Searchable database to aid administrators vetting ed tech

As ed tech becomes more prevalent nationwide, the free Check the Privacy initiative will let educators learn about more than 7,000 products and their safety features, reviews and pricing.

By Shawna De La Rosa • May 2, 2019

Universal design for learning spices up lessons with options for all

With more choice in how they tackle an assignment, students may be more involved, excited and motivated — and a broader spectrum of abilities are accounted for.

By Lauren Barack • May 1, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

School Safety and Security

Safety and security has been a growing concern for school districts, with shootings continuing to rise amid concerns over how to best prevent and respond to them.

By K-12 Dive staff

US 8th-graders show growth in tech, engineering skills

NAEP results show girls outscoring boys in almost every area but not taking as many STEM classes, while performance gaps persist between students of color and their white peers.

By Linda Jacobson • April 30, 2019

Survey: Teachers remain lukewarm on ed tech's impact on classrooms

Less than a third report they've changed their teaching styles or philosophies based on ed tech, though a tendency for technology to merely digitize existing approaches could be part of the problem.

By Shawna De La Rosa • April 26, 2019

District implements Digital Awareness Month to promote smart tech use

With device use on the rise in students' school and personal lives, Hilliard City Schools in Columbus, Ohio, sets aside a month to cover topics including online safety, digital citizenship and wellness.

By Shawna De La Rosa • April 26, 2019

Planning to buy ed tech? The 'why' and 'how' matter more than 'what'

Having a strong plan in place and breaking down silos between departments can be more important than the specific tools being purchased.

By Shawna De La Rosa • April 24, 2019

Washington district latest to eliminate librarians

The move in Spokane, Washington, is an effort to address a $31 million budget deficit, but some educators say students will suffer in the long run.

By Amelia Harper • April 18, 2019

District frameworks ensure equitable access, content in classroom resources

Chicago Public Schools' Skyline project established a digital readiness training model and resource collection with a clear set of requirements created by the district's director of curriculum, instruction and digital learning.

By Lauren Barack • April 10, 2019

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

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

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 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