Assigning and assessing students' challenges amid broader pandemic pressures

Uneven access to tech, pressures on parents and basic essentials require consideration of students' home lives alongside academics.

By Lauren Barack • April 15, 2020

4 strategies to keep tech support rolling through COVID-19 shutdowns

Hotlines, drop-off device repair centers and remote troubleshooting are among solutions offered during the pandemic-induced transition to online learning. 

By Naaz Modan • April 15, 2020

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

Educators in many states report low e-learning attendance

Many districts are contending with unequal internet and device access, and some states have shifted to pass/fail models for the rest of the school year.

By Shawna De La Rosa • April 14, 2020

Amid online transition, schools experience another cyberthreat: 'Zoombombing'

The rise in incidents comes on the heels of an FBI warning that students should be taught cyber-safety practices and boundaries as learning goes fully digital during pandemic shutdowns.

By Shawna De La Rosa • April 9, 2020

New digital platform to help facilitate citizenship, SEL skills

The free digital resource contains a library of approximately 1,000 learning experiences that touch on civics, social justice, SEL and global competence.

By Lauren Barack • April 8, 2020

Lessons In Leadership: Administrators’ advice for addressing 5 coronavirus challenges

The pandemic left superintendents and principals grappling with e-learning transitions, meal distribution logistics and more. Here's how they're coping.

By Roger Riddell • April 7, 2020

Ed Dept allows repurposing of federal funds for ed tech, PD in favor of distance learning

The waivers would carry over the previous fiscal year's funding in certain areas and remove restrictions on tech spending as ed leaders request more flexibilities and resources. 

By Naaz Modan • April 6, 2020

Remote instruction presents opportunity to empower self-directed learning skills

A former teacher and administrator encourages educators and parents now facilitating that role to allot more time for self-discovery.

By Lauren Barack • April 1, 2020

Wi-Fi and hotspots 'still won't work' for rural districts lacking connectivity

While coronavirus-related closures have renewed the push to close the connectivity gap for rural communities, those initiatives are “disconnected” from the reality on the ground, superintendents say.

By Naaz Modan • March 27, 2020

Ensuring e-learning equity takes time

A New Hampshire elementary teacher advises easing into remote learning as much as possible for the sake of students and educators alike.

By Lauren Barack • March 25, 2020

Lessons in Leadership: Innovation fuels North Carolina district’s commitment to helping students find their passions

Rowan-Salisbury School System Superintendent Lynn Moody says teaching students interpersonal skills and encouraging exploration is key to their future success in college and the workforce.

By Roger Riddell • March 24, 2020

Adding up the real cost of password management for school districts

IT support for lost or forgotten passwords can add up to a significant amount of money, but how much is it really costing?

March 23, 2020

FCC waives E-rate gift rules as coronavirus closures highlight remote learning inequity

Participants in the federal telecommunications discount program can now accept free services and equipment to facilitate home connectivity for students.

By Roger Riddell • March 20, 2020

Present and accounted for? Coronavirus-related school closures create attendance challenges

Experts say regardless of the method used to track e-learning participation, ongoing contact with students will be essential.

By Linda Jacobson • March 19, 2020

Push to close homework gap grows as coronavirus necessitates virtual learning

The Federal Communications Commission and lawmakers are moving on efforts to increase families' home internet access and facilitate remote learning.

By Naaz Modan • March 13, 2020

Curricular Counsel: What makes a 'transformational' school?

Fully aware of the preponderance of buzzwords in K-12, Leicester Public Schools' Matthew X. Joseph shares an action plan to meaningfully rethink schools.

By Roger Riddell • March 11, 2020

Report: Safety tip lines flag bullying, drug use, suicide risk

Though the technology was originally meant to identify gun violence threats, a national study found 75% of principals thought tip lines made them more aware of overall safety issues in their schools.

By Naaz Modan • March 2, 2020

Soft skills are an invaluable 'counterpart to STEM.' Here's how a USC program is equipping teens

The Center for Third Space Thinking usually trains corporate executives, but founder Ernest Wilson says there are five competencies K-12 students "desperately need" to succeed in a tech-focused world. 

By Linda Jacobson • March 2, 2020

5 critical steps to securing modern school networks

A district director of information technology details how to protect schools from increasing ransomware attacks that have cost organizations billions of dollars.

By Matthew J. Frederickson • Feb. 28, 2020

Teaching students to use what's around them bolsters critical thinking

A middle school math teacher says having students use resources like calculators to identify different approaches to problems strengthens soft skills.

By Lauren Barack • Feb. 26, 2020

Darling-Hammond: School structures make it hard for educators to 'care effectively'

Last week's AASA conference also included superintendents from Dallas, Savannah-Chatham County and Kansas City, Missouri, discussing a variety of approaches to personalization. 

By Linda Jacobson • Feb. 18, 2020

10 factors that help determine ed tech success or failure

Schools spend $13 billion annually on ed tech, and the EdTech Genome Project plans to further study the variables identified to help schools and districts make better-informed investments.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Feb. 13, 2020

Green initiatives expand hands-on science opportunities for students

At Grant Elementary School in Missouri, students grow native plants inside a portable classroom called the Eco-Schoolhouse that sports solar panels.

By Lauren Barack • Feb. 12, 2020

Is instructional coaching an answer to preventing waste in ed tech?

As schools work to unlock the full benefits of new devices and platforms, many districts are looking to instructional coaching to help educators tap into the possibilities.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Jan. 27, 2020

Report: Climate change literacy, early childhood focus shaping STEM in 2020

Other factors trending in STEM include a more comprehensive approach to tech and a growing interest in computer science, 100Kin10 finds, but a persistent shortage of teachers remains a hindrance.

By Naaz Modan • Jan. 24, 2020