Key points:

• A new report details the challenges, trends, and tools influencing education
• 5 of the biggest education trends in 2024
• Technology is key to educating the next generation
• For more news on edtech trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page

Teacher retention, learner agency, and, yes, generative AI are among the Hurdles (challenges), Accelerators (mega-trends) and Tech Enablers (tools) impacting education innovation for the year ahead as outlined in CoSN‘s 2024 global Driving K-12 Innovation report.

CoSN’s Driving K-12 Innovation Advisory Board–made up of 140+ global educators and IT professionals–has selected three top Hurdles, Accelerators, and Tech Enablers impacting education technology for the coming year. This year’s top topics shifted more from 2023 to 2024 than they have in any of the past five cycles of the project, underscoring a turning point in education and emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts.

“The best aspect of the annual Driving K-12 Innovation report is not to tell education leaders ‘the answer’ about K-12 innovation today. Rather, it is a thoughtful framework for thinking about innovation focused on Hurdles, Accelerators and Tech Enablers,” said Keith R. Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “Too often edtech stalwarts start with the technology when advocating innovation. CoSN flips that tendency and starts with the ‘why’ (Hurdles).”

To deliver extraordinary student outcomes, the three most important Hurdles and Accelerators for schools to address in the year ahead are:

Hurdles

Roadblocks that force schools to slow down, prepare themselves and make a leap.

• Attracting & Retaining Educators and IT Professionals. Hiring and keeping school staff is a significant problem for school systems; many educators are experiencing social and emotional burnout, as well as low pay compared to other sectors, causing them to set aside their passion for teaching and leave the field.
• Ensuring Cybersecurity & Safety Online. Teaching, learning and conducting business in education with digital tools is now a baseline requirement for teachers, students and administrators. Schools must be proactive in building systems to protect and empower educated users to safely learn and grow with digital technologies.
• Scaling Innovation & Inertia of Education Systems. Schools are challenged to engage in and effectively scale innovation — adapting what is working well and scaling it out across a school, district or state/country.

 Accelerators

Real-world megatrends or catalysts that help motivate and increase the speed of innovation.

• Changing Attitudes Toward Demonstrating Learning. There is a rising groundswell of discussion around assessing, documenting, communicating and assigning value to student learning — as well as relating this learning to higher education, vocational training, career pathways and living in the real-world.
• Building the Human Capacity of Leaders. Strengthening the professional community of schools and providing opportunities for educators and all K-12 professionals to learn and master new skills can open the door to innovative practices that can enhance student experiences.
• Learner Agency. It’s all about students as leaders in their learning; reconceptualizing their role from that of “student” to that of “learner.” When immersed in a strong learning environment, learners could transform from order-takers to innovators.

The three most important Tech Enablers for schools to leverage in 2024 are:

Tech Enablers

The tools that grease the wheels for schools to surmount Hurdles and leverage Accelerators.

• Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI). Generative artificial intelligence has emerged as a transformative force in education, changing both how students learn and what they need to learn. As school systems worldwide explore the benefits and challenges of this technology, they are both developing and seeking expert guidance to meet the urgent need for policies and processes that ensure the safe, effective and responsible use of Gen AI for all stakeholders.
• Analytical & Adaptive Technologies. Analytics refers to the process of analyzing data collected about student learning and the opportunity to leverage data to inform instructional decision making. Adaptive technologies are tools that adapt to the student based on their interactions with the technology.
• Rich Digital Ecosystem. Connecting systems or digital environments can form powerful digital ecosystems for enabling student learning and/or supporting education administration. These interconnected systems of online and virtual spaces can span formal school settings and beyond.

This press release originally appeared online. CoSN gratefully acknowledges its sponsors for supporting the Driving K–12 Innovation series: HP and Palo Alto Networks.

Key points:

• Today’s students deserve modern tech tools that suit their learning styles and tendencies
• 5 of the biggest education trends in 2024
• 65 predictions about edtech trends in 2024
• For more news on edtech trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page

It’s 2024! Chalkboards, heavy textbooks, and other analog tools of the past have no place in today’s schools. Over the last few decades, applied technology in the classroom has grown by leaps and bounds. This dovetails nicely with the fact that today’s students are full digital natives who instinctively know their way around smart devices.

Of course, there’s more to education technology than allowing computers in the classroom. School administrators should be continually on the lookout for emerging technologies that can increase student engagement, retain knowledge, and make learning more accessible.

What new technology is out there and being tested in the classroom?

Once upon a time, the school computer lab was a mysterious room frequented by tech enthusiasts and hobbyists. Today, teachers and students have complete access to smartphones, tablets, or laptops in all classes. As a result, we’re seeing a variety of new technology being tested and used in the classroom to support different learning styles.

Cloud technology

Cloud-based software means computers take up less space than they once did. It also enables schools to trade desktop computers for more portable devices like tablets and laptops.

In addition, students can open cloud-based apps on any school computer and retrieve their saved files by logging into their accounts. If permitted by the school IT administrator, students can even work on their projects at home via remote web logins.

Finally, cloud technology fuels remote learning, which helped save education during the shutdown days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It continues to reduce missed days and downtime due to inclement weather or other disruptions. Instead, students and teachers can meet online and continue their work through files available on the cloud.

Hybrid classes

Before COVID, remote learning was an option for college students who couldn’t attend classes in person. Online and offline learning were two distinct systems: one was entirely remote, while the other was in-person and attendance-based.

However, advances in computer and network technology have enabled educational systems to adopt a hybrid learning model. Those who are able will meet in person, while others attend virtually through the class videoconference portal.

Hybrid classes offer numerous benefits. For instance, it gives teachers the flexibility to create a customized approach to learning. Both teachers and students who have health issues can safely attend class. And for students, it makes school more accessible and affordable and reduces absenteeism.

Active learning

Lectures and memorization are taking a back seat to active learning. Classroom technology such as tablets, virtual reality (VR), and interactive whiteboards make learning more engaging.

For instance, VR headsets offer unique hands-on training without the cost or risk. By modeling real-world scenarios, students can get in hours of practice time under strict supervision. The virtual environment also gives them unlimited opportunities to get a procedure right.

Tablets and interactive smartboards also encourage active learning through games, competitions, and role playing. To be successful, active learning depends heavily on the student’s participation. New technology enables students to participate in the way that’s most comfortable for them.

What existing tried-and-true technology delivers the best learning experience?

A critical part of the modern learning process relies on the hardware used in the classroom. Chalkboards and dry-erase markers are alien to preschoolers who already know how to use touchscreens. Similarly, a bulb projector and a VHS player are far more distracting than the HD-quality video screens kids have at home.

Students need classroom devices that reflect what they see in the real world, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Modern technology in the classroom demands advanced equipment that digital natives are familiar with.

The continued drop in prices for LED and touchscreen technologies has led to the popularity of smart TVs and interactive whiteboards in the classroom. Aside from their relative affordability, interactive touchscreens offer the best learning experiences for students who grew up using smartphones and tablets at home.

Touchscreen technology lets teachers and students engage in active learning to the fullest. Multi-touch capabilities allow the entire class to participate in group activities that promote collaboration and cooperation while fostering competition. More importantly, students are far more attentive when they use touchscreen technology. Better engagement means they’ll learn more and retain the knowledge longer.

Considerations for managing technology in the classroom

Interactive touchscreens and other edtech hardware are significant investments for school districts. As such, they require care and maintenance like any other piece of equipment. At the same time, smart devices are prone to hacking attempts by both bored students and outside parties. Acquire reliable device management software to safeguard this investment and secure your classroom technology.

Software-driven devices require constant updates to the operating system (OS), firmware, and installed applications. But updating and maintaining every device in every classroom can prove inefficient and time-consuming. Instead, device management software can perform updates and maintenance remotely to just one or two devices or the entire fleet. It can also schedule updates after class hours to minimize disruptions. This means units are always updated and ready to serve.

In addition, a robust device manager can secure each device from unauthorized users by assigning varying access levels to end users. For instance, students can only run and operate official learning apps and will have no access to the OS and student files. Instructors can access the content management system and edit student performance reports. Meanwhile, administrators can check student and teacher profiles, monitor learning modules, and gather data on device use. These are valuable sources of insights that can help improve school performance in the future.

More importantly, device management software can protect devices from unwanted attention. Reports of unauthorized attempts to log in will be met with bans and device shutdowns. When threatened with data theft, admins can simply shut down devices remotely or initiate data wipe procedures. If devices go missing, admins can use geolocation services to find them.

Education technology in the classroom is here to stay

Today’s students deserve modern technologies that suit their learning styles and tendencies. Digital natives in particular need an educational system that uses their natural medium of instruction. This means using smart devices like tablets, laptops, and interactive whiteboards to encourage participation and boost engagement.

For schools and school districts, upgrading learning facilities and equipment is a matter of making wise investment choices. When acquiring smart education technology equipment, make room in the budget for proper device managers to keep everything in order. Doing so will ensure that teachers and students alike get the most out of the classroom technology.

Key points:

• Innovative new technologies and strategies are impacting education in 2024
• 65 predictions about edtech trends in 2024
• Tech-less teaching methods could alienate tech-savvy Gen Zs
• For more news on edtech trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page

Does “new year, new you” apply to K-12 education in 2024? Things are certainly changing in classrooms, schools, and districts, as edtech tools, digital learning resources, and instructional strategies evolve to meet the needs of every learner.

From cybersecurity and STEM learning to AI and professional development, every aspect of education is set to see new advances in 2024.

Here’s what five educators had to say about where 2024 will take education:

Finding new and innovative ways to support teachers will continue to be a priority for schools and districts this coming year and beyond. At St. Vrain, we’ve implemented artificial intelligence to provide teachers with extra support and to deliver high-quality, meaningful, and relevant professional learning opportunities. For example, this year our district launched the Exploration AI program to boost educators’ use and understanding of this emerging technology through self-directed, gamified learning. We have also continued to utilize the AI Coach by Edthena platform to help teachers reflect on their practice, take action steps toward instructional improvements, and measure their progress on student outcomes.
Courtney Groskin, Instructional Learning Coach, St. Vrain Valley Schools, Longmont, Colo.

Cybersecurity is a growing threat for schools. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ an attack will happen, it’s ‘when.’ I predict in 2024 we will see an increased emphasis on cybersecurity in schools. School districts will take proactive steps to ensure student data is as secure as possible. This may include moving to a digital records management system that is FERPA and CJIS compliant such as what we have done with Scribbles Software. Other steps may include eliminating the storing of social security numbers, providing specific cybersecurity training, and making sure the district has an incident response plan in case of a cyberattack.
Beverly Miller, Assistant Director of Schools for Administration/Chief Technology Officer, Greeneville City Schools in Tennessee

STEM opportunities are on the rise for young learners as elementary and early childhood programs increase exposure to STEM activities and careers. It is crucial that we take advantage of the many resources at our fingertips to develop the 21st century skills necessary for the workforce of the future. While the focus is often on secondary education, there is a great need to ignite interest and foster creativity when students’ curiosity and independence are at their peak. As we look to 2024, we should aim to integrate real-world problem solving that will encourage critical thinking and collaboration at an early age. We are moving away from the days of traditional teacher-centered instruction where desks are arranged in rows and the teacher is at the front of the room to a more collaborative hands-on learning environment. Immersive technologies are rapidly reshaping how students learn. Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality will transform how educators facilitate transdisciplinary learning in ways we never thought possible.
Jennifer Noah, STEM Facilitator, Dalraida Elementary, Montgomery Public Schools (AL), ClassVR Ambassador

At Mason County Central School District, we’re not just predicting the future of educational technology, we’re actively shaping it with our groundbreaking immersive classroom. As one of the first K-12 institutions in the country to integrate an AR/VR immersive room, we’re at the forefront of a revolution in learning. Our immersive classroom transcends traditional teaching methods, offering students an unparalleled, interactive learning experience that brings lessons to life. This technology is not just a tool, it’s a portal to a world of limitless educational possibilities, fostering engagement, creativity, and a deeper understanding of complex subjects. As we look ahead, we see our immersive classroom not only bridging learning gaps, it is also inspiring other schools to embrace this innovative approach, ensuring that the educational landscape continues to evolve and adapt to the needs of 21st-century learners.
Miguel Quinteros, K-12 Technology Coach, Mason County Central School District in Scottville, Michigan

The debate of cellphones in the classroom will remain a hot topic in 2024, and it’s time for schools to find ways to incorporate students’ cellphones into lessons. Whether it’s through AI tools or collaboration apps, there are endless opportunities to use this technology to enhance learning. This might include using an AI tool to add to a history assignment or having students use the Epson’s iProjection app to cast their work on the projector to share with the class. There are so many ways to allow students to use their devices during class and demonstrate how to utilize technology to enrich their learning.
Mark Whelton, Superintendent, Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District, Bridgeport, Michigan

Key points:

• In 2024, education is shifting the way technology enhances learning
• See article: 5 ways to teach and assess learning in the age of AI
• See article: Innovative ideas for school libraries
• For more news on education trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page

As we usher in the new year, educators and industry leaders are eagerly anticipating the top education trends for 2024. The education industry has witnessed a rapid evolution in recent years, marked by new ideas and emerging technologies. In 2024, this momentum will continue, bringing forth new edtech, innovative teaching approaches, and inspiring learning spaces.

This year, schools are directing their energy towards supporting teacher well-being and reengaging students through innovative learning spaces and edtech. Consequently, we will see a shift in how edtech enhances learning and how schools support teachers, as well as a renewed focus on accessibility, social emotional learning, and individualized approaches to learning that improve student outcomes.

Here are five of the biggest education trends in 2024:

1. Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been on the rise throughout 2023 as generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT have become widely accessible. In 2024, AI will become even more prevalent in the educational space, prompting changes in school policies and encouraging educators to find new ways to embrace this rapidly developing technology.

As students build familiarity with generative AI, teachers will need to explore diverse ways to adopt this technology in the classroom. Encouraging the use of AI to support tutoring efforts, act as a creative aid, and assist research and planning will be crucial in helping students learn to utilize the technology in a way that is both productive and ethical.

Additionally, 2024 will be the year that schools and educators formally integrate AI as an educational tool, leading to AI professional development and the creation of AI school policies. Schools will need to incorporate language and policies about AI into their school codes and practices to discourage cheating and unethical usage of these technologies. Professional development will act as a valuable support for teachers as they navigate AI tools and ethics in their classroom. With comprehensive PD, teachers can learn how to utilize AI to ease their own workload, while simultaneously building familiarity with AI technologies to support ethical student usage.

2. Supporting teachers

Recognizing the critical role educators play in shaping the future, educational institutions are increasingly prioritizing teacher well-being to address the pervasive issue of teacher burnout. In 2024, schools will make a concerted effort to retain talented educators by fostering environments that support their mental health and uplift them professionally. Educators play a pivotal role in shaping the future, so prioritizing teacher well-being is a critical issue that not only impacts educators individually but also will help to improve the quality of education that students receive.

This year, schools and districts will invest in comprehensive strategies to alleviate the factors that contribute to teacher burnout. This includes initiatives such as professional development programs, reducing administrative burdens, and improving work-life balance. Educational institutions must make systemic changes to address the burnout teachers experience, which can be accomplished by listening to educators and creating responsive policies that prioritize teacher wellbeing.

With this in mind, educational leaders are also redesigning school spaces to create environments that better cater to teacher needs. Improved educator spaces foster collaboration, creativity, and a sense of community. Plus, these spaces offer a place for teachers to decompress and recharge, providing a better working environment and improving teacher wellbeing.

3. Vibrant and engaging learning spaces

In a departure from traditional classroom design, schools are moving away from neutral color schemes in learning spaces. The trend now leans towards vibrant and colorful environments filled with pattern and texture. These lively spaces have a profound impact on student mood and behavior, fostering motivation and wellbeing.

In 2024, schools will utilize more vibrant design ideas to cultivate an environment where creativity thrives, and students feel engaged and energetic. The 2024 Pantone Color of the Year, Peach Fuzz, is a step in this direction, bridging the gap between neutrals and vibrant colors. As the year progresses and we prepare to enter the second half of the decade, we are sure to see more warm, bright, and energetic colors like Peach Fuzz in the design of classrooms and other learning spaces.

With all of the shifts that have happened in education since the pandemic, it’s critical that schools focus on creating fresh learning environments. Through vibrant design, schools can revive the perception of learning spaces and create spaces that make students and educators comfortable, invoke inspiration, promote collaboration, and infuse energy into learning. Plus, learning spaces that are more visually-stimulating offer benefits to students who have differing sensory needs, helping them to stay engaged and content in the classroom.

4. Accessibility and equity

While equity has been at the forefront of education trends for many years, 2024 will center on fostering equity through enhanced accessibility. Recognizing the diversity of students’ needs, schools will take more proactive measures to create more inclusive learning environments. To accomplish this, educational institutions are prioritizing the removal of a variety of educational barriers to ensure equitable opportunities for every student. This trend reflects a commitment to recognizing and valuing the diversity of students, ensuring that every learner, regardless of their circumstances, has an equal opportunity to thrive academically and personally.

To enhance equity and promote accessibility, schools are implementing new technologies and innovative teaching methods to cater to diverse learning styles and abilities. 2024 will bring a new mindset towards equity and accessibility, as educational institutions and leaders acknowledge that accessibility is not only a legal requirement but also a fundamental aspect of providing quality education. From adaptive edtech to inclusive learning space designs, the focus is on accommodating the unique needs of each student. Moreover, educators are receiving specialized training to better understand and address the challenges faced by diverse learners, fostering an atmosphere of understanding and support.

5. Nontraditional learning models: Microschools, microlearning, game-based learning, and more!

Several nontraditional learning models have emerged over the past few years, but we predict that 2024 will see a significant shift as more learners than ever commit to these unconventional learning approaches. Students and teachers alike are seeking alternatives to the traditional lecture- and test-based approach that has predominantly been used in schools for decades. Instead, new educational methods focus on innovation, collaboration, and the use of technology to engage students and improve learning outcomes. From microschools and online learning to microlearning and gamification, 2024 is going to be the year of nontraditional learning models.

In our 2023 trend forecast, we noted that both game-based learning (gamification) and microlearning were set to be big trends for the year. These learning approaches gained a lot of traction in 2023, and in 2024 they will continue to expand through the use of improved technologies and methods. As game-based learning has grown, so has student interest in extracurricular esports opportunities. In response to this, schools will continue to invest in the creation of esports programs and spaces to empower their students to succeed in this extracurricular. Additionally, we expect for schools to design more multi-use spaces in media centers to act as both creation and viewing spaces for digital and video content, such as the short-form content used for microlearning.

In combination with online and blended learning, microschools have taken hold in the alternative education space, and we expect 2024 to be a big year of expansion for this learning approach. With these learning centers, families are able to send their children to an adapted learning environment that combines various personalized educational approaches from homeschooling, online schools, private schools, and charter schools along with innovative learning space design in small spaces. These schools offer a wide range of opportunities for supporting student learning, encouraging self-led, blended, active and personalized forms of learning that go beyond traditional public or private school approaches. Because microschools are still so new, we expect 2024 to usher in significant developments to the frameworks of these schools and the policies that guide them.

We look forward to watching new trends unfold in 2024, revolutionizing education and transforming learning spaces.

Key points:

• FETC promises hundreds of sessions for administrators, IT leaders, teachers, and more
• See article: 35 edtech innovations we saw at FETC 2023
• Discover more edtech innovations–and how to leverage them in schools
• For more news on edtech conferences, visit eSN’s Digital Learning page

Known as one of the nation’s premier K-12 education technology events, this year’s FETC kicks off on Jan. 23, 2024 in Orlando. Attendees will learn directly from top ed tech experts and successful real-world practitioners in hundreds of in-depth workshops and hands-on sessions.

Sessions, keynotes, discussions, and the expo hall will connect attendees with need-to-know details on the latest edtech innovations shaping the education landscape. Plus, they’ll learn best practices and current trends to best leverage educational technology resources.

The conference features 7 tracks for a customized experience:

• Assistive technology
• Campus leader
• Coach
• District administrator
• Educator
• Information technology
• Library media specialist

FETC workshops and sessions are presented by experts and innovators who are making a difference across the K-12 education spectrum. They’ll share best practices, innovative ideas, leadership strategies and provide valuable perspectives and solutions to challenging edtech problems.

Here are 5 sessions we’re eyeing as we build our FETC schedules (and here’s the full session list):

1. Building Inquiry-Based Instruction: This session is designed to support educators in creating inquiry-based lessons with a focus on critical thinking and problem-solving skills; both of which enhance student performance in and out of the classroom. In the standardized testing era, students are too often asked to memorize facts and/or recall ideas without being expected to retain a deeper understanding of information. Depth in learning comes from focusing on critical thinking, evaluation of information, and tapping into students’ intrinsic curiosity.

2. The Magic of Merlyn: How AI Can Create wonders in Your Classroom? Unleash the Magic of AI in Your Classroom! Join our session to explore MerlynMind Origin, an AI-powered tool transforming K-12 education. Discover how it tackles diverse learning styles, boosts student engagement, and streamlines administrative tasks. Witness its magic through an interactive demo and real-life success stories. Your classroom’s future starts here!

3. Transformational IT Leadership: The Makeup of a Modern CIO: As the leader of the technology at your business how do you define your role in the ever changing world of technology? Through the various adoptions, pandemics, and cybersecurity threats, what is the makeup of a modern CIO?

4. Elevating Equity: Unveiling Startling Insights for Inclusive CS Classrooms: Did you know the “nerd” stereotype can dissuade girls from pursuing STEM education? Who makes a better programmer, a mathematician or a linguist? In this session, we will explore some startling research findings on equity and inclusion in STEM and Computer Science (CS), identify barriers to entry, and explore resources and activities that can be quickly implemented. We will redefine what equity and inclusion can look like in the CS classroom.

5. SEL and STEM: Meaningful Classroom Connections: The social emotional wellness of the students we serve is more important than ever. The integration of hands-on learning in STEM aligns with the tenets of SEL in ways that will not only develop learners academically, but socially and emotionally. Using the CASEL competencies of self awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, this session will explore the connections between STEM and SEL. Examples will be shared that connect to each part of the SEL framework including student work examples and rubrics for classroom use. Through STEM learning experiences, we will explore the ways that hands-on STEM can increase social emotional development. Participants will engage in discussion about lesson ideas that can be used in any K-8 classroom. As we strive to better, more connected educators we want the same for our students. Supporting students to think beyond themselves to create a positive impact for others is a lesson that we all need right now. Developing empathy and social awareness for others not only builds social emotional learning in our students but helps them to be better citizens.

As we wave farewell to 2023, we’re looking ahead to edtech trends in 2024 with optimism for education as a whole.

Moving away from the pandemic, educators still grapple with learning loss and academic disparities and inequities.

In 2023, a new popular kid in town, better known as AI, dominated headlines and prompted debates around how students could abuse–and should use–the generative tool for learning.

The future of education is changing, and global workforce demands will be influenced by the need for knowledge around and skills in fast-growing technologies such as AI. This begs the question: What’s next for education?

What are the projections for edtech?

We asked edtech executives, stakeholders, and experts to share some of their thoughts and predictions about where they think edtech is headed in 2024.

Here’s what they had to say:

Text-based AI interfaces provide an opportunity to help close the digital divide…and avoid an impending AI divide. Ten years ago, when we began building equitable, offline-first education technology for the 2/3 of the world who didn’t have internet access, many people told us to just wait and the gap would close naturally. But we knew that unless we proactively built bridges to ensure everyone could be included in the benefits of new technologies, each cycle of innovation would leave people further behind. Today, over 2.9 billion people are still without internet, and the rate of internet growth has actually slowed. However, one of the exciting things about text-based AI interfaces is that we can now leverage low-connectivity channels like SMS to bridge high-tech online innovations to communities who would otherwise not have access. So the big push in 2024 will be finding ways to support building capacity and awareness around the potential benefits and effective use of these tools, and finding equitable funding models to ensure free access for all, so it doesn’t become yet another tool that further entrenches the advantages of those who already have the most.
Jamie Alexandre, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Learning Equality

Buckle up and enjoy the ride! 2024 is going to be either an awesome roller coaster ride or a roller coaster ride with unexpected turns resulting in silenced screams. I predict two issues will take center stage- artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. With AI, we have just begun to see the possibilities this technology can provide for education. Although AI is not new in other industries, it’s still an emerging trend in education and we are finally allowing ourselves a glimpse of hope, skepticism and wonderment. From how to delve into the nuances of student learning and removing the heavy lift of teachers trying to figure out how to individualize instruction, to enabling someone like me to speak in seven languages so that I may express ideas or collaborate with others from around the world, AI holds endless potential.  On the down side, as the technology evolves it will also enable hackers to be more adept at infiltrating systems that store sensitive student data. I predict a greater focus on cybersecurity so schools can protect our students and themselves from these unexpected (and unwelcome) twists and turns. No doubt 2024 will be an interesting year and I, for one, am looking forward to 2024!
Dr. Maria Armstrong, Executive Director, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS)

While digital and virtual simulations can help students understand complex science and engineering concepts, these tools should be coupled with meaningful hands-on activities that show students the limits of models and the challenges of making things work in the real world. When students can bring models to life and test them in real world situations, they are expanding beyond paper and screen into the world around them.
Michael Arquin, Founder, KidWind

The integration of AI in education has the potential to revolutionize the way students learn, especially for non-traditional learners. AI can deliver content to students in a manner that supports each student’s unique learning styles and preferences. This customized approach helps all students practice and learn new concepts in a way that works for them. Additionally, AI can shorten the feedback loop on student work, allowing students to quickly identify any misunderstandings they may have. This helps build strong retrieval pathways and helps students more efficiently master concepts and skills. Immediate feedback also helps students develop self-efficacy. Knowing the results of their efforts shortly after completing an assignment lets students know both when they have mastered a concept and where they need to do additional work. Another advantage of AI is the time it can save teachers in the creation of personalized learning experiences. By leveraging AI technologies, educators can overcome the limitations of time and resources, offering a level of personalization that enhances the learning experience for each individual student. This approach acknowledges and accommodates the unique needs, strengths, and learning styles of learners.
Kris Astle, Global Education Strategist, SMART Technologies

Far too many students continue to struggle with reading, with post-pandemic recovery remaining slow—and in some cases, stagnant—among our young readers. There is a clear need for science-driven curriculum, and the thoughtful implementation of emerging technologies. For instance, new AI tools are providing educators with an invaluable resource—more time for individualized instruction, with increased specificity. I’m optimistic that proven, coherent technologies in the hands of a committed teacher will achieve the goal of more confident, successful readers. 
Elizabeth Bassford, Vice President of Content & Implementation, Curriculum Associates

As the multidisciplinary nature of astronomy is recognized, schools should look to expand curriculums with more astronomy-focused courses in 2024. The growing space industry requires a diverse workforce beyond the conventional role of engineering. A range of fields including healthcare, law, business, entertainment, and food are increasingly involved in space-related initiatives. Therefore, inspiring students’ interests in space topics through astronomy education can cultivate the broad skill sets and passions demanded across many sectors within the expanding space economy. By fostering the next generation’s passion for space, schools can help develop a versatile workforce ready for the diverse jobs of the future in the domains of space exploration and development.
Kachine Blackwell, Director of Product Marketing, Slooh

Leaders will look for evidence-based wellness programs. With increased funding challenges and various political pressures surrounding wellness programs, science will drive decision-making. Education leaders will continue to put resources toward wellness programs, but with greater scrutiny and demand for evidence-based data. This trend follows the pattern of other public interest phenomena. A crisis brews, followed by a building realization of the problem. Organizations and institutions spring into action, including gathering information about the scope of the problem and implementing emergency solutions. Now we are in the phase of sorting out which solutions have the best results so we can consolidate learning and direct resources appropriately. We now have plenty of data about our ParentGuidance.org program to help decision-makers understand implement programs at scale that hold the promise to improve youth mental health and reduce suicide.
Anne Brown, CEO & President, Cook Center for Human Connection

More meaningful, tailored school-home communication will be imperative to supporting academic recovery and addressing chronic absenteeism. In 2024, developing more meaningful school-home relationships and partnering with families to support better student outcomes will be imperative. Currently, more than 25 percent of K-12 students are chronically absent and most students have ground to make up in math and reading. Research shows that the average student would need more than 4 additional months of instruction to catch up to pre-COVID reading levels. At the same time, there’s a gap between how parents and caregivers think their children are doing and the reality. Many families aren’t aware if their child is behind academically, or may not understand how absenteeism is impacting their child’s progress. We will see more districts leveraging real-time data so families can understand more than just what their child’s grades are. Communications with student-level data tied to outcomes feel relevant and actionable to families. School-home communications will focus on driving meaningful results, promoting student success, and engaging all families. Meaningful connections with families encourage engagement that supports better student outcomes.
Russ Davis, Founder and CEO, SchoolStatus

The evolution of technology in education spaces is certainly not slowing down in 2024. As an integral part of learning today, educators and students deserve new and improved ways to display and interact with classroom content, but to be successful, these tools need to be flexible and user-friendly. One thing that cannot be denied is the disconnect in today’s education technology between AV and IT and various domains. Most educators and students are not technology professionals and prefer classroom solutions that are simple to use and easily work with the various programs, software and other hardware which educators have grown accustomed to. Historically there has been a limit to seamless integration across various technology solutions within today’s classrooms. However, projector manufacturers are working towards solving some of these problems with their latest classroom display technology.
Remi Del Mar, Senior Product Manager for K-12 Projectors, Epson America

I believe the mental well-being of students and educators will continue to be a top focus in 2024. This past year presented numerous challenges for educators, leaving many of us scrambling to do our best to meet the rising needs with limited time and resources – which isn’t sustainable. We need self-care not just for students, but for teachers, too. Teachers will need tools to make their mental health a priority in 2024, as the only way to stay calm and carry on in the midst of so many to-dos is to replenish their own well-being first. A free download called ‘Take What You Need’ helps to infuse more calm, joy and gratitude into even the busiest routine. Incorporating proven techniques into our lives and keeping them front and center will be critical in a year that’s expected to bring its own unique challenges.
Katie Dorn, MA, LSC, MFT, General Manager, Catapult Learning & Co-Founder, EmpowerU 

The ESSER fiscal cliff is here; reliable and actionable data will be key to investing in effective efforts. As we approach the impending ESSER fiscal cliff, states and school districts across the country will be grappling with the abrupt loss of federal pandemic relief funding. They have about $70 billion left to spend this school year—about 10 percent on top of their normal budgets—and then the money runs out. Schools have relied on those funds for the creation or expansion of summer programs and tutoring services, the purchase of high-quality curriculum and instructional materials, and a plethora of other efforts to address learning gaps students experienced through the COVID-19 pandemic. 2024 will be a mix of states and districts spending their remaining funds while also looking to the future. As the one-time funds expire, it will be more important than ever for education communities to have access to reliable and actionable data to know which interventions have been most effective in helping students grow, and where to continue investing strategically amidst shrinking budgets. Policymakers will be looking to leverage their existing data sources to better understand those trends and the remaining gaps, and they will continue to look for innovative approaches to learning and ways to assess the needs of students.
Lindsay Dworkin, SVP of Policy & Government Affairs, NWEA 

The pendulum has swung quickly toward the Science of Reading. I can see a world where we overcorrect, however, and start to view it in a very narrow way. Yes, it’s important, especially in the early stages of learning to read in K-2 classrooms, that teachers align with the Science of Reading. But that doesn’t mean everybody must do everything the exact same way. Using a science of literacy-based instructional approach doesn’t always look identical. Teachers should feel free to put their marks on it. They need the power to exercise their skill sets. It’s important to think about with early learners–not that we shouldn’t follow a scope and sequence, as a systematic approach is necessary. But how teachers implement that scope and sequence, the fun activities and what they do to make their classroom feel like theirs isn’t something they should ever lose.
Laura Fischer, VP, Learning Design & Content Development, Learning A-Z

Looking ahead, I anticipate that in 2024 the generative AI training wheels will come off and propel adoption of this technology. It is increasingly clear that AI will become a ubiquitous part of life. Therefore, it is in the educators’ best interest to prepare students effectively, ensuring they are well-equipped to coexist with generative AI in the workplace in the future. Educators can take the lead by incorporating opportunities to work with generative AI-powered tools. For instance, traditionally static presentations can be infused with dynamic generative AI elements, fostering a more efficient and engaging experience. This not only aligns with the evolving technological landscape but also prepares students for a future where collaboration with AI will be integral to various professional domains.
Jose Florido, Education Lead & Chief Market Development, U.S., Freepik

Cities and states will utilize dynamic policy making as they reach data maturity. With the investment of SaaS technologies and increased data sharing between the public and private sectors, cities and states begin to utilize data in near real-time for budgeting and policy making. Rather than taking eight months to calculate and aggregate home values to inform property taxes that will shape public budgets, policymakers can analyze this data as it’s published to avoid a budget crisis in eight months. Additionally, policymakers can accurately account for future budget allocation for roads, schools, and public safety. SaaS technologies now make it possible to expedite support of foster care providers, match appropriate providers with children, and then help allocate social and financial resources to those providers on behalf of children.
Jeff Frazier, Head of Global Public Sector, Snowflake

In 2024, the focus will be on reimagining education with AI at its core. It’s not about merely repackaging traditional learning methods with AI; it’s about innovatively leveraging AI to transform the educational experience. Virtual learning assistants, or mentors, will, with human overseers, autonomously support personalized development: Imagine personalized learning journeys powered by AI agents that bring relevant topics to your students’ attention, based on your interests.
Graham Glass, CEO & Founder, CYPHER Learning 

Finding new and innovative ways to support teachers will continue to be a priority for schools and districts this coming year and beyond. At St. Vrain, we’ve implemented artificial intelligence to provide teachers with extra support and to deliver high-quality, meaningful, and relevant professional learning opportunities. For example, this year our district launched the Exploration AI program to boost educators’ use and understanding of this emerging technology through self-directed, gamified learning. We have also continued to utilize the AI Coach by Edthena platform to help teachers reflect on their practice, take action steps toward instructional improvements, and measure their progress on student outcomes.
Courtney Groskin, Instructional Learning Coach, St. Vrain Valley Schools, Longmont, Colo.

Our recent research found that families, especially those with a lower household income are less likely to have access to paper-based technologies like printers, scanners, envelopes, and checkbooks, and they want to be able to use online systems to enroll their children and pay for tuition or school-related fees. Therefore, in the coming year I predict an increase in districts adopting technology to provide online options for everything from enrollment and tuition payments, to lottery and choice program applications. By improving access to district systems and processes, school leaders will be able to better serve and meet the needs and expectations of the families they serve.
Matthew Hancock, Director of Customer Success & Services, Scribbles Software

In 2023, the rapid integration of AI into education, surge in cybersecurity attacks against public schools, and increased focus on data security were notable developments within the education space.. While each of these trends impacted the industry in their own rights, all three development served as opportunities for education leaders to shift their approach to teaching, learning, and managing school operations that I foresee continuing in 2024. While we now better understand the potential benefits of AI in education and have seen the release of AI features in products, it’s still in the early stages of development. I believe we can expect significant product announcements in 2024 as the industry continues its exploration of AI’s potential impact across all facets of education – especially when it comes to seeing how mixing the power of AI with student data will help support personalized learning efforts at scale. Another aspect of AI’s impact in education I foresee growing in 2024 is the shift towards ensuring more responsible AI use, notably when it comes to addressing the uncertainties that came with introducing it. In 2024, I expect we will see big advancements towards determining the best way to use AI in both classroom and administrative settings, as well as clearly defining boundaries for ethical use. In 2023, the US witnessed a surge in cybersecurity attacks on schools and districts, making it a primary target. Throughout the year, we’ve seen districts and edtech companies fall victim to these attacks, compelling districts to adopt a defensive stance. This involved updating systems and educating communities about the substantial threat posed by these attacks and the most effective ways to prevent them. Looking ahead to 2024, the industry is poised to transition to an offensive stance. Armed with enhanced knowledge and tools, I expect districts will make the shift to having cybersecurity practices that have been updated, tested, and regularly monitored to thwart successful attacks. The goal is to witness a decline in successful attacks by the end of the year. Finally, I predict data security to be a continued focus for schools in 2024. As we consider what responsible AI use looks like, districts will also have to consider how new AI tools will leverage data without exposing it. As such, I expect combining the benefits of AI (with responsible use) with the best cybersecurity practices will be a key focal point in 2024.
Ryan Imbriale, Vice President of Education Strategy, PowerSchool

Research-based interventions will be needed to help older students with reading fluency. National data show that almost 70 percent of eighth graders are not considered proficient in reading based on 2022 test scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as The Nation’s Report Card. In 2024, districts will be working to find research-based interventions to help older students with reading fluency. Reading fluency is essential for effective reading comprehension at any age, but it’s especially critical once students go from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’ Unfortunately, many students leaving elementary school are still not proficient in reading, and that creates a significant barrier to their ability to learn across subjects. Middle and high school teachers will need support to help older students with foundational reading skills to address this problem. Programs that emphasize repeated reading and giving older readers the opportunity to choose practice readings on topics they find engaging will help older readers improve fluency.
Laura Hansen, NWEA Director of Academic Services, NWEA  

As 2024 unfolds, the educational landscape embraces the transformative power of AI, crafting a future where accessibility and personalized learning take center stage. We are on track to see an increase in individualized homeschooling and e-learning, accompanied by the rising tide of gamification in education, promising a more engaging and dynamic learning experience.
Diana Heldfond, CEO & Founder, Parallel Learning

Are students learning? Even the best instruction will not be effective if schools don’t provide a safe, positive learning environment, and if students aren’t ready to learn. As we head into 2024, we will see an emphasis on tools that support the needs of the whole child. Social and emotional skills set students up with a strong foundation to understand their learning needs, focus, ask for help when needed and collaborate, so they can reach learning goals. Tools that help students develop these skills will lead to improved academic engagement and growth.” 
Evelyn Johnson, VP Research & Development, Aperture Education & Professor Emeritus, Boise State University

Artificial Intelligence in the classroom will continue to be a focus in 2024 throughout education. While many schools are looking at the ramifications of students using AI to “cheat” or “avoid” classwork and writing papers, it is important to note that teachers themselves will be thrust into the AI world. There are advantages of using AI to do things for teachers that they do not enjoy doing. Letting the AI work FOR teachers instead of replacing teachers will be hugely beneficial to the education space in the future. Let the computers tackle the “science” of teaching while the humans focus on the “art” of teaching, exploring the nuances and building the rapport and understanding of individual student needs without being burdened by “randomizing versions of a test” or “figuring out block scheduling parameters” for rotational teaching purposes. AI can also help teachers create and teach in new and exciting virtual spaces which will save time and remove barriers for entry into high quality content and instruction.
Chris Klein, Head of U.S. Education, Avantis Education (Creators of ClassVR)

For years, employers have grappled with the looming concern of a talent shortage – a worry that originated with the retirement of Baby Boomers. However, in 2024, this concern will continue to embed itself at the state-level within schools and school systems across the nation. The talent shortage is no longer just an employer concern, but it is now a shared responsibility involving education systems and state governments. As the talent shortage concern shifts to the state-level, 2024 will be a year of increased collaboration between employers, schools, and government agencies. The goal will be to create a more responsive and adaptable education system that ensures the workforce remains well-equipped to meet the evolving demands of the job market. This transition will mark a turning point in addressing the talent shortage, with the potential to lead to a more robust and dynamic workforce in the years to come. This shift will be driven by several key factors. First, with a rapidly changing job market and evolving skill requirements, schools and education systems will find themselves under increased scrutiny to ensure that students are adequately prepared for the workforce. This will necessitate a reevaluation of curricula, training methods, and the development of future-ready skills. Second, in response to talent-shortage concerns, schools will place greater emphasis on work-based learning, STEM education, and vocational training programs. These efforts will be aimed at equipping students with the skills that are in high demand in the job market and promoting a broader range of career paths.
Jeri Larsen, COO, YouScience

In 2024 and beyond, we will see increased adoption of core curriculum tools and technology by school districts. The pandemic enabled educators worldwide to subscribe to virtual education products to aid in distance learning. This led to an oversaturation in products that students were exposed to, thus watering down the quality of each. Now, districts are placing increased emphasis on the high-quality core curriculum and are looking to technology to support their efforts. There has been significant research that clearly demonstrates that adoption of core materials is the largest driving force in student achievement. School districts want to be more unified with their curriculums, technology will help to lead the way. The teacher shortage and initiative fatigue isn’t slowing down in the new year. To combat this in 2024, districts should look to lean more on technology to support teachers and onboard new ones. The implementation of high-quality instructional materials (HQIMs) can help districts attract new teachers and rapidly upskill their existing staff, with built-in professional learning features.
Abbas Manjee, Co-Founder & Chief Academic Officer, Kiddom

With AI at the forefront of nearly every industry, districts and teachers need help weeding through the AI noise to find appropriate classroom applications. The best of AI is yet to come, and we are only beginning to see the tip of the iceberg with integration into edtech platforms. Any platform can integrate AI quickly for automation, but only the platforms that take the time to deeply understand the best applications for AI will thrive and truly help students and teachers alike. 2024 presents an opportunity for teachers leading the adoption curve to experiment with AI as a tool for assessment. For example, a teacher leveraging ChatGPT to help students draft comprehension prompts that best represent the texts they’re reading is likely to empower students with a higher degree of knowledge than a teacher that bans ChatGPT.
Abbas Manjee, Co-Founder & Chief Academic Officer, Kiddom

Education will be more online and more self-directed. Envisioning the trajectory of education in the coming decade, three discernible trends stand out to me, and I am confident in their continued growth. More online: Firstly, education will undoubtedly become more entrenched in the online sphere. The shift towards digital learning has been palpable, and this trajectory is poised to persist, shaping the way individuals access and engage with educational content. Multi-path: Secondly, the landscape of educational pathways will diversify significantly. Unlike the traditional model where one’s academic journey was largely confined to associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD tracks, the future promises a more varied array of programs. This diversification is already evident with the proliferation of boot camps and the emergence of comprehensive multi-credential pathway programs, offering learners a broader spectrum of options. Self-directed: Moreover, the paradigm of education will become increasingly self-directed or self-paced. Learners will have the autonomy to guide their own learning experiences, marking a departure from instructor-mediated programs. This shift towards self-directed education aligns with the evolving needs and preferences of students seeking more personalized and flexible learning journeys. A notable example is the surge in online enrollment at community colleges, signaling a growing inclination towards self-directed learning even within traditional educational institutions. In this evolving educational landscape, technology plays a pivotal role. As we navigate the next decade, Muzzy Lane is poised to contribute to an educational landscape characterized by online accessibility, diverse pathways, and self-directed learning.
David McCool, President & CEO, Muzzy Lane

The popularity of CTE will continue to rise. There is no doubt that numerous industries, such as manufacturing, are facing a pressing need for skilled professionals to fill vacant job positions. This, in combination with recent high school graduates being uncertain about their education and career paths, will prompt educational stakeholders to explore ways to enhance students’ confidence and certainty before they embark on post-secondary education or enter the workforce after high school. One effective approach to achieving this goal is by implementing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. In 2024, we anticipate an increasing number of school districts nationwide will  introduce new CTE programs. The continued dedication to developing and supporting CTE initiatives ensures that students throughout the country will enjoy a broader spectrum of opportunities, promoting their personal and professional development. Moreover, it guarantees that industries will benefit from a continuously expanding pool of skilled talent to fill job openings.
Hans Meeder, Senior Fellow for Education & Workforce Education, YouScience and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education

Cybersecurity is a growing threat for schools. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ an attack will happen, it’s ‘when.’ I predict in 2024 we will see an increased emphasis on cybersecurity in schools. School districts will take proactive steps to ensure student data is as secure as possible. This may include moving to a digital records management system that is FERPA and CJIS compliant such as what we have done with Scribbles Software. Other steps may include eliminating the storing of social security numbers, providing specific cybersecurity training, and making sure the district has an incident response plan in case of a cyberattack.
Beverly Miller, Assistant Director of Schools for Administration/Chief Technology Officer, Greeneville City Schools in Tennessee

The upcoming year will be driven by careful, data-informed decision-making around technology usage in and out of the classroom. As we know, the pandemic led to a proliferation of learning technologies, with districts reporting the use of an average of 2,500 edtech tools in the 2023 EdTech Top 40 research study. But, with ESSER funds set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 school year, districts are asking important questions as they manage these unwieldy edtech ecosystems: Which tools support effective pedagogy? Are they supporting positive student outcomes? Effective tools are designed to provide data to inform decisions and ensure educators, students, and communities know what’s available, safe, and working in each unique context. The data that these tools provide lead to better operational, financial, and instructional decisions. We will also see continued emphasis on actionable data to address individual student performance, especially through standards-based assessment. As educators work to meet an even wider range of learning needs, access to timely insights around mastery will be increasingly important, as we saw in the 2023 State of Assessment in K-12 Education study. 
Jenn Mitchell, Vice President, K-12 Marketing, North America, Instructure

With ESSER funding coming to an end, it will be more important than ever before to consider the overall lifecycle and value of devices as IT leaders and administrators will have less budget available to make new and continuous edtech purchases. Additionally, school and district leaders should consider how high quality, durable technology enables the continuity of learning and less disruption, in comparison to technology not designed for the classroom or student use. The same goes for educators, with the average educator spending more than an hour a week troubleshooting edtech, it’s critical that educators have access to easy-to-use and intuitive technology that allows more time for teaching and less time troubleshooting.
Madeleine Mortimore, Global Education Innovation and Research Lead, Logitech

“AI is very accessible, but to get the most power out of it you have to learn how to use it effectively. This includes engineering your prompts, determining what its limitations and strengths are and where its most applicable. Using AI is going to be a skill students need and for that to happen we first need to teach our teachers how to use it. Through my research project with reDesign, I have the opportunity to propose an AI integration model at my school and teach educators how to use the technology. It’s important everyone gets familiar with AI technology, but not be reliant on it. It’s that middle of the road where you use it effectively, but you’re not dependent on it that I want teachers and students to strive for.
Pearson Mudhol, High School Student, Meridian World School, Round Rock, Texas

Let’s be candid: the education headlines from 2023 were bleak. We’re just beginning to fully comprehend the massive scope of learning loss wrought by school closures during the pandemic. Recovery is proving slower than expected and we continue to face staff shortages and chronic student absences. With these grim statistics as a backdrop, you might be surprised (I am, a little!) that I feel optimistic about what’s to come. Despite the challenges faced in the field of education – and particularly special education – both students and staff have proven ourselves to be a resilient bunch. There is a renewed interest in proactively addressing students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs; rather than waiting until we notice an issue, many administrators and staff members are providing all students with universal support to enhance all aspects of wellness. More educators are intentionally embedding wellness supports for their students; community building, intentional instruction in coping and tolerance skills, and restorative and instructional responses to contextually inappropriate behavior help build positive classroom environments where all students and staff feel welcome, safe, and ready to engage.
Diane Myers, Ph. D, SVP, Special Education–Behavior, Specialized Education Services, Inc.

STEM opportunities are on the rise for young learners as elementary and early childhood programs increase exposure to STEM activities and careers. It is crucial that we take advantage of the many resources at our fingertips to develop the 21st century skills necessary for the workforce of the future. While the focus is often on secondary education, there is a great need to ignite interest and foster creativity when students’ curiosity and independence are at their peak. As we look to 2024, we should aim to integrate real-world problem solving that will encourage critical thinking and collaboration at an early age. We are moving away from the days of traditional teacher-centered instruction where desks are arranged in rows and the teacher is at the front of the room to a more collaborative hands-on learning environment. Immersive technologies are rapidly reshaping how students learn. Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality will transform how educators facilitate transdisciplinary learning in ways we never thought possible.
Jennifer Noah, STEM Facilitator, Dalraida Elementary, Montgomery Public Schools (AL), ClassVR Ambassador

States that have passed science of reading legislation recognize the need for teacher prep programs to include science of reading, but getting universities to change is a slow-moving shift, even if legislation requires it. The policy has passed, but questions remain on how universities will be held accountable. Expect more administrator training in science of reading as districts recognize the need for principals to understand what children need to learn to read.
Janelle Norton, Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships, IMSE, the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education

The continued use of AI in education can significantly transform and enhance the learning experience for students, teachers, and educational institutions. With AI, educators are able to create more personalized lesson plans that are tailored to individual student needs, pace, and learning styles.  Additionally, AI can be used to develop tools that enhance accessibility for students with disabilities, providing a more inclusive learning environment for all kinds of learners. As we look ahead, it’s important that players in the education industry create products and tools that are accessible regardless of their abilities or disabilities and have equal opportunities to learn and participate in educational activities. 
Danna Okuyama, Founder, Urban Sandbox  

Gamification in education involves integrating elements of game design and mechanics into learning environments to engage students, motivate them, and enhance their overall learning experience. Over the past several years, educators have talked about how gamification has positively impacted the education industry, and how it will continue to help students evolve and grow. Gamification can capture students’ attention and encourage active participation with immediate feedback, allowing students to learn from their mistakes and successes in real-time, and develop a wide range of skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, decision-making, and creativity.  
Danna Okuyama, Founder, Urban Sandbox  

In 2024, I firmly believe the growing synergies between real-time engagement (RTE) and artificial intelligence (AI) will profoundly revolutionize education. Drawing from a vast set of curriculum and inputs, including students’ interests, pace and learning style, AI has the potential to offer teachers with meaningful insights into their students and classroom that can be used to shape the learning experience and provide hyper-individualized education. Meanwhile, RTE enables responsive, accessible, and inclusive learning in the classroom by facilitating seamless and scalable interactive communications between students and teachers. Together, these technologies will allow teachers to provide tailored instruction, continuously optimize their teaching strategies, and spend more one-on-one time guiding students based on their unique requirements, leading to enhanced comprehension and academic performance.
Wyatt Oren, Director of Sales for Education, Agora

The youth mental health crisis will continue to be a focus for educators as they search for ways to help students through today’s unique hardships. As we explore ways to use technology for good, it’s important to evaluate how EdTech tools can help school districts, teachers and even families navigate a mental health pandemic in which almost three million youth reported experiencing severe major depression in 2023. Meeting students where they are – in today’s world, online – is the key to helping ensure they feel safe reporting on their wellbeing. Some students avoid asking for help in-person, as they may feel embarrassed or fear negative repercussions or backlash. Technological tools that offer anonymous check-ins on personal wellbeing, school culture and more can encourage students to seek out the help and resources they need. Additionally, we need to support our youth at school, at home and everywhere in between. In 2024, educators will prioritize technology that brings schools and families together to monitor and improve students’ wellbeing and ensure any red flags are detected and addressed as early as possible.
Harrison Parker, Executive Vice President, Linewize

In 2024, the role of generative AI in education will be at the forefront of many academic discussions. This rapidly evolving technology has only begun to make an impact in the field of education. A trend I hope to see is the utilization of AI to dramatically expand accessibility for those with learning differences, revolutionizing assistive technology. It has exciting potential to give highly personalized learning support never before possible, reducing barriers for diverse learners. AI may empower more students with greater independence in their education. At The Southport School, we take a skills-based approach to learning, whether reading, math, or technology. In my role supporting students with assistive and educational technologies, I focus on leveraging these tools to enable students to fully demonstrate their knowledge and abilities. This promotes an empowering sense of success even as students tackle more difficult learning challenges. Additionally, when they transition out of our school, the hope is those technologies are then second nature for them to engage with to continue on their learning journey with decreased adult support needed. The current assistive technology landscape could be transformed by the concept of AI, providing students not only with the support they require, but also evolving into personalized solutions that can grow, learn, and adapt to each child’s changing learning profile, developing skills, and academic growth over time. Ultimately this could foster ongoing academic growth and equip students with the tech-enabled skillset to continue succeeding independently in their future learning journeys.
Sharon Plante, Chief Technology Integrator, Teacher Mentor, & Student Advisor, The Southport School

At Mason County Central School District, we’re not just predicting the future of educational technology, we’re actively shaping it with our groundbreaking immersive classroom. As one of the first K-12 institutions in the country to integrate an AR/VR immersive room, we’re at the forefront of a revolution in learning. Our immersive classroom transcends traditional teaching methods, offering students an unparalleled, interactive learning experience that brings lessons to life. This technology is not just a tool, it’s a portal to a world of limitless educational possibilities, fostering engagement, creativity, and a deeper understanding of complex subjects. As we look ahead, we see our immersive classroom not only bridging learning gaps, it is also inspiring other schools to embrace this innovative approach, ensuring that the educational landscape continues to evolve and adapt to the needs of 21st-century learners.
Miguel Quinteros, K-12 Technology Coach, Mason County Central School District in Scottville, Michigan

There is no doubt 2024 will be a year of political twists and turns, so our educator corps. must not be used as chess pieces and instead be seen and held in high professional esteem. The structured literacy ripple that began many years ago has formed into a seismic wave that will reach every corner and peak of school systems in this country; we must continue to educate our school communities in structured literacy for K-12. Lastly, as a collective community we will need to continue to create environments where all students are heard, seen, and allowed grade-level engaging, affirming, and meaningful instruction.
Lacey Robinson, President & Chief Executive Officer, UnboundEd

To sum it up, I think the key focus areas in 2024 are going to be: student agency/confidence, equity, and integrated supports. The impact of the pandemic is coming to a head. NAEP results came out this summer, showing significant decline since 2020, especially in math, and especially for students in minority groups. Whether we agree with the interpretation or not, the headline is that we’ve lost the last 20-30 years of gains. Students that were in 4^th grade during the pandemic are now in 7^th grade and the gaps in reading and math foundational skills only become more apparent each year. And on top of that, mental health needs are at an all-time high. If last year we were talking about universal screening, this year we need to be talking about universal services. Just because a student is identified as gifted doesn’t mean they don’t have a need for scaffolding/support. And just because a student is not identified as gifted doesn’t mean they won’t benefit from extension. There’s simply too great a need for individualized services and the only way to deliver it is by integrating it into the gen ed classroom — gifted services, emerging bilingual services, special ed services, etc. Educators will embrace the tools that most efficiently help them identify students’ needs and streamline the link from that information to tangible, individualized resources/services. Strengths-based insights + Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is the answer.
Rebekah Rodriguez, Project Manager, Riverside Insights & Former District Administrator

Igniting specific curiosities will become a focus: Student engagement is critical to learning growth, and sparking student curiosity is an important step to engagement. But research shows that there are many types of curiosity. In 2024, educators will demonstrate their deeper understanding of the types of curiosity by strategically applying specific, more engaging edtech resources to nurture different types of curiosity. To support epistemic curiosity, the type of curiosity associated with the reward of knowledge, teachers will use more interactives and virtual labs. When a student interacts with a high-quality virtual lab or interactive, they become invested in the results, and the curiosity spurs them forward to finish the lab and even repeat it to vary the results. To support perceptual curiosity or ones’ interest in their surroundings, educators will inject augmented reality into instruction. Doing so challenges student perceptions of their environments in new and exciting ways and encourages the exploration of places and historical eras beyond the four walls of their classrooms. To support empathic curiosity, or the curiosity about the thoughts and feelings of others, educators will use online maker-spaces to create more collaborative learning opportunities that encourage greater discussion and idea sharing among students. The coming “Curiosity Revolution” will drive deeper student engagement in the post-Covid environment.
Lance Rougeux, SVP of Curriculum, Instruction & Student Engagement, Discovery Education

Teachers need AI training: In 2024, AI will be ubiquitous in the classroom, and teachers who don’t address it head-on will fall behind. To prepare the next generation of educators, teacher preparation programs should offer lessons about what AI tools are available, how students are already using them, and how they can be used to improve teaching and learning.
Andrew Rozell, President, iteach

As we head into 2024, many schools across the country will receive increased federal funding to help put safety plans into effect. Right now, many schools have a safety plan, however a gap currently exists between assessing threats and responding to them. In this next year, we’ll see many schools across the country commit to prevention and seek solutions and resources to close the implementation gap. This will ensure school leaders have the support they need to keep the safety of students and staff top of mind.
Jason Russell, Founder & President, Secure Environment Consultants & Former Secret Service Agent

Supply chain issues have prevented many schools from updating their technology. Now those issues are clearing up, but that doesn’t make technology adoption challenge-free. Educators must have a plan in place to determine what technology their schools really need and how to upgrade with minimal interoperability issues. Technology on the market covers everything from the latest EdTech and AI, to WiFi 6E, security devices, IoT devices, and your basic user devices. Not every school needs the same technology or should be on the same upgrade plan. Track all technology utilization and let those stats reveal your users’ experiences and predicted needs. Talk to every stakeholder – teachers, IT professionals, staff, parents, etc. Information from these sources will guide your decisions. Do you need infrastructure updates? New technology in the library or for your counselors? Is your school growing? Do you offer any special programs? Taking everything into account is crucial. Consider all users and your entire technology ecosystem – everything is connected and affects everything else. Finally, make sure you never back yourself into a corner. Technology, in every form, should be adaptable because the one thing we know for sure is that standards and capabilities are going to change over time.
Roger Sands, CEO & Co-Founder, Wyebot

Students and teachers will have a wider and wider choice of materials. Every year, we move further away from the “one size fits all” mentality that was the original textbook. I see that continuing in the future. As technology continues to expand and schools gain access to more materials, I see educational plans and curriculums becoming more tailored to individual student needs. I think we’ll see more variety in materials for students and more choice for teachers, and ultimately, more opportunity to work with students 1:1 with technology as the vehicle. The goal is to provide solutions that can be easily tailored to meet a specific need, that can be used alone or in tandem with another solution, and above all, something that is easy to use and reliable, so teachers are spending less time searching and planning, and more time teaching.   
Lemma Shomali, VP, Product Management & Strategy, Domestic Learning, Gale

An increased focus on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) will be prominent in 2024. We know legislation and funding are fickle in the gifted world.  I think we are seeing the shift from pullout/enrichment to more support for academic growth.  With inconsistent funding and a need to ensure gifted services are defensible, there should be more of a focus on academic performance while maintaining equitable opportunity best provided through ability testing.”
Monica L. Simonds, M. Ed., Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services, Richardson ISD

AI is one of the tools that can help make learning more personalized, engaging and efficient. For example, AI-driven algorithms analyze student data to adapt teaching styles and content for customized learning experiences. AI’s contributions to edtech don’t stop there. It can also take on administrative tasks and free up educators to focus on teaching. For example, automated grading and scheduling allow teachers to spend more time engaging students instead of doing paperwork. Of course, AI also comes with its challenges, including concerns around data privacy, the potential for misuse and the importance of human oversight. As a result, edtech companies also play a role in ensuring responsible AI use in the classroom by providing necessary training for educators and maintaining transparency around AI algorithms.
Hubert Simonis, Global Lead of Edtech and HR Tech, Endava 

As technology becomes integral to education, teaching digital citizenship is crucial. It’s about equipping students with the skills to use technology safely, responsibly and ethically. It also involves teaching them about privacy, digital footprints and online etiquette. Educators play a vital role in teaching digital citizenship by integrating it into the curriculum and fostering discussions on topics such as internet safety, digital rights and responsibilities, cyberbullying prevention and ethical online behavior.
Hubert Simonis, Global Lead of Edtech and HR Tech, Endava 

In education as an industry, K-20 must continue to define EDU 2.0. The pandemic and other factors continue to call into question the role education plays in society, and the concern of disconnected and inequitable experiences. Deeper connection across public and private sectors, stronger collaboration between school districts and colleges/universities, and a personalized view of the student’s journey across segments must be the priority heading into 2024.
Joshua Sine, VP, Higher Education Strategy, Qualtrics

In K-12, CTE will make its comeback. With a focus on career and workforce development, school districts will find ways to promote and grow their CTE programs to accommodate the growing demand for graduates with differentiated skills.
Joshua Sine, VP, Higher Education Strategy, Qualtrics

While the highly anticipated Apple Vision Pro headset is expected to revolutionize the virtual reality (VR) landscape, its high cost may limit direct classroom implementation in 2024. However, its release will significantly elevate the profile of the VR industry, attracting a new wave of entrepreneurs and fresh investment from venture capitalists. This will result in a healthier ecosystem that benefits even the lower-cost headsets that are already making their way into schools. This advancement offers immersive learning experiences, allowing students to explore virtual environments, conduct experiments in simulated labs, and interact with historical events in real time.
Garrett Smiley, CEO & Founder, Sora Schools

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly making its way into America’s classrooms. However, unlike the first generation of AI tools, AI in 2024 will be seamlessly integrated into existing platforms like grade books, enhancing functionality without adding complexity. AI-driven tools can personalize learning experiences, provide real-time feedback, and automate administrative tasks, allowing teachers to focus more on teaching and less on logistics. The integration of AI into familiar platforms ensures that its adoption is intuitive for educators, bridging the gap between advanced technology and everyday teaching practices.
Garrett Smiley, CEO & Founder, Sora Schools

The use of artificial intelligence is shifting the landscape in education and we will see schools increasingly adopting tools and resources that have AI components.  My prediction for 2024 is that schools will put policies in place to evaluate potential AI investments for rigor, equity, and results for kids in addition to innovation (It will be a “both/and” not an “either/or” approach).
Joanna Smith-Griffin, Founder & CEO, AllHere

Schools will take a proactive approach to improving student attendance, using two-way communication with families to understand and address the why behind absences. In 2024, we will see more personalized attendance interventions and increased school-home communication. Educators will engage families through proactive communication about the importance of attendance—before students become chronically absent. We will also see more educators reaching out to families to enhance connections and build partnerships. When families feel supported they are more likely to collaborate and work together with the district to better understand and address the root causes of student absences. With this information, personalized interventions will be designed to address specific challenges that students may face in maintaining regular attendance. Collaboration between families and schools will play a crucial role in addressing the unique needs of each student, considering factors such as heath, transportation, and socio-economic conditions.
Grace Spencer, VP, Marketing & Product Development, SchoolStatus 

AI curriculum will become mainstream in K-12 classrooms across the nation, particularly in high schools. More and more schools will recognize the importance of AI literacy and establish policies and guidelines for how students can and should use generative AI in their work. We will see states like California pave the way with acceptable use standards and policies to protect students using the technology while schools around the country roll out AI coursework. Schools will also start to encounter new risks stemming from AI use by staff. As a result, schools will have to start providing their staff with centrally-managed generative AI tools that have pre-built safeguards in place to ensure safe and ethical use, much as they do today with other productivity tools.
Balakrishnan Subramanian, VP & GM of Education, Salesforce

Generative AI will unleash a new wave in personalized education. Teachers will be able to generate content on the fly that is aligned with a student’s interests and skill level. While it would be prohibitively expensive to scale such an idea using the large language models (LLMs) and tools of today, within the next 1-3 years we will start to see the proliferation of specialized ‘small language models’ or SLMs. These specialized models will be able to bring the cost of scaling personalized learning down dramatically and help us take a huge leap forward in individualized instruction.
Balakrishnan Subramanian, VP & GM of Education, Salesforce

AI will further revolutionize education in 2024. Rather than traditional, multiple-choice questions, technology will interact with students at a greater clip. AI will have real, conceptual conversations with students to understand their progress. With this advancement, education will become more individualized and holistic, aligning with each learner’s unique journey. It will no longer be as simple as “right” and “wrong” answers. AI will grow with a student at their own speed to help them every step of the way. For example, when a student is learning division, AI can chat with them to ensure they have the basics down, like subtraction, addition, and carrying over, before mastering division. This tech-led way of learning will have a dose of play-based, discovery-focused techniques while still containing a structured lesson plan to help kids reach their goals.
Vishal Sunil, Co-Founder & CTO, Rocket Learning

AI will take over more routine tasks. Looking ahead, I am optimistic that artificial intelligence capabilities will continue advancing rapidly to take over more routine educational administrative tasks from educators. This will allow teachers greater time to focus on personalizing learning experiences for students. While progress has been made, ensuring equitable access to technology remains a priority.
Wilson Tsu, CEO & Founder, PowerNotes

In 2024 I expect we will see technology in schools shift away from pure technology solutions to human-centric technology supports. There will be less enthusiasm for self-paced technology programs requiring students to work independently, and more focus on a return to teacher and therapist-led engagement. Perspectives on technology in the classroom have been rapidly shifting with the introduction of AI, and questions of which parts of the day-to-day work of educators can possibly be addressed by technology. My hope is that schools will continue to be open to technology solutions, but they will also recognize that these programs are best leveraged in support of the human experts who can be truly sensitive to individualized student need.
Kate Eberle Walker, CEO, Presence

In 2024, we’ll begin to find a balance and use artificial intelligence to build authentic intelligence. AI will become a powerful tool for writers, especially those learning to write and facing writer’s block. However, the tool will need to be balanced so humans remain in control; we will see students and individuals needing to develop discernment skills.
David Weinstein, CEO, Write the World

Demand for AI-driven edtech resources grows: The launch of Chat GPT in 2022 kicked-off a year of debate in education about AI’s role in education. As that debate continues through 2024, the demand for AI-driven edtech products and services will grow. AI is a powerful tool that can save teachers time and scale best practice. In an era where the educator’s time is more precious than ever, AI is well-suited to become a transformative technology that supports teachers in a host of ways. AI can simplify grading, manage schedules, organize complex information, improve learning management systems, power professional learning, and much more. AI also supports the application of best instructional practice. Feedback loops, differentiated and adaptive learning, gamification, tutoring, and other education staples can be improved through the intentional application of AI. In 2024, edtech providers will look at AI through the lens of how it can be better integrated into their products and services to support the teacher and improve instruction, and then thoughtfully apply it in those places. In an era in which school systems are consolidating their edtech resources and keeping only those with demonstrated effectiveness, products supported by AI that improve the teaching and learning will have an edge.
Pete Weir, Chief Product Officer, Discovery Education

“The debate of cellphones in the classroom will remain a hot topic in 2024, and it’s time for schools to find ways to incorporate students’ cellphones into lessons. Whether it’s through AI tools or collaboration apps, there are endless opportunities to use this technology to enhance learning. This might include using an AI tool to add to a history assignment or having students use the Epson’s iProjection app to cast their work on the projector to share with the class. There are so many ways to allow students to use their devices during class and demonstrate how to utilize technology to enrich their learning.”
Mark Whelton, Superintendent, Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District, Bridgeport, Michigan

In 2024, I believe that schools, districts and states will move to the next phase of implementing their Portrait of a Graduate by addressing the need to measure and evaluate students against the competencies in their Portraits. They will create innovative methods for measurement and leverage all the different modalities as they move away from traditional multiple-choice tests based on recall and recognition. Assessments will become more context-based and provide the data and insight needed to improve students’ academic and career outcomes. Education leaders will seek to increase student employability by providing opportunities for intentional instruction and deliberate practice of critical thinking and problem solving skills as part of a more holistic approach to ensure students are future ready. 
Bob Yayac, President & CEO, CAE 

For more news on edtech trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page.

Key points:

• The pandemic is over, but reading and math skills need a boost from the right edtech tools
• See article: PBL isn’t used enough–let’s change that
• See article: Excite, expand, equitize: Using data to support reading
• For more news on edtech tools, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching site

Back in early 2020, educators and students nationwide were living in a fast-paced world full of choices, adjustments, and constant changes. But in March of that year, everything changed.  Our district, like so many across the country, was forced to re-imagine what learning looked like. Under the great leadership of Dr. Shawn Foster, the Orangeburg County School District Superintendent, my school district had an active plan of action to ensure continuity of learning for all students. 

While we move further away from day-to-day impacts of the COVID pandemic, in some ways it is still with us. Although all members of the team worked hard to maintain continuity of learning during the pandemic, COVID has left our students’ reading and math skills in a state of emergency. Today, our challenge is to empower, encourage, equip, and support our teachers and students as they recover the learning lost during the pandemic. 

To support the success of all students in the post pandemic world and to address the state of emergency in our students’ reading and math skills, our district has reviewed its edtech resources. We’ve decided to keep those that are proven effective in helping our students regain lost learning. Here are the tools we kept: 

Waterford.org provides parents and educators with a variety of resources supporting young learners. From its powerful PK-2 early literacy curriculum to its math literacy tools to their many professional learning opportunities, Waterford.org offers helps teachers and parents’ partner on supporting the developing literacy and math skills of elementary school students. 

Through the South Carolina Department of Education’s Instructional Hub, my school system and school systems across the state have no-cost access to Discovery Education Experience. The wide array of digital resources now available to me help me better differentiate instruction and provide learners of all levels the appropriate resources for improving their math and literacy scores. The high-quality resources offered by Discovery Education also nurture my students’ natural curiosity, making it the perfect tool for improving student engagement. 

Eureka Math is also an important component in our efforts to boost student success in math. It features a spiraled curriculum that builds upon each lesson daily. As Eureka Math focuses on key concepts that layer over time, students gain an enduring body of math knowledge, not just a discrete set of skills. Plus, because students use the same models and problem-solving methods from grade to grade, math concepts stay with them, year after year. 

Alongside Eureka Math, we use i-Ready. A connected system of assessments and learning resources, i-Ready provides educators like me not only a deeper understand of what my students know and do not know, but also a host of resources that help me remediate where needed and provide student enrich for students operating above grade level.  

To provide teachers even more insight into our students’ understanding of core concepts, my school system is now combining i-Ready and Mastery Connect to implement mini-assessments that allow us to target support in identified areas even faster than before. The insights gleaned from these mini assessments help identify areas needing additional help very quickly, allowing me to adjust teaching and provide students more individual support. 

Augmenting all these resources are resources from a number of nonprofit providers, such as the Save the Children Foundation and the 21st Century After School Program. This content provides after-school caregivers with additional tools to help students continue learning after the last bell.  

As much as we’d like to think we’ve moved on from the COVID pandemic, the fact is that we will be grappling with its aftermath for a long time. Thankfully, the district I am proud to serve in—Orangeburg School District in South Carolina—is dedicated to ensuring all students discover and develop their person, purpose, and platform through high-quality educational experiences.  They are putting their money where their mouth is by making sure educators have the tools needed to overcome our current state of emergency. I believe these resources, when in the hands of my innovative colleagues, will get the job done! 

Key points:

• While many are concerned about technology in the classroom, it’s a must-have for students
• See article: 5 ways to use edtech to engage shy students
• See article: Insights from educators: Priorities for 2023-2024
• For more news on tech tools, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page

The rise in popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) and access to AI tools over the last year has reignited the debate over how technology is used in the classroom. So far, discussions have been dominated by UNESCO’s recent counsel calling on schools to ban mobile phones.

Although fewer than half of all pupils have access to a tablet or laptop, and only two in five have access to a desktop computer, it’s estimated 95 percent of teens have access to a smartphone.

This call for a blanket ban on phones in the classroom ignores the fact that, for Gen-Z students, tech is a key part of their learning experience. Gen-Z has grown up on technology, and we can’t simply ignore the advantages this can provide when helping them to engage with their education.

Smartphones allow students easy access to videos, interactive 3D models, and a range of multisensory educational materials helping to form stronger cognitive connections. Those calling for a ban in the classroom risk denying Gen-Z students access to the tools they need to make the most out of their educational experience. 

Technology improves learning outcomes in the classroom

Of course, there are many reasons as to why people believe that banning phones in the classroom is the right approach. Economic and societal factors, such as mental health concerns over social media use, present significant challenges. But, we must be careful not to conflate some of these very specific problems with technology as a whole. A Luddite-like approach to technology will not get us very far when trying to grapple with the complex challenges of the 21st century.

Rather than encouraging teachers to ban mobile phones, institutions should adopt a research-based approach to technology in the classroom, which can power the classrooms of tomorrow.

Technologies such as augmented reality (AR) have already proven themselves catalysts for learning, rather than the distractions that many organizations and schools tend to perceive them as. This has been known for many years now. Back in 2018, a study published in the British Journal of Education Technology revealed that AR can be especially useful for students studying complicated subject matter, improving their ability to focus.

Gen-Z school students recognize the positive impact of advanced technologies in their educational experience. Ninety-seven percent of students who participated in a study published in the Journal of Science Education this year said that AR applications have a positive impact on their education. Ninety-five percent agreed that AR should be incorporated into their educational environments.

Technological progress is creating a new vision for education

Technologies like AR and VR are also rapidly improving, and the launch of Apple Vision Pro has shown that the future of learning is spatial.

In education, publishers such as Cambridge University Press and Plantyn are already incorporating the technology to create seamless experiences between physical and digital materials. This allows them to provide bespoke experiences for classrooms and allows teachers to provide bespoke experiences for their students – instead of a traditional ‘one size fits all’ approach that we’re used to.

This technological progress is improving outcomes for all students, including those with neurodiverse profiles. In fact, new research is already showing great potential to improve their educational outcomes when introducing AR. The research in particular found that AR can be a good alternative for those who prefer to learn visually and not text-based, such as students with dyslexia and ADHD.

Failing to recognize the benefits and refusing to adopt a more tech-positive approach to education will only harm children’s learning outcomes. It will also alienate students who, as has been made clear, desperately want to interact with more advanced technologies in their classrooms.

In the future, there will be a seamless fusion of the physical and digital world. The physical environment will be enriched with interactive digital content. Students will not only be able to explore this content in their educational spaces, but also create their own – improving engagement, creativity, and overall learning outcomes for all.

Authorities and educational organizations must recognize that the only way that we can prepare our students for this future is by teaching them to engage with it now. That requires them to take a step forward and adopt a research-based approach, which strikes a balance between modern and more traditional methods of learning.

As we wave farewell to 2023, we’re looking ahead to edtech trends in 2024 with optimism for education as a whole.

Moving away from the pandemic, educators still grapple with learning loss and academic disparities and inequities.

In 2023, a new popular kid in town, better known as AI, dominated headlines and prompted debates around how students could abuse–and should use–the generative tool for learning.

The future of education is changing, and global workforce demands will be influenced by the need for knowledge around and skills in fast-growing technologies such as AI. This begs the question: What’s next for education?

What are the projections for edtech?

We asked edtech executives, stakeholders, and experts to share some of their thoughts and predictions about where they think edtech is headed in 2024.

Here’s what they had to say:

Text-based AI interfaces provide an opportunity to help close the digital divide…and avoid an impending AI divide. Ten years ago, when we began building equitable, offline-first education technology for the 2/3 of the world who didn’t have internet access, many people told us to just wait and the gap would close naturally. But we knew that unless we proactively built bridges to ensure everyone could be included in the benefits of new technologies, each cycle of innovation would leave people further behind. Today, over 2.9 billion people are still without internet, and the rate of internet growth has actually slowed. However, one of the exciting things about text-based AI interfaces is that we can now leverage low-connectivity channels like SMS to bridge high-tech online innovations to communities who would otherwise not have access. So the big push in 2024 will be finding ways to support building capacity and awareness around the potential benefits and effective use of these tools, and finding equitable funding models to ensure free access for all, so it doesn’t become yet another tool that further entrenches the advantages of those who already have the most.
Jamie Alexandre, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Learning Equality

Buckle up and enjoy the ride! 2024 is going to be either an awesome roller coaster ride or a roller coaster ride with unexpected turns resulting in silenced screams. I predict two issues will take center stage- artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. With AI, we have just begun to see the possibilities this technology can provide for education. Although AI is not new in other industries, it’s still an emerging trend in education and we are finally allowing ourselves a glimpse of hope, skepticism and wonderment. From how to delve into the nuances of student learning and removing the heavy lift of teachers trying to figure out how to individualize instruction, to enabling someone like me to speak in seven languages so that I may express ideas or collaborate with others from around the world, AI holds endless potential.  On the down side, as the technology evolves it will also enable hackers to be more adept at infiltrating systems that store sensitive student data. I predict a greater focus on cybersecurity so schools can protect our students and themselves from these unexpected (and unwelcome) twists and turns. No doubt 2024 will be an interesting year and I, for one, am looking forward to 2024!
Dr. Maria Armstrong, Executive Director, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS)

While digital and virtual simulations can help students understand complex science and engineering concepts, these tools should be coupled with meaningful hands-on activities that show students the limits of models and the challenges of making things work in the real world. When students can bring models to life and test them in real world situations, they are expanding beyond paper and screen into the world around them.
Michael Arquin, Founder, KidWind

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The integration of AI in education has the potential to revolutionize the way students learn, especially for non-traditional learners. AI can deliver content to students in a manner that supports each student’s unique learning styles and preferences. This customized approach helps all students practice and learn new concepts in a way that works for them. Additionally, AI can shorten the feedback loop on student work, allowing students to quickly identify any misunderstandings they may have. This helps build strong retrieval pathways and helps students more efficiently master concepts and skills. Immediate feedback also helps students develop self-efficacy. Knowing the results of their efforts shortly after completing an assignment lets students know both when they have mastered a concept and where they need to do additional work. Another advantage of AI is the time it can save teachers in the creation of personalized learning experiences. By leveraging AI technologies, educators can overcome the limitations of time and resources, offering a level of personalization that enhances the learning experience for each individual student. This approach acknowledges and accommodates the unique needs, strengths, and learning styles of learners.
Kris Astle, Global Education Strategist, SMART Technologies

Far too many students continue to struggle with reading, with post-pandemic recovery remaining slow—and in some cases, stagnant—among our young readers. There is a clear need for science-driven curriculum, and the thoughtful implementation of emerging technologies. For instance, new AI tools are providing educators with an invaluable resource—more time for individualized instruction, with increased specificity. I’m optimistic that proven, coherent technologies in the hands of a committed teacher will achieve the goal of more confident, successful readers. 
Elizabeth Bassford, Vice President of Content & Implementation, Curriculum Associates

As the multidisciplinary nature of astronomy is recognized, schools should look to expand curriculums with more astronomy-focused courses in 2024. The growing space industry requires a diverse workforce beyond the conventional role of engineering. A range of fields including healthcare, law, business, entertainment, and food are increasingly involved in space-related initiatives. Therefore, inspiring students’ interests in space topics through astronomy education can cultivate the broad skill sets and passions demanded across many sectors within the expanding space economy. By fostering the next generation’s passion for space, schools can help develop a versatile workforce ready for the diverse jobs of the future in the domains of space exploration and development.
Kachine Blackwell, Director of Product Marketing, Slooh

Leaders will look for evidence-based wellness programs. With increased funding challenges and various political pressures surrounding wellness programs, science will drive decision-making. Education leaders will continue to put resources toward wellness programs, but with greater scrutiny and demand for evidence-based data. This trend follows the pattern of other public interest phenomena. A crisis brews, followed by a building realization of the problem. Organizations and institutions spring into action, including gathering information about the scope of the problem and implementing emergency solutions. Now we are in the phase of sorting out which solutions have the best results so we can consolidate learning and direct resources appropriately. We now have plenty of data about our ParentGuidance.org program to help decision-makers understand implement programs at scale that hold the promise to improve youth mental health and reduce suicide.
Anne Brown, CEO & President, Cook Center for Human Connection

More meaningful, tailored school-home communication will be imperative to supporting academic recovery and addressing chronic absenteeism. In 2024, developing more meaningful school-home relationships and partnering with families to support better student outcomes will be imperative. Currently, more than 25 percent of K-12 students are chronically absent and most students have ground to make up in math and reading. Research shows that the average student would need more than 4 additional months of instruction to catch up to pre-COVID reading levels. At the same time, there’s a gap between how parents and caregivers think their children are doing and the reality. Many families aren’t aware if their child is behind academically, or may not understand how absenteeism is impacting their child’s progress. We will see more districts leveraging real-time data so families can understand more than just what their child’s grades are. Communications with student-level data tied to outcomes feel relevant and actionable to families. School-home communications will focus on driving meaningful results, promoting student success, and engaging all families. Meaningful connections with families encourage engagement that supports better student outcomes.
Russ Davis, Founder and CEO, SchoolStatus

The evolution of technology in education spaces is certainly not slowing down in 2024. As an integral part of learning today, educators and students deserve new and improved ways to display and interact with classroom content, but to be successful, these tools need to be flexible and user-friendly. One thing that cannot be denied is the disconnect in today’s education technology between AV and IT and various domains. Most educators and students are not technology professionals and prefer classroom solutions that are simple to use and easily work with the various programs, software and other hardware which educators have grown accustomed to. Historically there has been a limit to seamless integration across various technology solutions within today’s classrooms. However, projector manufacturers are working towards solving some of these problems with their latest classroom display technology.
Remi Del Mar, Senior Product Manager for K-12 Projectors, Epson America

I believe the mental well-being of students and educators will continue to be a top focus in 2024. This past year presented numerous challenges for educators, leaving many of us scrambling to do our best to meet the rising needs with limited time and resources – which isn’t sustainable. We need self-care not just for students, but for teachers, too. Teachers will need tools to make their mental health a priority in 2024, as the only way to stay calm and carry on in the midst of so many to-dos is to replenish their own well-being first. A free download called ‘Take What You Need’ helps to infuse more calm, joy and gratitude into even the busiest routine. Incorporating proven techniques into our lives and keeping them front and center will be critical in a year that’s expected to bring its own unique challenges.
Katie Dorn, MA, LSC, MFT, General Manager, Catapult Learning & Co-Founder, EmpowerU 

The ESSER fiscal cliff is here; reliable and actionable data will be key to investing in effective efforts. As we approach the impending ESSER fiscal cliff, states and school districts across the country will be grappling with the abrupt loss of federal pandemic relief funding. They have about $70 billion left to spend this school year—about 10 percent on top of their normal budgets—and then the money runs out. Schools have relied on those funds for the creation or expansion of summer programs and tutoring services, the purchase of high-quality curriculum and instructional materials, and a plethora of other efforts to address learning gaps students experienced through the COVID-19 pandemic. 2024 will be a mix of states and districts spending their remaining funds while also looking to the future. As the one-time funds expire, it will be more important than ever for education communities to have access to reliable and actionable data to know which interventions have been most effective in helping students grow, and where to continue investing strategically amidst shrinking budgets. Policymakers will be looking to leverage their existing data sources to better understand those trends and the remaining gaps, and they will continue to look for innovative approaches to learning and ways to assess the needs of students.
Lindsay Dworkin, SVP of Policy & Government Affairs, NWEA 

The pendulum has swung quickly toward the Science of Reading. I can see a world where we overcorrect, however, and start to view it in a very narrow way. Yes, it’s important, especially in the early stages of learning to read in K-2 classrooms, that teachers align with the Science of Reading. But that doesn’t mean everybody must do everything the exact same way. Using a science of literacy-based instructional approach doesn’t always look identical. Teachers should feel free to put their marks on it. They need the power to exercise their skill sets. It’s important to think about with early learners–not that we shouldn’t follow a scope and sequence, as a systematic approach is necessary. But how teachers implement that scope and sequence, the fun activities and what they do to make their classroom feel like theirs isn’t something they should ever lose.
Laura Fischer, VP, Learning Design & Content Development, Learning A-Z

Looking ahead, I anticipate that in 2024 the generative AI training wheels will come off and propel adoption of this technology. It is increasingly clear that AI will become a ubiquitous part of life. Therefore, it is in the educators’ best interest to prepare students effectively, ensuring they are well-equipped to coexist with generative AI in the workplace in the future. Educators can take the lead by incorporating opportunities to work with generative AI-powered tools. For instance, traditionally static presentations can be infused with dynamic generative AI elements, fostering a more efficient and engaging experience. This not only aligns with the evolving technological landscape but also prepares students for a future where collaboration with AI will be integral to various professional domains.
Jose Florido, Education Lead & Chief Market Development, U.S., Freepik

Cities and states will utilize dynamic policy making as they reach data maturity. With the investment of SaaS technologies and increased data sharing between the public and private sectors, cities and states begin to utilize data in near real-time for budgeting and policy making. Rather than taking eight months to calculate and aggregate home values to inform property taxes that will shape public budgets, policymakers can analyze this data as it’s published to avoid a budget crisis in eight months. Additionally, policymakers can accurately account for future budget allocation for roads, schools, and public safety. SaaS technologies now make it possible to expedite support of foster care providers, match appropriate providers with children, and then help allocate social and financial resources to those providers on behalf of children.
Jeff Frazier, Head of Global Public Sector, Snowflake

In 2024, the focus will be on reimagining education with AI at its core. It’s not about merely repackaging traditional learning methods with AI; it’s about innovatively leveraging AI to transform the educational experience. Virtual learning assistants, or mentors, will, with human overseers, autonomously support personalized development: Imagine personalized learning journeys powered by AI agents that bring relevant topics to your students’ attention, based on your interests.
Graham Glass, CEO & Founder, CYPHER Learning 

Finding new and innovative ways to support teachers will continue to be a priority for schools and districts this coming year and beyond. At St. Vrain, we’ve implemented artificial intelligence to provide teachers with extra support and to deliver high-quality, meaningful, and relevant professional learning opportunities. For example, this year our district launched the Exploration AI program to boost educators’ use and understanding of this emerging technology through self-directed, gamified learning. We have also continued to utilize the AI Coach by Edthena platform to help teachers reflect on their practice, take action steps toward instructional improvements, and measure their progress on student outcomes.
Courtney Groskin, Instructional Learning Coach, St. Vrain Valley Schools, Longmont, Colo.

Our recent research found that families, especially those with a lower household income are less likely to have access to paper-based technologies like printers, scanners, envelopes, and checkbooks, and they want to be able to use online systems to enroll their children and pay for tuition or school-related fees. Therefore, in the coming year I predict an increase in districts adopting technology to provide online options for everything from enrollment and tuition payments, to lottery and choice program applications. By improving access to district systems and processes, school leaders will be able to better serve and meet the needs and expectations of the families they serve.
Matthew Hancock, Director of Customer Success & Services, Scribbles Software

In 2023, the rapid integration of AI into education, surge in cybersecurity attacks against public schools, and increased focus on data security were notable developments within the education space.. While each of these trends impacted the industry in their own rights, all three development served as opportunities for education leaders to shift their approach to teaching, learning, and managing school operations that I foresee continuing in 2024. While we now better understand the potential benefits of AI in education and have seen the release of AI features in products, it’s still in the early stages of development. I believe we can expect significant product announcements in 2024 as the industry continues its exploration of AI’s potential impact across all facets of education – especially when it comes to seeing how mixing the power of AI with student data will help support personalized learning efforts at scale. Another aspect of AI’s impact in education I foresee growing in 2024 is the shift towards ensuring more responsible AI use, notably when it comes to addressing the uncertainties that came with introducing it. In 2024, I expect we will see big advancements towards determining the best way to use AI in both classroom and administrative settings, as well as clearly defining boundaries for ethical use. In 2023, the US witnessed a surge in cybersecurity attacks on schools and districts, making it a primary target. Throughout the year, we’ve seen districts and edtech companies fall victim to these attacks, compelling districts to adopt a defensive stance. This involved updating systems and educating communities about the substantial threat posed by these attacks and the most effective ways to prevent them. Looking ahead to 2024, the industry is poised to transition to an offensive stance. Armed with enhanced knowledge and tools, I expect districts will make the shift to having cybersecurity practices that have been updated, tested, and regularly monitored to thwart successful attacks. The goal is to witness a decline in successful attacks by the end of the year. Finally, I predict data security to be a continued focus for schools in 2024. As we consider what responsible AI use looks like, districts will also have to consider how new AI tools will leverage data without exposing it. As such, I expect combining the benefits of AI (with responsible use) with the best cybersecurity practices will be a key focal point in 2024.
Ryan Imbriale, Vice President of Education Strategy, PowerSchool

Research-based interventions will be needed to help older students with reading fluency. National data show that almost 70 percent of eighth graders are not considered proficient in reading based on 2022 test scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as The Nation’s Report Card. In 2024, districts will be working to find research-based interventions to help older students with reading fluency. Reading fluency is essential for effective reading comprehension at any age, but it’s especially critical once students go from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’ Unfortunately, many students leaving elementary school are still not proficient in reading, and that creates a significant barrier to their ability to learn across subjects. Middle and high school teachers will need support to help older students with foundational reading skills to address this problem. Programs that emphasize repeated reading and giving older readers the opportunity to choose practice readings on topics they find engaging will help older readers improve fluency.
Laura Hansen, NWEA Director of Academic Services, NWEA  

As 2024 unfolds, the educational landscape embraces the transformative power of AI, crafting a future where accessibility and personalized learning take center stage. We are on track to see an increase in individualized homeschooling and e-learning, accompanied by the rising tide of gamification in education, promising a more engaging and dynamic learning experience.
Diana Heldfond, CEO & Founder, Parallel Learning

Are students learning? Even the best instruction will not be effective if schools don’t provide a safe, positive learning environment, and if students aren’t ready to learn. As we head into 2024, we will see an emphasis on tools that support the needs of the whole child. Social and emotional skills set students up with a strong foundation to understand their learning needs, focus, ask for help when needed and collaborate, so they can reach learning goals. Tools that help students develop these skills will lead to improved academic engagement and growth.” 
Evelyn Johnson, VP Research & Development, Aperture Education & Professor Emeritus, Boise State University

Artificial Intelligence in the classroom will continue to be a focus in 2024 throughout education. While many schools are looking at the ramifications of students using AI to “cheat” or “avoid” classwork and writing papers, it is important to note that teachers themselves will be thrust into the AI world. There are advantages of using AI to do things for teachers that they do not enjoy doing. Letting the AI work FOR teachers instead of replacing teachers will be hugely beneficial to the education space in the future. Let the computers tackle the “science” of teaching while the humans focus on the “art” of teaching, exploring the nuances and building the rapport and understanding of individual student needs without being burdened by “randomizing versions of a test” or “figuring out block scheduling parameters” for rotational teaching purposes. AI can also help teachers create and teach in new and exciting virtual spaces which will save time and remove barriers for entry into high quality content and instruction.
Chris Klein, Head of U.S. Education, Avantis Education (Creators of ClassVR)

For years, employers have grappled with the looming concern of a talent shortage – a worry that originated with the retirement of Baby Boomers. However, in 2024, this concern will continue to embed itself at the state-level within schools and school systems across the nation. The talent shortage is no longer just an employer concern, but it is now a shared responsibility involving education systems and state governments. As the talent shortage concern shifts to the state-level, 2024 will be a year of increased collaboration between employers, schools, and government agencies. The goal will be to create a more responsive and adaptable education system that ensures the workforce remains well-equipped to meet the evolving demands of the job market. This transition will mark a turning point in addressing the talent shortage, with the potential to lead to a more robust and dynamic workforce in the years to come. This shift will be driven by several key factors. First, with a rapidly changing job market and evolving skill requirements, schools and education systems will find themselves under increased scrutiny to ensure that students are adequately prepared for the workforce. This will necessitate a reevaluation of curricula, training methods, and the development of future-ready skills. Second, in response to talent-shortage concerns, schools will place greater emphasis on work-based learning, STEM education, and vocational training programs. These efforts will be aimed at equipping students with the skills that are in high demand in the job market and promoting a broader range of career paths.
Jeri Larsen, COO, YouScience

In 2024 and beyond, we will see increased adoption of core curriculum tools and technology by school districts. The pandemic enabled educators worldwide to subscribe to virtual education products to aid in distance learning. This led to an oversaturation in products that students were exposed to, thus watering down the quality of each. Now, districts are placing increased emphasis on the high-quality core curriculum and are looking to technology to support their efforts. There has been significant research that clearly demonstrates that adoption of core materials is the largest driving force in student achievement. School districts want to be more unified with their curriculums, technology will help to lead the way. The teacher shortage and initiative fatigue isn’t slowing down in the new year. To combat this in 2024, districts should look to lean more on technology to support teachers and onboard new ones. The implementation of high-quality instructional materials (HQIMs) can help districts attract new teachers and rapidly upskill their existing staff, with built-in professional learning features.
Abbas Manjee, Co-Founder & Chief Academic Officer, Kiddom

With AI at the forefront of nearly every industry, districts and teachers need help weeding through the AI noise to find appropriate classroom applications. The best of AI is yet to come, and we are only beginning to see the tip of the iceberg with integration into edtech platforms. Any platform can integrate AI quickly for automation, but only the platforms that take the time to deeply understand the best applications for AI will thrive and truly help students and teachers alike. 2024 presents an opportunity for teachers leading the adoption curve to experiment with AI as a tool for assessment. For example, a teacher leveraging ChatGPT to help students draft comprehension prompts that best represent the texts they’re reading is likely to empower students with a higher degree of knowledge than a teacher that bans ChatGPT.
Abbas Manjee, Co-Founder & Chief Academic Officer, Kiddom

Education will be more online and more self-directed. Envisioning the trajectory of education in the coming decade, three discernible trends stand out to me, and I am confident in their continued growth. More online: Firstly, education will undoubtedly become more entrenched in the online sphere. The shift towards digital learning has been palpable, and this trajectory is poised to persist, shaping the way individuals access and engage with educational content. Multi-path: Secondly, the landscape of educational pathways will diversify significantly. Unlike the traditional model where one’s academic journey was largely confined to associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD tracks, the future promises a more varied array of programs. This diversification is already evident with the proliferation of boot camps and the emergence of comprehensive multi-credential pathway programs, offering learners a broader spectrum of options. Self-directed: Moreover, the paradigm of education will become increasingly self-directed or self-paced. Learners will have the autonomy to guide their own learning experiences, marking a departure from instructor-mediated programs. This shift towards self-directed education aligns with the evolving needs and preferences of students seeking more personalized and flexible learning journeys. A notable example is the surge in online enrollment at community colleges, signaling a growing inclination towards self-directed learning even within traditional educational institutions. In this evolving educational landscape, technology plays a pivotal role. As we navigate the next decade, Muzzy Lane is poised to contribute to an educational landscape characterized by online accessibility, diverse pathways, and self-directed learning.
David McCool, President & CEO, Muzzy Lane

The popularity of CTE will continue to rise. There is no doubt that numerous industries, such as manufacturing, are facing a pressing need for skilled professionals to fill vacant job positions. This, in combination with recent high school graduates being uncertain about their education and career paths, will prompt educational stakeholders to explore ways to enhance students’ confidence and certainty before they embark on post-secondary education or enter the workforce after high school. One effective approach to achieving this goal is by implementing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. In 2024, we anticipate an increasing number of school districts nationwide will  introduce new CTE programs. The continued dedication to developing and supporting CTE initiatives ensures that students throughout the country will enjoy a broader spectrum of opportunities, promoting their personal and professional development. Moreover, it guarantees that industries will benefit from a continuously expanding pool of skilled talent to fill job openings.
Hans Meeder, Senior Fellow for Education & Workforce Education, YouScience and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education

Cybersecurity is a growing threat for schools. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ an attack will happen, it’s ‘when.’ I predict in 2024 we will see an increased emphasis on cybersecurity in schools. School districts will take proactive steps to ensure student data is as secure as possible. This may include moving to a digital records management system that is FERPA and CJIS compliant such as what we have done with Scribbles Software. Other steps may include eliminating the storing of social security numbers, providing specific cybersecurity training, and making sure the district has an incident response plan in case of a cyberattack.
Beverly Miller, Assistant Director of Schools for Administration/Chief Technology Officer, Greeneville City Schools in Tennessee

The upcoming year will be driven by careful, data-informed decision-making around technology usage in and out of the classroom. As we know, the pandemic led to a proliferation of learning technologies, with districts reporting the use of an average of 2,500 edtech tools in the 2023 EdTech Top 40 research study. But, with ESSER funds set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 school year, districts are asking important questions as they manage these unwieldy edtech ecosystems: Which tools support effective pedagogy? Are they supporting positive student outcomes? Effective tools are designed to provide data to inform decisions and ensure educators, students, and communities know what’s available, safe, and working in each unique context. The data that these tools provide lead to better operational, financial, and instructional decisions. We will also see continued emphasis on actionable data to address individual student performance, especially through standards-based assessment. As educators work to meet an even wider range of learning needs, access to timely insights around mastery will be increasingly important, as we saw in the 2023 State of Assessment in K-12 Education study. 
Jenn Mitchell, Vice President, K-12 Marketing, North America, Instructure

With ESSER funding coming to an end, it will be more important than ever before to consider the overall lifecycle and value of devices as IT leaders and administrators will have less budget available to make new and continuous edtech purchases. Additionally, school and district leaders should consider how high quality, durable technology enables the continuity of learning and less disruption, in comparison to technology not designed for the classroom or student use. The same goes for educators, with the average educator spending more than an hour a week troubleshooting edtech, it’s critical that educators have access to easy-to-use and intuitive technology that allows more time for teaching and less time troubleshooting.
Madeleine Mortimore, Global Education Innovation and Research Lead, Logitech

“AI is very accessible, but to get the most power out of it you have to learn how to use it effectively. This includes engineering your prompts, determining what its limitations and strengths are and where its most applicable. Using AI is going to be a skill students need and for that to happen we first need to teach our teachers how to use it. Through my research project with reDesign, I have the opportunity to propose an AI integration model at my school and teach educators how to use the technology. It’s important everyone gets familiar with AI technology, but not be reliant on it. It’s that middle of the road where you use it effectively, but you’re not dependent on it that I want teachers and students to strive for.
Pearson Mudhol, High School Student, Meridian World School, Round Rock, Texas

Let’s be candid: the education headlines from 2023 were bleak. We’re just beginning to fully comprehend the massive scope of learning loss wrought by school closures during the pandemic. Recovery is proving slower than expected and we continue to face staff shortages and chronic student absences. With these grim statistics as a backdrop, you might be surprised (I am, a little!) that I feel optimistic about what’s to come. Despite the challenges faced in the field of education – and particularly special education – both students and staff have proven ourselves to be a resilient bunch. There is a renewed interest in proactively addressing students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs; rather than waiting until we notice an issue, many administrators and staff members are providing all students with universal support to enhance all aspects of wellness. More educators are intentionally embedding wellness supports for their students; community building, intentional instruction in coping and tolerance skills, and restorative and instructional responses to contextually inappropriate behavior help build positive classroom environments where all students and staff feel welcome, safe, and ready to engage.
Diane Myers, Ph. D, SVP, Special Education–Behavior, Specialized Education Services, Inc.

STEM opportunities are on the rise for young learners as elementary and early childhood programs increase exposure to STEM activities and careers. It is crucial that we take advantage of the many resources at our fingertips to develop the 21st century skills necessary for the workforce of the future. While the focus is often on secondary education, there is a great need to ignite interest and foster creativity when students’ curiosity and independence are at their peak. As we look to 2024, we should aim to integrate real-world problem solving that will encourage critical thinking and collaboration at an early age. We are moving away from the days of traditional teacher-centered instruction where desks are arranged in rows and the teacher is at the front of the room to a more collaborative hands-on learning environment. Immersive technologies are rapidly reshaping how students learn. Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality will transform how educators facilitate transdisciplinary learning in ways we never thought possible.
Jennifer Noah, STEM Facilitator, Dalraida Elementary, Montgomery Public Schools (AL), ClassVR Ambassador

States that have passed science of reading legislation recognize the need for teacher prep programs to include science of reading, but getting universities to change is a slow-moving shift, even if legislation requires it. The policy has passed, but questions remain on how universities will be held accountable. Expect more administrator training in science of reading as districts recognize the need for principals to understand what children need to learn to read.
Janelle Norton, Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships, IMSE, the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education

The continued use of AI in education can significantly transform and enhance the learning experience for students, teachers, and educational institutions. With AI, educators are able to create more personalized lesson plans that are tailored to individual student needs, pace, and learning styles.  Additionally, AI can be used to develop tools that enhance accessibility for students with disabilities, providing a more inclusive learning environment for all kinds of learners. As we look ahead, it’s important that players in the education industry create products and tools that are accessible regardless of their abilities or disabilities and have equal opportunities to learn and participate in educational activities. 
Danna Okuyama, Founder, Urban Sandbox  

Gamification in education involves integrating elements of game design and mechanics into learning environments to engage students, motivate them, and enhance their overall learning experience. Over the past several years, educators have talked about how gamification has positively impacted the education industry, and how it will continue to help students evolve and grow. Gamification can capture students’ attention and encourage active participation with immediate feedback, allowing students to learn from their mistakes and successes in real-time, and develop a wide range of skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, decision-making, and creativity.  
Danna Okuyama, Founder, Urban Sandbox  

In 2024, I firmly believe the growing synergies between real-time engagement (RTE) and artificial intelligence (AI) will profoundly revolutionize education. Drawing from a vast set of curriculum and inputs, including students’ interests, pace and learning style, AI has the potential to offer teachers with meaningful insights into their students and classroom that can be used to shape the learning experience and provide hyper-individualized education. Meanwhile, RTE enables responsive, accessible, and inclusive learning in the classroom by facilitating seamless and scalable interactive communications between students and teachers. Together, these technologies will allow teachers to provide tailored instruction, continuously optimize their teaching strategies, and spend more one-on-one time guiding students based on their unique requirements, leading to enhanced comprehension and academic performance.
Wyatt Oren, Director of Sales for Education, Agora

The youth mental health crisis will continue to be a focus for educators as they search for ways to help students through today’s unique hardships. As we explore ways to use technology for good, it’s important to evaluate how EdTech tools can help school districts, teachers and even families navigate a mental health pandemic in which almost three million youth reported experiencing severe major depression in 2023. Meeting students where they are – in today’s world, online – is the key to helping ensure they feel safe reporting on their wellbeing. Some students avoid asking for help in-person, as they may feel embarrassed or fear negative repercussions or backlash. Technological tools that offer anonymous check-ins on personal wellbeing, school culture and more can encourage students to seek out the help and resources they need. Additionally, we need to support our youth at school, at home and everywhere in between. In 2024, educators will prioritize technology that brings schools and families together to monitor and improve students’ wellbeing and ensure any red flags are detected and addressed as early as possible.
Harrison Parker, Executive Vice President, Linewize

In 2024, the role of generative AI in education will be at the forefront of many academic discussions. This rapidly evolving technology has only begun to make an impact in the field of education. A trend I hope to see is the utilization of AI to dramatically expand accessibility for those with learning differences, revolutionizing assistive technology. It has exciting potential to give highly personalized learning support never before possible, reducing barriers for diverse learners. AI may empower more students with greater independence in their education. At The Southport School, we take a skills-based approach to learning, whether reading, math, or technology. In my role supporting students with assistive and educational technologies, I focus on leveraging these tools to enable students to fully demonstrate their knowledge and abilities. This promotes an empowering sense of success even as students tackle more difficult learning challenges. Additionally, when they transition out of our school, the hope is those technologies are then second nature for them to engage with to continue on their learning journey with decreased adult support needed. The current assistive technology landscape could be transformed by the concept of AI, providing students not only with the support they require, but also evolving into personalized solutions that can grow, learn, and adapt to each child’s changing learning profile, developing skills, and academic growth over time. Ultimately this could foster ongoing academic growth and equip students with the tech-enabled skillset to continue succeeding independently in their future learning journeys.
Sharon Plante, Chief Technology Integrator, Teacher Mentor, & Student Advisor, The Southport School

At Mason County Central School District, we’re not just predicting the future of educational technology, we’re actively shaping it with our groundbreaking immersive classroom. As one of the first K-12 institutions in the country to integrate an AR/VR immersive room, we’re at the forefront of a revolution in learning. Our immersive classroom transcends traditional teaching methods, offering students an unparalleled, interactive learning experience that brings lessons to life. This technology is not just a tool, it’s a portal to a world of limitless educational possibilities, fostering engagement, creativity, and a deeper understanding of complex subjects. As we look ahead, we see our immersive classroom not only bridging learning gaps, it is also inspiring other schools to embrace this innovative approach, ensuring that the educational landscape continues to evolve and adapt to the needs of 21st-century learners.
Miguel Quinteros, K-12 Technology Coach, Mason County Central School District in Scottville, Michigan

There is no doubt 2024 will be a year of political twists and turns, so our educator corps. must not be used as chess pieces and instead be seen and held in high professional esteem. The structured literacy ripple that began many years ago has formed into a seismic wave that will reach every corner and peak of school systems in this country; we must continue to educate our school communities in structured literacy for K-12. Lastly, as a collective community we will need to continue to create environments where all students are heard, seen, and allowed grade-level engaging, affirming, and meaningful instruction.
Lacey Robinson, President & Chief Executive Officer, UnboundEd

To sum it up, I think the key focus areas in 2024 are going to be: student agency/confidence, equity, and integrated supports. The impact of the pandemic is coming to a head. NAEP results came out this summer, showing significant decline since 2020, especially in math, and especially for students in minority groups. Whether we agree with the interpretation or not, the headline is that we’ve lost the last 20-30 years of gains. Students that were in 4^th grade during the pandemic are now in 7^th grade and the gaps in reading and math foundational skills only become more apparent each year. And on top of that, mental health needs are at an all-time high. If last year we were talking about universal screening, this year we need to be talking about universal services. Just because a student is identified as gifted doesn’t mean they don’t have a need for scaffolding/support. And just because a student is not identified as gifted doesn’t mean they won’t benefit from extension. There’s simply too great a need for individualized services and the only way to deliver it is by integrating it into the gen ed classroom — gifted services, emerging bilingual services, special ed services, etc. Educators will embrace the tools that most efficiently help them identify students’ needs and streamline the link from that information to tangible, individualized resources/services. Strengths-based insights + Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is the answer.
Rebekah Rodriguez, Project Manager, Riverside Insights & Former District Administrator

Igniting specific curiosities will become a focus: Student engagement is critical to learning growth, and sparking student curiosity is an important step to engagement. But research shows that there are many types of curiosity. In 2024, educators will demonstrate their deeper understanding of the types of curiosity by strategically applying specific, more engaging edtech resources to nurture different types of curiosity. To support epistemic curiosity, the type of curiosity associated with the reward of knowledge, teachers will use more interactives and virtual labs. When a student interacts with a high-quality virtual lab or interactive, they become invested in the results, and the curiosity spurs them forward to finish the lab and even repeat it to vary the results. To support perceptual curiosity or ones’ interest in their surroundings, educators will inject augmented reality into instruction. Doing so challenges student perceptions of their environments in new and exciting ways and encourages the exploration of places and historical eras beyond the four walls of their classrooms. To support empathic curiosity, or the curiosity about the thoughts and feelings of others, educators will use online maker-spaces to create more collaborative learning opportunities that encourage greater discussion and idea sharing among students. The coming “Curiosity Revolution” will drive deeper student engagement in the post-Covid environment.
Lance Rougeux, SVP of Curriculum, Instruction & Student Engagement, Discovery Education

Teachers need AI training: In 2024, AI will be ubiquitous in the classroom, and teachers who don’t address it head-on will fall behind. To prepare the next generation of educators, teacher preparation programs should offer lessons about what AI tools are available, how students are already using them, and how they can be used to improve teaching and learning.
Andrew Rozell, President, iteach

As we head into 2024, many schools across the country will receive increased federal funding to help put safety plans into effect. Right now, many schools have a safety plan, however a gap currently exists between assessing threats and responding to them. In this next year, we’ll see many schools across the country commit to prevention and seek solutions and resources to close the implementation gap. This will ensure school leaders have the support they need to keep the safety of students and staff top of mind.
Jason Russell, Founder & President, Secure Environment Consultants & Former Secret Service Agent

Supply chain issues have prevented many schools from updating their technology. Now those issues are clearing up, but that doesn’t make technology adoption challenge-free. Educators must have a plan in place to determine what technology their schools really need and how to upgrade with minimal interoperability issues. Technology on the market covers everything from the latest EdTech and AI, to WiFi 6E, security devices, IoT devices, and your basic user devices. Not every school needs the same technology or should be on the same upgrade plan. Track all technology utilization and let those stats reveal your users’ experiences and predicted needs. Talk to every stakeholder – teachers, IT professionals, staff, parents, etc. Information from these sources will guide your decisions. Do you need infrastructure updates? New technology in the library or for your counselors? Is your school growing? Do you offer any special programs? Taking everything into account is crucial. Consider all users and your entire technology ecosystem – everything is connected and affects everything else. Finally, make sure you never back yourself into a corner. Technology, in every form, should be adaptable because the one thing we know for sure is that standards and capabilities are going to change over time.
Roger Sands, CEO & Co-Founder, Wyebot

Students and teachers will have a wider and wider choice of materials. Every year, we move further away from the “one size fits all” mentality that was the original textbook. I see that continuing in the future. As technology continues to expand and schools gain access to more materials, I see educational plans and curriculums becoming more tailored to individual student needs. I think we’ll see more variety in materials for students and more choice for teachers, and ultimately, more opportunity to work with students 1:1 with technology as the vehicle. The goal is to provide solutions that can be easily tailored to meet a specific need, that can be used alone or in tandem with another solution, and above all, something that is easy to use and reliable, so teachers are spending less time searching and planning, and more time teaching.   
Lemma Shomali, VP, Product Management & Strategy, Domestic Learning, Gale

An increased focus on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) will be prominent in 2024. We know legislation and funding are fickle in the gifted world.  I think we are seeing the shift from pullout/enrichment to more support for academic growth.  With inconsistent funding and a need to ensure gifted services are defensible, there should be more of a focus on academic performance while maintaining equitable opportunity best provided through ability testing.”
Monica L. Simonds, M. Ed., Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services, Richardson ISD

AI is one of the tools that can help make learning more personalized, engaging and efficient. For example, AI-driven algorithms analyze student data to adapt teaching styles and content for customized learning experiences. AI’s contributions to edtech don’t stop there. It can also take on administrative tasks and free up educators to focus on teaching. For example, automated grading and scheduling allow teachers to spend more time engaging students instead of doing paperwork. Of course, AI also comes with its challenges, including concerns around data privacy, the potential for misuse and the importance of human oversight. As a result, edtech companies also play a role in ensuring responsible AI use in the classroom by providing necessary training for educators and maintaining transparency around AI algorithms.
Hubert Simonis, Global Lead of Edtech and HR Tech, Endava 

As technology becomes integral to education, teaching digital citizenship is crucial. It’s about equipping students with the skills to use technology safely, responsibly and ethically. It also involves teaching them about privacy, digital footprints and online etiquette. Educators play a vital role in teaching digital citizenship by integrating it into the curriculum and fostering discussions on topics such as internet safety, digital rights and responsibilities, cyberbullying prevention and ethical online behavior.
Hubert Simonis, Global Lead of Edtech and HR Tech, Endava 

In education as an industry, K-20 must continue to define EDU 2.0. The pandemic and other factors continue to call into question the role education plays in society, and the concern of disconnected and inequitable experiences. Deeper connection across public and private sectors, stronger collaboration between school districts and colleges/universities, and a personalized view of the student’s journey across segments must be the priority heading into 2024.
Joshua Sine, VP, Higher Education Strategy, Qualtrics

In K-12, CTE will make its comeback. With a focus on career and workforce development, school districts will find ways to promote and grow their CTE programs to accommodate the growing demand for graduates with differentiated skills.
Joshua Sine, VP, Higher Education Strategy, Qualtrics

While the highly anticipated Apple Vision Pro headset is expected to revolutionize the virtual reality (VR) landscape, its high cost may limit direct classroom implementation in 2024. However, its release will significantly elevate the profile of the VR industry, attracting a new wave of entrepreneurs and fresh investment from venture capitalists. This will result in a healthier ecosystem that benefits even the lower-cost headsets that are already making their way into schools. This advancement offers immersive learning experiences, allowing students to explore virtual environments, conduct experiments in simulated labs, and interact with historical events in real time.
Garrett Smiley, CEO & Founder, Sora Schools

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly making its way into America’s classrooms. However, unlike the first generation of AI tools, AI in 2024 will be seamlessly integrated into existing platforms like grade books, enhancing functionality without adding complexity. AI-driven tools can personalize learning experiences, provide real-time feedback, and automate administrative tasks, allowing teachers to focus more on teaching and less on logistics. The integration of AI into familiar platforms ensures that its adoption is intuitive for educators, bridging the gap between advanced technology and everyday teaching practices.
Garrett Smiley, CEO & Founder, Sora Schools

The use of artificial intelligence is shifting the landscape in education and we will see schools increasingly adopting tools and resources that have AI components.  My prediction for 2024 is that schools will put policies in place to evaluate potential AI investments for rigor, equity, and results for kids in addition to innovation (It will be a “both/and” not an “either/or” approach).
Joanna Smith-Griffin, Founder & CEO, AllHere

Schools will take a proactive approach to improving student attendance, using two-way communication with families to understand and address the why behind absences. In 2024, we will see more personalized attendance interventions and increased school-home communication. Educators will engage families through proactive communication about the importance of attendance—before students become chronically absent. We will also see more educators reaching out to families to enhance connections and build partnerships. When families feel supported they are more likely to collaborate and work together with the district to better understand and address the root causes of student absences. With this information, personalized interventions will be designed to address specific challenges that students may face in maintaining regular attendance. Collaboration between families and schools will play a crucial role in addressing the unique needs of each student, considering factors such as heath, transportation, and socio-economic conditions.
Grace Spencer, VP, Marketing & Product Development, SchoolStatus 

AI curriculum will become mainstream in K-12 classrooms across the nation, particularly in high schools. More and more schools will recognize the importance of AI literacy and establish policies and guidelines for how students can and should use generative AI in their work. We will see states like California pave the way with acceptable use standards and policies to protect students using the technology while schools around the country roll out AI coursework. Schools will also start to encounter new risks stemming from AI use by staff. As a result, schools will have to start providing their staff with centrally-managed generative AI tools that have pre-built safeguards in place to ensure safe and ethical use, much as they do today with other productivity tools.
Balakrishnan Subramanian, VP & GM of Education, Salesforce

Generative AI will unleash a new wave in personalized education. Teachers will be able to generate content on the fly that is aligned with a student’s interests and skill level. While it would be prohibitively expensive to scale such an idea using the large language models (LLMs) and tools of today, within the next 1-3 years we will start to see the proliferation of specialized ‘small language models’ or SLMs. These specialized models will be able to bring the cost of scaling personalized learning down dramatically and help us take a huge leap forward in individualized instruction.
Balakrishnan Subramanian, VP & GM of Education, Salesforce

AI will further revolutionize education in 2024. Rather than traditional, multiple-choice questions, technology will interact with students at a greater clip. AI will have real, conceptual conversations with students to understand their progress. With this advancement, education will become more individualized and holistic, aligning with each learner’s unique journey. It will no longer be as simple as “right” and “wrong” answers. AI will grow with a student at their own speed to help them every step of the way. For example, when a student is learning division, AI can chat with them to ensure they have the basics down, like subtraction, addition, and carrying over, before mastering division. This tech-led way of learning will have a dose of play-based, discovery-focused techniques while still containing a structured lesson plan to help kids reach their goals.
Vishal Sunil, Co-Founder & CTO, Rocket Learning

AI will take over more routine tasks. Looking ahead, I am optimistic that artificial intelligence capabilities will continue advancing rapidly to take over more routine educational administrative tasks from educators. This will allow teachers greater time to focus on personalizing learning experiences for students. While progress has been made, ensuring equitable access to technology remains a priority.
Wilson Tsu, CEO & Founder, PowerNotes

In 2024 I expect we will see technology in schools shift away from pure technology solutions to human-centric technology supports. There will be less enthusiasm for self-paced technology programs requiring students to work independently, and more focus on a return to teacher and therapist-led engagement. Perspectives on technology in the classroom have been rapidly shifting with the introduction of AI, and questions of which parts of the day-to-day work of educators can possibly be addressed by technology. My hope is that schools will continue to be open to technology solutions, but they will also recognize that these programs are best leveraged in support of the human experts who can be truly sensitive to individualized student need.
Kate Eberle Walker, CEO, Presence

In 2024, we’ll begin to find a balance and use artificial intelligence to build authentic intelligence. AI will become a powerful tool for writers, especially those learning to write and facing writer’s block. However, the tool will need to be balanced so humans remain in control; we will see students and individuals needing to develop discernment skills.
David Weinstein, CEO, Write the World

Demand for AI-driven edtech resources grows: The launch of Chat GPT in 2022 kicked-off a year of debate in education about AI’s role in education. As that debate continues through 2024, the demand for AI-driven edtech products and services will grow. AI is a powerful tool that can save teachers time and scale best practice. In an era where the educator’s time is more precious than ever, AI is well-suited to become a transformative technology that supports teachers in a host of ways. AI can simplify grading, manage schedules, organize complex information, improve learning management systems, power professional learning, and much more. AI also supports the application of best instructional practice. Feedback loops, differentiated and adaptive learning, gamification, tutoring, and other education staples can be improved through the intentional application of AI. In 2024, edtech providers will look at AI through the lens of how it can be better integrated into their products and services to support the teacher and improve instruction, and then thoughtfully apply it in those places. In an era in which school systems are consolidating their edtech resources and keeping only those with demonstrated effectiveness, products supported by AI that improve the teaching and learning will have an edge.
Pete Weir, Chief Product Officer, Discovery Education

The debate of cellphones in the classroom will remain a hot topic in 2024, and it’s time for schools to find ways to incorporate students’ cellphones into lessons. Whether it’s through AI tools or collaboration apps, there are endless opportunities to use this technology to enhance learning. This might include using an AI tool to add to a history assignment or having students use the Epson’s iProjection app to cast their work on the projector to share with the class. There are so many ways to allow students to use their devices during class and demonstrate how to utilize technology to enrich their learning.
Mark Whelton, Superintendent, Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District, Bridgeport, Michigan

In 2024, I believe that schools, districts and states will move to the next phase of implementing their Portrait of a Graduate by addressing the need to measure and evaluate students against the competencies in their Portraits. They will create innovative methods for measurement and leverage all the different modalities as they move away from traditional multiple-choice tests based on recall and recognition. Assessments will become more context-based and provide the data and insight needed to improve students’ academic and career outcomes. Education leaders will seek to increase student employability by providing opportunities for intentional instruction and deliberate practice of critical thinking and problem solving skills as part of a more holistic approach to ensure students are future ready. 
Bob Yayac, President & CEO, CAE 

For more news on edtech trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page.

As we wave farewell to 2023, we’re looking ahead to edtech trends in 2024 with optimism for education as a whole.

Moving away from the pandemic, educators still grapple with learning loss and academic disparities and inequities.

In 2023, a new popular kid in town, better known as AI, dominated headlines and prompted debates around how students could abuse–and should use–the generative tool for learning.

The future of education is changing, and global workforce demands will be influenced by the need for knowledge around and skills in fast-growing technologies such as AI. This begs the question: What’s next for education?

What are the projections for edtech?

We asked edtech executives, stakeholders, and experts to share some of their thoughts and predictions about where they think edtech is headed in 2024.

Here’s what they had to say:

Text-based AI interfaces provide an opportunity to help close the digital divide…and avoid an impending AI divide. Ten years ago, when we began building equitable, offline-first education technology for the 2/3 of the world who didn’t have internet access, many people told us to just wait and the gap would close naturally. But we knew that unless we proactively built bridges to ensure everyone could be included in the benefits of new technologies, each cycle of innovation would leave people further behind. Today, over 2.9 billion people are still without internet, and the rate of internet growth has actually slowed. However, one of the exciting things about text-based AI interfaces is that we can now leverage low-connectivity channels like SMS to bridge high-tech online innovations to communities who would otherwise not have access. So the big push in 2024 will be finding ways to support building capacity and awareness around the potential benefits and effective use of these tools, and finding equitable funding models to ensure free access for all, so it doesn’t become yet another tool that further entrenches the advantages of those who already have the most.
Jamie Alexandre, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Learning Equality

Buckle up and enjoy the ride! 2024 is going to be either an awesome roller coaster ride or a roller coaster ride with unexpected turns resulting in silenced screams. I predict two issues will take center stage- artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. With AI, we have just begun to see the possibilities this technology can provide for education. Although AI is not new in other industries, it’s still an emerging trend in education and we are finally allowing ourselves a glimpse of hope, skepticism and wonderment. From how to delve into the nuances of student learning and removing the heavy lift of teachers trying to figure out how to individualize instruction, to enabling someone like me to speak in seven languages so that I may express ideas or collaborate with others from around the world, AI holds endless potential.  On the down side, as the technology evolves it will also enable hackers to be more adept at infiltrating systems that store sensitive student data. I predict a greater focus on cybersecurity so schools can protect our students and themselves from these unexpected (and unwelcome) twists and turns. No doubt 2024 will be an interesting year and I, for one, am looking forward to 2024!
Dr. Maria Armstrong, Executive Director, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS)

While digital and virtual simulations can help students understand complex science and engineering concepts, these tools should be coupled with meaningful hands-on activities that show students the limits of models and the challenges of making things work in the real world. When students can bring models to life and test them in real world situations, they are expanding beyond paper and screen into the world around them.
Michael Arquin, Founder, KidWind

The integration of AI in education has the potential to revolutionize the way students learn, especially for non-traditional learners. AI can deliver content to students in a manner that supports each student’s unique learning styles and preferences. This customized approach helps all students practice and learn new concepts in a way that works for them. Additionally, AI can shorten the feedback loop on student work, allowing students to quickly identify any misunderstandings they may have. This helps build strong retrieval pathways and helps students more efficiently master concepts and skills. Immediate feedback also helps students develop self-efficacy. Knowing the results of their efforts shortly after completing an assignment lets students know both when they have mastered a concept and where they need to do additional work. Another advantage of AI is the time it can save teachers in the creation of personalized learning experiences. By leveraging AI technologies, educators can overcome the limitations of time and resources, offering a level of personalization that enhances the learning experience for each individual student. This approach acknowledges and accommodates the unique needs, strengths, and learning styles of learners.
Kris Astle, Global Education Strategist, SMART Technologies

Far too many students continue to struggle with reading, with post-pandemic recovery remaining slow—and in some cases, stagnant—among our young readers. There is a clear need for science-driven curriculum, and the thoughtful implementation of emerging technologies. For instance, new AI tools are providing educators with an invaluable resource—more time for individualized instruction, with increased specificity. I’m optimistic that proven, coherent technologies in the hands of a committed teacher will achieve the goal of more confident, successful readers. 
Elizabeth Bassford, Vice President of Content & Implementation, Curriculum Associates

As the multidisciplinary nature of astronomy is recognized, schools should look to expand curriculums with more astronomy-focused courses in 2024. The growing space industry requires a diverse workforce beyond the conventional role of engineering. A range of fields including healthcare, law, business, entertainment, and food are increasingly involved in space-related initiatives. Therefore, inspiring students’ interests in space topics through astronomy education can cultivate the broad skill sets and passions demanded across many sectors within the expanding space economy. By fostering the next generation’s passion for space, schools can help develop a versatile workforce ready for the diverse jobs of the future in the domains of space exploration and development.
Kachine Blackwell, Director of Product Marketing, Slooh

Leaders will look for evidence-based wellness programs. With increased funding challenges and various political pressures surrounding wellness programs, science will drive decision-making. Education leaders will continue to put resources toward wellness programs, but with greater scrutiny and demand for evidence-based data. This trend follows the pattern of other public interest phenomena. A crisis brews, followed by a building realization of the problem. Organizations and institutions spring into action, including gathering information about the scope of the problem and implementing emergency solutions. Now we are in the phase of sorting out which solutions have the best results so we can consolidate learning and direct resources appropriately. We now have plenty of data about our ParentGuidance.org program to help decision-makers understand implement programs at scale that hold the promise to improve youth mental health and reduce suicide.
Anne Brown, CEO & President, Cook Center for Human Connection

More meaningful, tailored school-home communication will be imperative to supporting academic recovery and addressing chronic absenteeism. In 2024, developing more meaningful school-home relationships and partnering with families to support better student outcomes will be imperative. Currently, more than 25 percent of K-12 students are chronically absent and most students have ground to make up in math and reading. Research shows that the average student would need more than 4 additional months of instruction to catch up to pre-COVID reading levels. At the same time, there’s a gap between how parents and caregivers think their children are doing and the reality. Many families aren’t aware if their child is behind academically, or may not understand how absenteeism is impacting their child’s progress. We will see more districts leveraging real-time data so families can understand more than just what their child’s grades are. Communications with student-level data tied to outcomes feel relevant and actionable to families. School-home communications will focus on driving meaningful results, promoting student success, and engaging all families. Meaningful connections with families encourage engagement that supports better student outcomes.
Russ Davis, Founder and CEO, SchoolStatus

The evolution of technology in education spaces is certainly not slowing down in 2024. As an integral part of learning today, educators and students deserve new and improved ways to display and interact with classroom content, but to be successful, these tools need to be flexible and user-friendly. One thing that cannot be denied is the disconnect in today’s education technology between AV and IT and various domains. Most educators and students are not technology professionals and prefer classroom solutions that are simple to use and easily work with the various programs, software and other hardware which educators have grown accustomed to. Historically there has been a limit to seamless integration across various technology solutions within today’s classrooms. However, projector manufacturers are working towards solving some of these problems with their latest classroom display technology.
Remi Del Mar, Senior Product Manager for K-12 Projectors, Epson America

I believe the mental well-being of students and educators will continue to be a top focus in 2024. This past year presented numerous challenges for educators, leaving many of us scrambling to do our best to meet the rising needs with limited time and resources – which isn’t sustainable. We need self-care not just for students, but for teachers, too. Teachers will need tools to make their mental health a priority in 2024, as the only way to stay calm and carry on in the midst of so many to-dos is to replenish their own well-being first. A free download called ‘Take What You Need’ helps to infuse more calm, joy and gratitude into even the busiest routine. Incorporating proven techniques into our lives and keeping them front and center will be critical in a year that’s expected to bring its own unique challenges.
Katie Dorn, MA, LSC, MFT, General Manager, Catapult Learning & Co-Founder, EmpowerU 

The ESSER fiscal cliff is here; reliable and actionable data will be key to investing in effective efforts. As we approach the impending ESSER fiscal cliff, states and school districts across the country will be grappling with the abrupt loss of federal pandemic relief funding. They have about $70 billion left to spend this school year—about 10 percent on top of their normal budgets—and then the money runs out. Schools have relied on those funds for the creation or expansion of summer programs and tutoring services, the purchase of high-quality curriculum and instructional materials, and a plethora of other efforts to address learning gaps students experienced through the COVID-19 pandemic. 2024 will be a mix of states and districts spending their remaining funds while also looking to the future. As the one-time funds expire, it will be more important than ever for education communities to have access to reliable and actionable data to know which interventions have been most effective in helping students grow, and where to continue investing strategically amidst shrinking budgets. Policymakers will be looking to leverage their existing data sources to better understand those trends and the remaining gaps, and they will continue to look for innovative approaches to learning and ways to assess the needs of students.
Lindsay Dworkin, SVP of Policy & Government Affairs, NWEA 

The pendulum has swung quickly toward the Science of Reading. I can see a world where we overcorrect, however, and start to view it in a very narrow way. Yes, it’s important, especially in the early stages of learning to read in K-2 classrooms, that teachers align with the Science of Reading. But that doesn’t mean everybody must do everything the exact same way. Using a science of literacy-based instructional approach doesn’t always look identical. Teachers should feel free to put their marks on it. They need the power to exercise their skill sets. It’s important to think about with early learners–not that we shouldn’t follow a scope and sequence, as a systematic approach is necessary. But how teachers implement that scope and sequence, the fun activities and what they do to make their classroom feel like theirs isn’t something they should ever lose.
Laura Fischer, VP, Learning Design & Content Development, Learning A-Z

Looking ahead, I anticipate that in 2024 the generative AI training wheels will come off and propel adoption of this technology. It is increasingly clear that AI will become a ubiquitous part of life. Therefore, it is in the educators’ best interest to prepare students effectively, ensuring they are well-equipped to coexist with generative AI in the workplace in the future. Educators can take the lead by incorporating opportunities to work with generative AI-powered tools. For instance, traditionally static presentations can be infused with dynamic generative AI elements, fostering a more efficient and engaging experience. This not only aligns with the evolving technological landscape but also prepares students for a future where collaboration with AI will be integral to various professional domains.
Jose Florido, Education Lead & Chief Market Development, U.S., Freepik

Cities and states will utilize dynamic policy making as they reach data maturity. With the investment of SaaS technologies and increased data sharing between the public and private sectors, cities and states begin to utilize data in near real-time for budgeting and policy making. Rather than taking eight months to calculate and aggregate home values to inform property taxes that will shape public budgets, policymakers can analyze this data as it’s published to avoid a budget crisis in eight months. Additionally, policymakers can accurately account for future budget allocation for roads, schools, and public safety. SaaS technologies now make it possible to expedite support of foster care providers, match appropriate providers with children, and then help allocate social and financial resources to those providers on behalf of children.
Jeff Frazier, Head of Global Public Sector, Snowflake

In 2024, the focus will be on reimagining education with AI at its core. It’s not about merely repackaging traditional learning methods with AI; it’s about innovatively leveraging AI to transform the educational experience. Virtual learning assistants, or mentors, will, with human overseers, autonomously support personalized development: Imagine personalized learning journeys powered by AI agents that bring relevant topics to your students’ attention, based on your interests.
Graham Glass, CEO & Founder, CYPHER Learning 

Finding new and innovative ways to support teachers will continue to be a priority for schools and districts this coming year and beyond. At St. Vrain, we’ve implemented artificial intelligence to provide teachers with extra support and to deliver high-quality, meaningful, and relevant professional learning opportunities. For example, this year our district launched the Exploration AI program to boost educators’ use and understanding of this emerging technology through self-directed, gamified learning. We have also continued to utilize the AI Coach by Edthena platform to help teachers reflect on their practice, take action steps toward instructional improvements, and measure their progress on student outcomes.
Courtney Groskin, Instructional Learning Coach, St. Vrain Valley Schools, Longmont, Colo.

Our recent research found that families, especially those with a lower household income are less likely to have access to paper-based technologies like printers, scanners, envelopes, and checkbooks, and they want to be able to use online systems to enroll their children and pay for tuition or school-related fees. Therefore, in the coming year I predict an increase in districts adopting technology to provide online options for everything from enrollment and tuition payments, to lottery and choice program applications. By improving access to district systems and processes, school leaders will be able to better serve and meet the needs and expectations of the families they serve.
Matthew Hancock, Director of Customer Success & Services, Scribbles Software

In 2023, the rapid integration of AI into education, surge in cybersecurity attacks against public schools, and increased focus on data security were notable developments within the education space.. While each of these trends impacted the industry in their own rights, all three development served as opportunities for education leaders to shift their approach to teaching, learning, and managing school operations that I foresee continuing in 2024. While we now better understand the potential benefits of AI in education and have seen the release of AI features in products, it’s still in the early stages of development. I believe we can expect significant product announcements in 2024 as the industry continues its exploration of AI’s potential impact across all facets of education – especially when it comes to seeing how mixing the power of AI with student data will help support personalized learning efforts at scale. Another aspect of AI’s impact in education I foresee growing in 2024 is the shift towards ensuring more responsible AI use, notably when it comes to addressing the uncertainties that came with introducing it. In 2024, I expect we will see big advancements towards determining the best way to use AI in both classroom and administrative settings, as well as clearly defining boundaries for ethical use. In 2023, the US witnessed a surge in cybersecurity attacks on schools and districts, making it a primary target. Throughout the year, we’ve seen districts and edtech companies fall victim to these attacks, compelling districts to adopt a defensive stance. This involved updating systems and educating communities about the substantial threat posed by these attacks and the most effective ways to prevent them. Looking ahead to 2024, the industry is poised to transition to an offensive stance. Armed with enhanced knowledge and tools, I expect districts will make the shift to having cybersecurity practices that have been updated, tested, and regularly monitored to thwart successful attacks. The goal is to witness a decline in successful attacks by the end of the year. Finally, I predict data security to be a continued focus for schools in 2024. As we consider what responsible AI use looks like, districts will also have to consider how new AI tools will leverage data without exposing it. As such, I expect combining the benefits of AI (with responsible use) with the best cybersecurity practices will be a key focal point in 2024.
Ryan Imbriale, Vice President of Education Strategy, PowerSchool

Research-based interventions will be needed to help older students with reading fluency. National data show that almost 70 percent of eighth graders are not considered proficient in reading based on 2022 test scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as The Nation’s Report Card. In 2024, districts will be working to find research-based interventions to help older students with reading fluency. Reading fluency is essential for effective reading comprehension at any age, but it’s especially critical once students go from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’ Unfortunately, many students leaving elementary school are still not proficient in reading, and that creates a significant barrier to their ability to learn across subjects. Middle and high school teachers will need support to help older students with foundational reading skills to address this problem. Programs that emphasize repeated reading and giving older readers the opportunity to choose practice readings on topics they find engaging will help older readers improve fluency.
Laura Hansen, NWEA Director of Academic Services, NWEA  

As 2024 unfolds, the educational landscape embraces the transformative power of AI, crafting a future where accessibility and personalized learning take center stage. We are on track to see an increase in individualized homeschooling and e-learning, accompanied by the rising tide of gamification in education, promising a more engaging and dynamic learning experience.
Diana Heldfond, CEO & Founder, Parallel Learning

Are students learning? Even the best instruction will not be effective if schools don’t provide a safe, positive learning environment, and if students aren’t ready to learn. As we head into 2024, we will see an emphasis on tools that support the needs of the whole child. Social and emotional skills set students up with a strong foundation to understand their learning needs, focus, ask for help when needed and collaborate, so they can reach learning goals. Tools that help students develop these skills will lead to improved academic engagement and growth.” 
Evelyn Johnson, VP Research & Development, Aperture Education & Professor Emeritus, Boise State University

Artificial Intelligence in the classroom will continue to be a focus in 2024 throughout education. While many schools are looking at the ramifications of students using AI to “cheat” or “avoid” classwork and writing papers, it is important to note that teachers themselves will be thrust into the AI world. There are advantages of using AI to do things for teachers that they do not enjoy doing. Letting the AI work FOR teachers instead of replacing teachers will be hugely beneficial to the education space in the future. Let the computers tackle the “science” of teaching while the humans focus on the “art” of teaching, exploring the nuances and building the rapport and understanding of individual student needs without being burdened by “randomizing versions of a test” or “figuring out block scheduling parameters” for rotational teaching purposes. AI can also help teachers create and teach in new and exciting virtual spaces which will save time and remove barriers for entry into high quality content and instruction.
Chris Klein, Head of U.S. Education, Avantis Education (Creators of ClassVR)

For years, employers have grappled with the looming concern of a talent shortage – a worry that originated with the retirement of Baby Boomers. However, in 2024, this concern will continue to embed itself at the state-level within schools and school systems across the nation. The talent shortage is no longer just an employer concern, but it is now a shared responsibility involving education systems and state governments. As the talent shortage concern shifts to the state-level, 2024 will be a year of increased collaboration between employers, schools, and government agencies. The goal will be to create a more responsive and adaptable education system that ensures the workforce remains well-equipped to meet the evolving demands of the job market. This transition will mark a turning point in addressing the talent shortage, with the potential to lead to a more robust and dynamic workforce in the years to come. This shift will be driven by several key factors. First, with a rapidly changing job market and evolving skill requirements, schools and education systems will find themselves under increased scrutiny to ensure that students are adequately prepared for the workforce. This will necessitate a reevaluation of curricula, training methods, and the development of future-ready skills. Second, in response to talent-shortage concerns, schools will place greater emphasis on work-based learning, STEM education, and vocational training programs. These efforts will be aimed at equipping students with the skills that are in high demand in the job market and promoting a broader range of career paths.
Jeri Larsen, COO, YouScience

In 2024 and beyond, we will see increased adoption of core curriculum tools and technology by school districts. The pandemic enabled educators worldwide to subscribe to virtual education products to aid in distance learning. This led to an oversaturation in products that students were exposed to, thus watering down the quality of each. Now, districts are placing increased emphasis on the high-quality core curriculum and are looking to technology to support their efforts. There has been significant research that clearly demonstrates that adoption of core materials is the largest driving force in student achievement. School districts want to be more unified with their curriculums, technology will help to lead the way. The teacher shortage and initiative fatigue isn’t slowing down in the new year. To combat this in 2024, districts should look to lean more on technology to support teachers and onboard new ones. The implementation of high-quality instructional materials (HQIMs) can help districts attract new teachers and rapidly upskill their existing staff, with built-in professional learning features.
Abbas Manjee, Co-Founder & Chief Academic Officer, Kiddom

With AI at the forefront of nearly every industry, districts and teachers need help weeding through the AI noise to find appropriate classroom applications. The best of AI is yet to come, and we are only beginning to see the tip of the iceberg with integration into edtech platforms. Any platform can integrate AI quickly for automation, but only the platforms that take the time to deeply understand the best applications for AI will thrive and truly help students and teachers alike. 2024 presents an opportunity for teachers leading the adoption curve to experiment with AI as a tool for assessment. For example, a teacher leveraging ChatGPT to help students draft comprehension prompts that best represent the texts they’re reading is likely to empower students with a higher degree of knowledge than a teacher that bans ChatGPT.
Abbas Manjee, Co-Founder & Chief Academic Officer, Kiddom

Education will be more online and more self-directed. Envisioning the trajectory of education in the coming decade, three discernible trends stand out to me, and I am confident in their continued growth. More online: Firstly, education will undoubtedly become more entrenched in the online sphere. The shift towards digital learning has been palpable, and this trajectory is poised to persist, shaping the way individuals access and engage with educational content. Multi-path: Secondly, the landscape of educational pathways will diversify significantly. Unlike the traditional model where one’s academic journey was largely confined to associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD tracks, the future promises a more varied array of programs. This diversification is already evident with the proliferation of boot camps and the emergence of comprehensive multi-credential pathway programs, offering learners a broader spectrum of options. Self-directed: Moreover, the paradigm of education will become increasingly self-directed or self-paced. Learners will have the autonomy to guide their own learning experiences, marking a departure from instructor-mediated programs. This shift towards self-directed education aligns with the evolving needs and preferences of students seeking more personalized and flexible learning journeys. A notable example is the surge in online enrollment at community colleges, signaling a growing inclination towards self-directed learning even within traditional educational institutions. In this evolving educational landscape, technology plays a pivotal role. As we navigate the next decade, Muzzy Lane is poised to contribute to an educational landscape characterized by online accessibility, diverse pathways, and self-directed learning.
David McCool, President & CEO, Muzzy Lane

The popularity of CTE will continue to rise. There is no doubt that numerous industries, such as manufacturing, are facing a pressing need for skilled professionals to fill vacant job positions. This, in combination with recent high school graduates being uncertain about their education and career paths, will prompt educational stakeholders to explore ways to enhance students’ confidence and certainty before they embark on post-secondary education or enter the workforce after high school. One effective approach to achieving this goal is by implementing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. In 2024, we anticipate an increasing number of school districts nationwide will  introduce new CTE programs. The continued dedication to developing and supporting CTE initiatives ensures that students throughout the country will enjoy a broader spectrum of opportunities, promoting their personal and professional development. Moreover, it guarantees that industries will benefit from a continuously expanding pool of skilled talent to fill job openings.
Hans Meeder, Senior Fellow for Education & Workforce Education, YouScience and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education

Cybersecurity is a growing threat for schools. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ an attack will happen, it’s ‘when.’ I predict in 2024 we will see an increased emphasis on cybersecurity in schools. School districts will take proactive steps to ensure student data is as secure as possible. This may include moving to a digital records management system that is FERPA and CJIS compliant such as what we have done with Scribbles Software. Other steps may include eliminating the storing of social security numbers, providing specific cybersecurity training, and making sure the district has an incident response plan in case of a cyberattack.
Beverly Miller, Assistant Director of Schools for Administration/Chief Technology Officer, Greeneville City Schools in Tennessee

The upcoming year will be driven by careful, data-informed decision-making around technology usage in and out of the classroom. As we know, the pandemic led to a proliferation of learning technologies, with districts reporting the use of an average of 2,500 edtech tools in the 2023 EdTech Top 40 research study. But, with ESSER funds set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 school year, districts are asking important questions as they manage these unwieldy edtech ecosystems: Which tools support effective pedagogy? Are they supporting positive student outcomes? Effective tools are designed to provide data to inform decisions and ensure educators, students, and communities know what’s available, safe, and working in each unique context. The data that these tools provide lead to better operational, financial, and instructional decisions. We will also see continued emphasis on actionable data to address individual student performance, especially through standards-based assessment. As educators work to meet an even wider range of learning needs, access to timely insights around mastery will be increasingly important, as we saw in the 2023 State of Assessment in K-12 Education study. 
Jenn Mitchell, Vice President, K-12 Marketing, North America, Instructure

With ESSER funding coming to an end, it will be more important than ever before to consider the overall lifecycle and value of devices as IT leaders and administrators will have less budget available to make new and continuous edtech purchases. Additionally, school and district leaders should consider how high quality, durable technology enables the continuity of learning and less disruption, in comparison to technology not designed for the classroom or student use. The same goes for educators, with the average educator spending more than an hour a week troubleshooting edtech, it’s critical that educators have access to easy-to-use and intuitive technology that allows more time for teaching and less time troubleshooting.
Madeleine Mortimore, Global Education Innovation and Research Lead, Logitech

“AI is very accessible, but to get the most power out of it you have to learn how to use it effectively. This includes engineering your prompts, determining what its limitations and strengths are and where its most applicable. Using AI is going to be a skill students need and for that to happen we first need to teach our teachers how to use it. Through my research project with reDesign, I have the opportunity to propose an AI integration model at my school and teach educators how to use the technology. It’s important everyone gets familiar with AI technology, but not be reliant on it. It’s that middle of the road where you use it effectively, but you’re not dependent on it that I want teachers and students to strive for.
Pearson Mudhol, High School Student, Meridian World School, Round Rock, Texas

Let’s be candid: the education headlines from 2023 were bleak. We’re just beginning to fully comprehend the massive scope of learning loss wrought by school closures during the pandemic. Recovery is proving slower than expected and we continue to face staff shortages and chronic student absences. With these grim statistics as a backdrop, you might be surprised (I am, a little!) that I feel optimistic about what’s to come. Despite the challenges faced in the field of education – and particularly special education – both students and staff have proven ourselves to be a resilient bunch. There is a renewed interest in proactively addressing students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs; rather than waiting until we notice an issue, many administrators and staff members are providing all students with universal support to enhance all aspects of wellness. More educators are intentionally embedding wellness supports for their students; community building, intentional instruction in coping and tolerance skills, and restorative and instructional responses to contextually inappropriate behavior help build positive classroom environments where all students and staff feel welcome, safe, and ready to engage.
Diane Myers, Ph. D, SVP, Special Education–Behavior, Specialized Education Services, Inc.

STEM opportunities are on the rise for young learners as elementary and early childhood programs increase exposure to STEM activities and careers. It is crucial that we take advantage of the many resources at our fingertips to develop the 21st century skills necessary for the workforce of the future. While the focus is often on secondary education, there is a great need to ignite interest and foster creativity when students’ curiosity and independence are at their peak. As we look to 2024, we should aim to integrate real-world problem solving that will encourage critical thinking and collaboration at an early age. We are moving away from the days of traditional teacher-centered instruction where desks are arranged in rows and the teacher is at the front of the room to a more collaborative hands-on learning environment. Immersive technologies are rapidly reshaping how students learn. Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality will transform how educators facilitate transdisciplinary learning in ways we never thought possible.
Jennifer Noah, STEM Facilitator, Dalraida Elementary, Montgomery Public Schools (AL), ClassVR Ambassador

States that have passed science of reading legislation recognize the need for teacher prep programs to include science of reading, but getting universities to change is a slow-moving shift, even if legislation requires it. The policy has passed, but questions remain on how universities will be held accountable. Expect more administrator training in science of reading as districts recognize the need for principals to understand what children need to learn to read.
Janelle Norton, Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships, IMSE, the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education

The continued use of AI in education can significantly transform and enhance the learning experience for students, teachers, and educational institutions. With AI, educators are able to create more personalized lesson plans that are tailored to individual student needs, pace, and learning styles.  Additionally, AI can be used to develop tools that enhance accessibility for students with disabilities, providing a more inclusive learning environment for all kinds of learners. As we look ahead, it’s important that players in the education industry create products and tools that are accessible regardless of their abilities or disabilities and have equal opportunities to learn and participate in educational activities. 
Danna Okuyama, Founder, Urban Sandbox  

Gamification in education involves integrating elements of game design and mechanics into learning environments to engage students, motivate them, and enhance their overall learning experience. Over the past several years, educators have talked about how gamification has positively impacted the education industry, and how it will continue to help students evolve and grow. Gamification can capture students’ attention and encourage active participation with immediate feedback, allowing students to learn from their mistakes and successes in real-time, and develop a wide range of skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, decision-making, and creativity.  
Danna Okuyama, Founder, Urban Sandbox  

In 2024, I firmly believe the growing synergies between real-time engagement (RTE) and artificial intelligence (AI) will profoundly revolutionize education. Drawing from a vast set of curriculum and inputs, including students’ interests, pace and learning style, AI has the potential to offer teachers with meaningful insights into their students and classroom that can be used to shape the learning experience and provide hyper-individualized education. Meanwhile, RTE enables responsive, accessible, and inclusive learning in the classroom by facilitating seamless and scalable interactive communications between students and teachers. Together, these technologies will allow teachers to provide tailored instruction, continuously optimize their teaching strategies, and spend more one-on-one time guiding students based on their unique requirements, leading to enhanced comprehension and academic performance.
Wyatt Oren, Director of Sales for Education, Agora

The youth mental health crisis will continue to be a focus for educators as they search for ways to help students through today’s unique hardships. As we explore ways to use technology for good, it’s important to evaluate how EdTech tools can help school districts, teachers and even families navigate a mental health pandemic in which almost three million youth reported experiencing severe major depression in 2023. Meeting students where they are – in today’s world, online – is the key to helping ensure they feel safe reporting on their wellbeing. Some students avoid asking for help in-person, as they may feel embarrassed or fear negative repercussions or backlash. Technological tools that offer anonymous check-ins on personal wellbeing, school culture and more can encourage students to seek out the help and resources they need. Additionally, we need to support our youth at school, at home and everywhere in between. In 2024, educators will prioritize technology that brings schools and families together to monitor and improve students’ wellbeing and ensure any red flags are detected and addressed as early as possible.
Harrison Parker, Executive Vice President, Linewize

In 2024, the role of generative AI in education will be at the forefront of many academic discussions. This rapidly evolving technology has only begun to make an impact in the field of education. A trend I hope to see is the utilization of AI to dramatically expand accessibility for those with learning differences, revolutionizing assistive technology. It has exciting potential to give highly personalized learning support never before possible, reducing barriers for diverse learners. AI may empower more students with greater independence in their education. At The Southport School, we take a skills-based approach to learning, whether reading, math, or technology. In my role supporting students with assistive and educational technologies, I focus on leveraging these tools to enable students to fully demonstrate their knowledge and abilities. This promotes an empowering sense of success even as students tackle more difficult learning challenges. Additionally, when they transition out of our school, the hope is those technologies are then second nature for them to engage with to continue on their learning journey with decreased adult support needed. The current assistive technology landscape could be transformed by the concept of AI, providing students not only with the support they require, but also evolving into personalized solutions that can grow, learn, and adapt to each child’s changing learning profile, developing skills, and academic growth over time. Ultimately this could foster ongoing academic growth and equip students with the tech-enabled skillset to continue succeeding independently in their future learning journeys.
Sharon Plante, Chief Technology Integrator, Teacher Mentor, & Student Advisor, The Southport School

At Mason County Central School District, we’re not just predicting the future of educational technology, we’re actively shaping it with our groundbreaking immersive classroom. As one of the first K-12 institutions in the country to integrate an AR/VR immersive room, we’re at the forefront of a revolution in learning. Our immersive classroom transcends traditional teaching methods, offering students an unparalleled, interactive learning experience that brings lessons to life. This technology is not just a tool, it’s a portal to a world of limitless educational possibilities, fostering engagement, creativity, and a deeper understanding of complex subjects. As we look ahead, we see our immersive classroom not only bridging learning gaps, it is also inspiring other schools to embrace this innovative approach, ensuring that the educational landscape continues to evolve and adapt to the needs of 21st-century learners.
Miguel Quinteros, K-12 Technology Coach, Mason County Central School District in Scottville, Michigan

There is no doubt 2024 will be a year of political twists and turns, so our educator corps. must not be used as chess pieces and instead be seen and held in high professional esteem. The structured literacy ripple that began many years ago has formed into a seismic wave that will reach every corner and peak of school systems in this country; we must continue to educate our school communities in structured literacy for K-12. Lastly, as a collective community we will need to continue to create environments where all students are heard, seen, and allowed grade-level engaging, affirming, and meaningful instruction.
Lacey Robinson, President & Chief Executive Officer, UnboundEd

To sum it up, I think the key focus areas in 2024 are going to be: student agency/confidence, equity, and integrated supports. The impact of the pandemic is coming to a head. NAEP results came out this summer, showing significant decline since 2020, especially in math, and especially for students in minority groups. Whether we agree with the interpretation or not, the headline is that we’ve lost the last 20-30 years of gains. Students that were in 4^th grade during the pandemic are now in 7^th grade and the gaps in reading and math foundational skills only become more apparent each year. And on top of that, mental health needs are at an all-time high. If last year we were talking about universal screening, this year we need to be talking about universal services. Just because a student is identified as gifted doesn’t mean they don’t have a need for scaffolding/support. And just because a student is not identified as gifted doesn’t mean they won’t benefit from extension. There’s simply too great a need for individualized services and the only way to deliver it is by integrating it into the gen ed classroom — gifted services, emerging bilingual services, special ed services, etc. Educators will embrace the tools that most efficiently help them identify students’ needs and streamline the link from that information to tangible, individualized resources/services. Strengths-based insights + Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is the answer.
Rebekah Rodriguez, Project Manager, Riverside Insights & Former District Administrator

Igniting specific curiosities will become a focus: Student engagement is critical to learning growth, and sparking student curiosity is an important step to engagement. But research shows that there are many types of curiosity. In 2024, educators will demonstrate their deeper understanding of the types of curiosity by strategically applying specific, more engaging edtech resources to nurture different types of curiosity. To support epistemic curiosity, the type of curiosity associated with the reward of knowledge, teachers will use more interactives and virtual labs. When a student interacts with a high-quality virtual lab or interactive, they become invested in the results, and the curiosity spurs them forward to finish the lab and even repeat it to vary the results. To support perceptual curiosity or ones’ interest in their surroundings, educators will inject augmented reality into instruction. Doing so challenges student perceptions of their environments in new and exciting ways and encourages the exploration of places and historical eras beyond the four walls of their classrooms. To support empathic curiosity, or the curiosity about the thoughts and feelings of others, educators will use online maker-spaces to create more collaborative learning opportunities that encourage greater discussion and idea sharing among students. The coming “Curiosity Revolution” will drive deeper student engagement in the post-Covid environment.
Lance Rougeux, SVP of Curriculum, Instruction & Student Engagement, Discovery Education

Teachers need AI training: In 2024, AI will be ubiquitous in the classroom, and teachers who don’t address it head-on will fall behind. To prepare the next generation of educators, teacher preparation programs should offer lessons about what AI tools are available, how students are already using them, and how they can be used to improve teaching and learning.
Andrew Rozell, President, iteach

As we head into 2024, many schools across the country will receive increased federal funding to help put safety plans into effect. Right now, many schools have a safety plan, however a gap currently exists between assessing threats and responding to them. In this next year, we’ll see many schools across the country commit to prevention and seek solutions and resources to close the implementation gap. This will ensure school leaders have the support they need to keep the safety of students and staff top of mind.
Jason Russell, Founder & President, Secure Environment Consultants & Former Secret Service Agent

Supply chain issues have prevented many schools from updating their technology. Now those issues are clearing up, but that doesn’t make technology adoption challenge-free. Educators must have a plan in place to determine what technology their schools really need and how to upgrade with minimal interoperability issues. Technology on the market covers everything from the latest EdTech and AI, to WiFi 6E, security devices, IoT devices, and your basic user devices. Not every school needs the same technology or should be on the same upgrade plan. Track all technology utilization and let those stats reveal your users’ experiences and predicted needs. Talk to every stakeholder – teachers, IT professionals, staff, parents, etc. Information from these sources will guide your decisions. Do you need infrastructure updates? New technology in the library or for your counselors? Is your school growing? Do you offer any special programs? Taking everything into account is crucial. Consider all users and your entire technology ecosystem – everything is connected and affects everything else. Finally, make sure you never back yourself into a corner. Technology, in every form, should be adaptable because the one thing we know for sure is that standards and capabilities are going to change over time.
Roger Sands, CEO & Co-Founder, Wyebot

Students and teachers will have a wider and wider choice of materials. Every year, we move further away from the “one size fits all” mentality that was the original textbook. I see that continuing in the future. As technology continues to expand and schools gain access to more materials, I see educational plans and curriculums becoming more tailored to individual student needs. I think we’ll see more variety in materials for students and more choice for teachers, and ultimately, more opportunity to work with students 1:1 with technology as the vehicle. The goal is to provide solutions that can be easily tailored to meet a specific need, that can be used alone or in tandem with another solution, and above all, something that is easy to use and reliable, so teachers are spending less time searching and planning, and more time teaching.   
Lemma Shomali, VP, Product Management & Strategy, Domestic Learning, Gale

An increased focus on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) will be prominent in 2024. We know legislation and funding are fickle in the gifted world.  I think we are seeing the shift from pullout/enrichment to more support for academic growth.  With inconsistent funding and a need to ensure gifted services are defensible, there should be more of a focus on academic performance while maintaining equitable opportunity best provided through ability testing.”
Monica L. Simonds, M. Ed., Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services, Richardson ISD

AI is one of the tools that can help make learning more personalized, engaging and efficient. For example, AI-driven algorithms analyze student data to adapt teaching styles and content for customized learning experiences. AI’s contributions to edtech don’t stop there. It can also take on administrative tasks and free up educators to focus on teaching. For example, automated grading and scheduling allow teachers to spend more time engaging students instead of doing paperwork. Of course, AI also comes with its challenges, including concerns around data privacy, the potential for misuse and the importance of human oversight. As a result, edtech companies also play a role in ensuring responsible AI use in the classroom by providing necessary training for educators and maintaining transparency around AI algorithms.
Hubert Simonis, Global Lead of Edtech and HR Tech, Endava 

As technology becomes integral to education, teaching digital citizenship is crucial. It’s about equipping students with the skills to use technology safely, responsibly and ethically. It also involves teaching them about privacy, digital footprints and online etiquette. Educators play a vital role in teaching digital citizenship by integrating it into the curriculum and fostering discussions on topics such as internet safety, digital rights and responsibilities, cyberbullying prevention and ethical online behavior.
Hubert Simonis, Global Lead of Edtech and HR Tech, Endava 

In education as an industry, K-20 must continue to define EDU 2.0. The pandemic and other factors continue to call into question the role education plays in society, and the concern of disconnected and inequitable experiences. Deeper connection across public and private sectors, stronger collaboration between school districts and colleges/universities, and a personalized view of the student’s journey across segments must be the priority heading into 2024.
Joshua Sine, VP, Higher Education Strategy, Qualtrics

In K-12, CTE will make its comeback. With a focus on career and workforce development, school districts will find ways to promote and grow their CTE programs to accommodate the growing demand for graduates with differentiated skills.
Joshua Sine, VP, Higher Education Strategy, Qualtrics

While the highly anticipated Apple Vision Pro headset is expected to revolutionize the virtual reality (VR) landscape, its high cost may limit direct classroom implementation in 2024. However, its release will significantly elevate the profile of the VR industry, attracting a new wave of entrepreneurs and fresh investment from venture capitalists. This will result in a healthier ecosystem that benefits even the lower-cost headsets that are already making their way into schools. This advancement offers immersive learning experiences, allowing students to explore virtual environments, conduct experiments in simulated labs, and interact with historical events in real time.
Garrett Smiley, CEO & Founder, Sora Schools

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly making its way into America’s classrooms. However, unlike the first generation of AI tools, AI in 2024 will be seamlessly integrated into existing platforms like grade books, enhancing functionality without adding complexity. AI-driven tools can personalize learning experiences, provide real-time feedback, and automate administrative tasks, allowing teachers to focus more on teaching and less on logistics. The integration of AI into familiar platforms ensures that its adoption is intuitive for educators, bridging the gap between advanced technology and everyday teaching practices.
Garrett Smiley, CEO & Founder, Sora Schools

The use of artificial intelligence is shifting the landscape in education and we will see schools increasingly adopting tools and resources that have AI components.  My prediction for 2024 is that schools will put policies in place to evaluate potential AI investments for rigor, equity, and results for kids in addition to innovation (It will be a “both/and” not an “either/or” approach).
Joanna Smith-Griffin, Founder & CEO, AllHere

Schools will take a proactive approach to improving student attendance, using two-way communication with families to understand and address the why behind absences. In 2024, we will see more personalized attendance interventions and increased school-home communication. Educators will engage families through proactive communication about the importance of attendance—before students become chronically absent. We will also see more educators reaching out to families to enhance connections and build partnerships. When families feel supported they are more likely to collaborate and work together with the district to better understand and address the root causes of student absences. With this information, personalized interventions will be designed to address specific challenges that students may face in maintaining regular attendance. Collaboration between families and schools will play a crucial role in addressing the unique needs of each student, considering factors such as heath, transportation, and socio-economic conditions.
Grace Spencer, VP, Marketing & Product Development, SchoolStatus 

AI curriculum will become mainstream in K-12 classrooms across the nation, particularly in high schools. More and more schools will recognize the importance of AI literacy and establish policies and guidelines for how students can and should use generative AI in their work. We will see states like California pave the way with acceptable use standards and policies to protect students using the technology while schools around the country roll out AI coursework. Schools will also start to encounter new risks stemming from AI use by staff. As a result, schools will have to start providing their staff with centrally-managed generative AI tools that have pre-built safeguards in place to ensure safe and ethical use, much as they do today with other productivity tools.
Balakrishnan Subramanian, VP & GM of Education, Salesforce

Generative AI will unleash a new wave in personalized education. Teachers will be able to generate content on the fly that is aligned with a student’s interests and skill level. While it would be prohibitively expensive to scale such an idea using the large language models (LLMs) and tools of today, within the next 1-3 years we will start to see the proliferation of specialized ‘small language models’ or SLMs. These specialized models will be able to bring the cost of scaling personalized learning down dramatically and help us take a huge leap forward in individualized instruction.
Balakrishnan Subramanian, VP & GM of Education, Salesforce

AI will further revolutionize education in 2024. Rather than traditional, multiple-choice questions, technology will interact with students at a greater clip. AI will have real, conceptual conversations with students to understand their progress. With this advancement, education will become more individualized and holistic, aligning with each learner’s unique journey. It will no longer be as simple as “right” and “wrong” answers. AI will grow with a student at their own speed to help them every step of the way. For example, when a student is learning division, AI can chat with them to ensure they have the basics down, like subtraction, addition, and carrying over, before mastering division. This tech-led way of learning will have a dose of play-based, discovery-focused techniques while still containing a structured lesson plan to help kids reach their goals.
Vishal Sunil, Co-Founder & CTO, Rocket Learning

AI will take over more routine tasks. Looking ahead, I am optimistic that artificial intelligence capabilities will continue advancing rapidly to take over more routine educational administrative tasks from educators. This will allow teachers greater time to focus on personalizing learning experiences for students. While progress has been made, ensuring equitable access to technology remains a priority.
Wilson Tsu, CEO & Founder, PowerNotes

In 2024 I expect we will see technology in schools shift away from pure technology solutions to human-centric technology supports. There will be less enthusiasm for self-paced technology programs requiring students to work independently, and more focus on a return to teacher and therapist-led engagement. Perspectives on technology in the classroom have been rapidly shifting with the introduction of AI, and questions of which parts of the day-to-day work of educators can possibly be addressed by technology. My hope is that schools will continue to be open to technology solutions, but they will also recognize that these programs are best leveraged in support of the human experts who can be truly sensitive to individualized student need.
Kate Eberle Walker, CEO, Presence

In 2024, we’ll begin to find a balance and use artificial intelligence to build authentic intelligence. AI will become a powerful tool for writers, especially those learning to write and facing writer’s block. However, the tool will need to be balanced so humans remain in control; we will see students and individuals needing to develop discernment skills.
David Weinstein, CEO, Write the World

Demand for AI-driven edtech resources grows: The launch of Chat GPT in 2022 kicked-off a year of debate in education about AI’s role in education. As that debate continues through 2024, the demand for AI-driven edtech products and services will grow. AI is a powerful tool that can save teachers time and scale best practice. In an era where the educator’s time is more precious than ever, AI is well-suited to become a transformative technology that supports teachers in a host of ways. AI can simplify grading, manage schedules, organize complex information, improve learning management systems, power professional learning, and much more. AI also supports the application of best instructional practice. Feedback loops, differentiated and adaptive learning, gamification, tutoring, and other education staples can be improved through the intentional application of AI. In 2024, edtech providers will look at AI through the lens of how it can be better integrated into their products and services to support the teacher and improve instruction, and then thoughtfully apply it in those places. In an era in which school systems are consolidating their edtech resources and keeping only those with demonstrated effectiveness, products supported by AI that improve the teaching and learning will have an edge.
Pete Weir, Chief Product Officer, Discovery Education

The debate of cellphones in the classroom will remain a hot topic in 2024, and it’s time for schools to find ways to incorporate students’ cellphones into lessons. Whether it’s through AI tools or collaboration apps, there are endless opportunities to use this technology to enhance learning. This might include using an AI tool to add to a history assignment or having students use the Epson’s iProjection app to cast their work on the projector to share with the class. There are so many ways to allow students to use their devices during class and demonstrate how to utilize technology to enrich their learning.
Mark Whelton, Superintendent, Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District, Bridgeport, Michigan

In 2024, I believe that schools, districts and states will move to the next phase of implementing their Portrait of a Graduate by addressing the need to measure and evaluate students against the competencies in their Portraits. They will create innovative methods for measurement and leverage all the different modalities as they move away from traditional multiple-choice tests based on recall and recognition. Assessments will become more context-based and provide the data and insight needed to improve students’ academic and career outcomes. Education leaders will seek to increase student employability by providing opportunities for intentional instruction and deliberate practice of critical thinking and problem solving skills as part of a more holistic approach to ensure students are future ready. 
Bob Yayac, President & CEO, CAE 

For more news on edtech trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page.

Each year, we share our 10 most-read stories. Not surprisingly, many of this year’s Top 10 focused on equity, edtech innovation, immersive learning, and the science of reading. This year’s no. 1 most-read story focuses on some of the biggest education trends from 2023.

With the start of a new year and education conference season just beginning, educators and industry leaders are discovering the biggest education trends for 2023. The past few years have seen a significant transformation for education and edtech, and 2023 will continue to bring new ideas and emerging technologies.

This year, schools are placing a focus on supporting students’ individual needs and recovering pandemic learning loss. Because of this, we will see an increase in edtech to support learning, better accommodations for students, a focus on wellbeing, and new approaches to teaching that engage with students’ interests and future careers.

Here are five of the biggest education trends for 2023:

1. Social and Emotional Wellbeing

The pandemic prompted the need for a stronger focus on supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of students and teachers alike. As we rebound from the academic, emotional, and community challenges that arose during the pandemic, schools will need to ensure they’re offering the support and resources that students and teachers need.

Children and teens are currently experiencing higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts than before the pandemic, and the academic and emotional pressures that come with recovering pandemic learning loss continue to affect student wellbeing. In 2023, we will see schools working to improve mental health programs, provide new academic support systems and resources for students, and implement technologies and programs focused on social-emotional learning and student wellbeing.

Teachers are struggling too: The demands of teaching have led to high rates of teacher stress and anxiety, and K-12 educators have the highest burnout rate of any profession in the U.S. To support teacher wellbeing and retain valuable, talented educators, schools will embrace new ways improve teachers’ work-life balance and wellbeing, including implementing new edtech tools, offering mental health resources, or even redesigning school spaces to better support educators in the classroom.

2. Personalized and Self-Led Learning

Personalized learning is by no means a new education trend, but learning models focused on an individualized or personalized approach will continue to evolve in 2023. Learning gaps widened during the pandemic, and as students continue to work to recover this learning, they will benefit from individualized learning opportunities. Schools will continue to provide struggling students with tutoring services, while advanced students will find new learning opportunities through online courses or internships outside the classroom.

Self-led, active learning will also see a rise as teachers enable students to work at their own pace and make more decisions about their learning––from what types of assignments they complete to how they want to work in the classroom. We expect this to motivate schools to create more flexible, active learning spaces that can be modified to fit a wide variety of learning needs. This will include the addition of modular pieces, tech-enabled learning areas, and a variety of different seating options to ensure student comfort and encourage movement.

3. Game-Based Learning and Esports

Ninety-seven percent of adolescents play at least one hour of video games per day, so bringing games into the classroom is intuitive for students. Gamified learning motivates students to engage with educational content in a different way, keeping students excited about their progress and helping to synthesize learning. Bringing games into the classroom also gives students an opportunity to explore social-emotional principles, increasing their adaptability and communication and improving their ability to work with others.

In the past several years, schools have also seen an increase in esports team participation. In 2023, we expect this trend to continue, with schools investing more resources into building esports teams and creating comprehensive esports spaces where teams can gather, practice, and compete. Evidence shows that academic esports benefits students’ overall academic performance and social emotional learning. Plus, students who are successful in esports competitions earn significant opportunities for college and scholarships.

4. Microlearning and Nano-Learning

“Microlearning,” or “nano-learning,” is a learning approach that has been successfully used in corporate training for a while, but it’s expected to really emerge in K-12 education in 2023. This bite-sized learning technique targets small chunks of learning content, which are presented to students in short, easily digestible tutorials or mini-lessons. Lessons focus on repetition of the same concepts spaced out over time, with the goal of increased retention.

The rapid growth of short-form video content like TikTok and Instagram Reels has illuminated the possibilities of using microlearning to engage students. Students are already turning to TikTok for homework help, which can expose them to new ideas and topics, but also opens students up to potential misinformation. Microlearning emerging as a K-12 education trend will enable teachers to better curate the bite-sized content students seek out for their learning, providing them with engaging content that breaks down complex topics into less intimidating chunks.

5. AR, VR, and AI

Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) are all projected to become more prevalent as educational tools and resources in 2023. These technologies will be working behind the scenes in some of the ways they will benefit education, such as AI being used to target students’ learning through edtech tools and platforms.

In other applications, AR, VR, and AI will be used directly by students. Students will participate in VR and AR experiences, gaining access to more immersive learning experiences through these tools. With easy-to-use AI art generators becoming more popular, they may use AI in creative endeavors. There are also AI programs available to help students find quality resources for research assignments, help them refine their writing, explain complex math problems, and more. When students graduate, they will encounter and use these technologies in college and their careers, so early exposure will prove beneficial.

We anticipate that this year will be exciting as new education trends transform learning in classrooms far and wide.

Related:
37 predictions about edtech’s impact in 2023
4 thought-provoking videos about education
For more news on edtech trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page

Each year, we share our 10 most-read stories. Not surprisingly, many of this year’s Top 10 focused on equity, edtech innovation, immersive learning, and the science of reading. This year’s 5th most-read story focuses on expert predictions for edtech.

As we closed the door on 2022, we approached 2023 with clear-cut priorities for edtech and education as a whole. Education and student well-being are stretched thin, and lingering learning gaps, exacerbated by the pandemic, present hurdles for all students–especially underrepresented students groups who were already at a disadvantage.

Digital learning cemented itself as a “must have” in schools this year, and equity remained front and center, too, continuing conversations around inequitable technology access, along with racial and socioeconomic disparities and discrimination.

We headed into a fourth year of learning in the pandemic’s shadow. While massive COVID quarantines and school closures have diminished, we still grappled with the impact of learning during a global pandemic. This begged the question: What’s next for education?

We asked edtech executives, stakeholders, and experts to share some of their thoughts and predictions about where they think edtech is headed in 2023.

Here’s what they had to say:

In the coming year, K-12 leaders will begin finalizing how they can maximize any remaining ESSER funds ahead of the deadline in 2024 and we can expect clean air solutions to be represented in those obligations. We will see a shift in priorities for school leaders with a focus on protecting against further learning loss – the projects they invest in should help reach this outcome long-term.
–Cheryl Aquadro, K-12 Vertical Market Director, Johnson Controls

From cafeteria support, bus drivers, and clerical staff, to teachers, administrators and superintendents, the staffing shortage across the board is real, but not new. Speak to those who have spent a lifetime in and out of education. Moving beyond the tradition of looking for employees at university graduation days may provide a glimpse into how we can simplify job transfers between private industry and public education and provide more opportunities for non-traditional paths into education careers. Oftentimes, when a person reaches their forties, a big life question ensues. “Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life or can I do something more impactful for humanity and the good of our society, how can I engage in a more fulfilling life?” I predict that in the coming year there will be an increased emphasis on innovative ways to address the staff shortage in education and we will see focused research and development around how degrees, expertise and/or experience can be used as qualifiers toward an education degree or certificate. Doing so will expand options for long-term career planning and will truly be seen as an investment for both the education industry, and for private industries. After all, education and the economy are inextricably linked.
–Dr. Maria Armstrong, Executive Director, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS)

Looking ahead, I think we will see more educators helping students get a better understanding of clean energy and its connections to climate change and the wider economy. Educators will seek out content that better supports them to successfully bring clean energy content to their students in meaningful ways and, as the job market in clean energy continues to grow, it is important for schools to help meet this demand for an educated workforce by helping students see themselves in clean energy careers.
–Michael Arquin, Founder, KidWind

School districts will begin to offer microschool options. With 65% of K-12 parents backing school choice, school districts will realize that in order to stay competitive and meet the needs of students and parents, adopting and offering innovative learning models is key. One of the shifts the industry can expect to see in the coming years is school districts offering mircoschool options within the district itself. While historically independent learning institutions, microschools will be adopted within school districts that are responsive to this need for choice and evolving learning needs of students.
—Carlos Bortoni, Principal, Industry Advisor, K-12 Education, Qualtrics

Parents will step up to address the student mental health crisis. Predictions about the state of youth mental health in America have been realized. Teachers, parents, counselors, administrators, coaches, and other loved ones have faced an unprecedented challenge in this regard. They will continue to step up in 2023 to meet the challenge. Parents will take on an even greater role in the mental health of children in the coming year. Schools will continue to invest in mental health resources, and the solutions that gain the most traction will be those that honor the central role that parents play. In 2023, the shortage of therapists, school counselors, and other mental health care workers will result in parents seeking resources that they can implement. It will be up to school leaders to guide them to the best resources that have already demonstrated efficacy.
—Anne Brown, President and CEO, Cook Center for Human Connection

Students’ mental health and social and emotional wellness continue to be pressing concerns for school districts. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma continue to rise among students, impacting their learning, engagement, and relationships. At the same time, a shortage of mental health resources in schools places additional strain on already overburdened teachers and administrators. In the coming year I expect to see many districts taking advantage of an influx in federal grant money to bolster their mental health teams and to provide additional resources and professional development around these important issues to better support student well-being.
–Rob Buelow, Head of Product for Education, Vector Solutions

In 2023, educators nationwide will benefit from the most recent wave of edtech consolidation. The various services and products acquired by consolidators over the last year or two will be integrated into increasingly comprehensive platforms offering instructional content, assessments, and classroom tools all in one place.  As this occurs, the power and effectiveness of those edtech resources will grow as they begin to work in concert with each other seamlessly. The combination of these resources will empower administrators, teachers, families, and students to better leverage edtech’s ability to improve learning.
–Kelli Campbell, President, Discovery Education

Educators will increasingly be looking for–and needing–educational resources and technologies that authentically represent and support today’s growing number of multilingual learners. As such, from the characters portrayed in online programs to reading excerpts included in curricular products, it is important for all education companies to provide, and educators to seek out, more culturally relevant, modifiable, and accessible resources to effectively meet the varying learning needs of all students.
–David Cisneros, National Director for Content and Implementation, Curriculum Associates

Schools will prioritize parent engagement as school-home collaboration will be needed to help students impacted by the pandemic. As we continue to recover from the impacts of COVID learning disruptions, parent communication and engagement will continue to be a strategic imperative for all schools. Parent-school relationships have always been a vital part of student success, but during the pandemic, when schools moved to remote instruction, communication between parents and educators soared. Teachers and administrators worked with students’ families to try to establish stability and continuity. Priorities such as setting up remote learning structures, developing a distance curriculum, and offering social and emotional support required increased collaboration with home. Parents have become used to increased information and communication from schools. Now, schools have an opportunity to build on this uptick in parent engagement and establish long-term processes that increase meaningful, two-way communication with students’ families and support student success. Over the next year, we will see this momentum continue, as more schools realize the benefits and implement solutions to enable this.
—Russ Davis, Founder and CEO, SchoolStatus

Districts will see the value in data-driven instructional coaching. As we begin the fourth straight year impacted by COVID pandemic learning disruptions, the challenge of retaining high quality teachers is a critical issue in U.S. public schools. Staff shortages, ongoing pandemic fallout, and more demands on their time has made teacher burnout and job dissatisfaction a serious issue. Implementing strategies for creating a collaborative and supportive environment for teachers is more important than ever. In the coming school year, we will start to see a much larger focus on investments in educators – particularly on retaining and supporting current faculty. One practice that we will see gaining popularity is instructional coaching. Over the past year, we have seen a trend in districts using ESSER funds to create coaching programs to support their educators. We anticipate this will continue as more districts realize the benefits to both teachers and students of a data-driven coaching program.
–Jason DeRoner, CEO and Co-Founder, TeachBoost

As we enter 2023, we need to be looking for opportunities to find balance. Like a pendulum, the pandemic forced us to increase our use of technology and upon return to the classroom, we swung the opposite way with some educators avoiding technology at all costs. It is time to find the balance again. To be intentional and thoughtful to what technology can provide for teachers and students. Technology can help us to find solutions and support for accessibility, differentiation, agency, and voice in the classroom. It is all about the balance.
–Michele Dick, Education Specialist, Wacom

With the release of the Nation’s Report Card and ongoing school staffing shortages, states and professional organizations will need to rethink the benefits of technology in supporting students in special education programs. Decision-makers rose to the challenge in the initial waves of the pandemic, enacting temporary policies to permit and reimburse for online education services. Though these policies made a big impact, many have expired in favor of returning to the status quo. Permanent legislation giving schools the ability to leverage online services to support their students will be critical to address persistent challenges and ensure every student receives the services that they need to thrive in this new normal.
–Kate Eberle Walker, CEO, Presence

A continued decline in college enrollment is bringing greater interest in non-degree postsecondary pathways. Despite the pressure to attend, reports suggest 53 percent of high school students are unlikely to pursue a college degree. And unfortunately, we know
that for those who do attend college, many fail to complete, leaving millions of young people without the education and training necessary for career success. College is not the only viable path to success. While we undoubtedly need to do more to support those students whose interests are well aligned with a degree program to transition and complete college, many young people are looking for paths that better suit their needs and aspirations. In fact, our collaborative and extensive research on non-degree pathways has covered innovative training and education opportunities for young people ages 18-25, based on data gathered on more than 400 education-to-career pathways across the country. Skills matter most to both Gen Z and employers. Research shows that employers and Gen Z rank skills as the most important consideration in choosing an education or training program: 74 percent of Gen Z want to earn skills that will lead to a good job and 81 percent of employers believe they should look at skills rather than degrees when hiring.
–Jean Eddy, CEO and President, American Student Assistance

The term “science of reading” has become shorthand for phonics in many cases. And phonics—and all foundational reading skills—are very important. That piece is critical, and we need research-backed methods for teaching kids how to read and decode. However, getting lost in that discussion is the recognition that the science of reading encompasses all scientifically-based reading research. It extends to the skills needed to improve comprehension. Once students have “the code,” we can tap into another body of research on best practices for developing reading comprehension skills. In 2023, the science of reading discussion will grow to encompass reading skills beyond foundational skills.
—Laura Fischer, VP of Content Development, Learning A-Z

Looking ahead, it is important for educators to help students develop 21st century skills, especially as more industries need STEM-focused employees. One way to do this is to provide more opportunities for students to learn and engage in hands-on STEAM education by incorporating STEAM across the curriculum. One way education is doing this is by offering CTE, even in the elementary grades. This is growing due to the demand for a low to mid-skilled engineering/IT workforce needed to support an increasing number of companies that are focusing on local production. Helping students understand that they can get a well-paid and engaging job through CTE can play an important role in the modernized school system and create great business opportunities and positive impact on society.
–Karol Górnowicz, CEO, Skriware

Innovative technology will increasingly help accelerate professional learning for teachers and coaches alike. In St. Vrain, for example, we recently implemented the AI Coach by Edthena platform which uses artificial intelligence for instructional coaching. The platform provides teachers with on-demand guidance from a computerized coach as they self-reflect and comment on videos of their teaching. In addition to helping teachers become more reflective practitioners, this supports the in-person coaching already taking place. We are now able to have more data-driven conversations around specific teaching practices and the impact these practices have on student growth.
–Patty Hagan, Teaching and Learning Coach, St. Vrain Valley Schools

2021 and 2022 were the years of urgency and near-term decisions to ensure learning continued through the pandemic.  In 2023, district leaders will have the data they need to make more long-term strategic decisions for their schools. This includes investing in personalized learning supports, including scalable instructional technology solutions, that have proven to accelerate learning achievement for students, increase student confidence, and complement educators’ instruction. With the troubling results of the recent Nation’s Report Card, the need to focus on what works is more important than ever. We can also expect new and creative solutions to increase support for teachers in the year ahead, especially given staffing shortages in schools. Next year, I hope to see districts invest in more job-embedded and on-demand professional development opportunities for teachers that meet them where they are and on a schedule that works for them. Ultimately, what matters is what works for improving achievement. Educational technology solutions that are engaging, effective, and easy-to-use for students, teachers, and chief academic officers will continue to play a crucial role in the year ahead.
–Dr. Tim Hudson, Chief Learning Officer, DreamBox Learning

Building literacy skills in young readers must continue beyond third grade. We’ve seen in the most recent research on Covid recovery that our youngest readers–those who were in kindergarten when the pandemic hit–are rebounding least quickly. This is not surprising as the first few years of school are when learners build the foundations for literacy. Teaching kids to read with good accuracy in English takes several years. We have a complex language where one letter pattern can stand for different sounds (COW and SNOW), and where similar sounds can be spelled in different ways (WAIT and WEIGHT). It should not be surprising that when good systematic teaching about this complex code was challenged, our current third graders turned out to be still working toward solid word recognition. As such, educators will need to focus intently on building these skills in young readers. First, we need to ensure that we are offering strong, evidence-based code instruction beyond the grades where those skills used to be actively taught. Phonics and fluency instruction need to extend, to meet students’ needs regardless of grade. Second, we need to acknowledge and allow for the time it takes students to move toward fluent reading of a complex language, even when our instruction is excellent.
–Cindy Jiban, PhD, Principal Academic Lead, NWEA

Teachers experienced greater anxiety during the pandemic, reporting significantly higher rates of anxiety than healthcare workers. This emphasizes the need for tools and programs to support their well-being. In the coming year, we will see a continued emphasis on providing resources to teachers that support their social and emotional well-being and help them create positive learning environments. Tools that allow teachers to collaborate, develop strong relationships with students and families, and feel supported by school leaders are especially needed. Supporting teachers to create positive learning environments promotes teacher well-being, self-efficacy, and job satisfaction, while also improving students’ learning.
–Dr. Evelyn Johnson, Vice President, Research and Development, Aperture Education

Families will continue to seek alternatives for their children’s education. It will be important in the coming year for schools and districts to look for trends in their communities and take steps to ensure they can meet the needs of their families and future workforce. Data should drive these decisions. Having strong data about student transfers, enrollment, and choice programs helps education leaders in making better decisions for their students.
–Dr. Bridget Jones, Director of Client Support & Success, Scribbles Software

With the combination of federal grants that came about due to the pandemic and the supply chain delays for equipment, many districts are just now getting the needed equipment, including here at Livonia Public Schools. We are currently in the process of handing out 8,000 Chromebooks and hotspots for students to use at home. Deploying these technologies to families is a major undertaking, but this will mean we are ready for the next event that requires our students to learn remotely. Deploying this technology to students and helping teachers adjust to this new way of teaching is the new norm. We need to ensure teachers are confident using technology in the classroom and they are also ready to change to online at a moment’s notice. How or if we are able to continue to provide this level of technology to families into the future is another question, but we are providing what we can while we have the funds.
–Tim Klan, Administrator of Information and Instructional Technology, Livonia Public Schools

The familiar phrase “Students as Creators” is coming back around, but this time there are new, low-cost tools that let students create in a virtual world. Students are able to build resources in the education metaverse for their courses and for other teacher’s courses as well. The digital version of “working with your hands” leads students to create content, often to show their knowledge, rather than just being consumers of content provided by expensive development houses using high-cost software. In the coming year we will see more schools taking advantage of free or almost-free software to help students quickly and easily create great virtual content to enhance their instructional environment with the added benefit of “learning by doing.”
–Chris Klein, Head of Education, USA, Avantis Education

In recent years, the education sector has had no choice but to adopt technology to ensure continuity and the impact of technology has proven to be integral. As higher education moves into a post-pandemic world, the sector will invest in new student success systems that will help students progress through their various stages by leveraging real-time information and feedback. Simultaneously, investments will also be made in cybersecurity to ensure that this wealth of sensitive student information is kept secure at all times. 
—Noel Loughrin, Strategic Solutions Manager, Laserfiche

We are seeing the focus on and importance of evidence in edtech more strongly than ever. Technology investments must have documented plans for impacting teaching and learning outcomes, and companies that cannot provide evidence and support with documenting impact will get left behind. Further to that, tech that can do many things – from assessment to collaboration to scaffolded lessons and everything in between – will be the top choice for educators as they look to simplify workflows. This tech must support all students so that everyone can learn not only WITH technology, but about it, too. Edtech provides unique opportunities to personalize and democratize learning and the importance of this will only grow in 2023.
–Jeff Lowe, Chief Commercial Officer at SMART Technologies

With the learning loss that has transpired because of COVID-19, especially in mathematics, I believe educators will move toward an individualized, standards-based approach to teaching, learning, and grading. Data and formative assessment will be a key factor in targeting individual student needs, and impactful technology will help teachers understand what students missed during the pandemic. Meaningful small group and individual instruction will be important in combating the deficit in student achievement.
–Jessica Medley, 8th Grade Math Teacher, Phenix City Schools (AL) & a Curriculum Associates’ 2022 Extraordinary Educator

Assessments should create opportunity – not squash it. On the heels of three years of impact from COVID interruptions, states and districts are taking a closer look at the types of evidence of learning they gather on each student, and how that information is used to move the needle for every child. In 2023, , we will see a movement toward more thoughtful and innovative approaches in how we assess students and use the data to accelerate academic growth for kids. Data only matters if it leads to effective action. There are too many kids who have been left out of good instructional practices. They get to the end of their academic career, and we all wonder why they aren’t achieving at the same level. It’s not enough just to assess students; we actually have to do something about what’s going on. That means investments need to follow. We need to start by asking, what information do I need about my students to know we’re being successful? We need to create an environment where assessments are creating more opportunities, not limiting opportunities for the student. They need to be answering questions like, “What’s the next step for this student?” This is more important now than ever as we look for ways to help students recover from the pandemic’s immense impact. This trend toward innovation is critical to creating equity in both opportunity and outcomes for all students – so every young person leaves school ready to succeed.
—Chris Minnich, CEO, NWEA

With 2023 on the horizon, I am hopeful that the education community resolves to move forward after years of being stifled by the pandemic and learning disruptions. The coming year is the time to work on meeting kids where they are, including making sure we’re supporting their mental health needs. I believe we’ll see increased attention to students’ mental health and, with it, an increase in the attention paid to the mental health crisis and severely limited resources in our schools. In fall 2022, an online survey, conducted from a parents’ perspective, found that many parents are realizing or have concerns regarding the pandemic’s impact on their children’s mental, academic and social well-being. In fact, more than four in five parents believe it would be beneficial for schools to provide mental health services for students as a part of the school day and 84% of parents would be open to their children receiving mental health counseling and emotional support services if offered in school. I think administrators at more schools across the county will lean into non-traditional supports for students including mentoring, behavioral counseling and socialization exercises for students. I’m also hopeful we’ll see more schools providing comprehensive mental health supports – for both students and staff members.
–Diane Myers, Ph. D, SVP, Special Education – Behavior, Specialized Education Services, Inc.

In 2023, educators should anticipate deeper support from corporations looking to impact teaching and learning. In the coming year I believe corporate social impact investments will include large scale, systemic commitments combined with localized, equity-focused approaches. We are hearing corporate strategies are shifting to include geographically targeted approaches that allow companies to more directly support school leaders, teachers, and students with both learning and human resources aligned to college and career readiness, student engagement, and overall well-being.
–Amy Nakamoto, General Manager of Social Impact, Discovery Education

The American education system has faced unprecedented change over the past few years, with fundamental aspects of the classroom undergoing a massive transformation. However, one thing remains true: the relationship between the teacher and the student is the quintessential element of a classroom. At the end of the day, a teacher connecting with and believing in a student is what’s going to change the world, and this relationship will continue to be the case in 2023 and well beyond.
—Lisa O’Masta, President, Learning A-Z

I believe 2023 will bring a shift in professional development (PD) for K-12 educators, with increased focus on inclusive practices. With this focus, PD and coaching will address the unique needs of every student, whether general or special education. General and special education teachers must meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population, which warrants a deeper understanding of learner variability. With more students with special needs in general education settings, teachers must be equipped with key strategies, practices, and tools to support each learner’s individual needs. In recent decades, the number of students with disabilities who spend more than 80% of their time in general education classrooms has more than doubled, equating to nearly 65% of those students (National Center for Education Statistics, 2020). By design, educational programs increase the amount of time students with disabilities spend learning alongside their general education peers and increase their exposure to grade-level standards and instruction. Unfortunately, academic outcomes for students with special needs have remained low year after year. It is my hope that district administrators will seek out PD offerings that support inclusive practices and empower educators to explore the common attributes of various disabilities, while also learning how to provide instructional support in general education classrooms. It’s vital for schools and districts to ensure their educators are sufficiently prepared to create classroom learning environments and opportunities that meet the needs of all students, including those with special needs.
–Jessica Petersen, General Manager of Professional Development Services, Catapult Learning

We’re seeing the pendulum swinging back to reintroducing career and technical exploration (CTE) in middle schools. While students are suffering from learning loss due to COVID, their parents see record level student debt, a growing shortage of skilled workers, and a 20% graduation rate when comparing all 9th graders to those who graduate from a 4-year college. Combined with promising results from middle schools with renewed CTE, more schools, both rural and urban, are realizing there are many successful paths for their students beyond a 4-year degree. We are proud to help schools which lack space or a certified CTE teacher help students discover the intelligence in their students’ hands.
–Mike Schloff, CEO, Maplewoodshop

Educators will need a new platform for knowledge sharing. For many years, educators like myself have turned to the education community on Twitter and other social media platforms to network, find inspiration and share fresh ideas for how to spark active learning in our classrooms. However, recent developments with various social media platforms have led some long-time users to consider leaving them altogether. I believe that in the year ahead, more educators will seek a new place where they can create an online community—for teachers, by teachers. On a new platform completely dedicated to education, teachers can go beyond the conversations from Twitter and create new opportunities for professional discourse and development that all goes back to inspiring better learning outcomes for students. Integration and connectivity between edtech tools will give rise to more smart schools. In 2023 and beyond, we can expect to see more integration and seamless connectivity between technologies used in classrooms and around campuses. For example, some schools are already integrating bi-directional casting between student tablets and interactive displays at the front of the classroom. Rather than a monologue by the teacher, it creates an engaging dialogue between learners that is far more productive in knowledge retention and problem-solving skills development. Displays in the classroom can also integrate with digital signage installed around campus—from the front office to the sports field. The role of schools in providing accessible and equitable education will come into focus. When classrooms went online in 2020, the digital divide was amplified showing the gap between students who had, did not have, access to broadband internet and digital tools at home. Those without access, unfortunately, fell behind and educators are now working to help them catch up to their peers. In much the same way that libraries have historically provided people with equal access to information, it will be up to schools to provide students with equal access and opportunities to education and emerging technologies. This goes beyond just providing 1:1 tablets or laptops; it’s giving students guidance on how to use classroom tools in meaningful ways that work with how they learn best.
–Dr. Micah Shippee, Director of Education Technology Consulting and Solutions, Samsung

Leveraging data will be critical to supporting academic recovery efforts and helping historically marginalized students. According to the most recent research on COVID impact, while there are initial signs of academic rebounding, historically marginalized students and students in high-poverty schools remain disproportionately impacted. Kuhfeld and Lewis (2022) call for sustained urgency in addressing interrupted learning, anticipating it will take several years to fully recover pre-pandemic achievement levels. It will be imperative that districts prioritize data and strategic communication to support their most at-risk students. Comprehensive data on the student, classroom, and school will be critical to developing right-size interventions, proportional to students’ needs, and avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. Having a holistic picture of each student – including academic, behavioral, attendance, and disciplinary data – will be essential to targeting interventions and resources to the students who need them most. Most importantly, ongoing, meaningful school-home communication is paramount.
–Joy Smithson, Ph.D., Data Scientist, SchoolStatus

When we returned to the classroom after the challenges of navigating distance learning during COVID, many students had built a wall up as distance learners. For many, the one-size-fits-all learning opportunity was not successful due to limited resources in addition to not being able to offer individualized and adaptive-learning based learning opportunities. Being back in the classroom has given us the opportunity to build the relationships we may have lost during distance learning, allowing teachers to re-focus on the skills students need to be successful as lifelong learners and members of the workforce. Pivoting the focus of education to a competency-based teaching model and using both PBL and hands-on activities in the science classroom will allow students to gain meaning in their learning experiences and create the buy-in they are looking for. Using our current standards with real-world applications, vocational opportunities, and relevant technology in the classroom will allow for engagement as well as the skills students need to be successful in our current workforce and post-secondary education experiences.
–Kristy Topalovich, Science Teacher at Roosevelt Community Education Center and a Vernier Science Education 40th Anniversary Grant recipient

Educators will embrace brain science and screen time in early learning. Journeying right along with you through the early education space, the view from my seat offers a clear look at the gap between brain science and learning. We have to spend time in 2023 understanding the correlation there. As we acquire that insight, let’s share it with caregivers so they, too, are empowered by understanding, for example, why reading on grade level by age 8 is so critical. And in the spirit of the New Year’s Eve ditty “Auld Lang Syne,” let’s agree that embracing screen time is not something we ought to leave in 2022. We absolutely should leverage technology as a learning partner in 2023. Young learners are digital natives who just need guidance about balancing on- and off-screen activities, with those on-screen moments aligning with screen-time recommendations in terms of time and content.
—Jenni Torres, Ed.D., Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction, Waterford.org

Since the pandemic families have become more in tune to students’ plans for the future. The era of “everyone goes to college” has seemed to subside a bit and been replaced with a new push to programs that tailor to the trades. Families want opportunities where their students can enter the workforce immediately, with industry certifications and transferable skills. As families are exploring these options, they are also asking schools to create programs that offer flexibility so students have opportunities to pursue a trade while also being college-ready. In order to do both within the confines of a “normal school year” we have had families request options for our programs to be hybrid and offer students the opportunity to participate in-person, synchronously and asynchronously. In the coming year I expect we will see more school districts working to meet this new demand by providing flexible options for students who are interested in exploring both technical education and college-preparatory programs.
–Karima Wesselhoft, Supervisor, Advanced Academics and Specialty Programs, Prince William County Public Schools

In 2022, many schools, districts and states developed their Portrait of a Learner, defining the competencies and mindsets their communities value and want students to develop during their academic journey. This is a very positive development, particularly the recognition of the value of essential academic and career skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and written communication. In 2023, I believe we will see the focus shift toward measuring students’ Portrait of Learner skills and competencies and providing instruction to further develop these skills. It is clear that students are not leaving high school with these essential skills. Our research shows that 60% of our sample of 120,000 students entering higher education do not have proficiency in the skills of critical thinking, problem solving, and written communication. Our research also shows that these skills are predictive of positive higher education and career outcomes. I also believe that 2023 will see a continued movement from content-based summative assessments to formative and interim performance-based assessments that challenge students to apply content knowledge, critical thinking skills and written communication skills. CAE has been developing these types of assessments for innovative school districts who want to use assessment to help students improve. Not every assessment needs to be a test. As schools, districts and states implement their Portrait of a Learner, 2023 should be the year in which a concerted effort is made to measure and improve students’ proficiency in these essential skills, improving their future outcomes no matter what path they pursue.
–Bob Yayac, President and CEO, CAE

Related:
3 simple strategies to supercharge student growth
4 thought-provoking videos about education
For more news on edtech trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

Children get one childhood, and time is one of the most precious resources we have in schools. For these reasons, I am increasingly frustrated that I have next to no power to stop my own children from wasting their time in front of a computer screen.

That’s because screens are where they are expected to access and complete their schoolwork and homework. My children are assigned to watch online videos and answer questions about them in an online form. Their grades reflect their responses.  

No doubt, this assigned screen time probably comes from a good place. Teachers want to provide students with experiences they will enjoy. Why give students a reading that they may not do when you could give them a video they are more likely to watch?

Watch enough videos and students begin to believe that learning must be passively entertaining and that the best way to take in new information is through streaming content. The most compelling story is often not the most truthful one, but the one that is the most slickly produced. 

I don’t want that for my children. I want my children to enjoy the challenges of learning, to take in multiple sources, and to ask good questions about everything they engage with. I don’t want them on autopilot, screening their way through childhood. 

UNESCO recently published a book titled “An Ed-Tech Tragedy?” and it is sobering. This book spells out how pandemic school shutdowns resulted in massive learning losses. It also highlights the costs, in terms of mental health, of spending so much time on screens. 

For years, educational technologists have cast personalized online learning as an answer to what plagues education. But even when ed tech was needed most, these tools did not always rise to the occasion. They couldn’t take the place of teachers, peers, and classroom conversations. And our reliance on them has instilled terrible habits in teachers and students.

Parents were rightly frustrated and angry when their children were robbed of the opportunity to attend school because of pandemic lockdowns. It is not good for a child to be away from their peers and in front of screens. Key social, emotional, and intellectual skills are lost when this happens. That’s why we must not replicate the worst aspects of school lockdowns now that children are back in school. Children should spend time engaging their teacher and each other–making eye contact and appreciating what can only be learned through human presence–not retreating back into the safe, solitary spaces of their devices.

Their schoolwork should have them engaging with what is best in our culture, not what is most convenient or entertaining. This means reading challenging texts with students and doing the work of helping them develop their voices in relation to these texts. However, educators seem to be having a hard time remembering that distance learning was the best we could think to do during the lockdown, not a best practice that we should continue.

I am not afraid to mourn all that was lost because of the pandemic. Children suffered tremendously, and schools across the country will be dealing with the academic, social, and emotional fallout for years to come. My grieving process involves honoring my hopes and fears from the middle of the pandemic. I promised myself then that if we ever got back to normal, I wouldn’t take the physical presence of my students for granted. I would look at their unmasked faces and try to communicate how much I appreciated that we were together. 

Screens, and the illusion of engagement they offer, get in the way of this type of lived gratitude, and they distract us from what matters.

To be clear, teachers’ lives in schools are often tremendously difficult. Many educators are demoralized and under-appreciated, but an over-reliance on screens will not make the work of teaching more rewarding or valued. It’s human connections that make teaching an endlessly rewarding calling. I know this from my own classrooms and my experience training future teachers. 

As much as I may internally complain about having to pick up all the little Lego pieces, Magna-Tiles, and wooden blocks that my boys leave scattered around the house at the end of a long day, I know that this type of embodied play is the foundation of a good childhood. And as hard as it might be to listen–really listen–to the stories my daughters tell as they process their day at school (and not just let my mind wander to all the items on my to-do list), there is no greater gift we can give children than our fullest attention.

I am not a perfect parent or teacher, but I do know that I am at my best when I am present. And I know that screens keep me from offering my full presence. I wish I had more power to keep them out of schools because I know my children–and all of our children–deserve better.

For more news on teaching trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization covering public education.

Immersive, experiential technology is transforming how both students and teachers learn. Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR and VR) provide deeper engagement, opportunities for collaboration, and hands-on learning that places newly acquired knowledge and skills in context.

For students, immersive technology can make abstract concepts tangible through interactive visuals. But immersive technology is useful for teachers, too, powering professional learning that helps educators translate research and theory to actionable practices through dynamic examples.

When purposefully designed, augmented reality opens equitable pathways to deep student learning.

Created in partnership with Verizon Innovative Learning, an education initiative that supports digital equity and inclusion in education, McGraw Hill AR is a free augmented reality app that provides engaging, bite-sized experiences that promote deep conceptual learning. The app makes complex concepts in algebra, social studies, and ELA more tangible through powerful, interactive visuals.

“What I liked the most about using the app was that that you could see around it, and you could move around, and see all around the shape.” – Middle School Student from Hawkins Street School, NJ

Immersive technology must be built on sound pedagogy and content.

The activities in McGraw Hill AR were purposefully selected based on which learning objectives could be best supported by augmented reality, leveraging immersive experiences deliberately for meaningful instruction. Each standards-aligned activity follows a consistent pedagogy and was built from high-quality content.

Immersive learning has the power to promote equity.

On Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, educators can find free standards-aligned lesson plans to accompany each activity in the app, designed to make next-gen tech more accessible to all educators and school communities and inspire all students to become innovators and creators. The multimodal nature of immersive technology provides more access points for learners, engaging them in concepts that previously may have remained out of reach.

We’ve only just begun to tap into the potential of immersive learning for students.

McGraw Hill AR is always expanding – five more social studies activities will be released by December 2023, science activities will arrive in the fall, and Spanish versions are live now. Chromebook compatibility is coming soon, too, making the app accessible to schools without tablets or phones in classrooms, further broadening the reach of immersive learning.

Immersive learning isn’t just for students. Teachers deserve engaging professional learning, too.

Educators are life-long learners. If we expect them to continue to refine their craft and adapt to changing classrooms, they deserve innovative, engaging, and meaningful professional learning opportunities.

McGraw Hill Plus for PreK–12 is an innovative new tool that simplifies educators’ daily workflow by connecting and transforming data from multiple digital solutions. It uses this rich data to generate personalized instructional recommendations, driving scalable personalized learning and empowering schools to implement transformative instructional models, like mastery-based learning.

McGraw Hill Plus for PreK-12 reaches its full potential in the hands of a skilled, knowledgeable, and creative educator who has been given opportunities to understand what it means to personalize instruction, and what modern classrooms can look like. That’s where McGraw Hill’s Immersive Classroom Experience comes in.

Virtual reality provides teachers with a first-hand look at personalized learning in action.

Available using Oculus or on desktop, the Immersive Classroom Experience uses virtual reality to help teachers explore how they can leverage McGraw Hill Plus for PreK-12 to personalize learning and foster student agency. When teachers “enter” the classroom, they can interact with students and explore the tools and materials being used in the room.

Students in the virtual reality classroom explain to visitors where they are in their personal learning journeys and how the student-directed environment empowers them to thrive. They discuss how the Standards and Skills Graph (a data visualization tool within McGraw Hill Plus) helps them better understand their areas of growth, and how various curriculums and materials work together in their classroom. Ultimately, VR provides a controlled, safe, flexible environment for teachers to explore what their classroom could become, and how to make that transformation a reality.

Educators deserve to own their learning journeys, too.

Immersive learning makes complex concepts tangible. VR brings to life transformative instructional models and innovative uses of technology for teachers. On-demand professional learning resources that are related to the observed best practices are linked directly within each zone of the Immersive Classroom. Teachers can interact with students, explore the classroom materials, and leverage the corresponding professional learning resources in a manner and pace that suits their needs.

Immersive learning experiences have the power to place ownership in the hands of more students and more teachers.

Dr. Shawn Smith, Chief Innovation Officer of McGraw Hill School and whose team created both McGraw Hill AR and the Immersive Classroom Experience within McGraw Hill Plus for PreK-12, believes AR and VR hold exciting implications.

“We’ve just begun to explore the possibilities with immersive, experiential learning for students and teachers,” says Smith. “With powerful, dedicated partners like Verizon Innovative Learning and our own team of learning scientists, we can deliver deeply engaging learning experiences to more teachers and learners by expanding our VR and AR to more disciplines, more learning objectives, and more applications of pedagogy.”

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Key points:

• Agency is about having a desire, making plans, and carrying out actions
• Edtech tools and resources should support student and teacher agency
• See related article: How immersive technology can empower students (and teachers) to learn
• For more news on edtech trends, see eSN’s Innovative Teaching page

Education is changing because the world is changing. During the pandemic, teachers and students rapidly adopted new tools to pivot to remote and hybrid learning. With the recent advent of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies, conversations in education are now abuzz about AI’s potential to redefine lesson delivery, homework and formative assessments. The emergence of AI comes at an interesting time, when educators are looking for solutions to close the gap of pandemic-era learning loss and prepare their students for an increasingly technology-driven world.

As educators introduce new technologies in their classrooms, successful adoption and improvements to student outcomes will hinge on thoughtful strategies and intent to embrace change.

Advancements in education technology

History has taught us that innovation is inevitable. For instance, in classroom instruction, we have evolved from yesterday’s chalkboards and overhead and LCD projectors to cutting-edge interactive displays. While educators can’t predict the next breakthrough technology, we can anticipate the adoption process–by relating our past experiences to a positive path forward.

Instructional design and product development teams should consider the adoption process when designing products to meet the current needs of educators. Designers often pull from personal experiences and observations of how educators delivered lessons from the front of the classroom and created meaningful dialogue with students. For example, displays need to be simple and relatable for educators. The technology should augment what the teachers are already doing in the classroom and amplify their impact on student learning outcomes. 

Teachers and school leaders adopting new technologies – whether AI or hardware like interactive displays – need to understand their purpose. Do not purchase new technology because it is the hottest trend. Think about how you will leverage it to enrich the learning experience. For example, an LCD projector may have helped present lesson materials, but an interactive whiteboard can provide students with a new hands-on experience. They can understand the information more deeply, making connections they never would have before by looking at a static image. Innovation in technology and strategies can provide new opportunities to meet the diverse needs of our students.

Successful adoption also requires defining the measure of success. Higher test scores are often used to measure student achievement, but we know true meaning-making and application of skills are measured in different ways. A successful classroom has engaged students who are inspired to take ownership of their learning and become contributing members of their learning community. Teachers attuned to their classroom culture understand when their students are engaged, and they seek to activate more and more of those coveted light-bulb moments–indicators of high motivation to learn more. The adoption of new technology will amplify instructional practice when used strategically to make a positive impact on students.

Access to agency

How should educators approach adopting a technology like AI where there is no past experience to serve as precedence? Teachers look for instructional leadership from their district, state or the Department of Education (DOE). In fact, the DOE’s “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning” report recommends keeping humans in the loop with AI: “We envision a technology-enhanced future more like an electric bike and less like robot vacuums. On an electric bike, the human is fully aware and fully in control, but their burden is less, and their effort is multiplied by a complementary technological enhancement.” This high-level thinking is helpful, but more direction is needed.

However, guidance remains limited at the state level. The State Education Technology Directors Association (STEDA) reported in its 2023 State EdTech Trends that there is an “increased demand for guidance relating to artificial intelligence” and its use in K–12 schools, yet most states reported no efforts to meet that increased demand. Survey results showed that 55 percent of respondents indicated an increased interest in AI policy development – yet only two percent reported that their state has an AI initiative in place.

How then are educators to adopt new technology like AI when AI’s usage in education is not a question of “if” but “when.” The technology is only going to permeate more of our everyday lives. We must equip students with valuable skills, such as how to write effective generative AI prompts, to prepare them for their future careers. Seek forward-thinking educators online, where professional development, webinars, blogs and videos on AI are abundant. Importantly, do not be afraid of safely and thoughtfully experimenting with AI directly in front of your students. This is a difficult direction but remember: Young minds can be shaped by seeing trial and error. Rather than appear like we are the experts and already have all the answers, we can give our students visibility into the adoption process, including the struggles. This is called access to agency.

Agency is about having a desire, making plans, and carrying out actions. Agency is stick-to-it-tive-ness in action. The sense of agency plays a pivotal role in cognitive development and includes recognizing oneself as the agent of behavior and an empowered independent. We exercise the power of agency when looking for how to do things. We use YouTube videos to figure out how to repair a refrigerator or dishwasher. This is us embracing our sense of agency, and we should adopt that methodology into our classrooms. Empowering students with access to our agency helps to instill critical skills of the future, such as problem-solving, project management, and collaboration. These skills will be necessary to prepare our students for an increasingly technology-driven and AI-infused world.

As the world continues to change, education will continue to evolve. Yet educators need to take a moment to reflect on teaching methods, rekindle their passion for learning, and embrace change. We must cultivate the courage to stay relevant by acknowledging that technology is an evolving journey. By nurturing essential attributes of success, including motivation, environmental consideration, skills, and knowledge, we will empower ourselves and our students to adapt to breakthroughs.

The courage to make change is at the heart of success. We must explore, adapt, and inspire change to support a positive educational experience, ensuring that our students are ready for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Key points:

• Increasing use of digital learning tools means classrooms are modernizing
• Digital tools that boost engagement can improve academic outcomes
• See related story: Technology is key to educating the next generation

Some of my most vivid school memories involve teachers struggling to use overhead projectors: placing a printed sheet on the glass and fumbling to align it properly to project an image onto the wall. Students would laugh as the teachers mumbled about the annoyances of technology. Now think about how far the classroom has come since then–schools stocked with iPads and tablets, interactive touchscreens, and even virtual reality headsets.

Undoubtedly, the pandemic accelerated the shift to technology adoption in schools. However, this push to digitize doesn’t just involve remote learning technologies, but also tools for in-person learning. As a result, the classroom is modernizing, and pixels are replacing pencils. But the tech is also much easier to implement and operate than that of days of yore. No more fumbling with transparent sheets and overhead projectors.

Let’s break down how these new technologies are working in practice and the ways they can support better educational outcomes.

Engagement and experimentation

Technology demonstrably helps keep students engaged in their lessons and facilitate better learning in a digital world. While some argue technology is a distraction in the classroom – which can certainly be true if it’s not implemented properly – it also helps students to be focused and engaged in lessons.

Some prominent tools include interactive touchscreens in classrooms that promote and support active learning, a strategy for engaging students in classroom activities with more hands-on activities. These touchscreens help bring learning alive, off the page and into the actual world. These touch screens can facilitate engagement across subjects, even in unlikely places. 

One noteworthy example is science education, specifically anatomy. In traditional lab classes, dissecting frogs and other animals can be challenging due to animal-welfare concerns and resource limitations. Interactive touchscreens, however, offer an alternative. Students can virtually dissect organisms, providing them with a deep understanding of anatomy without the need for physical specimens. This approach not only enhances engagement but also aligns with ethical considerations in education.

Why is engagement important? One study found that active learning significantly increases student performance in the classroom: Students were 1.5 times more likely to fail a class that was primarily lecture-based as opposed to interactive. When students can touch things and interact, as opposed to watching a teacher write notes on a chalkboard and copying it into their notebooks, test scores improve.

Information retention

What’s more, technology can help students retain information for the long term. Touchscreen and tablet technology enables students to actively explore and manipulate digital content, transforming abstract concepts into tangible and comprehensible experiences. The tactile nature of touchscreens allows learners to engage with subjects in a way that textbooks or traditional teaching methods cannot replicate, and that engagement also boosts retention.

Consider this: Research shows that an average learner forgets 70 percent of what they learned after 24 hours and 90 percent of what they learned after a week. But research demonstrates that students who engage with interactive content retain information more effectively via enhanced information processing, contributing to improved performance and better test scores.

Interactive learning can also elicit emotional responses, which in turn impacts retention. When students are emotionally engaged in a lesson or activity, it has been shown to enhance memory consolidation. Interactive technologies have the capacity to create emotionally resonant experiences, whether through gamification, simulations, or immersive storytelling. These emotionally charged experiences are then more likely to be remembered.

So, whether it’s complex mathematical concepts, historical events, or scientific principles, digital technologies offer a dynamic platform for enhancing memory retention and ensuring that learning extends beyond the classroom.

Adaptive learning

Adaptive learning technologies are another transformative aspect of accessibility in education and have the power to revolutionize the traditional classroom experience. This approach leverages artificial intelligence and data analysis to customize educational content for students, recognizing their unique strengths and weaknesses.

Adaptive learning technology provides insights into data to help teachers understand students’ learning processes and patterns. Adaptive learning systems can track data from a variety of sources, providing insights into student progress, engagement, and performance. Educators can then leverage those insights to create tailored, personalized learning experiences.

There are various new adaptive learning platforms, including Smart Sparrow and ScootPad. Teachers merely sign up and input data, or provide access to it, in order for the technology to do the more difficult analytical work. In other words, these platforms don’t necessarily require more time or effort from already overburdened teachers. Educators can also integrate adaptive learning with a centralized device management platform to collect and process all that data from multiple technologies. Teachers can then monitor how students are actually using their devices and how well they are performing.

Of course, it’s important to strike a balance between technology and traditional teaching methods, ensuring that technology supports educational goals rather than replacing human interaction and critical thinking. Technology is a powerful tool in education, but it is not a replacement for human teachers.

Key points:

• It’s key to remember that students need to move–and that’s OK
• There are a number of edtech tools that encourage students to move around while reinforcing important learning concepts
• See related article: 5 edtech tools to save time this year

Educators often share a useful mantra: “The mind can only absorb what the bottom can endure.”  This is a great phrase to remember as districts, schools, and educators increasingly rely on technology tools to support student achievement. Although many teachers (and too many school administrators!) believe quiet students seated in front of computer screens is indicative of good classroom management, remembering that our students need to move is always sound instructional strategy.

I have a vivid memory of a co-worker visiting me in the library at school to mention that my older son Gus had fallen out of his desk in class. When my calmer younger child Flynn began high school, I asked what he thought at the end of the first week, and his comment was, “High school hurts my butt,” directly echoing the above quote about “bottom endurance!” As an adult, I personally struggle to sit through presentations or professional development lasting longer than 20 minutes. Additionally, many schools are emphasizing longer learning blocks where students are expected to be seated for over an hour.

It is with this idea in mind that I have sought out and implemented active technology tools in my career as a school librarian and as an athletic coach. Students spend an inordinate amount of time on screens, so if we can leverage these screens to engage our kinesthetic learners, we may reap several collateral benefits for all students, including engagement, positive peer interactions, greater retention, and–if we are lucky–a bit of fun!  

The following technology tools have exciting potential for engaging kinesthetic learners–our students who need to move!

1. Goosechase: I know, I know, you have probably heard of this before, but who doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt? Goosechase is an online platform that allows you to create a scavenger hunt in many formats. You can create a scavenger hunt where the players progress by solving word problems, finding definitions, or in my personal example, by making cross-country runners explore a park and take photos. These runners may have accidentally done some speed work while documenting their journey! If you do a Goosechase on campus, be sure to let administrators and hall monitors know if you are sending kids around the school, and absolutely set a time limit.

2. Thinglink: Although Thinglink keeps most of the learning activity in the digital realm, it is a great resource for teachers to use to increase student engagement. Thinglink allows you to make photographs and videos interactive, enabling embedded quizzes, hyperlinks, and branching (choose your own adventure) activities. I have found it particularly useful for repetitive lessons like library orientation, or providing procedures and directions. I also love how the quiz feature automatically provides feedback and tracks student progress to make it easier to monitor and adjust.

3. Breakout EDU: Many adults and students have actually paid to be locked in a room where they solve a puzzle to escape. And though administrators generally frown on us locking students in a closet (ha), Breakout EDU provides a vehicle where we can provide a similar fun experience for students without getting ourselves in trouble. Although Breakout provides options for fully digital “break out” experiences, my students and I have loved using digital clues to unlock physical locks on a breakout box. That way students use the technology but still have a tactile experience. For added fun, I include candy in the breakout box for a gustatory experience, too! My classroom teachers have been so impressed with student engagement with the lock boxes that I have been recruited to help set up math, history, and science lessons using Breakout EDU.

4. WeVideo: There are many useful video softwares available, but my district approved WeVideo and it has green screen capabilities. Video-making accesses multiple learning styles, providing speaking, writing, storyboarding/sequencing, music and auditory learning opportunities, and physical movement when seeking the correct background or setting, managing sound and lighting, and finally, editing and production. In my own lessons, I have integrated “old school” finger puppets with mini-green screens to get foreign language students to produce conversational videos in French, Spanish, and Chinese. Using the puppets and videos reduced the risk for kids and allowed students to practice and refine their language skills and let them blame any mistakes on the puppets.

5. Discovery Education: While Discovery Education has a plethora of resources, one area is particularly helpful if you, as an educator, are trying to engage your kinesthetic learners. Within Discovery Education, search for “Songs and Move-Alongs.”  Research by multiple neuroscientists and musicians suggests that music, movement, and memory are intertwined, and when we incorporate music and movement students are more likely to retain information. I personally cannot remember where I put my car keys, but I can still remember how to sing about my lover’s blue butterfly eyes in French, thanks to Madame Moakley in 10^th grade. As an educator whose singing voice is, umm, questionable, I love the opportunity to incorporate music and content without torturing my students with my own voice. Choices in this area address anatomy, order of operations in math, and many other topics.

Technology is an amazing tool, but just like any lecture, tech is subject to the “bottom endurance” rule. While creating movement-rich technology experiences may feel more chaotic in a classroom, library, or sports practice, these experiences are activating students’ brains in a beneficial manner. Whether it is simply prompting students to click to advance a video, making them run around a park, solve a puzzle, unlock locks, or sing a song, technology lessons that prompt physical engagement for kinesthetic learners have the added benefit of increasing mental engagement, too.

Key points:

• Educators are looking forward to a new year and plan to focus on growth
• Edtech tools have become critical for student engagement
• See related article: 5 edtech tools to save time this year

Educators are optimistic about implementing new education technology tools, including AI and gamified learning, and are prioritizing student engagement as the new school year gets underway, according to a new survey from GoGuardian.

The survey of more than 1,100 educators from across North America highlights back-to-school excitement, challenges, student engagement, and technology usage.

As educators welcome students back to their classrooms for the 2023-2024 school year, they are continuing to embrace education technology. More than 93 percent of those surveyed reported they are somewhat or very likely to implement an educational technology product they have never used before. Educators mentioned a total of 149 different technology products when asked what they plan to use, including gamified learning solutions, new digital presentation tools, ChatGPT, and a variety of classroom management platforms.

Regarding AI, half of teachers say AI features will not impact their likelihood of adopting a product, while 38 percent say AI increases the likelihood of them adopting a product. Teachers are most interested in seeing AI applied in education technology for the purposes of content creation, followed closely by use in interventions, data analysis, and lesson planning.

“In our new back-to-school educator survey, we aim to connect with teachers and learn about their priorities, concerns, and challenges. As a learning company, it’s essential to consistently listen to the educator experience,” said Mariana Aguilar, vice president of education at GoGuardian. “With the tumultuous years of the pandemic behind us, we’re encouraged to hear that teachers are optimistic about the current state of student engagement compared to last year.”

Other key findings from the survey include:

• Educators continue to recognize student engagement as a top priority. When asked about their biggest challenge in the coming year, 45 percent of teachers predicted that motivation and engagement will be their top issue, while 24 percent anticipate the biggest classroom challenge will be digital distractions, such as students’ personal phones.
• Technology has become a critical engagement tool for many teachers. Sixty-four percent of teachers said they were “somewhat” or “very” concerned about losing technology resources in their classrooms this year due to funding cuts, and the majority of those noted their primary concern around technology loss is how it would impact classroom engagement.
• Students want collaboration and gamification. When asked about what students are most excited about in their classrooms, 74 percent of teachers responded that students are excited about collaborating with one another, while 73 percent of teachers surveyed said students were excited about gamified learning, in which students are motivated by introducing game-like elements into the learning process.
• Teachers are committed to their own growth. When teachers were asked what they themselves were most excited about, 37 percent noted they were excited to see their students, and 32 percent said they were most looking forward to using new teaching techniques.
• We’re at a turning point. Of teachers surveyed, 92 percent believe that students will be more or equally engaged this coming school year when compared to last, citing the distance from the pandemic and continued familiarity with in-classroom learning. Teachers also noted their own professional development and implementation of new engagement strategies will play a role in classrooms’ increased engagement.

“As we move further from the effects of the pandemic and remote learning, I’ve found that student engagement has consistently improved,” said Amy Weston, a language arts teacher in Michigan. “Purposeful learning can happen when we help students invest in their own learning. This year, with improved personal responsibility and more established relationships and room for collaboration, I’m hopeful that I will continue to see stronger engagement and ultimately better learning outcomes in my classroom.”

This press release originally appeared online.

Related: Driving equitable learning with thoughtful software implementation

Key points:

• The pandemic did a number on student achievement, particularly in math and reading
• Technology access and digital learning tools are critical in addressing these learning gaps
• See related article: 4 ways edtech tools drive student engagement and build classroom culture

After Covid-era shutdowns and rocky transitions to virtual education, we’re facing a crisis in education. The past three years erased decades of improvements in math and reading literacy across K-12 students. It also widened existing achievement gaps, leaving millions of children behind their American peers, and even further behind students in other countries. Increasing students’ access to technology tools in the classroom is key to reversing these trends.

For teachers, closing the achievement gap will mean embracing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Generative AI can be a low-cost tutoring tool to help students understand difficult concepts–especially important for students who believe they are behind their peers and are less likely to engage in a classroom setting. Gamified and AI-enabled tools like SayKid’s Toybot and Encoder Inc.’s Memory OS offer fun and engaging ways to improve learning skills.

AI can also help kids exercise their imaginations. My kids love AI-driven apps that allow them to create and read their own stories. As AI grows more sophisticated, it should be no surprise that some 68 percent of students and 73 percent of teachers believe AI tools can help improve student performance, according to a recent study by the Walton Family Foundation.

Opportunities for technology-enabled learning extend beyond AI.  In recent years, we’ve seen huge growth in edtech as companies partner with educators to develop software and hardware that can support teaching and learning. Companies like Skriware offer comprehensive ed tech systems for schools, using 3D printing to teach principles of robotics and programming, while Unitinia analyzes student data to visualize data and help build custom content for tutors and parents. Other technology like Kinderpedia streamlines teacher work and strengthens the three-way connection between teachers, students and parents. With more than three quarters of U.S. states experiencing teacher shortages and nearly half of teachers reporting burnout, this technology can help teachers give students more personalized time and attention while lightening their workload.

Of course, more internet-enabled technology in the classroom will require work to ensure that educators and students can actually use it. That means doubling down on efforts to expand access to 5G and high-speed internet. The Biden administration recently allocated more than $650 million in federal grants and loans to build more broadband infrastructure in rural U.S. communities. Government officials and school administrators must work together to ensure that investments in high-speed internet reach our classrooms and are made in a technology-neutral manner. That’s especially critical for rural and remote schools, or those serving kids living in poverty, who are more likely to attend schools with fewer and lower quality books and curriculum materials.

At the same time, schools will need to ensure that new technology doesn’t introduce new security risks. With cyberattacks on the rise, expanded cybersecurity protections, as well as training for students and teachers, are key steps to protecting schools from attacks that can derail school systems, expose students’ personal information and cost millions of dollars to repair. Recognizing this need, one government agency recently proposed a pilot program that would invest critical resources in cybersecurity services for schools and libraries, a positive first step.

Education requires innovation. To give American students high quality learning opportunities and prepare them for an increasingly digital world, schools need access to modern technology tools, as well as the internet that powers them. We should look to technology as more than just a gadget in a school backpack–it’s a partner as we strive to educate the kids who will define our future.

Related: 5 edtech tools to save time this year

Key points:

• Increased student engagement yields better learning outcomes
• Edtech has a lot of potential to help boost student engagement
• See related article: With greater access to devices, teachers are folding more tech into instruction

As a teacher, I constantly wondered how to get students more engaged in my lessons. As an administrator, this question was the guiding force of my coaching.  Student engagement can be tough to define and difficult to systematize, but for anyone who’s walked into a highly engaged classroom, it’s immediately apparent. 

In my experience, it’s almost a direct path from increased student engagement to stronger learning outcomes. The two combined can often mean improved classroom culture, and in turn, higher teacher retention and other major benefits. There are four key ways that edtech tools can increase student engagement, and when done correctly, be a catalyst for building a culture of learning.

1. Providing a window into student thinking

It’s not always easy for teachers – especially those with higher student-teacher ratios – to dig deeper into individual student answers in real time. Plus, “learning” is a very challenging thing to measure. In education, we often try to approximate whether or not learning is happening by evaluating the answers that students provide to certain questions.

Getting visibility into student thinking throughout a lesson helps teachers see students’ thought processes, not just their answers. Teachers can see ideas develop over time, pinpointing breakthrough (or learning breakdown) moments. They can quickly identify misconceptions at the root, and drive data-driven instruction, providing attention where students need it the most, rather than unnecessarily reteaching whole concepts. The role of the teacher is repositioned to focus more on differentiated and individualized learning, building relationships, and providing support to students, focusing on what drives student engagement the most.

Edtech tools that provide teachers with real-time visibility into student thinking allow teachers to quickly pivot and maximize instructional time. Imagine students are reading Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, as part of a unit on the Progressive Era, building towards an essay on the author’s purpose in exposing the conditions of factory workers. While reading a particularly challenging passage, students take notes around guiding questions that support the development of their thesis. A teacher utilizing edtech tools to gain visibility into student work can evaluate student annotations and responses in the moment, and discover that many students have missed a key passage in a particularly dense section detailing worker conditions. The teacher can halt independent work if they’re seeing copious misunderstanding, pull the class into a close read of the paragraph, and deconstruct challenging language, all while highlighting students’ exemplary answers. Students stay on track, and the teacher avoids addressing foundational misunderstandings days or even weeks later.

2. Creating a culture where deep engagement is valued

In 2022, 94.4 percent of teachers reported using “soliciting student perspectives and discussion” as an engagement tactic often or very often/always. Engagement, however, is a broad term. Asking students to describe their favorite superhero might lead to a highly engaging discussion, but doesn’t necessarily reflect deep engagement with an academic topic. 

On the other hand, classrooms like the one reading The Jungle are examples of those deeply involved in authentic learning. I’ve worked in classrooms like this as well, with the room silent, students working on computers and the teacher staring at his laptop in the center. It was hard to determine whether students were engaging in independent work, and whether they were engaged. Suddenly, the teacher congratulated a student: “Awesome evidence in paragraph two!  Can you clean up your elaboration?” A few seconds later, “I love the transition words Katherine used in her writing. Everyone, take a look.” This continued for much of the lesson. 

Every student in that classroom was deeply and authentically engaged with their work and with one another. This was only possible because the teacher and students had tools that created visibility into both individual and shared work. It wasn’t the technology alone, though. The teacher created a culture where every student knew that their work mattered, where positive and critical feedback were in the interest of learning, and where an academic mindset was celebrated. 

3. Rooting teaching and learning in exemplary work

When students understand what is expected of them, they’re more likely to succeed. A tangible end goal and real time feedback towards that goal is essential to creating a highly engaged classroom. This is just as important for teachers as it is for students.  When I was coaching teachers and delivering lesson plan feedback, I could see the amount of time and energy put into designing questions and learning activities.  There was often so much thought put into the question, that there wasn’t as much time left for the answer, much less the pathway to that answer. 

I worked with a first-year teacher who came to me with a common problem. Despite a really well-thought-out learning activity, students answered inconsistently, and the teacher was stumped as to why. I asked a simple question. “What’s the answer that you would want to see from your students?” The teacher paused and realized they hadn’t considered that. They hadn’t answered the question themselves, and thus had not set an exemplar response. We used questions readily available in the curriculum and an assessment item bank, freeing up the teacher to consider how to guide students towards producing truly exemplary work. Exemplars can serve as important guidance, alongside auto scoring and annotation tools, all of which are available quickly in education technology tools.

4. Differentiating needs for students

Education technology can never fully replace what teachers provide. However, it is built to serve as an essential support and supplement, giving educators time back in their day to do what they’re best at: building important relationships with their students and moving learners’ outcomes forward. With edtech tools, teachers have an opportunity to cater to different student needs in a way that isn’t always possible. Students with different learning needs, interests, backgrounds, and work rates are afforded the ability to participate in ways that are more catered to their own styles.

In many learning tools, teachers are offered the ability to provide different problem sets, building blocks, and data resources that indicate various levels of understanding, which can provide solid resources to move student outcomes forward.

Mixing it up

These four benefits have the potential to be massive for student success. Those benefits are amplified when students are able to use edtech tools to mix up their routine: engaging in interactive presentations, audio, video, and proactive discussion as a result of reacting to one another’s work. When we think about classroom engagement, we have to remove pressure from teachers by providing them with efficacious classroom tools, as well as recognizing that as people, we engage and interact with each other in a variety of ways in the real world. Authentic classroom participation should be no different.

Related:
Collaborative edtech tools are changing the game for student engagement
Where will tomorrow’s personalized edtech go?