K-12 Technology Education News & Trends

ISTE 2019: Airtame Screencasting Adds Engagement to K-12 Classrooms

When Parkland School District in Philadelphia learned of the Airtame screencasting solution, it ran a pilot in its 200-classroom high school. That went so well, PSD has deployed roughly 400 more of the devices, which allow teachers and students to easily share content on a screen in the classroom. In addition to making it easier for students and teachers to collaborate, the devices free teachers from their desks so they can move around the classroom and interact with students in a more active-learning style.

ISTE 2019: Cisco Simulator Sends Teachers to Mars for Hands-On Learning

The Mars Classroom Simulator Challenge, presented by Cisco at the ISTE 2019 conference, is an escape room that requires participants to work together to solve a problem in a fictional scenario on the planet Mars. The idea is to give teachers a chance to engage in the same collaborative, hands-on learning experiences they want students to have. The simulator also facilitates the development of problem-solving skills, which Cisco leaders say are a critical component of a 21st-century skill set.

ISTE 2019: New Coaching Standards to Draw on Comprehensive Input

ISTE standards offer a framework to help teachers, students, administrators and coaches create learning environments that are innovative and effective. To develop and periodically revise the standards, ISTE leaders draw on research, expert perspectives on trends and technologies, and, most important, input from teachers and other members of the education community. Thousands of educators from around the world have contributed to the standards' development and evolution.

ISTE 2019: Adobe Spark Makes It Easy to Create and Collaborate

Adobe Spark gives students and teachers user-friendly tools to make and share videos, web pages and social media posts. Users say this web-based application offers enough versatility to let students' creativity flourish, while providing enough support that they aren't overwhelmed by the technology. Because it is web-based, students can access their work easily on any device.

ISTE 2019: Proactive Surveillance Solutions Keep Students Safe

Keeping students, teachers and staff safe is the top priority of every K–12 district. Yet many rely on reactive responses and after-the-fact analysis. While most schools routinely collect video surveillance data, they often lack the IT infrastructure to turn this information into actionable insights. Proactive security data can help leaders increase the likelihood of responding to crises before they happen.