SEPTEMBER 2023
TECHLEARNING.COM
Back to School 2023
The State of the Education Nation
Plus The winners from our Back to School Awards
THE STATE OF THE EDUCATION NATION Group Publisher Christine Weiser christine.weiser@futurenet.com
Production Manager Heather Tatrow heather.tatrow@futurenet.com
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he world of education has seen more changes in the past few years than any other time in recent history. Artificial Intelligence has rapidly transformed the way we teach and learn and continues to evolve rapidly. Pandemic funding got us through a tough time, but that funding comes to an end in 2024, leaving many schools wondering how to sustain their programs. As we look ahead to the 2023-24 school year, how can schools prepare for this new era when there are so many unknowns? In this issue, Tech & Learning shares advice from the nation’s top leaders to offer the valuable insight you need to navigate a new era in education. All contents © 2023 Future US, Inc. or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any other changes or updates to them. This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the material and/or have the necessary rights/permissions to supply the material and you automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in any/all issues and/or editions of publications, in any format published worldwide and on associated websites, social media channels and associated products. Any material you submit is sent at your own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be liable for loss or damage. We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions.
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TECH & LEARNING NAMES WINNERS OF THE BEST FOR BACK TO SCHOOL 2023 AWARDS
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s schools get ready for the 2023-24 school year, Tech
& Learning’s Awards of Excellence program, “The Best Tools for Back to School” is designed to help our readers find the products and solutions that will support their work in any learning environment. Eligible products included hardware, software, curriculum, and more, all divided by grade levels to make it easier for readers to find the solutions they need. “With ESSER funding coming to an end, and emerging tech like AI exploding into the market with little guidance as to how best to integrate this new technology into the classroom, it’s more important than ever to curate the many education products on the market to ensure your investments support innovative teaching and learning,” says Tech & Learning Content Director Christine Weiser. “Our judges chose the following nominated products based on their versatility, compatibility, value, and ability to help schools solve challenges and support continuous instruction. Congratulations to all of our winners.” Read the full article here
Best for Back to School Winners: Primary
Accelerate Learning Inc.: STEMscopes Math Acer: Acer TravelMate Vero (TMV1551-57PP) Laptop Airtame: Airtame Core Amplify: Boost Reading, personalized digital literacy instruction for grades K–5 Avantis Education: ClassVR AVer Information: A30 All-in-One Camera
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AVer Information: F17+ Portable Flexarm Document Camera AVID Products: AE-36 USB-C Benchmark Education: Steps to Advance Literacy Solutions Benchmark Education: Benchmark Academy BenQ: BenQ Board RP03 Bloomz: Bloomz Boxlight: MimioWall Boxlight: Mimio DS Series Boxlight: MyBot Recruit Branching Minds: Branching Minds Canon: PIXMA G3270 Wireless MegaTank All-In-One Printer Canva: Canva CareerVerse dba StudentVerse: StudentVerse ClassLink: ClassLink Suite ClassLink: ClassLink DataGuard
Clevertouch by Boxlight: IMPACT Max Curriculum Associates: i-Ready Defined: Defined Learning Discovery Education: Science Techbook Discovery Education: Experience Edlio: The Edlio K-12 Communications and Payment Solution Edmentum: EdOptions Academy Edmentum: Exact Path EverDriven: EverDriven’s Suite of Technology ExploreLearning: Reflex ExploreLearning: Frax FACIL’iti: MYDys EDU Forward Edge: Edge•U Badges Forward Education: Climate Action Kit Class Pack Frontline Education: Human Capital Analytics Frontline Education: Offering financial wellbeing benefits to K-12 staff FrontRow by Boxlight: Teacher Action! Mic powered by ELEVATE GoGuardian: Giant Steps GoReact: GoReact Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: HMH Into Science and HMH ¡Arriba las Ciencias! Grades K-5 HUE: HUE Animation Studio Inquisitive: Inquisitive IXL Learning: Rosetta Stone for Schools Kiddom: Kiddom Learning A-Z: Writing A-Z Learning A-Z: Foundations A-Z Learning A-Z: Raz-Plus Learning Without Tears: Handwriting Without Tears Learning Without Tears: Phonics, Reading, and Me Learning.com: EasyTech Legrand C2G: AV Controller LG Business Solutions: LG CreateBoard with ChromeOS Flex certified slot-in OPS-C001 Lightspeed Systems: Lightspeed Digital Insight Logitech: Zone Learn MAXCases: Extreme Headset Merlyn Mind: Merlyn MIND Education: ST Math MobileMind: MobileMind MobyMax: MobyMax ObjectiveEd: BuddyBooks Otus: Otus Ozobot: Color Code Magnet Kits Pikmykid: Pikmykid Presence (formerly
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PresenceLearning): Presence Teletherapy Services Reading Horizons: Reading Horizons Discovery Samsung Electronics America: Samsung Interactive Display (WAC) Savvas Learning Company: enVision Mathematics © 2024 Grades K-5 Study.com: Social studies solution Study.com: Science Solution TechTerra Education: STEM in a Box® TouchMath: TouchMath PRO TouchMath: DySc, Dyscalculia Screener Vivi: Vivi William H. Sadlier Inc.: From Phonics to Reading Woongjin ThinkBig: Mathpid Xello: Xello
Secondary
Acer: Acer Chromebook Vero 514 (CBV514-1H/T) Acer: Acer and NASEF alliance for esports Acer: Acer Student Repair eLearning Program BenQ: LH730 BenQ: BenQ Board RP03 Boxlight: MimioWall Boxlight: Mimio DS Series Boxlight: MyBot Recruit Canon: imagePROGRAF TC-20M MFP Canon: MegaTank MAXIFY GX4020 Casio America, Inc.: Casio fx-991CW ClassWiz ClassLink: ClassLink Suite ClassLink: ClassLink DataGuard Clayful Health: Coaching and Content with Clayful Health CTL: CTL Chromebook PX11E “Secure” Special Edition Defined: Defined Careers Discovery Education: Experience Discovery Education: Science Techbook Edmentum: Courseware Edmentum: EdOptions Academy Edmentum: Exact Path Edutek Solutions: One to One Plus Epson America: Epson PowerLite 810E Extreme Short Throw with 4K Enhancement ExploreLearning: Gizmos FACIL’iti: MYDys EDU Flinn Scientific: PAVO Forward Edge: Edge•U Badges Forward Education: Climate Action Kit Class Pack
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Frontline Education: Human Capital Analytics Frontline Education: Offering financial wellbeing benefits to K-12 staff FrontRow by Boxlight: Teacher Action! Mic powered by ELEVATE Gale, part of Cengage Group: Gale In Context: Literature Gale, part of Cengage Group: Gale In Context: For Educators GoGuardian: TutorMe Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: HMH Into Science and HMH ¡Arriba las Ciencias! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Math 180, Student Software Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Read 180, Student Software Impero Software: Impero Classroom Incident IQ: Incident IQ Platform
Teletherapy Services Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.: Dell Inspiron 14 (Powered by Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2) Samsung Electronics America: Samsung Interactive Display (WAC) Savvas Learning Company: enVision Mathematics © 2024 Grades 6-8 enVision A|G|A © 2024 (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2) Savvas Learning Company: SuccessMaker®: Foundations of High School Math Singleton Foundation: Venture Valley Business Tycoon Slooh: Slooh SmartPass: SmartPass One Sphero, Inc.: Sphero Blueprint Tutor.com and The Princeton Review: On-Demand and High-Dosage Tutoring + Test Prep Vivacity Tech PBC: Student Repair Academy (SRA) Vivacity Tech PBC: Guardian Work-In Case with Pouch Vivacity Tech PBC: Mobile Charging Station Vivi: Vivi Xello: Xello
Higher Ed
Instructure: Canvas LMS IXL Learning: Wyzant Junior Achievement USA (JA): JA Connect Kiddom: Kiddom Learning.com: EasyCode Pillars Legrand C2G: AV Controller Lincoln Learning Solutions: Lincoln Content Bank MAXCases: Extreme Headset Merlyn Mind: Merlyn MobileMind: MobileMind NetSupport: classroom.cloud NoRedInk Co.: NoRedInk Optoma: Optoma Creative Touch 5-Series Interactive Flat Panel Displays Otus: Otus PowerSchool: PowerSchool Naviance CCLR Presence (formerly PresenceLearning): Presence
Airtame: Airtame Hybrid Anthology Inc.: Blackboard Learn Ultra BenQ: LH730 BenQ: BenQ Board RP03 Canon: imageFORMULA R30 Office Document Scanner ClearOne: DIALOG UVHF Wireless Microphone Copyleaks: AI Content Detector CTL: CTL CBx3-7 Chromebox CTL: CTL Works With Chromebook Keyboard and Mouse Combo Gale, part of Cengage Group: Gale Digital Scholar Lab NetSupport: NetSupport School Planar: Planar UltraRes™ L Series allin-one LED display PeopleAdmin: Faculty Information System Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.: Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G SQ3 (Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3) Samsung Electronics America: Samsung Interactive Display (WAC) Sonic Corp.: ViewSonic myPodium ID2456 Interactive Display
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WHITE HOUSE HOSTS LAUNCHES NEW K-12 CYBERSECURITY INITIATIVE
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irst Lady Jill Biden, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas recently hosted a White House event to highlight a new initiative to bolster cybersecurity in the nation’s schools. The administration’s new cybersecurity initiative includes a proposed three-year pilot program providing up to $200 million to strengthen cyber defenses in K-12 schools and libraries, and the establishment by the U.S. Department of Education of a Government Coordinating Council (GCC) that will coordinate cybersecurity activities, policy, and communications among a broad array of federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial education leaders. According to a White House statement, the GCC aims to foster formal, ongoing collaboration between all levels of government and the education sector in “preparing for, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity attacks.” Tech & Learning advisor
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Frank Pileiro, tech director for the Public Schools of Linwood, New Jersey, was one of just 15 tech directors invited to the launch event at the White House. “Being in the room was just great, being able to meet people from everywhere. It makes me proud to just be part of the conversation and to be able to take what I’ve learned back to my school district and share it with my colleagues,” says Pileiro. “I think collaboration and what they’re saying at the federal level is very encouraging because they want to collaborate, they want to see what’s happening and they want to provide help.” Read the full article here
CREDIT: UNSPLASH
By Jon McGoran
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THE FUTURE OF GENERATIVE AI IN EDTECH nfusing AI into edtech will open a new world of teaching and learning opportunities. Adam Garry, former Senior Director of Education Strategy with Dell, shares the following six ways AI will impact the teaching and learning process:
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Efficiency—Automate administrative tasks, allowing teachers more time to engage with students.
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Assessment—Help the teachers create performance tasks, build rubrics, and score the tasks. This will allow the teacher to provide more targeted feedback to the learner.
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Personalization—Customize learning experiences and empower the learner with voice and choice.
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Enhanced Understanding —Provide more interactive and immersive learning experiences.
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Early Intervention—AI can help identify students that are struggling and provide targeted support.
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Be a Curiosity Engine—Drive curiosity as it will allow the learner to explore many topics from various perspectives.
Garry says it’s also important that the tech industry ensures that those most affected understand what AI is and how it can help. He suggests focusing on identifying misinformation and building the skills to help with these new digital literacies. Read the full article here
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By Sascha Zuger
HOW TO FUTURE-PROOF AI POLICIES By Sascha Zuger
develop appropriate policies. • Consult experts in the field of AI for guidance on developing ethical and effective policies. • Pilot test guidelines and policies in a small group of classrooms to identify potential problems and permit districts to make necessary revisions. • Get feedback from stakeholders to ensure guidelines and policies meet the district’s needs. Read the full article here
CREDIT: DR. KRISTAL AYRES
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istricts must be proactive, flexible, transparent, ethical, and inclusive to future proof their guidelines and policies about AI to ensure a seamless foray into this new world of technology. “The potential impact of AI on the education market is significant,” says Dr. Kristal Ayres, Education Leader Strategist at Google for Education. “By automating tasks, providing personalized learning experiences, and creating new educational materials, AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we learn. We can expect to see even more innovative and impactful applications of AI in the education market.”
AYRES SHARED THE FOLLOWING TIPS TO FUTURE-PROOF AI POLICIES: • Establish a committee to oversee guidelines that includes a variety of stakeholders, such as teachers, administrators, parents, and students. • Conduct research on AI in education to understand the benefits and risks of AI and
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INTERNATIONAL EDTECH TRENDS By Sascha Zuger
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s educators and administrators, we often find ourselves in a place of keeping up with the edtech Joneses “down the block” or in neighboring districts. It’s always illuminating to discover what the landscape of tech in the classrooms looks like outside our usual circles in other parts of the world, and what the current international edtech trends are. Zuger interviewed experts in the edtech industry to get their insights and thoughts about the state of tech in the international classroom, both where it is now and where it is heading. They identified the following three areas of rapid growth and development in international edtech: • Online learning platforms: The demand for online learning platforms continues to increase, driven by the convenience and accessibility they offer.
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• Adaptive learning technologies: Adaptive learning technologies, including personalized learning algorithms, are gaining traction. These technologies use machine learning and data analytics to tailor educational content and experiences to individual learners, optimizing learning outcomes. • Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications: The integration of VR and AR into education is expanding rapidly. These immersive technologies offer interactive and engaging learning experiences, enabling students to explore simulations, conduct virtual experiments, and enhance their understanding of complex subject matters. Read more about specific trends in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe here
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By Erik Ofgang
T
he gap between science fiction and the classroom is closing before our eyes and something like the future I read about as a science fictionobsessed kid in the 90s is starting to materialize, and in some cases has already materialized, in classrooms across the country. Here is some of the educational technology I’ve recently written about that wouldn’t be out of place in paperback science fiction novels from the 1950s.
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ChatGPT and Other Generative AI ChatGPT, and other large language models, including Bard from Google, allow for a dazzling human-to-computer interaction that this time last year would have felt like science fiction to us. While we can – and have – debated the potential harms and benefits of ChatGPT to education, the technology has an undeniable wow factor and has already begun to be used as an interactive tutor in several applications.
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Holograms A new breed of holographic display tools are rolling out to universities and K-12 schools that allow for a “Zoom on steroids” impact in which life-size three-dimensional speakers can be “beamed” into classrooms and interact with students in real-time. Educators are now even designing hologram lessons on 3D printing that have higher student engagement and success than more traditional lessons.
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AI Translators Pocketalk devices are about the size of a phone and provide real-time translations to students and their parents in 82 different languages. These devices are not perfect, but Pocketalk and other modern translation options, can help educators connect better with all students and help students bond with their teachers and peers.
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Immersive Metaverse and AR/VR Technology At times the hype around the Metaverse has exceeded its practical applications. Optimism abounds in regard to solving challenges such as affordability and cyber sickness, a motion sickness-like feeling of discomfort that impacts more than 50 percent of new VR users. Read the full article here
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CREDIT: UNSPLASH/CRAIG SYBERT
4 EDUCATION TOOLS THAT SEEM STRAIGHT OUT OF SCIENCE FICTION
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EXPLORING THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF INCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS CREDIT: UNSPLASH
By Eileen Belastock
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echnology in the classroom is part of our everyday world and, as part of that, we must ensure that all students have access to the devices and the content they need for learning. Accessibility ensures everyone, including those with disabilities, can use and benefit from products, services, and information. “In many cases, students with IEP and 504 plans and students who do not have an identified disability need access to tools to leverage that content,” says Christine Fox, Project Director for CAST, a nonprofit that helps students with learning differences succeed in school and life. To ensure that edtech products and programs are available to all learners, Fox offers the following basics for solution providers to help create a more inclusive educational environment, improve their company’s reputation, and promote positive change in the industry: • Make sure products and programs are
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•
• • •
accessible to people with disabilities. Consider the needs of all learners, including those from diverse backgrounds and with different learning styles. Use inclusive language and images in products and programs. Collect feedback from learners and use it to improve products and programs. Partner with organizations that are working to make education more inclusive. Read the full article here
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PHONICS, Reading, and Me ™
PHONICS, Reading, and Me ™
PRIMARY EDUCATION
WINNER
Sheep Do Not o to the each!
DEVELOPING AI PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES
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t is important to reshape how we as teachers approach the use of AI in the classroom as we enter the new school year. AI is here to stay and will be a part of our students’ future, so we need to account for it in our instruction and their learning. AI for Instruction When it comes to AI and instruction, creating new approaches to accommodate it is going to be necessary. For example, we can develop lessons and activities that involve ChatGPT that involve critical thinking and make it less likely that students simply rely on AI for an answer. We also can model for our students how to use AI ethically and effectively as part of their learning, writing, and research processes.
made all of these opportunities possible, you can help them to embrace it as part of their creative learning processes. AI for Assessment By making the use of AI as part of your overall assessment practices, you can leverage real-time and efficient data points on how students are progressing and track if they are meeting learning objectives and discover which specific supports they may need. For example, both Quizlet and Kahoot! use AI algorithms to support question development in some capacity, and Conker uses AI to create quizzes. Read the full article here
CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
By Stephanie Smith Budhai, Ph.D.
AI for Engagement AI has already been incorporated into many tools that are excellent for engagement. Gamebased education apps, for example, provide AIsupported engagement opportunities. By letting students know that AI has
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TECH & LEARNING
INNOVATION PLAYBOOK: Designing the School of the Future
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THE END OF ESSER: WHAT EDUCATORS NEED TO KNOW by Sascha Zuger
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4 Ways to Prepare for The End of ESSER Funds Use analytics to see which digital programs, platforms, and apps are actually being used by staff to determine if there are tools that are not or providing a good return on investment and can be jettisoned.
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Search for local grants and partnerships to pull in community resources to assist with building sustainable methods and programs.
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Create a timeline featuring the tools you have that may expire with lesser funding and search for ways these may be replaced through free resources or other comparable products.
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Look for education grants from the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for Humanities, and others to acquire funds for teacher training and PD in those areas. experiences and empower the learner with voice and choice. Read the full article here
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he U.S. government’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund and grant program, which helped so many educational institutes weather the rough days of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued recovery, is drawing to an end. “With our funding, we worked to build student access to digital tools and connectivity for all the students in the district,” says Greg Bagby, Coordinator of Instructional Technology at Hamilton County Schools in Tennessee. “We have connected all students with one-to-one devices, virtually eliminating the digital divide.” This progressive thinking and spending has helped schools use funds in ways that will continue to benefit future students. As we have seen, many ideas that were introduced during the pandemic have become part of daily life, so it seems unlikely learning will ever return to exactly what it was beforehand.
THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PLAN IS BEING UPDATED. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR EDUCATORS?
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By Susan Gentz
he National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) has long been regarded as a guide for technology in education. States have adopted many recommendations, if not everything, from this document from the U.S. Department of Education. The last report was released in 2017, prepandemic. Education has seen many changes since then, which means the new NETP – scheduled to be unveiled in the first quarter of 2024 – will focus on issue areas that were not discussed in the previous plan. The Old & New Divides The DOE currently states that the NETP “sets a national vision and plan for learning enabled by technology through building on the work of leading education researchers; district, school, and higher education leaders; classroom teachers; developers; entrepreneurs; and nonprofit organizations.” The last NETP focused on the Digital Divide and the Digital Use Divide, and on how to close these. The new one will also consider these areas but also have an emphasis on the “digital design divide,” which is the divide between systems
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that provide educators and developers with the opportunity to learn about neuro-variability, enabling them to design inclusive learning experiences. The updated plan also will revisit other areas cited in the previous one and new issues, such as generative AI, hybrid learning, and increased cybersecurity threats. The contract to write the next NETP was awarded to the State Edtech Directors Association (SETDA) and their coalition partners, which includes InnovateEDU, Learning Forward, and Project Tomorrow, to support the Office of Educational Technology in the update effort. Their hope is to better leverage federal technology and connectivity investments to help schools create powerful and engaging learning opportunities for students and educators. A major part of creating the NETP is hosting listening sessions across the country. Many of these sessions have been happening where educators and stakeholders are already gathered, such as ISTE and SXSWEdu. The most recent session (and last before the first draft was due on September 9) was at the Tech & Learning’s EdExec Summit in Atlanta.
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REPORT FROM THE TECH & LEARNING EDEXEC SUMMIT
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he Tech & Learning EdExec Summit took place in September outside Atlanta at the beautiful Chateau Elan Winery & Resort. This new event brought together senior executives from companies serving the K-12 industry for a 3-day networking conference dedicated to the business of education. Whether executives were software developers, hardware manufacturers, investors, industry analysts, or providers of any service to schools, the EdExec Summit’s robust agenda and networking opportunities provided a great opportunity to help education companies prepare for the school year ahead and beyond. 2 6 | SE P TE MB E R 2 02 3
Attendees reconnected with colleagues and met new friends at the opening dinner
Courtney Teague led a session on diversifying your workforce
Guests received hand-rolled cigars at the closing dinner
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Members of the DOLS represented at the EdExec Summit
Keynote speaker Gary Brantley, CIO for the NFL and formerly of DeKalb County Schools, kicked off the event with an inspiring speech about thought leadership
Interactive sessions for education industry leaders focused on four key tracks: Building, Sustaining, Growing, and Funding-Policy News
George DeBakey chats with K12 Leader’s Michael Bronder
Sarah Edson chats with Greg Bagby as they head to their session on the new National Edtech Plan
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The event kicked off with an AI Meetup where attendees shared their experiences with each other
Superintendents Drs. Susan Enfield, Devon Horton, and Melvin Brown joined moderator Alvin Crawford to share advice with education industry leaders
Tech & Learning Event Marketing Director Katie Tait enjoys a laugh with Leo Brehm from XRTerra
The Chtaeau Elan featured a pool, winery, golf, and more
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The Chateau Elan provided the ideal resort location for the EdExec Summit networking event
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The 2024 EdExec Summit will take place back at the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort on September 11-13, 2024. Read more and register here.
The closing dinner took place at the Chateau Elan’s beautiful Pavilion
The closing session shared an optimistic look at the education market at the closing ceremony (from left: Scott Van der Linden, Chad Johnson, Rajib Roy)
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READ MORE ABOUT SELECT SESSIONS HERE: • Exploring the Essential Elements of Inclusive Technology Systems • Integrating Generative AI into Edtech • How to Cultivate Strategic Partnerships • International Edtech Trends • 5 Mistakes That New Edtech Companies Make • The Future of Generative AI in Edtech • Legislative Edtech Policy: What to Expect in 2023-24 • The Potential Impact of AI on Edtech
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Tools, trends and experiences in esports education Virtual | November 9, 2023 | 11:00am - 5pm ET AV Technology, Systems Contractor News, and Tech & Learning are co-hosting this one-day virtual conference alongside event partners National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), and the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF). Designed for esports decision-makers from K-12 and higher education, and pro AV/IT professionals, these engaging and informative sessions explore the trends, tools, and experiences in esports & education.
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