Preparing students for automation; How to redefine learning

Has remote instruction improved since spring?

No. 462 | 12/17/20 | Subscribe to this newsletter This issue is sponsored by By now nearly everyone is aware that automation will one day replace jobs in transportation, telemarketing and nearly everything to do with computers. But there's a slew of retail and service jobs that technologies like self-checkout have already replaced, and it's had a measurable impact on the Gen Z workforce of today, particularly those in underserved communities.    That was one takeaway from a recent panel, moderated by EdSurge, with Girls Who Code COO Tarika Barrett and Ora Tanner, co-founder at the AI Education Project. Both have given significant thought to what students need to know about these technologies and how to prepare them for an uncertain future—and they're doing it all in an unprecedented pandemic where the very students they need to reach face the largest barriers to accessing education.    From designing curriculum that's more "TikTok than Scholastic" to better serving students who are doing double duty as caregivers during the pandemic, here are their top insights into how schools can prepare today's students for a changing and challenging future.  💻 REMOTE POSSIBILITIES    NARROWER DIVIDE: At a time when at-home learning is essential, millions of students across the country still face a worrying digital divide. Connecticut's newest solution: Give every K-12 student a laptop and free home internet access. By partnering with districts, internet service providers and social support groups, it's on a mission to connect even the most hard-to-reach households.   ONE WEEK IN NOVEMBER: U.S. school districts were trending toward reopening in the fall. But that all changed one week in November as COVID-19 cases spiked across the country. An EdSurge heatmap analysis breaks down how that change looked across states and regions as many districts reverted back to remote instruction.   SAMR BUT DIFFERENT: Can the pandemic actually be an opportunity to reimagine learning for a new age? Educators Christopher Harrington and Elizabeth LeBlanc think so. In fact, they compare the move to remote and hybrid learning to the popular SAMR framework for technology integration. Instead of substituting online activities for their in-person counterparts, schools can redefine them in new and exciting ways.   GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME: That's how school and district leaders characterize the quality of their remote instruction. What happened in the spring was sudden, scary and at times a little slapdash, they say. But it was an emergency. Since then, schools have regrouped and educators have received training. With the benefit of time and experience, have those improvements paid off?   Sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt THE TEST OF TIME: As the pandemic has completely transformed teaching and learning in less than a year, assessments must now catch up. As such, HMH is hard at work building future-facing assessment tools to help educators quickly identify areas of learning loss and get students back on track. The following is a message from our sponsor Free practical guides for engaging students in AI creation In a world infused with technology and automation, all K-12 students need to know what AI is, how it works and how it impacts society. Download the Hands-On AI Projects for the Classroom guides from ISTE and GM, which provide elementary, secondary, elective and computer science teachers with innovative curricular resources about AI. 🎧 ON THE PODCAST   OPEN OR CLOSED CAMPUSES? Some colleges were committed to doing as much in-person teaching and activities as possible this semester, even during this health crisis. Other colleges decided early on to shutter campus and focus attention online. For our series finale of the Pandemic Campus Diaries, we ask: which decision was the right one for students and professors? 🏫 ALL SCHOOL   EDTECH MINIMALISM: At a time when edtech is used more than ever, the adage "less is more" may never be timelier. Doing so is "imperative if we want to re-humanize learning experiences for our students," writes former educator Paul Emerich France. Here is his case for "Edtech Minimalism" and how teachers can choose wisely the apps they use. (No, it doesn't mean going full Luddite.)   SURVEYS ALL SAY...There is no shortage of analyses and reports on pandemic learning loss among K-12 students. What differs is how those reports measure, how many are measured and what exactly they found. One thing is clear: setbacks in math exceed those for reading. EdSurge columnist Frank Catalano dissects the results in his latest Edtech Reports Recap.   SIMPLY SMARTER: Edtech can make it easier to personalize learning for students, but creating effective teaching tools usually takes ample time and expertise. Now, researchers hoping to engineer better education systems are building AI tools that make it easier for almost anyone to create an AI tutor. Instead of programmers doing the heavy lifting, one researcher explains, "the code is getting written by artificial intelligence."  📚 FROM THE ARCHIVES   MORE RECOGNITION: Artificial intelligence is helping some schools enforce pandemic-era safety rules like mask wearing. But it has a long history in K-12. When a company that develops AI facial recognition technology made its software freely available, EdSurge got in touch with one school that was already implementing it. School staff say it gave them a much-needed sense of comfort. Privacy experts say the school shouldn't be using it at all. 🐝 BUZZ ABOUT TOWN   "16 Charts that Changed the Way We Thought About America's Schools This Year" (The 74)   Some districts invoke truancy laws for students not engaged in remote learning (Hechinger Report) The Senate's new COVID-19 relief bill could allow E-rate dollars to be used for home broadband. (Multichannel News) Looking for a job in edtech? You've come to the right place. EdSurge has the leading edtech jobs board in the industry with openings from schools, nonprofits and companies.   Post a job | See all jobs Founding Head of Schools Portal Schools The Founding Head of School for Portal Schools' new Los Angeles region. This individual will implement the vision and mission of Portal Schools locally and lead the launch of up to eight microschools in the Los Angeles area over the next five years. K12 School Operations  •    School   •    Los Angeles, CA     Manager, E-Learning Peer Health Exchange PHE is looking for a Manager, E-Learning who will build interactive online modules and digital learning materials for PHE's program. The ideal candidate will have 3-5 yrs exp, including 1-2 years in designing and delivering training interventions. Curriculum Design   •    Non Profit   •    Multiple   Art Director, Language Arts Curriculum Associates Curriculum Associates is seeking a talented and collaborative Art Director to bring engaging and innovative design to our portfolio of language arts curriculum print products. UX / Graphic Design  •    Large Company  •    Remote   Curriculum Designer Next Gen Personal Finance We are looking for a passionate and energetic professional to expand our personal finance curriculum and resources to meet the needs of economics teachers. Curriculum Design  •    Non Profit   •    Palo Alto, CA or Remote   Senior Program Manager - STEM Classes and Camps Empow Studios Empow Studios is looking for an experienced Program Manager to lead a team of program manager(s), site directors, and dozens of instructors to deliver outstanding STEM classes, camps and other programs to thousands of local students. Operations  •   School   •    Lexington, MA   Chief Program Officer - Prepared Parents Summit Public Schools As founding Chief Program Officer, you will develop and implement Prepared Parents' overall program vision and strategy. You are an educational content expert who is seasoned at developing and delivering digital educational programs and products. Customer Implementation / Customer Success  •   School   •    Remote Events Post an event   •   See all events and meetups   Pathfinders Winter Institute The Infosys Foundation USA is excited announce the second annual Pathfinders Winter Institute - virtually - from Feb 12-15, 2021! This 3-day event will offer K-12 teachers an engaging professional development experience in CS and maker education. Feb 12   •   Online   •   More than $250 THANKS FOR READING   ➔ Got any feedback? We love hearing from readers. Shoot us a note, critiques, a joke—whatever you've got! ➔ Interested in reaching our readers? Sponsor this newsletter. ➔ Event planners: Feature your in-person or virtual event on our calendar & newsletters. EdSurge covers and connects the people, ideas and technologies that shape the future of learning. We are an independent news and research initiative of the International Society for Technology in Education. International Society for Technology in Education, 621 SW Morrison Street, Suite 800, Portland, Oregon 97205, USA, 800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 503.342.2848 (Int'l) Unsubscribe Manage preferences