KALAMAZOO, Michigan – Return on Investment (ROI) is one of the leading financial measuring tools for businesses and industries everywhere, including school districts. But another ROI is even more important to schools, Return on Instruction.

Level Data, Inc., North America’s leading school and student data validation software provider serving more than 7 million in student population, announces it has purchased Glimpse K12, a school curriculum measurement tool that shows district leaders which education programs are being utilized, and their effects on student progress, so data-based decision making can occur by school leadership in both forms of ROI.

“We optimize school spending around what works for students,” said Nicole Pezent of Glimpse K12. “The Glimpse platform strategically aligns everything the district is doing to raise student achievement, captures how they are implementing it, and measures these activities versus student outcomes. Administrators receive return-on-investment and return-on-instruction reports to guide future decisions.

“Strategic alignment and ROI analysis ensure districts are measuring activities in the context of student outcomes which is critical to optimizing resources around what’s working for students,” she added. “School district’s two basic responsibilities are to grow students academically and be fiscally responsible to their community. We help give them the data to be able to monitor those things.”

Public School Administrators and Student Data Specialists everywhere understand that recording and maintaining accurate student data is critical to school operations and funding from government sources. This new acquisition offers school districts the maximum of both worlds – clean and accurate data to maximize school district funding, and a tool to measure the effectiveness of educational programming that money is spent on.

Level Data – which creates an easy system for enabling incredibly-accurate Student Information Systems (SIS) intuitive for the tasked school employees – is always looking for new and innovative ways to get the right information into the right hands of the right people at the right time in school districts everywhere.

“Glimpse K12 is a valuable return on investment and return on instruction tool that we can help populate from all the right authoritative applications in the district so that district leaders can get a really good sense of where they should be spending their money, and getting effective use of the money they are spending,” said Matt Betts, president of Level Data, the 15-year-old company whose software maintains data validation for more than 1,500 school districts and multiple State Departments of Education across the U.S.

“It’s about what kind of tools can we give school district leaders so that they can make decisions with facts, rather than feel, and supply them accurate information on what’s being used, who is using it and who is using it well.”

In the past 15-20 years, school instruction has grown significantly from the days of students using textbooks and one or two computers in the classroom; now to major innovations in online learning tools available to teachers and students – some free and some with very expensive licensing agreements. The COVID 19 pandemic quickly accelerated such online learning techniques.

This huge trend in learning options has completely changed the landscape for school administrators. A lot of the options are extremely innovative and can be great assets for student learning. But there is also a lot of guessing and experimentation relying on anecdotal review.

“From classroom to classroom and from school to school, the administrators have a hard time understanding (in measurable data terms) what one teacher is doing vs. what another teacher is doing vs. what the overall district is hoping to have happen,” said Adam Pearson of Glimpse K12.

“Until now, there was never really a dashboard view to strategically align what we are doing for these students, and more importantly evaluating how effective it was – because if it’s very effective it’s a great insight into using it for best practices and help develop other educators. Likewise, if a certain program is not effective then there is good data showing a need for change from a data-driven perspective, not just anecdotal or arbitrary decisions based on personal feelings.” More information can be found at:  www.leveldata.com/return-on-investment

Key points:

• Teachers need to know they won’t be penalized for trying new tech-based instructional strategies that may not be successful
• Administrators are instrumental in supporting teachers whether these attempts do or don’t reach success
• See related article: With greater access to devices, teachers are folding more tech into instruction

Technology is quickly changing the way we learn and teach. To keep up with these changes, administrators need to support teachers in using technology in the classroom.

Following are three ways administrators can help teachers become successful with technology in the classroom and help student engagement.

1. Encourage innovation. Administrators should encourage teachers to be innovative in their use of technology by giving them the freedom to experiment and explore new technologies. Allow teachers to try–and fail. When teachers know they are allowed to fail, they can be original in their innovations.  Create a culture of innovation by celebrating teachers who are successful in using technology to improve student learning.

Encourage teachers to try flipping their classrooms and use project-based learning experiences. Give teachers access to resources and support, such as online tutorials and teacher communities. Assure that your school allows time for teachers to discuss with staff or in their PLC how they use technology in the classroom. Innovation causes more innovation.

Key points:

• Educators need more information on AI-powered tools, and they need it yesterday
• Administrators will be tasked with staying up to date on what’s happening in the world of AI–and with helping teachers become more comfortable with it
• See related article: 5 things to know about ChatGPT in education

As the ‘23-’24 school year comes into focus, there is now little doubt we are on the brink of a major technological revolution that will affect our schools, our jobs, and our lives in ways we can’t yet fathom. By now, you’ve likely seen countless variations of “The Robots are Coming” headlines from clever copywriters hunting for clicks. But when is this tidal wave of innovation going to hit, and how can we be ready when it does?

There are legitimate concerns about early-stage AI, including:

• Security and privacy
  Of all the issues, this one feels like the easiest to address. In short, if you’re working with a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT and want to stay compliant with student data privacy laws, simply do not input any identifiable information about your student. Ask questions to confirm that any AI-integrated apps are keeping prompts and identifying data separate.  Assume anything that goes into your prompts can and will be seen by others.

• Bias and discrimination
  There’s no getting around the fact that AI is biased. It’s biased because people are biased, the data it’s been trained on is biased, and its lack of nuance or self awareness means it has a hard time even identifying the possibility of bias.
  
  The deeper problem is that nobody will ever agree on how much (if any) moderation should be present. Heck, we can’t even agree on how to define the concept of “bias” to begin with. This is a problem without an easy answer, but the long and short of it is that AI is not any more biased than any other medium we or our kids are exposed to in the modern world. If we sit around waiting for “unbiased AI,” we’ll be waiting a long, long time. The onus is on developers to account for and mitigate this risk whenever possible. It’s also on the adults in the room to help our children better understand the concept of bias and how it can influence the media we consume, not just within the realm of AI.

Breaking news out of day two at Instructure‘s professional learning event for educators and edtech users in Denver. The company announced a partnership with Khan Academy to integrate Khanmigo, Khan’s AI-powered student tutor and teaching assistantCanvas, into Canvas, the market-leading learning management system. We caught Instructure CEO Steve Daly just after the announcement to provide some context and provide a timeline for when Canvas will be updated with Khanmigo. Scroll down for more details and look for more in-depth conversations With Daly and other senior executives on the Innovation Insights podcast next week.

From the press release: This integrated solution will put the transformative power of generative AI into the hands of students and educators using the Canvas learning environment.

Generative AI represents an opportunity to enhance the role of technology in supporting educators and creating efficiencies in their day-to-day instruction. This new solution will harness this transformative moment by enabling educators with an integrated Khanmigo experience that supports human-driven, technology-enhanced essay feedback and grading, lesson planning and rubric creation. This solution is a large step forward in delivering personalization for each student while allowing busy educators to scale their excellence and impact in ways unimaginable a few short months ago.

For students, the use of generative AI presents significant opportunities and challenges. In a world filled with intelligent agents and easily-accessed answers, the need for tools that guide, enhance and support active learning is critical.  Initially focusing on student writing, Instructure and Khan Academy aim to support students and their learning through Khanmigo’s tutoring capabilities. By helping students use generative AI ethically, equitably, and with integrity, demonstrating an authentic work product becomes easy and clear.

“Generative AI, and tools like ChatGPT, have been a part of every conversation I have had this year with leaders, learners and instructors across our global education community,” said Instructure CEO Steve Daly. “This partnership with Khan Academy and its deep expertise in  generative AI will deliver a powerful solution for one of the world’s largest education communities – delivering an intentional, secure and equitable experience that promotes impactful learning experiences for all.”

Instructure’s Learn Platform independent research team, along with Khan Academy’s educational research team, will jointly design research for early adopters, to measure the impact of these tools on student outcomes – delivering insight into the efficacy of the tools and the utilization of AI to assist teachers and students in achieving their learning outcomes.

“Every educator we talk to is seeking ways to address students using ChatGPT to write school essays and do homework,” said Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy. “How can classrooms use AI tools, while ensuring students develop critical thinking skills? We’re teaming up with Instructure to solve this. We’re using AI to show teachers not just the final essay, but how the student got there. So students will be supported in developing critical writing and thinking skills, while getting the benefit of AI designed for education. Khanmigo can also help with rubric creation and grading, saving teachers time. Students won’t get answers, but they will get appropriate levels of support.”

Instructure and Khan Academy will bring Canvas and Khanmigo together for a cohort of K-12 and Higher Ed design partners and early adopters during the 2024-2025 school year. Institutions interested in piloting this solution can sign up in the Emerging AI Marketplace.

NORTH BILLERICA, Mass. — The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently named Curriculum Associates’ i-Ready Assessment to its Commissioner’s List of Approved Grade 7 Reading Instruments. Starting this coming school year, districts and open-enrollment charter schools can now use the online program to assess all students whose performance on the Grade 6 STAAR Reading assessment did not demonstrate reading proficiency. Results from the reading assessments will help inform additional reading instruction and intervention for students.

“To increase literacy achievement throughout the state, it is essential that Texas educators have actionable data to help students, especially those who may need extra supports,” said Claudia Salinas, vice president of English Learning at Curriculum Associates. “With the recent approval by the TEA, teachers can now use i-Ready to quickly and efficiently collect—and utilize—important student data. This will help teachers personalize their instruction to support reading success while saving them time.”

TEA conducted a comprehensive review of submitted assessments. To receive approval, assessments must be based on current, published scientific research in reading, be age and grade-level appropriate, valid, and reliable, identify specific skill difficulties in word analysis, fluency, and comprehension, and assist the teacher in making individualized instructional decisions based on the assessment results.

In accordance with the Texas Education Code, all approved assessments—including i-Ready—can be used during the 2023–2024 school year through the 2026–2027 school year.

More about i-Ready

i-Ready makes the promise of differentiated instruction a practical reality for Grades K–12 teachers and students. It combines powerful assessments and rich insights with effective and engaging instruction in Reading and Mathematics to address students’ individual needs.

The program’s Diagnosticprovides educators with actionable criterion-referenced and normative data to deliver impactful, equitable learning experiences. Teachers administer the Diagnostic at the beginning of the school year to chart a course for teacher-led instruction, set an i-Ready Personalized Instruction path individualized for each student, and identify students’ differentiated growth goals for the year. A midyear and end-of-year Diagnostic help students and teachers measure growth and have data chats. Teacher-led and personalized instruction continue throughout the year to help students address their learning gaps and access grade-level learning.

All i-Ready district partners have ongoing access to Curriculum Associates’ award-winning customer service. This includes dedicated support via the company’s Customer Service team, professional learning experts, partner success managers, educational sales consultants, and Technical Support team, as well as access to the free customer service portal.

Today, the i-Ready program serves more than 11.5 million students and approximately one-third of all Grades K–8 students in the United States.

To learn more about i-Ready, visit CurriculumAssociates.com/Products/i-Ready/Texas-Reading-Achievement.

About Curriculum Associates

Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company’s products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students.

STAAR® is a federally registered trademark owned by the Texas Education Agency and is used pursuant to license.

Key points:

• Gamification can help engage students when they might otherwise lose motivation
• Engaged students are 2.5 times more likely to say that they get excellent grades and do well in school
• See related article: MDM solutions and gamification make perfect interactive learning partners

In the past decade, students have been inundated with more and more distractions. The internet provides an infinite amount of said distractions: YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to name a few. While the environment that grows children into students–and eventually young adults–has been changing, the education system has proved less dynamic. There are ways to embrace these changes as a means of benefit to a child’s education instead of a burden.

Engagement is the name of the game here, and educators are losing. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, engaged students are 2.5 times more likely to say that they get excellent grades and do well in school. This is massive, but even more impressive is that they are 4.5 times more likely to be hopeful about the future than their actively disengaged peers. Students who are happy to come to school and who see it as an opportunity are bound to feel more self-agency and to be better prepared for their post-educational lives.

Gone are the days of teachers lecturing in front of students who are taking furious notes. Students can be too easily distracted to hang on most instructors’ every word. The more you treat education as a game, the more likely students are to pay attention and be engaged in class.

Many of the best educators use review tools like Kahoot, and Jeopardy! This allowed teachers to complete a module of lecture-based learning, generally a week of class, and imprint the knowledge into long-term memory via these tools. This leads to many downstream effects: better grades, superior retention, and interest in further education.

Key points:

• It’s time to welcome ChatGPT into classrooms–and embrace the opportunities that come with it
• Using the AI tool in writing instruction can help students develop critical digital literacy skills
• See related article: 4 ways to use ChatGPT for learning and creativity

When ChatGPT appeared in November 2022, most educators felt it could become a threat and change the whole niche forever. No wonder: This language model algorithm is smart enough to produce logical and grammatically correct texts for any prompt.

Today’s digital-savvy students welcomed ChatGPT with open arms and began using it for writing assignments. According to a new study from Academic Help, 67 percent of students use AI for creating texts – the basis for their essays and other papers.

The issue here is not only about the academic integrity violation. AI tools are on the rise, and students use them for different purposes:

• Grammar checking
• Citation generation
• Plagiarism checking
• Generating topic ideas, outlines, and reference lists for academic papers

Like it or not, AI is here. While 42.55 percent of students say their schools don’t allow AI tools, we understand it’s not the proper solution to the problem. It won’t go anywhere, and teachers can’t separate students from access to this technology.

ATLANTA /PRNewswire/ — CENTEGIX, the leader in incident response solutions, announced that new customers of its award-winning CrisisAlert solution were the highest in company history and that demand in the first half of 2023 has exceeded the 2022 full-year result.

School districts nationwide overwhelmingly select CENTEGIX’s CrisisAlert wearable panic button to protect staff and students. Now with more than 600,000 badge users, CENTEGIX is by far the industry leader and largest solution provider of wearable incident response technology for K-12 education, representing over 95% of the wearable safety technology market.

“We have six years of experience with wearables and have built a large and rapidly expanding suite of software applications and integrations that protect close to 10 million people for everyday and extreme emergencies. Customers tell us that CENTEGIX is the standard in wearable safety, and because all staff wear our badge, it builds a culture of safety at the location and in the community,” said Brent Cobb, CEO of CENTEGIX.

CENTEGIX has been selected to protect more than 11,500 schools in almost all 50 states, including:

• Three of the top 10 largest school districts in the U.S.; 17 of the top 100
• Over 70% of K-12 public schools in Georgia and Nevada
• Over 35% of K-12 public schools in Florida
• Over 20% of K-12 public schools in New Mexico and Alabama

“Customers also report that they greatly value the fact that our wearables do not rely on mobile cellular or Wi-Fi networks. There is a general consensus that those services are not always available everywhere on every campus. The risk that service is not available when a student or staff member is experiencing a life-threatening issue makes those technologies untenable,” said Cobb.

Unlike mobile app-based solutions that typically have low adoption and usage because they require users to download an application to their personal mobile device, CrisisAlert has 100% user adoption, a critical component of comprehensive safety.

“We have been converting districts from mobile apps to wearables, and those districts have told us that app download rates average 20%, but less than 5% of staff actually have a functioning, active mobile safety app,” said Cobb. Mobile phone users change phones, forget their passwords, forget the name of the app, and various other issues, yielding 95% of staff without a working safety solution. Districts value CrisisAlert because it is available and is used everyday by staff for a variety of incidents. Everyday usage is important because in a moment of crisis, the solution must be easy and familiar to use to be effective. Visit the CENTEGIX website for customer testimonials and CrisisAlert life-saving stories.

CENTEGIX’s leadership position includes its commitment to sharing usage and incident trend data in its biannual School Safety Trends Report. The most recent School Safety Trends Report offers the latest comprehensive analysis of nearly 60,000 uses of CrisisAlert during the 2023 Spring Term. It is the only mobile panic button usage data report in the industry.

Highlights of the report include:

• Everyday emergencies like medical and behavioral incidents make up 98% of all alerts, while campus-wide lockdowns represent a small percentage of usage
• 97% of teachers and staff surveyed indicated a wearable incident response solution helped them feel safe and supported by their district
• Nearly half of all safety incidents on a school campus occur outside the classroom
• Users surveyed indicated that the wearable badge contributes to their peace of mind and allows them to focus on instruction and student achievement

CENTEGIX recently commended the Texas Legislature for being the fifth state to pass Alyssa’s Law, requiring Texas public and charter schools to provide all classrooms with silent panic alarm technology. The CrisisAlert solution exceeds Texas’ Alyssa’s Law requirements. In the first half of 2023, the CENTEGIX customer base grew 300% in Texas, as school districts sought to comply with the law.

In June, CENTEGIX was awarded a Platinum 2023 Secure Campus Award from Campus Security and Life Safety for its integrated safety platform. Also, CENTEGIX’s unique ability to innovate to meet the safety needs and challenges of customers has resulted in recognition from the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the fastest-growing companies in Atlanta, naming CENTEGIX to its Pacesetters list.

CrisisAlert empowers staff with the fastest and easiest way to get help in any emergency. The wearable badge does not depend on Wi-Fi or cellular and is discreet and easy to use in a moment of crisis, when fine motor skills are challenged. In addition, CrisisAlert includes unique capabilities not possible with other wearable panic buttons:

• Precise room-level location of the alert is delivered to responders.
• A map of the campus is displayed to responders showing the location of the alert.
• Full audio-visual notifications communicate immediately to everyone for campus-wide alerts via flashing strobes and intercom messages.
• Full campus coverage—the wearable badge works inside and outside buildings, including parking lots, ball fields, etc.
• Configurable alert types, responder types, protocol development, and user management are easily managed through an interactive, intuitive web interface.
• A simple, fast installation process that requires no alterations to physical structures or electrical wiring.

The CrisisAlert wearable badge also integrates with numerous software applications to provide a comprehensive safety experience, including:

• Video surveillance tools, intercom devices, access control, IP phones, message board displays, computer interfaces, workflow tools, and dozens of other devices and services through an intuitive web interface
• Interfaces to 911 response centers, including CrisisAlert software, RapidSOS, operator-to-operator calls, direct CAD system integrations, emergency management workflow tools, and more
• Full suite of computer interfaces and notifications, including Apple Critical Alert, desktop takeover, text, email, and more
• User and group management via single sign-on services (e.g., Active Directory)

About CENTEGIX
CENTEGIX is the industry leader and largest solution provider of wearable safety technology for K-12 education and protects people in over 11,500 locations. CENTEGIX innovates technology to empower and protect, and leaders nationwide trust our safety solutions to provide peace of mind. To learn more, visit www.CENTEGIX.com.

Key points:

• Gamification can encourage students to take ownership of their learning
• Discover the different gamified resources one teacher uses to engage students
• See related article: Are you teaching with Minecraft and Roblox? You should be

Gamification is one of the biggest in education trends right now in education. According to ISTE, “Gamification is about transforming the classroom environment and regular activities into a game” (Haiken, 2021). Many students want more than just good grades from school–they want something physical or immediate. “Gamification empowers students with the ultimate in choices when setting goals for what badges and achievements they want to complete, which leads to learners building skills for self-reliance and self-control” (McCarthy, 2021).

Embracing gamification in the classroom will lead to students taking responsibility for their learning while also enjoying their time in class.

Here are three examples of gamification I use in my fourth grade classroom:

1. Gimkit: My students absolutely adore this game. They are constantly asking if there is a kit they can play. Gimkit is a game that can be played live or assigned to students as homework. Teachers create kits with questions for their students. There are multiple ways to play with those questions.

There are 2D modes, where the students have characters called gims, and they play
collaborative games such as Tag or Capture the Flag. There are also non collaborative games like Farm Chain and Fishtopia. The questions in each kit are used to help the students get energy to be able to complete the tasks at hand. If they do not answer questions correctly, they will run out of energy and won’t be able to move.

Editor’s note: This blog post originally appeared on CoSN’s blog and is reposted here with permissions.

When it comes to students in the classroom, they want to feel ownership and control of their learning. According to the American Institutes for Research, encouraging student agency is beneficial because:

• students who believe their knowledge can grow over time perform better on IQ tests,
• those with a growth mindset are more likely to set academic goals focused on mastering content versus studying for a test score or course grade,
• students who set mastery-focused goals tend to process information in a deeper and more organized fashion, and
• the skills and behaviors that learner agency fosters are positively related to higher education and career outcomes.

During CoSN’s Driving K-12 Innovation 2022-23 cycle, our esteemed Advisory Board of about 100 educators and technologists agreed that learner agency is, indeed, one of the top three accelerators in education today. Download the 2023 Driving K-12 Innovation Report: Hurdles + Accelerators to learn more.

About learner agency

In CoSN’s 2023 Hurdles + Accelerators Report, we define Learner Agency as:

Learner Agency is a combination of the will and the skill to learn. It is about students as active choice-makers in their education and about reconceptualizing their role from that of “student” to that of “learner.” Combined with a strong learning environment, students are able to transform from order-takers to innovators, experience the state of “flow,” and learn far more authentically. In order for schools to facilitate learner agency, they must also encourage educator agency. Learner agency is essential for lifelong learning and requires a different approach to school structure and practices. Truly embracing learner agency will require transforming education systems. This Accelerator is deeply intertwined with Personalization.

OAKLAND, Calif. – Today,  Turnitin announced that more than 65 million papers have been reviewed since the April launch of its new feature that detects similarities to AI writing. The company also announced that of those 65 million papers, over 2.1 million – 3.3 percent – have been flagged as having at least 80 percent AI writing present. Nearly 6.7 million – 10.3 percent – have over 20 percent AI writing present. Tracking the overall detection rate illustrates that generative AI has made its way into classrooms, however, whether this is acceptable or not is determined by educators themselves. 

“In just over three months, Turnitin’s new AI detection feature is being used widely and it is giving educators data they have asked for since ChatGPT first became free to the public in November 2022,” said Annie Chechitelli, chief product officer at Turnitin. “Since the release, nearly 98 percent* of Turnitin institutions have AI writing detection enabled within their Turnitin workflow in at least one of their active accounts.” 

Chechitelli added, “Sharing usage and indication rates is one way that we can help improve understanding of the presence and use of generative AI in their teaching and learning practices. Given the urgency expressed by educators about these challenges and the public’s interest in AI text creation and AI text detection, we are committed to sharing these insights so that we can all begin to understand the trends that are currently shaping education.”

Patti West-Smith, Turnitin senior director of customer engagement and a long-time classroom teacher and administrator said, “Turnitin has been a supporter of academic integrity for 25 years and we are continuing that commitment with our new AI writing detection feature. We want teachers and students to talk about appropriate use of writing tools, proper citation and original thinking. Our role is to provide them with a tool to start those meaningful conversations.” 

Conversations are critical because even a very high proportion of the statistical signatures of AI in a document does not necessarily indicate misconduct. Some educators are specifically asking students to use AI tools in their work, so detecting its presence may not be as concerning for them. And yet, other educators might tell their students that generative AI is not allowed. In these cases, detection may help them address the issue earlier in the draft process. 

To help educators navigate this ever-evolving technology, Turnitin regularly publishes new  resources on academic integrity in the age of AI including guides for conversations with students, rubrics to AI-proof writing prompts, and an AI misuse checklist, among several others. In the spirit of transparency, Turnitin will continue to update the public on progress across its detection technology at  Turnitin.com/solutions/ai-writing.

*As of June 30, 2023. 

About Turnitin
​Turnitin is a global company dedicated to ensuring the integrity of education and meaningfully improving learning outcomes. For more than 20 years, Turnitin has partnered with educational institutions to promote honesty, consistency, and fairness across all subject areas and assessment types. Turnitin products are used by educational institutions and certification and licensing programs to uphold integrity and increase learning performance, and by students and professionals to do their best, original work.

Turnitin has offices in Australia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Over 16,000 academic institutions, publishers, and corporations use Turnitin services: Gradescope by Turnitin, iThenticate, Turnitin Feedback Studio, Turnitin Originality, Turnitin Similarity, ExamSoft, ProctorExam, and Ouriginal.

Discovery Education today announced a slate of new services and curricula to coincide with the fall semester. eSchool snuck a sneak peek with Lance Rougeux, Senior Vice President of Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Engagement, on some specifics. Click below to listen and scroll down for details and selected edited highlights:

Creating Curious Classrooms is a free professional learning series for school and science curriculum leaders that takes a fresh approach to how the latest digital resources and tools can be integrated into instruction to drive engagement. Live and on-demand sessions will provide participants with examples of how teachers from across the country can create and deliver science lessons that unlock student curiosity in grades K-12 and inspire exploration of the world around them.

Included in the latest updates coming to Discovery Education Experience:

· Discovery Education’s all-new DE original series, Need to Know, provides DE-produced videos and ready-to-use lessons for grades K-5 that help educators engage students and facilitate classroom discourse on important United States historical events. Utilizing historical artifacts that reflect influential moments in history, educators guide students through structured learning experiences and activities that provide opportunities for text analysis and collaboration. Literacy supports are woven throughout lessons and enhance teachers’ literacy instruction.

· The Electric Company: K-2 ELA Collection, coming to the exclusive Sesame Learning Channel, provides engaging, research-based resources and lessons that support young students in becoming proficient readers, language learners, and communicators. The collection includes learner-centered videos featuring characters from The Electric Company, ready-to-use presentation materials, professional development resources, and lesson plans.

· New resources from our trusted educational partners, spanning grades and subjects – including Shark Week 2023, The Fixies, Coyote Peterson: Brave Wilderness, NASA, Vooks, Fable Cottage, Panasonic, and more! From videos to instructional activities to reading passages to animated storybooks and more – there’s something for everyone to inspire learning and ignite curiosity.

In addition, Discovery Education Experience is being updated to provide users a more personal experience, even better, faster search results, and improved administrative and integration functions that make using this service easier than ever. Finally, Discovery Education Experience will soon allow users access to DoodleMath. A product of DoodleLearning, which joined the Discovery Education family in 2022, DoodleMath is a K-5 math practice solution personalized to each student’s need.

Discovery Education’s Science Techbook has also been updated with more than 100 re-imagined virtual labs and interactives to support K-8 science explorations. The Discovery Education Science Techbook series is a comprehensive, research-backed science solution for grades K-12. Used in classrooms across the United States, the Science Techbooks drive engagement with exclusive, interactive digital content and companion printed resources.

Pivot Interactives—the online science curriculum supplement that helps teachers provide more phenomena-based, active learning, without adding to their plates—has also been enhanced for back-to-school. New this Fall are:

· Draggable tasks structured to incrementally develop students’ skills in the science practices make science now easier to teach, learn, and assess with auto-grading.

· Immediate, guided feedback and embedded scaffolding that provides students the guidance they need when they need it and saves teachers hours they can use to deepen relationships in the classroom.

· Deep randomization of content and variables adds a layer of novelty to activities and assures students are demonstrating authentic learning of the scientific practices authentically.

New this Fall to Mystery Science—the unique, standards-aligned science curriculum for grades K-5— are updated open-and-go lessons and units for grades 2-4. These lessons and units, which include step-by-step, hands-on activities exploring scientific phenomena, help students stay curious by answering the “real life” science questions asked by students nationwide. The Mystery Science team is also updating their Standards Alignment Guide to better help teachers plan their entire year of standards-based instruction.

In addition, Discovery Education’s corporate partners are providing educators an array of back-to-school resources supporting a variety of topics, including:

Immersive learning. With Verizon, educators can take augmented reality to a new level with a trip to Mars in 2072 via two augmented reality apps, TimePod and Sandbox AR. These experiences are accompanied by standards-aligned lessons, all available on Discovery Education Experience, smartphone app stores, and the Verizon Innovative Learning HQ.

STEM career explorations. The STEM Careers Coalition offers a collection of resources spotlighting careers in STEM. Students can see people like them working while diving deeper into STEM topics through a variety of hands-on, lessons and activities. Teachers can then introduce students to STEM with over 200 resources designed to uncover students’ STEM skills and activate future solution seekers. The new Curiosity Circle collection features a variety of video vignettes designed for grades K-5.

Spark inspiration: Launching for back to school, this new video topic series from Boeing transports students across the globe to explore technology and innovation, diversity and culture, and commitment to sustainability and problem-solving through the lens of different people and countries.

All educators using Discovery Education’s digital resources have access to the Discovery Education Network. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Network connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration.

To learn more about Discovery Education’s plans to ignite student curiosity throughout the Fall, visit the Curiosity homepage here. 

In this episode of Innovations in Education, Wilson Tsu, founder of PowerNotes, talks about how AI is being baked into his and other platforms to transform the ways students perform research—and how the rise of AI has re-invented the role of libraries and librarians.

Key points:

• Generative AI can provide consistent, personalized feedback to students
• It’s crucial to remember that AI is a tool, not a replacement for teachers–it’s there to enhance the educational experience
• See related article: The importance of teaching generative AI

Today, we’re going to take a peek behind the curtain of edtech to examine the developing phenomenon that’s on all of our lips: Generative AI. The question, of course, is whether this fancy newcomer is the secret weapon educators have been waiting for or just another high-tech toy with a lot of hype and little substance. Spoiler alert: It might just be the former.

A brief primer on generative AI

For the uninitiated, generative AI is a branch of artificial intelligence that can create new content from scratch. It’s like a digital Picasso, but instead of painting, it might be writing essays, producing music, or even generating feedback on students’ work. Exciting, right? But, can it really help in a classroom setting?

Personalized learning: The holy grail of education

Personalized learning has long been the holy grail of education. The idea of tailoring a curriculum to each student’s unique needs and strengths is the stuff of dreams for most educators but, with large classes and limited resources, it’s been more a dream than a reality–until now. Enter generative AI, stage right, ready to transform this dream into a tangible, achievable goal.

Generative AI offers an unprecedented level of insight into student performance and progress. It learns from each student’s work, identifying strengths and weaknesses, areas of interest, and even learning styles. In doing so, it allows for the creation of a truly personalized curriculum, with targeted feedback and resources for each individual student.

COSTA MESA, Calif. — BenQ, an internationally renowned provider of visual display solutions, announced that the ANTON learning app is now available on BenQ Boards. Trusted by over 15 million learners and teachers in over 60,000 schools, the ANTON learning app features learning material across a multitude of subjects, with the goal of making learning fun for students and easy for teachers to create and deliver engaging lessons. This partnership strengthens BenQ’s commitment to providing direct access to the apps and learning software that educators use daily from their BenQ Boards for a more streamlined, future-ready classroom.

“We’re steadfast in our mission to make it as easy as possible for educators to use the BenQ Board while helping students achieve great outcomes,” said Bob Wudeck, senior director of business development at BenQ Education. “ANTON is widely used by thousands of teachers. This is a great addition to the many resources now available in our BenQ Boards and is another step in bridging the gap between traditional teaching methods and cutting-edge technology that will help teachers shape the future of learning.”

The ANTON learning app and online learning portal are part of a standards-aligned curriculum available in multiple languages. Boasting over 100,000 exercises and 200 exercise types, it contains interactive elements, feedback, games, and explanations aimed at supporting and engaging young people in learning. It covers English, math, science, social studies, languages, and music, following set lessons with exercises in each topic. Users are able to select the subject that they wish to focus on and then follow scaffolded exercises developed to help them understand the material. Students can earn coins through their learning to spend on fun games and avatars.  Teachers are able to create classes, assign homework, and track the learning progress of their students. This information can then be used to personalize any learning or to bridge the learning between school and home.

“This partnership brings an unparalleled level of interactive learning to classrooms and beyond,” said Lea Meyer, U.S. manager at ANTON. “With the ANTON learning app now available on BenQ Boards, learners of all ages can delve into the dynamic world of engaging content, interactive exercises, and immersive educational experiences. This adds another layer of support for our educators.”

The BenQ Boards are purpose-built for teachers so that they can provide exciting learning opportunities from the moment they sign on. Encouraging active participation in class while protecting student and teacher health, the germ-resistant BenQ Boards boast BenQ’s Tap ‘N Teach technology, which features one-tap NFC log-in to load lesson materials and interactive teaching apps, cloud storage, settings, and tools instantly and securely. The smart boards also feature a germ-resistant screen, pen, and remote; split windows for multitasking; array microphones; 16W speakers with 16W Dolby Digital Plus surround sound; InstaShare wireless screen sharing; new Eyesafe® technology for reducing blue light emissions; and more.

Teachers can use their BenQ Board as a whiteboard, display, computer, and wireless screen-sharing system thanks to BenQ’s license-free EZWrite 6 software. It’s packed with classroom tools for all subjects, including timers, rulers, protractors, compasses, and more. EZWrite 6 also lets educators save whiteboard sessions in the cloud, allowing them to continue giving lessons at a later date or allowing students to access lessons on any device and refer to them later. They can also open documents and image files directly on the whiteboard to facilitate discussions. To complement the experience, the split-screen windows function enables multiple applications to be opened side by side — with no need to tap between content — making it even easier to conduct lessons and further comprehension.

More information on BenQ is available at www.BenQBoard.com.

About BenQ Education
BenQ Education is helping teachers shape the future of learning with interactive display solutions that maximize engagement in and out of the classroom while improving student performance. For over 10 years, BenQ has been the No.1-selling TI DLP projector brand worldwide, according to Futuresource, and is one of the leading interactive display vendors in North America. The award-winning BenQ Board is the first and only interactive display to feature TÜV- and SIAA-certified germ-resistant screens, interfaces, and pens as part of its purpose-built ClassroomCare technologies designed for healthier classrooms. The BenQ Board RP03 Series has been recognized as the first smart board to achieve Eyesafe^® Certification, the advanced blue light mitigation technology developed in concert with optometrists and ophthalmologists. Industry-recognized, BenQ’s Tap ‘N Teach technology for fast sign-on, EZWrite license-free annotation and whiteboard software, InstaShare wireless screen presentation system, and IT-friendly monitoring and management tools create exciting and intuitive active learning experiences. EZWrite 6 is also AWS Qualified, having passed Amazon Web Services (AWS) Foundational Technical Review (FTR), providing schools with assurance in security, reliability, and operational excellence. Educators can focus on giving lessons that leave an impact and give the leaders of tomorrow the tools they need to reach their maximum potential.​ The company’s products are available across North America through leading value-added distributors, resellers, and retailers. More information is available at www.BenQBoard.com.

All trademarks and registered trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. 

Key points:

• ChatGPT-4 enriches curriculum, fosters collaboration, and prepares students for the challenges of the digital age
• As higher learning institutions embrace ChatGPT-4 and AI technologies, they contribute to shaping a future-ready generation of learners
• See related article: At ISTELive 23, balancing humanity with AI

In an era defined by technological innovation, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has become a game-changer in higher education. ChatGPT-4, developed by OpenAI, presents an extraordinary opportunity for higher learning institutions to revolutionize education. By incorporating ChatGPT-4 as a required part of the learning experience, institutions can unlock a new realm of innovation, critical thinking, and personalized learning.

The integration of ChatGPT-4 enriches the curriculum, fosters collaboration, and prepares students for the challenges of the digital age. Dr. Ryan Watkins, a professor of education at The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development, said he plans to have his students use ChatGPT to write outlines for class presentations: “I might have my students use it as a starting place, and then they can add their content in and comment about how useful or not useful it was.”

ChatGPT-4’s integration enables students to engage in nuanced discussions, evaluate complex information, and think critically. Its interactive nature encourages learners to question assumptions, analyze perspectives, and develop evidence-based arguments. By engaging with ChatGPT-4, students gain a valuable opportunity to enhance their ability to solve real-world problems using AI-driven approaches.

To implement ChatGPT-4 into the curriculum, institutions can explore various approaches. Firstly, they can partner with organizations like OpenAI to ensure access to the latest AI technologies and updates. Secondly, they can collaborate with instructional designers, AI specialists, and faculty members to develop guidelines, best practices, and ethical frameworks for AI integration. Lastly, they can provide training programs and resources to empower educators to incorporate ChatGPT-4 into their teaching methodologies effectively.

Key points:

• Recently, there have been more federal efforts to recognize music and arts education as an essential part of educational curriculum
• In order to provide a rich, robust, and inclusive curriculum for youth, STEM needs to evolve to STEAM
• See related article: This art teacher helps students harness social media to build job skills

I like to say I was raised by a combination of nonprofits and the arts. At 15 years old, I moved into Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, a nonprofit group home in Chicago, and attended an independent arts high school in Illinois, a unique model where there was a minimum requirement of three hours of art a day.

I’d leave in the late afternoon and walk to my after-school arts program, The Marwen Foundation in Chicago, where I practiced digital art making – including photography, design, or other creative tracks – until late into the evening.

The Marwen Foundation paved the way for my future – it was the reason I went to New York to look at art schools, as part of their Artwork Bound program. They granted me a $10,000 scholarship to go to art school freshman year and helped me get my first paid design internship at Motorola. I’ve since served in several creative leadership positions, including my current role as Chief Creative Officer for YR Media, which is a full circle moment, as the organization is a nonprofit focusing on media and the arts, including design and music. Creative expression has provided me an outlet when I needed it, fostered my growth and development, and ultimately, paved my career path.

My story is not an outlier. The benefits of creative expression and arts in education on both student well-being and academic achievement are clear. According to sources, “students with access to arts education are five times less likely to drop out of school, four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, and four times more likely to receive a bachelor’s degree.”

Yet despite all the evidence of the critical role of arts education and the efforts by the federal government to ensure its integration in public schools, new data from the Arts Education Data Project (AEDP) from September 2022 shows that more than 3.6 million children who attend public school in the U.S. do not have access to music education, and nearly 2.1 million students do not have access to any arts education (defined as dance, music, theater, or visual arts).

Concerns over kids and screen time versus play time are legitimate. According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, 17.0% of youth ages 10 to 17 had obesity in 2020-2021. That rate has increased slightly from 15.5% in 2018-19, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet it’s pretty plain that the screens aren’t going away. Educators and parents need to figure out ways to work around the devices and get kids moving.

Fit and Fun Founder and CEO, Pamela Gunther, has some suggestions. In this conversation, she breaks down the various scenarios schools face when trying to get students up, out, about and goes into some other ideas about how technology can encourage activity, not taking them from it. Have a listen and scroll through for some edited highlights: 

In the work that we do, which is to design and develop physical activities for kids, there are a couple of different ways we get inspired. And how we approach and develop our products. First of all, it’s got to be fun. It’s got to be colorful. It’s got to work and when I mean work, a lot of our products are backed by science-based movements, movements that hit particular parts of the brain.

There are some things in life that you can’t quantify, but you know you want to qualify and to have engaging graphics that speak to kids For example hopscotch. We’ve got 12 different hopscotch. When I was growing up, Hopscotch was simple. It was one to 10 and it was squares and it was white lines that the parking lot striper put down in their spare time with extra paint. Numbers and squares. We approach it with a much different, more creative, approach. We have Daisy Hopscotch and skyscraper hopscotches with lots of different colors. They’re not going to use something if it doesn’t look good. This generation is very visual. They are used to that stimulus on their phones. They want that color, they want that high design. And you know what we’re going to do? We’re going to do whatever we can to pull them off those devices to get them to move with color and graphics. This is what we’ve got to do—to wow those kids. Because that’s what we’re up against.

We’re continuing to produce a lot more products for schools and resources. We have an active blog. We’re constantly putting out content about the health and wellness of children in and out of schools. We’ve also looked at our older kids, as well as our seniors and active adults, and they need the same thing. They were isolated as well. Call us. You’ll get an actual person. Pick up the phone 800-681-0684. Or visit our website and we are on pretty much all social media channels. We’ve been here for 12 years. We’ll be here for another 12 at least. 

HOUSTON — Intervene K-12, a Houston-based online tutoring platform, is proud to announce that CEO and founder Aaron McCloud was recently named one of Houston’s “Most Admired” CEOs by the Houston Business Journal (HBJ). An independent panel from multiple industries selected the 49 honorees for the Houston Business Journal recognition based on their strategic leadership, career achievements, contributions to the greater Houston community and more. 

“The City of Houston has been an ideal home base for Intervene K-12 and I am honored to be recognized by the Houston Business Journal for the work we do to support more than 30,000 young scholars in our community and throughout the country,” said Aaron McCloud, founder and CEO of Intervene K-12. “While it feels great to be recognized as a leader, it is important to note that the work my team and I do is not self-serving. Everything we do is focused on serving scholars, as we work to equip them with the tools they need to flourish in the classroom, the community and the workforce.”

Intervene K-12 pairs data-driven instruction with high-dose online, small-group tutoring to help K-12 schools improve student outcomes through a fully integrated intervention program that drives measurable student growth. This outcome is achieved through deep analysis of student skill deficits, differentiated lessons and live online, small-group instruction, either during the school day or after school. Intervene K-12 provides tutoring in a variety of subjects, including math, reading, and English language support.

McCloud will be recognized with the other honorees in a special section of the Houston Business Journal’s Aug. 25 weekly edition and at an awards ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 24 at the Marriott Marquis Houston.

Earlier this year, McCloud was selected as an AFROTech Future 50 Changemaker, in recognition of the work Intervene K-12 does to reimagine and improve the world through advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and innovation in EdTech.

About Intervene K-12:

Founded in 2016, Intervene K-12 exists to eliminate the barriers that stand in the way of our nation’s students — especially those the system has left behind. Each year, the company works with 20+ districts and 30,000+ young scholars to provide high-impact, culturally-responsive tutoring for K-12 and English learners. Intervene K-12’s proprietary, data-driven intervention solutions are designed to identify and address the issues that keep individual students from excelling. Through a team of qualified tutors from education, corporate and business settings, the company works to empower academic progress, expose students to high-growth career opportunities and nurture social-emotional learning. The result is a holistic teaching model that equips scholars with the tools they need to flourish in and beyond the classroom, paving the way for long-lasting success. For more information, visit https://intervenek12.com/.

Charlotte, NC — Students across Indiana’s Vigo County School Corporation (VCSC) will add new, high-quality learning resources to their digital book bags this Fall thanks to a new partnership with worldwide edtech leader Discovery Education. In this new collaboration, Discovery Education will provide district students in grades K-12 exciting new digital and print services that will help them explore their curiosity about all subjects. In addition, district educators will receive in-depth professional learning opportunities that will help them integrate their new resources into instruction and create engaging lessons that prepare students for success beyond the classroom.

VCSC is one of Vigo County’s largest employers, serving nearly 14,000 students across three traditional high schools, five middle schools, 15 elementary schools, an alternative school, and a virtual school. VCSC works to build upon the strengths of their diverse community to create a comprehensive and engaging learning environment that supports the lifelong success of all students.

The VCSC community sees educational technology’s potential to advance relationships between teachers and their students, shrink long-standing accessibility gaps, and increase the depth of learning experiences for all children. So, to support district goals in the sciences and other academic disciplines, school administrators sought high-quality digital resources that featured hands-on components and could easily be integrated into teaching and learning. Following a thorough review of available solutions, VCSC’s administration selected the following Discovery Education resources for K-5 classrooms:

Discovery Education Experience. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education provides an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction in any environment. These resources, sourced from trusted partners, are aligned to state and national standards and help educators bring the outside world into teaching and learning every day.  Through expanded, lasting partnerships with Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Brightspace, and Clever, integrating Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform into existing IT architecture is easier than ever.

Discovery Education Science Techbooks. The Discovery Education Science Techbook series is a comprehensive, research-backed science solution for grades K-12. Used in classrooms across the United States, the Science Techbooks for elementary students drives engagement with exclusive, interactive digital content and companion printed resources. The virtual and hands-on investigations, STEM activities, and instructional supports within Techbook enhance the delivery of impactful, blended instruction, in person or at a distance. Available with the Science Techbooks are coordinated teacher guides offering unit, concept, and lesson overviews, standards connections, and differentiation activities that inform instructional planning and guide three-dimensional learning. Teacher editions also provide flexible pacing options, embedded teacher notes, and pathways for learning that support diverse learners.

Mystery Science. Mystery Science, which joined the family of Discovery Education services in 2020 and has won SIIA’s Best Science Instructional Solution CODiE award for Grades PK-8, provides K-5 educators simple-to-use, open-and-go, hands-on lessons that inspire students to love science. Each lesson begins by posing a question commonly asked by young students. Students then explore these questions through interactive videos featuring real-world visuals fostering a sense of wonder and actively supporting student engagement in the accompanying discussion prompts. Mystery Science simplifies prep for teachers, making the integration of this resource into classroom instruction simple. Plus, all K-5 science lessons are now available in Spanish, with accompanying videos featuring authentic Spanish narration and Spanish text-on-screen (for discussion questions, vocabulary words, and step-by-step instructions). Editable, ready-to-use worksheets and assessments are also available in both English and Spanish.

Discovery Education Experience and the Science Techbook for Chemistry and Physics will also be used by VCSC’s high school students and educators, as will Discovery Education’s Pivot Interactives service. Pivot, which joined the Discovery Education family of services in 2022, makes teaching science with active learning and scientific phenomena engaging and easy. Launched in 2012 by two visionary educators, the platform provides users with more than 10,000 authentic, video-based science interactives crafted by Pivot’s expert curriculum team and teacher community. These resources, tied to state and national standards, are infused with research-based teaching practices and are simple to integrate throughout the instructional cycle.

In addition to digital resources, all VCSC educators using Discovery Education services will receive dedicated professional development from Discovery Education’s team of professional learning experts. These learning opportunities for teachers help school systems recognize the full return on their edtech investment. Through these interactive professional development sessions, participants will learn best practices for integrating their new digital resources into instruction. Effective professional development increases student engagement in learning and supports the continued academic development of all students.

Finally, all VCSC educators now enjoy access to the Discovery Education Network. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Network connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration.

“Discovery Education is thrilled to partner with the talented team at the Vigo County School Corporation,” said Kyle Talavera, Discovery Education’s Manager of Education Partnerships. “Their dedication to thoughtfully integrating technology into instruction advances their mission to support the success of all students. We are excited to be a part of this important work.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning services—which can be purchased with federal stimulus funds—visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.