Careful tech vetting process key to safeguarding student data

Houston ISD's director of educational technology maintains a resource toolbox of pre-approved apps for educators on top of utilizing a clearly defined adoption rubric for new classroom tools.

By Shawna De La Rosa • April 8, 2019

Computer-based testing bugs bite schools again

Another year of testing glitches in New York highlights the need for states to vet vendors' platform bandwidth and reliability, as well as that of schools' broadband infrastructure, before mandating digital assessments.

By Shawna De La Rosa • April 5, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

STEM

From AI to quantum physics, STEM learning opportunities in K-12 are expanding to keep pace with related fields.

By K-12 Dive staff

Mentorship programs help bridge STEM gender gap

Of girls who know a woman in STEM, 73% understand its relevance and career possibilities, compared to 53% without such a connection.

By Shawna De La Rosa • April 5, 2019

Untrained staff, students remains K-12's biggest cybersecurity threat

A school system's tech chief also suggests that unexpected upticks in user traffic could indicate hackers are staking out a district.

By Shawna De La Rosa • April 1, 2019

3 key strategies for schools, districts considering predictive analytics

Experts say starting small with defined goals and understanding context are a few ways to stage interventions and help students and teachers succeed.

By Roger Riddell • April 1, 2019

$5M Google grant aims to up Latino students' access to computer science education

The grant is part of Google's $25 million commitment to help African-American and Latino students develop career skills.

By Riia O'Donnell • March 28, 2019

Injecting drones into curriculum requires prep before takeoff

Administrators must weigh a number of safety and legal factors, plus federal regulations, before green-lighting flight-capable devices for the classroom.

By Lauren Barack • March 27, 2019

3 tech curriculum strategies that boost student opportunities, IT capacity

Schools are feeding students' tech interests with programs offering real-world experience assisting educators and community members.

By Shawna De La Rosa • March 25, 2019

New York City students protest school surveillance cameras

A group of high schoolers decried the use of surveillance equipment, reigniting the debate over whether they should be used as a safety tool.

By Shawna De La Rosa • March 25, 2019

Automating asset management helps nimble school IT staffs stretch farther

IT experts say streamlining the devices used, adopting asset management software and implementing automated checkout systems can reduce tech support burden and free up staff for other roles.

By Roger Riddell • March 21, 2019

How districts can work effectively to weave tech into personalized instruction

Giving both instructional and tech experts seats at the table and promoting collaboration, an ed tech provider executive says, can make for a more engaging, individualized curriculum.

By Lauren Barack • March 20, 2019

The power of artificial intelligence for higher education

Many universities are grappling with how to get started with AI and how to use it ethically and effectively.

March 19, 2019

Taking full advantage of classroom tech requires districts to create a clear 'path to yes'

A strong but easy-to-understand vetting process can prevent educators from sidestepping the process without understanding the consequences, one administrator says.

By Shawna De La Rosa • March 19, 2019

School system hack highlights need for cybersecurity training in K-12

While a breach of a Michigan district's student information system only changed some high schoolers' grades, the incident is a reminder that schools and districts must be vigilant about safeguarding student data.

By Shawna De La Rosa • March 18, 2019

Detroit district hopes 1:1 tech will engage students, boost test scores

The district aims to give K-8 students laptops to use at school. And while a pilot program exists at 25 schools, it would cost $16 million to expand it to 46 more.

By Shawna De La Rosa • March 13, 2019

Virtual, augmented reality platforms emerge as computer science teaching tool

Students who learn to code with mobile AR platforms reportedly score higher on assessments than those who don’t use them, according to a Georgia Institute of Technology study.

By Lauren Barack • March 13, 2019

When embedding devices in curriculum, focus on active screen time

A secondary school teacher suggests content that engages students in a productive activity rather than encouraging passive consumption is key to effective digital learning.

By Lauren Barack • March 13, 2019

Digital fluency begins with tech-savvy teachers

The Consortium for School Networking is introducing a series of new resources to help keep educators up to speed on evolving classroom tech.

By Lauren Barack • March 13, 2019

When digital platforms communicate, teachers and students benefit

David Knapp, director of technology and innovation for the Loveland City School District in Ohio, explains why interoperability should be a priority in selecting and working with vendors.

By David Knapp • March 12, 2019

SXSW EDU 2019: For LeVar Burton, promoting literacy 'chose me'

We caught up with the Reading Rainbow host, as well as Reading Is Fundamental CEO Alicia Levi, to discuss the digital divide and increasing access to literacy resources.

By Roger Riddell • March 11, 2019

SXSW EDU 2019: Making school safety more proactive and teaching students to learn from failure

The final full day of Austin's ed innovation gathering also featured a discussion of Reconstruction's lasting impacts and a handful of big announcements.

By Roger Riddell • March 7, 2019

SXSW EDU 2019: Chicago's efforts to freeze summer melt — and an ed tech lip sync battle

Also, find out what administrators can learn from a Ghana university leader and more from the second day of the Austin, Texas, ed innovation extravaganza.

By Roger Riddell • March 6, 2019

SXSW EDU 2019: Educators discuss transformation strategy, neuroscience-based approach

Couldn't make it to Austin for the conference? Get caught up on conversations around community, media literacy and more.

By Roger Riddell • March 5, 2019

Indiana the latest state to address scandals, low achievement in virtual charters

Among the accusations against two schools are that none of 2,372 students reportedly attending one for a full year actually earned any credits, and one in five enrolled were never signed up for any classes.

By Shawna De La Rosa • March 1, 2019

Report: Few districts have full-time role focused on student privacy

With at least 122 cybersecurity threats or breaches reported in K-12 schools last year, the need for chief privacy officers or similar roles is growing.

By Amelia Harper • March 1, 2019