exposure gap is blocking students’ ability to envision future careers

Key points:

Students have the aptitudes (or natural talents) for the nation’s most in-demand career fields –including healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and finance– but they are not inclined to pursue those occupations due to a profound lack of exposure, according to The 2024 State of the Future U.S. Workforce Report from tech provider YouScience, which aims to solve the skills gap crisis for students and employers.

The report includes analysis of anonymized data from more than 540,000 YouScience Aptitude & Career Discovery assessments completed by U.S. middle and high school students across all 50 states in 2023.…Read More

Now Hear This—The Future of Classroom Audio Systems

One of the biggest announcements out of FETC24 this year involved Lightspeed, the leading provider of instructional audio solutions that create equal access to learning, and their launch of Cascadia—a networked instructional audio platform that not only projects the teacher’s voice within the classroom but also empowers teachers to call for help and communicate outside of the classroom directly from their lanyard microphone.

I had a conversation with Tony Zeikle, Senior Vice President of Revenue at Lightspeed Technologies, Inc. about the features of the new product, its integration with existing school systems like phone networks and paging solutions, and its potential benefits for teachers and students, especially in light of challenges posed by the pandemic. We also touch upon the evolving landscape of educational technology, including the role of audio in augmented reality, virtual reality, and language learning. Have a listen:

More details about the launch:…Read More

Friday 5: Tracking AI in education

Key points:

It seems as if we hear about AI in education every day, if not every hour. AI’s rise in popularity has brought with it questions about ethics, skills students will need for workplace success, and how to balance negatives with positives when it comes to teaching with this new generative tool.

Here are five insights around AI in education:…Read More

Appealing New Charging Cart Offers Enhanced Value in Classrooms

Lakewood Ranch, FL – JAR Systems premiered its newest solution, the Elevate USB-C Charging Cart EDU 32, at the Future of Education Technology Conference. The illuminated cart caught the eye of many educators and technology leaders as they learned of the new advantages it provides.

The cart maintains a critical feature—AC adapterless charging. This eliminates the long-dreaded activities of wiring carts and maintaining expensive charging cables. Powered by the company’s latest charging technology, the Quick-Sense USB-C PD Education Line, the cart is newly fine-tuned to the requirements of educational devices.

“Over our 20 years as a company, it has always been our goal for our developments to be forward-thinking to what our customers will need next. The Elevate USB-C Charging Cart EDU 32 is a shining example, making state-of-the-art USB-C PD charging technology more affordable in education”, said Axel Zimmermann, JAR Systems’ CEO.…Read More

AI in Education

Key points:

  • AI holds much promise for the future of education
  • AI tools can offer personalization and targeted interventions
  • Discover more about what AI in education holds for teaching and learning

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing education with innovative approaches to teaching and learning. AI in education is used to enhance personalized learning experiences, streamline administrative tasks, and provide valuable insights into student performance. AI-powered adaptive learning platforms analyze individual student strengths and weaknesses, tailoring educational content to meet specific needs. Intelligent tutoring systems offer real-time feedback and guidance, promoting a more interactive and effective learning environment. AI also assists educators in administrative tasks such as grading, allowing them to focus on personalized instruction.

As technology continues to advance, the integration of AI in education promises to optimize educational outcomes, promote inclusivity, and prepare students for the evolving demands of the digital age.…Read More

What is the Impact of AI on Education?

Key points:

The impact of AI in education is profound, revolutionizing teaching and learning. AI’s personalized learning, streamlined administrative tasks, and data-driven insights reshape the educational landscape. Let’s explore how AI transforms classrooms, empowers educators, and prepares students for a future driven by technological advancements.

What is the impact of AI on education?

In looking at the future of AI in education, it’s essential to first address AI’s impact on education. AI’s impact is transformative, introducing innovative changes across various facets of the learning experience. Personalized learning, powered by AI algorithms, tailors educational content to individual student needs, fostering deeper comprehension and engagement. AI streamlines administrative tasks, such as grading, allowing educators to focus on interactive teaching methods and personalized interventions. Intelligent tutoring systems provide real-time feedback, contributing to a more proactive approach to learning. Data-driven insights from AI analytics inform teaching strategies, enabling educators to optimize learning outcomes.…Read More

What is the Conclusion of Artificial Intelligence in Education?

Key points:

When we think about AI in education, we think about how AI is offering innovative tools and solutions. From personalized learning experiences to automated grading systems, AI is reshaping traditional educational approaches. This transformative technology holds the potential to enhance student engagement, adapt to individual needs, and pave the way for a more inclusive and effective educational landscape.

What is the end goal of artificial intelligence?

The end goal of artificial intelligence is to create systems and machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This encompasses a broad range of capabilities, from basic tasks like recognizing patterns and solving problems to more complex activities such as understanding natural language, AI education tools, learning from experience, and exhibiting creativity. The ultimate aim is to develop AI systems that can surpass human capabilities in various domains.…Read More

What is the Potential of AI in Education?

Key points:

  • The future of K-12 education with AI promises to be dynamic, adaptive, and focused on nurturing well-rounded individuals
  • Learn about the role of AI in education
  • Discover more about why AI in education is essential for learning

Unlocking boundless possibilities, AI in education promises to revolutionize learning. From personalized instruction to administrative efficiency, AI has the potential to transform traditional education models. Explore the limitless opportunities as we delve into the exciting potential of AI to shape the future of K-12 education.

What is the potential of AI in education?

The future of AI in education is multifaceted. AI can facilitate immersive learning experiences through augmented and virtual reality, enabling students to explore historical events, scientific phenomena, or architectural wonders in a dynamic and engaging manner. Additionally, AI-powered analytics can assist educators in identifying and addressing broader trends in student performance, helping to refine curriculum design and teaching methodologies. Collaborative projects can be enhanced with AI-driven tools that promote communication and teamwork skills. Furthermore, AI can contribute to the development of adaptive assessments, offering a more nuanced understanding of students’ capabilities beyond traditional testing methods.…Read More