Pedagogue Blog

It is well known that teachers implement educational technology into their everyday teaching. However, if teachers are to be successful at using and advocating for educational technology, the administrations should have the same feelings and experiences.

As administrators of a school, it is essential to be on the forefront of progressive changes for education. That means implementing educational technology into everyday work as well. Administrators won’t be using it to teach or help students with homework, but there are certainly many ways to use educational technology for the duties of administrators.

Some administrators may be nervous about using new technology when they already have a tradition and routine set for their responsibilities. They may not feel confident in encouraging or training their teachers in how to use technology. But, there isn’t reason to fear. There are many easy-to-use educational technology resources for administrators.

#1 Google Drive

The ever-formidable Google Drive can be a life-saving resource for administrators to use. Administrators can use Google Docs to create memos and flyers to send directly to teachers’ emails. Google Spreadsheets can be used to organize data; Google Forms can be used to collect information from teachers; Google Slides can be used during staff meetings.

#2 DropBox

Instead of bogging down shared drives with resources for the teachers, administrators can use DropBox for the entire staff. Administrators can keep meeting minutes, photos from school events, school-wide curriculum rubrics, etc. in the DropBox.

#3 edWeb.net

For administrators who feel they need a little extra support with educational technology, there is the website edWeb.net. This website is a free professional social and learning network. Blogs, files, calendars, live chats, links, webinars, forums, etc. are all available for administrators across the nation to support and teach each other in educational technology uses, practices, and characteristics.

#4 Parent Portal

Having an online program for teachers to input grades and attendance is crucial in today’s educational culture. It makes it so much more easy for counselors, administrators, teachers, and parents to work together for the students’ benefit since all the information is in one place. One critical part of this is to have a parent portal—a way for parents to log in and can see their student’s progress, as well as an easy way to contact the teachers and administrators if needed.

#5 Education World

Education World is another necessary resource for administrators. Daily, this website updates educational news, lesson plans, educational technology tips, ideas, and reviews, and has a library of professional development resources.

#6 Eduwonk

This website helps administrators with educational policy, especially policy concerning educational technology. Policy and political news mentioned on this site include the Common Core, high school rankings and accreditation, and tips to improving your school’s success.

#7 National Educational Technology Standards for Administrators

The National Educational Technology Standards for Administrators (NETS) was developed through the Technology Standards for School Administrators Collaborative (TSSA). This group identifies the core knowledge and skills that every PK-12 administrator should know and can do with technology regardless of job role. Administrators can use this resource to see what they need to improve on in helping their school achieve success with educational technology.

#8 Instapaper

Available on Android and Apple devices, this app provides a mobile-optimized Text view making internet content easier to read. It can also save up to 500 articles or web pages as text on smart devices and can store unlimited amounts on their website. Administrators can use this resource to share professional development sites and articles with the teachers of their school.

#9 Skype

Many school districts just don’t have the funds to send teachers or administrators to out-of-district conferences or professional development summits. However, by implementing Skype, administrators can attend these conferences without leaving their office, saving the budget and staying available to their school. Skype can also be used for principals to connect with other principals in district meetings.

#10 Pocket Cloud

Administrators are hardly ever in their office: they are in meetings, visiting teachers, and managing the hallways. They can’t be expected to lug around their laptop with them everywhere. But, to quickly access a file or document that is on their laptop, no matter where on school campus an administrator may be, Pocket Cloud is the best program to use. This Apple or Android app allows your smart device to be connected to your computer (Mac or Windows desktop) to access files, pictures, games, or programs such as Outlook, Word, or Photoshop.

For schools to fully enter the future of education, they must be led by technology-savvy administrators. According to Betty Kistler, the computer technology coordinator at Tuckahoe School in Southampton, New York, “The most effective way school administrators can promote technology use is to themselves be knowledgeable and effective users of technology.”

These listed resources are only ten of the thousands of resources out there. There are also many blogs and sites give advice and instruction on how administrators can implement other educational technology for their schools.

It’s no secret that many teachers leave their jobs to pursue more lucrative careers. About one-third of teachers quit within the first five years of joining the profession. Where do they go? Some choose to stay in the field of education in a different way—by becoming EdTech entrepreneurs. Teachers who become EdTech entrepreneurs are often very successful. So why do teachers make some of the best EdTech entrepreneurs?

The number one reasons educators make great EdTech entrepreneurs may be simply that teachers know what teachers need and want. EdTech entrepreneurs who come from the tech field and have never been in a classroom don’t understand the unique needs of classroom teachers. Teachers can imagine how students will use certain devices or apps. They can foresee the problems a new technology might create. Teachers are experts at figuring out what helps students and what students will misuse. For this reason, teachers make superb EdTech entrepreneurs.

Teachers who leave the profession also take with them some valuable skills that serve them well as entrepreneurs. That’s because teaching requires such a wide variety of talents, from communication to multi-tasking.

The ability to communicate well is one that all educators must develop. Teachers have to be able to hold and keep the attention of thirty children at once. Considering that kids have much shorter attention spans and far less self-control than adults, this is no small task. Not to mention, educators are often teaching those students about something the kids couldn’t care less about, like chemistry or geometry. However, great teachers successfully capture the imagination of students and hold their attention no matter how boring the subject. In comparison, talking to a room full of other entrepreneurs seems downright easy.

Educators also have to be able to read a room. Good teachers know when they’re losing the attention of their students and can quickly change course to win them back. When giving a business presentation, this is an excellent skill.

In addition to being good communicators, educators are leaders. It takes a certain amount of leadership skill to be able to stand in front of a room of kids and get them to do what you ask without (too much) complaining. Those same skills help teachers be effective leaders in the workplace as entrepreneurs.

Educators are also efficient multi-taskers. Most classroom teachers are multi-tasking throughout their entire day—explaining to one student how to solve a math problem while getting two other students to stop fighting and keeping an eye on the other twenty kids in the room is tough. But being able to multi-task is a skill that all entrepreneurs need. After all, starting up an EdTech business is tough work, and there’s always something else that needs to get done.

Finally, educators make great EdTech entrepreneurs because they truly care about what they do. No teacher goes into the education field to get rich. Even when teachers leave the classroom and enter the world of EdTech, they bring with them their passion for bettering the lives of children. Successful EdTech entrepreneurs aren’t just looking to make the next big thing in education and cash out. They want to make a meaningful difference in the world through their work. Teachers go into the education profession for the same reason, and this passion shows in their work.

So whether you’re looking for someone to help you get your EdTech company off the ground or you’re a teacher who isn’t sure if they can make it in the business world, remember—the people who succeed in EdTech are those who understand education and care about it deeply. And nobody fits that description better than a teacher.

Do you know a teacher who has become a successful EdTech entrepreneur? Tell us about it!

Preparing education students to become classroom teachers is a challenging task. There are lots of skills that are easy to teach—how to write a lesson plan, or the best method for teaching basic reading skills, for example. But there are just as many skills that are nearly impossible to teach in the classroom. How can a professor teach future educators how to manage a classroom of behavioral challenges or keep their cool when a student challenges their authority? The answer may lie in the virtual classroom.

The virtual classroom is a brand new technology that’s quickly spreading to teacher education programs across the nation. The concept is a bit like a flight simulator that a pilot might use before getting into a real plane. Teachers are placed in a virtual classroom full of virtual students and must teach as if they were really in the classroom.

There are two main options for teacher education programs looking to implement the virtual classroom in their curriculum. A company called Mursion has developed a virtual classroom that is used by school districts and teacher education programs around the U.S. There’s also TeachLive, a virtual classroom program developed at the University of Central Florida. Both programs are fairly similar, offering some of the same benefits for teachers in training.

In the virtual classroom, the students are avatars programmed to act like real kids. Each one is programmed with their own personality and comes with their own challenges, just like students in the real world. Some may call out of turn, get distracted, or try to get the teacher off task. Others may have special needs that the teacher must attend to during the lesson. The teacher’s job is to successfully teach their lesson without students getting too far off-task or exhibiting behavior problems.

For teachers in training, this can be a valuable experience. Classroom management is one of the most difficult aspects of teaching, and many teacher prep programs ignore this key skill. Using the virtual classroom allows future teachers to practice addressing difficult situations.

Practicing with the virtual classroom simulator can build a future teacher’s confidence. Once they’ve mastered the virtual classroom, stepping into a real classroom with real students may be less intimidating. The virtual classroom gives future teachers a chance to practice delivering lessons to an audience that’s similar to the classroom full of kids they’ll soon face.

Another benefit to the virtual classroom is the ability for teachers to get instant feedback. While real students can’t tell you exactly where you went wrong in teaching them, the virtual classroom can.

Virtual classrooms can also be tailored to the needs of the individual teacher. While in the real classroom, the difficulty setting is always on “hard”, in the virtual classroom is can be turned down to allow teachers in training to practice. As education students develop their teaching skills, they can use the virtual classroom to target areas in which they want to improve or simply to practice in a more challenging environment.

General education teachers can use the virtual classroom to practice working with students with disabilities, too. Thanks to laws regulating the inclusion of students with special needs in the general education classroom, more teachers are faced with the challenge of teaching students with special needs. The virtual classroom can be a place for teachers to practice responding to students with various special needs.

Virtual classrooms are a new technology that is sure to continue to grow as it develops. As the technology improves, teacher education programs will be able to use virtual classrooms to teach all kinds of skills. If developers can create a virtual classroom that simulates all the challenges of a real classroom, they could truly revolutionize the way teacher education programs work.

What do you think of the virtual classroom? Could it really be the future of teacher education programs? Give us your opinion!

Step into a college classroom, and you’re likely to find a handful of students sporting the latest campus fashion—that is, wearable technology. Wearable technology started out as something only for those who were serious about fitness or just have to have the latest gadgets. Now it’s hit the mainstream and can be spotted all over college campuses.

Wearable technology can be used for a variety of purposes. Most common are fitness trackers, which have taken over the tech world. Fitness trackers, like the popular FitBit, are more than just fancy pedometers. While they do track the number of steps you take, many are stepping up their game and keeping track of heart rate, calories burned, and even sleep patterns. These advanced features have made fitness trackers a trend on college campuses and elsewhere.

There’s more to wearable technology than just fitness tracking, though. Smart watches have taken the world by storm, too. More than just a watch, smart watches are like an extension of your cell phone. They can send and receive text messages, use certain apps, and more. Smart watches are making college students even more connected than ever, as they no longer even have to take their phone out of their pocket to do these things.

Although fitness trackers and smart watches are popular on college campuses, their academic applications are somewhat limited. Fitness trackers can certainly be useful for gathering data when studying how the human body responds to something. Smart watches could also help with data collection, but otherwise, they’re primarily useful for social purposes.

Other wearable technologies, however, such as virtual or augmented reality, may prove to be a vital part of higher education in the near future. While you might not see college students walking around with virtual reality headsets on, they have a wide variety of uses in the classroom. Virtual reality allows students to practice skills in real-world settings without venturing out of the classroom. Though virtual reality can’t replace real world experience, it can be a useful tool.

Augmented reality may well be the most exciting example of wearable technology seen on college campuses. Most of the world got its first glimpse of the possibilities that augmented reality brought when Google announced their Glass project. An ambitious idea, Glass aimed to make an augmented reality system that could be worn like a regular pair of glasses. Though it never achieved mainstream success, Glass got people thinking about augmented reality in a new way.

In the future, college campuses are likely to be filled with students utilizing some type of augmented reality. Devices could be used to enhance a professor’s lectures by providing additional material, or they could personalize the learning experience for each student by presenting them with their own unique view of what’s happening in the classroom. Since augmented reality devices can be worn around, students could take the tools used in the classroom everywhere they go—whether that means capturing video or interacting with the world in a new way.

In truth, we won’t know what exciting possibilities augmented reality, and other wearable technologies hold for college campuses until they become more widely used. Wearable tech is certainly a hot trend on campuses around the globe right now, and it’s beginning to make its way from the gym to the classroom. As more colleges begin to incorporate wearable technology into academics, there are sure to be new applications for wearable technology that have not yet been discovered.

What really matters isn’t that colleges are using wearable technology, but how they’re using it. Unless wearable technology is used to truly enhance academic experiences and not simply as a fancy new toy, this trend won’t last.

Have you seen wearable technology on campuses near you? How do you envision colleges using wearable technology? Share your thoughts with us.

Can a library be the perfect place for personalized learning? We believe the answer is yes. Libraries offer endless resources, space for learning, and individuals who are ready to assist students in the learning and research process. Sometimes when professors’ office hours do not line up with students’ schedules, we often forget, that librarians are here to help us too! That’s why we have libraries and librarians! Even if we think it is intimidating to approach a librarian, it should not be, because they are the experts in libraries! Not only are librarians available to assist us, but they are also available to teach us how to use the resources that the library has to offer.

Libraries can and should be the best place for individualized learning as we progress into the 21^st century. The development and accessibility of online resources, as well as the recent trend in creating Makerspaces in libraries, are two examples of how libraries provide the perfect space for personalized learning. Libraries also provide the resources, the professionals, and the opportunities for all kinds of personalized learning. In this piece, I will explore the reasons why libraries are the perfect starting point for personalized learning.

Availability of Resources in Libraries

Once upon a time, I found a book on a shelf using the Dewy Decimal System. The library either had a book I needed, or it didn’t. Sometimes the library could order a book from a neighboring library, but ordering a book or resource was often a long and painful process. You could wait four days or even two weeks to receive a material that you needed immediately for a class project. Now, however, libraries have changed; libraries can request and receive access to an online book or resource immediately for a student. Libraries are making use of every available technology and resource. According to Meris Stansbury of eSchoolNews, we can increase personalized learning through the acquisition and use of online tools. We no longer need to wait a week to receive a book that we need for research, as it is often available to us at our fingertips!

Schools are the Founding Blocks for Excellent Libraries

We can probably agree that the way students are learning today is totally different from even just ten years ago. School administrations are also changing the way they urge students to learn, and libraries are changing alongside the changes in schools. In one New Jersey school district, administrators, Ross Kasun and Pamela Haimer presented students with “the marshmallow challenge,” where students had 18 minutes to develop the tallest structure possible using only rope, a single marshmallow, spaghetti, and tape. We are entering an age when we are urging students to think and act creatively. In order to engage in the creative process, libraries are providing those needed spaces.

Makerspaces and Spaces for Learning

A recent trend in libraries is the development of so-called “Makerspaces” in libraries, which are exactly what the name sounds like. Spaces to make things. Spaces to develop, think, create, and share. Libraries are becoming Makerspaces, regardless of whether or not the original intention of the library was to create a Makerspace. As the world’s views and pedagogies regarding the use of the library changes, so do our views of even how library space should be used and look. Makerspaces strongly encourage learners to use their available tools and space to communicate and collaborate with their peers. In Makerspaces we are expanding learning and creating new solutions to real-world problems. Sometimes students’ work can even be displayed in the library, says Meris Stansbury of eschoolnews.com.

The idea of what a library is supposed to be is slowly changing altogether. There was also once a time when libraries were meant only to be places for quiet independent study. Libraries are now encouraging more teamwork, group study, and collaboration. As we begin to foster and support the development of group learning, we are also encouraging personalized learning. When students are not afraid to raise their voice “above a whisper” in the library, they may be more confident in seeking guidance from their fellow peers, research assistants, librarians, and other professionals. According to Tara Garcia Mathewson of educationdive.com, personalized learning and instruction is the key to assisting students. This can be accomplished through the use of personalized spaces for learning such as Makerspaces.

Libraries Can Track Students’ Data

Another way that libraries can serve as centers for personalized learning is through data collection. Meris Stansbury states that libraries can utilize databases to follow work completed by students, alongside the assistance of librarians. Libraries now have the ability to track students’ research as well as study patterns and habits. Libraries are gaining and developing unique insight into the individual needs of their students, and certainly the needs of the entire student population, by tracking student data.

Conclusion: Looking into the Future

As educators and learners alike look into the future of learning we can recognize and identify that schools and school administrations can begin the process of individualized learning by encouraging creative thinking. Personalized learning will also increase the development of students’ critical thinking and reasoning skills. Libraries can build on opportunities for students’ personalized learning options by capturing student data, assisting students with projects, providing resources, technology, and the needed space for collaboration as well as independent study.

Distance learning has provided thousands of students the chance to increase their knowledge on a chosen subject in an accessible and flexible way. During the fall semester of 2014, 5,750,417 students in the U.S. were enrolled in a postsecondary distance learning course. It is clear that distance learning creates opportunities for young adults and professionals that previously weren’t available. However, while students often praise the flexibility of distance learning, they also comment on the isolation that distance learning students can experience.

The development of edtech has created new means of communication that can help to bridge the gap between distance learners. Communication technologies that are now often used in the workplace can also be implemented into a distance learning course to offer more and more ways for students and teachers to communicate in real-time. Though educators about to embark on a distance learning course may feel unsure as to how they can create a sense of community for their students, there are steps and considerations that can be taken to help close the distance in distance learning.

First Impressions

As with all learning communities, it’s important to make a good first impression with your students or fellow classmates. In a physical classroom, teachers can implement ice breaker activities or introductions to make students feel more at ease. Teachers beginning a new distance learning course can achieve this by creating a multimedia introduction for their students. This allows students to get to know their instructor and will can them feel more comfortable in contacting the instructor should they need support. Students can also be asked to provide personal introductions for the class. This eliminates any feeling of communicating with anonymous online users. The ways in which teachers can achieve this are numerous though the technology needed is very basic: a smartphone or webcam and perhaps a video editing program. Ask students to get creative and see what they come up with.

Social Media

The problem with using traditional emails to keep your students up-to-date is that many people neglect or overlook emails in their inbox. On the other hand, 1.15 billion people log onto Facebook mobile daily. Social media tools like Facebook are a familiar form of communication for students that can be used for quick troubleshooting questions, general announcements or mutual support. Creating a page or group chat for a course is quick, easy and effective.

Google Apps

Many edtech savvy classrooms now use Google apps as the basis of their communication and collaboration in the classroom. However G Suite for education can perhaps be used to an even greater advantage with distance learning courses. Providing a communal learning space, albeit virtual, Google Suite includes apps such as Classroom, Drive and Docs. Google Classroom supports lesson planning, assignments, feedback and progress tracking all in one place. Docs allows collaborative editing of documents in real-time that can help to create a sense of teamwork between distance learners. Hangouts means face-to-face interaction and Vault allows efficient archiving of old material for all learners to go back and look at anytime. G Suite provides a complete classroom management system that can be accessed by all parties anytime, anywhere.

Focus on Feedback

Classroom feedback is a key tool for teachers who are looking to review course content and the progress of the course participants. While getting quick feedback from students can be done easily and efficiently in a physical classroom, it often proves difficult in a virtual one. Whether students feel uncomfortable speaking up about a problem they’re having or teachers neglect to create a time and place for student feedback, lack of opinion can cause issues with the flow of communication. Distance learners are much more likely to disengage if they feel unsatisfied. Online polling tools such as PollEverywhere allows teachers to create opportunities for instant feedback in a variety of formats. Ask a question, students reply in real-time using smartphones social media or the internet and responses can then be tracked instantly on the web either anonymously or not.

While distance learning is often a worrying concept for sociable students and teachers alike, there really are a plethora of tools at your disposal. Closing the distance in distance learning has never been so easy.

Choosing the right digital learning device can be tricky. As more schools go one-to-one, offering every student a computer or tablet, they are faced with the difficult choice of picking one device that will work for all purposes. It can be tough to find a device that is tough enough to withstand everything students will throw at it, is easy to carry around, and can do everything teachers and students need it to do.

Ultimately, there is no one right digital learning device for every school. But there are some basic guidelines that schools can follow to help them choose the right digital learning device for their needs.

Elementary Schools (K-5)

For elementary schools, the biggest challenge is finding a device that will stand up to everything a Kindergartener might do. Even the best-behaved young children are prone to dropping and breaking things.

There are tablets made specifically for younger children, but they’re not perfect. Many of these kid-friendly tablets are limited in functionality. They may come with only a select few apps and have less than optimal processing power and speed.

Many elementary educators prefer to simply to get a tablet with a case that can withstand being dropped and thrown around. Otterbox cases are popular among educators and are not only drop-proof but also water-resistant.

Another concern with younger students is usability. Laptops or Windows tablets may have too many options. Students can easily change settings they shouldn’t or have trouble operating their device. iPads are popular among elementary teachers for this reason. They’re easier to use, and Apple products are well-known for being difficult to infect with viruses.

On the other hand, Apple products are also known for being more expensive. Public schools are on a tight budget, and an iPad for every student might not be feasible.

Secondary Schools (6-12)

Students in middle and high school have distinctly different needs when it comes to selecting the right digital learning device. They need more powerful devices that can run a wider variety of programs. They’re also less likely to break devices, though durability is still a concern.

Secondary students are also learning more digital skills, such as programming, animation, and photo and video editing. It’s important to have a device that can handle all of this and more. However, big and bulky laptops can be difficult to manage and carry around. For this reason, all-in-one devices like the Google Chromebook or Microsoft Surface are popular in secondary schools. These devices have the power of a computer but are slim and portable like a tablet.

Like iPads, however, all-in-one devices can be pricey. Laptops are a less expensive option. For the price of a tablet, schools can get a laptop with significantly more processing power. If portability isn’t a concern, such as in a school where the devices will stay in one classroom rather than moving with students to each class, then laptops are a good choice.

Whichever device you choose, the important thing is how its used. Digital learning devices work best when they allow students to do things they couldn’t do otherwise. This might mean working on digital literacy, learning high-tech skills, or creating digital art. Any device that a school purchases for students should enable them to do these things, not just act as a high-tech way of doing the same old things teachers have always done.

Schools must choose the digital learning device that works best for their needs and population. The right digital learning device can completely transform the way students learn and teachers teach.

Which digital learning devices do you prefer? Tell us about your experience with choosing the right digital learning devices.

One of the many changes that students are experiencing is their ability to be assessed not only in the classroom but also online. Students of all ages can be tested and assessed through the use of online tools and assessments. In the 21^st century, we are seeing a shift in views regarding how students can be tested and assessed based on their performances inside and outside the classroom. Students can also be assessed by creating and displaying their work online through social media, YouTube, and digital portfolios. Additionally, many university classes are encouraging and even requiring student contribution on online blackboards and forums. Regardless of the format of assessment, technology is becoming a critical part of learning as well as student performance. So, how we can use technology to create better assessments? Read on to find out.

MOOCs and Online Assessments

Online assessments of students’ performance are particularly common when students are taking MOOCs. When students take MOOCs (massive open online course), students’ work is both completed and assessed entirely online through the use of online platforms, discussion boards, quizzes, and other assessment types. Discussion boards are an excellent form of assessment because they encourage student dialogue and demonstrate what the student has learned through interactions with other students. They also pinpoint student’s areas of improvement. Discussion board and platforms can be used either as an aid to a regular face-to-face class or can serve as the primary format for a fully online class.

Students Can Create and Display Their Work Online

Students can also now utilize technology to create and post their completed work online. Susan Riley of educationcloset.com recommends that students share their completed work through social media, university portal log-ins, and discussion boards. Students can create their own media, which can be accomplished through the use of cameras and other audio-visual equipment. Students’ video, photograph, and audio assignments such as interviews, documentaries, and self-reflection pieces can be created just by using phone apps or a phone’s camera. Susan Riley even recommends that students use programs such as YouTube and Garage Band to develop and publish their own materials.

The technology of the 21^st century is making it more and more possible for students to grow in multiple areas within one project through the use of technology. In one project, students may be asked to draw upon technology skills, understand and articulate the content area, provide self-reflection, and complete their own film or audio editing. Even simple blog posts can demonstrate student comprehension and teachers can assess students’ writing skills. Digital portfolios are yet another way that assessment of student work can be completed online. Creating a portfolio allows the student to demonstrate many if not all of their skills and can help them to become “work-ready.” Susan Riley additionally recommends using digital portfolios as a way to diversify assessment of student performance.

Online Programs for Foreign Language Learners

As the world becomes “virtually” smaller, our learners are also becoming more diverse. There is also a growing need and interest in online foreign language learning programs, which are now being used globally. Foreign language learning programs are available through apps for the iPad, iPhone, and or Android device. Online programs allow students to complete entire lessons online to either supplement course materials or to serve as a stand-alone assessment of student comprehension. Teachers can quickly and easily access student scores and results by logging into these programs and checking on student progress on websites such as “Tell Me More.”

Using Spreadsheet and Data Collection Programs

Another way that technology is benefiting teachers is through the use of Excel programs, spreadsheets, and automatic data collection completed by computer programs. Computer programs can compile and analyze student data and results, saving the teacher both time and resources. The Educational Broadcasting Cooperation comments that teachers can make use of technology to track student progress and improve their own performance and lesson plans. The internet, of course, can also be used to supplement and speed up the process of grading papers and other written work. Teachers can use online rubrics and automatic error-finding systems to ensure that they are fairly grading each and every students’ work.

Making Technology Work for Us!

Technology, when used correctly, can benefit our education systems, our teachers, and our students. It can benefit our students by encouraging them to use their critical thinking and reasoning skills, be more creative, and gain skills using the computer and other devices. Students can learn to present their own media projects online and or in front of their class. Technology not only encourages student growth but also makes it easier for teachers to grade and assess student work. Computer programs also make it easier for educators to have access to student work away from the office.

Lastly, discussions boards and other online platforms urge students to continue dialogues outside of the standard classroom. Educators can observe chat boards in order to understand what concepts need to be reviewed and or what concepts students are not grasping. The development of technology is not only advancing education, but is also altering the way we assess our students, and how fast assessment can be completed fairly.

The fast-paced advances in technology, as well as the changes that we are experiencing in education, will create an entirely new vision for how schools in the future will appear and function. What is the future of education? What is a “school of the future?” How can we develop effective education strategies using our advancing technology to benefit our students? If you are interested in learning the answers to these questions, continue reading because this article will detail the answers to these questions.

1. School Culture– According to Edutopia, New York’s “School of the Future” was successful for many reasons; one of those reasons was school culture. A successful school of the future needs to provide more than adequate time for professional development, teacher planning, and grade-level team meetings. By providing needed planning time and resources for professional development, teachers felt like they had sufficient time to prepare lesson materials. Educators also had the opportunity to collaborate and develop new ideas with other educators and staff members.

2. Phenomenon Based-Learning- Phenomenon based-learning, as used in Finland, presents the idea that students should learn about real-world issues and topics, rather than simply individual subjects. Tan Wee Kwang who discussed the progress of Finland’s “schools of the future,” states that students can learn about topics such as the European Union, the body, and the environment. Within a given topic students can learn about multiple disciplines including various sciences, government, history, psychology and even math. By learning through discovering real-world contexts, and learning subjects within those contexts, we give our students the tools that they need to function in the real world. The last time I checked, I never needed to know how many sides a parallelogram has, except maybe when I am watching Jeopardy. Topics used in phenomenon-based learning can be on any world idea that is important and relevant such as how to make a budget, how to file taxes, or how to understand democracy.

3. Encourage the Creative Use of Technology- Technology is, of course, playing a significant role in what “the school of the future” can look like. In an article originally posted in 1998 by Education World, the authors proposed that ten years later, technology and accessibility would be key to creating and developing schools of the future. They were right. Positive and prosperous schools are encouraging student growth and students’ development of critical thinking and logic and reasoning skills through the creative use of technology. Schools of the future will not only have access to technology but teachers will also give students projects and tasks that encourage students to think creatively. Students will learn through making use of technology to create their own media and perhaps, even online portfolios.

4. Style and Format of Assessment- As used in Finland, student assessments in the “school of the future” focus more on the process of each student and less on the results of each student. Tan Wee Kwang notes that in early grades, students in Finland are given written feedback rather than the standard form of grading because written feedback can encourage students and assist them in their personal learning process. Sometimes grades can be discouraging, especially when students compare grades with each other. By using Finland’s model of modifying the way that grades are assigned and feedback is given, schools can better assist students in the learning process. They can help students focus more on their areas for improvement and less on a certain grade that they obtained.

5. Bringing Real Life Experience into the Classroom- One school designed using the “school of the future” format in New York emphasized the importance of bringing real life experiences and knowledge into the classroom. The New York’s School of the Future website https://www.sof.edu/about/ discusses top ten facts about what is important to their “school of future.” These points include the significance of bringing real world ideas and problems to the classroom. Because teachers are not constrained by NY state’s curriculum guidelines, they have more freedom in their lesson planning, flexibility, and ability to teach “without the handbook.”

The concepts and ideas presented in this article regarding the “School of the Future” are just a few building blocks regarding what we believe can make a solid foundation for our future generations. Although standardized testing and learning methods are still important, sometimes these methods can reduce a teacher’s ability to be creative in the classroom. Additionally, standardized testing is not always an accurate measurement of students’ learning. We must acknowledge that there are, in fact, many ways to learn, and many ways to assess students’ learning. If the United States wants to work towards being on the top again in STEM subjects and all other areas, we should focus on expanding our vision for education in the future. By redefining our “schools of the future,” we redefine our education system, our value system, and our future as a nation.

Can artificial intelligence disrupt certain industries? The answer, in short, is yes, but first, let’s take a look at what artificial intelligence is, and how it changes the world as we know it. Artificial intelligence is the development and ability of computer programs to complete tasks normally performed by people, such as speech recognition, language translation, visual perception, and even decision making. Artificial intelligence has the power to eliminate some jobs that are now being completed by people, but according to Connie Chan, artificial intelligence will also create jobs. Here are some industries that are being affected and or will be affected by artificial intelligence:

1. Healthcare- One of the most immediate industries that are being affected and will continue to be affected by artificial intelligence is healthcare. Robots and computer programs are replacing personnel and staffing in doctors’ offices, hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities. Robots and machines can manage patient wait-times, automate scheduling, and provide anesthetics to patients. Connie Chan in her article on artificial intelligence notes that anesthetics can even be given by machines with human monitoring. Additionally, on fowcommunity.com, Connie Chan states that advances are being made with regard to diagnosing illnesses. In the future, it is quite possible that computer programs will be able to diagnose as accurately, if not more accurately than people. Scary, or useful, we will let you decide!

2. EdTech- Although robots and computer programs will not ever replace teachers, the EdTEch industry is also being significantly affected by the development of artificial intelligence according to Jeff Pruitt on com. Jeff Pruitt comments that it is becoming possible for students to be assessed through the use of machines. Some machines can read students’ emotions and expressions as well as report on students’ daily class performance. Advances in artificial intelligence also have the potential to affect the way we see test results, and how tests are scored. More and more exams can be administered online and as such, results can be given immediately to students. Some argue that automatic results are beneficial to the students, while others believe that online classes and testing are not ideal. Some education experts believe that online classes are not successful because students do not receive enough or any individual attention.

3. Manufacturing- As we have already seen, machines are replacing blue-collar jobs across America. Manufacturing jobs are either being shipped out of America, due to the ability to pay foreign workers less or are disappearing because jobs are being replaced by robots. Connie Chan notices that assembly line jobs are disappearing because many of these jobs can be completed by robots and overseen by just one or two people. Assembly lines all over America are disappearing as robots are replacing the need for human workers in car factories, factories that produce electronics, and other assembly lines.

4. Administration- All administration jobs will never completely disappear due to the development of artificial intelligence; however, some positions will disappear with the development of artificial intelligence. Some administrative and secretarial jobs are no longer needed because small and average-sized companies are using devices and even apps on their phone to track client appointments and schedules. Company executives and middle-level management can handle communication directly from their phones. Lynda Gratton of The Guardian comments, “Many medium-skilled jobs disappear as executives’ smartphones replace their secretaries and assistants.” For some companies, cutting costs including cutting secretarial services and other administrative jobs that they believe they can handle themselves or delegate to a part-time employee, rather than a full-time employee.

5. Transportation- Approximately 50 years ago we believed that by the year 2020 everyone would be operating flying cars. Instead of flying cars being in our imminent future, automated cars that more or less drive themselves are on the horizon. Onde reports that one of the 5 million transportation enterprises entering the market each year. Self-driving cars are very likely in our near future, and although they would be very useful, they would also have the ability to greatly impact the future availability of jobs in the transportation industry.

Implications for the Future

As we progress into the 21^st Century, artificial intelligence will only continue to develop and become more advanced. Although some jobs may disappear or be dramatically reduced from the job market other areas may develop and expand, such as jobs in technology, computer programming, engineering, and robotics.

Social Media has undeniably become a part of our everyday lives. Grandmothers and 12-years old alike are opening Facebook accounts, and there are Facebook pages even for people’s dogs and cats. Companies are using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, and other social media sites for marketing and advertising. Universities are now also using social media pages because people are reading and accessing social media sites daily. How can universities and colleges best take advantage of the benefits that social media has to offer in our technology-heavy 21^st century?

1. Create and Follow a Social Media Policy and Strategy

Every successful social media account for a university, or for any organization or company requires an effective social media policy and strategy. In order to prevent duplicating information, over or under posting, and posting inaccurate information, it is best practice to work together with your university leaders, student council, social media managers, and your university’s marketing team. Develop guidelines for the promotion of your university on social media, and follow them. Identify who is allowed to post, at what times, and what content is allowed to be posted. Clayton Dean of the HigherEd Marketing Journal suggests that when creating your strategy, you should identify your target market, your marketing goals, and your current use of social media. Be certain to establish not only social media publishing policies but also a schedule.

2. Manage Platforms with Social Media Managers, Organization Leaders, and Student Council

One of the most important factors in running successful social media accounts for universities is identifying who is in charge. Much like any other successful business or organization, there needs to order, appropriate management, and identification of roles. Jylian Russell in her article, “Social Media in Higher Education: Strategies, Benefits, and Challenges,” suggests having a campus-wide media manager. You can consider having one overall social media manager and delegating assignments to various members of the university staff and student body. Regardless of how you choose to run your social media accounts, be certain that nobody is posting the same information twice!

3. Keep Track of Social Media Data and Numbers

Find out what works and track your numbers. What posts get retweeted? What posts get likes and how many? In order to operate fruitful and popular social media accounts for universities, it is best to identify what has been working on your accounts, and what has not been working. Josie Ahlquist recommends making goals based on your data and using key performance indicators. She also highly suggests making weekly goals and maintaining data on your posts. Based on your data you can also adjust your social media strategies.

4. Be the Voice of the University

When writing for your university remember that you are the voice of your university, and what you write is not just a reflection of you, but is also a reflection of your university, logo, and the quality of your school as a whole. Josie Ahlquist also recommends that you respect the university, by maintaining confidentiality, respecting copyright laws, and appropriately citing sources. Don’t take credit for others people’s work and be certain to cite your sources! What you post as a social media coordinator or developer not only affects you but also affects the whole team. Envision your social media strategy and the goals of your university before sending your content to the whole wide web.

5. Post Accurately and Thoughtfully

Being the “voice” of the university also means that you need to carefully consider the content of your writing before you post online. Is the content accurate? Factual? Representative of the opinions of the student body? What sources did you use to obtain your information? Consider that posting on social media for your university is not that different from posting on your own social media accounts. If you post on your own account, you naturally will think about how your message will be received before you post! Josie Ahlquist states accurately, “Think twice before you post!”

Although these are just a few of the best practices for posting on behalf of universities and higher education institutions, these are easily the most important practices to keep in mind. In order to have a clear direction, focused and goal-oriented social media accounts, you should first have an effective and efficient social media management team. Your team should understand how to work together and be aware of your social media strategy and plan. Of course, what is posted must also be written thoughtfully, accurately, and should be representative of the whole student body. Do not forget one population of the student body or staff; make sure you represent everyone that makes your institution great! Be the voice of your university with pride and character! You can make your university shine!

While educational standards may differ from school to school there is one thing that is always nearly the same: the classroom set out. Desks are arranged in rows or groups, and the teacher stands at the front and teach. This set out has changed very little in a hundred years even with all the technological advancements that have been made. Edtech not only changes the way that children learn but changes the way they interact with one another, the classroom space and their teacher. Things need to change if classrooms are to meet the needs of the modern learner. Below are ten ways to create the classroom of the future.

1. Create technologically smart spaces

As education starts to encourage technology in the classroom, the space itself needs to morph and become technology friendly. This can be accomplished by offering charging ports in desks or throughout the classroom. Students should not have to compete for three electrical ports. Classroom USB chargers allow students to charge devices while working. The reality is that if more students are using technology, they need to be able to maintain their learning devices’ battery life.

2. Morphing the role of the Teacher

Teachers need to realize that their role in the classroom is morphing. Blended learning gives students control over their learning and teachers, while still vital aspects, need to be trained on how to teach and manage the classrooms of the future.  Teachers may not stand up at the front and lecture but teach from the back and keep an eye on student’s screens. Classrooms of the future need teachers of the future if they are to succeed.

3. Connectivity

In 2015, 96% of students in the US had access to Wi-Fi at school. This is impressive, but this “connectivity” is not always fast, easily accessible or used effectively in the classroom. If students are being encouraged to use edtech and engage online, they need to have the ability to do so quickly and without issues. Cybersecurity and access should still be controlled, but students should have access to perform their work without worrying about their connectivity. Classrooms of the future should offer students effortless Wi-Fi opportunities.

4. Classroom setups

Traditional classrooms will no longer meet the needs of students in the future. Movement and flexibility are becoming more important and current classrooms set up do not offer this. Study pods, standing desks, windows that decrease glare on screens are just some of the innovations that should make their way into the classroom.

5. Building classrooms

Architects also need to be keenly aware of these needs of future students and build classrooms accordingly. Classroom of The Future, an initiative in San Diego is pushing educators and builders to think about what schools of the future should look like and how walls need to change to allow better Wi-Fi, buildings need to be greener, and students need to feel welcomed at school.

6. Communicating differently

Teachers, students, and parents can be more connected than ever; and this changes the classroom. Through social networking and edtech, the classroom is a more open space and parents can “see” what happens every day. By sharing homework assignments, reminders and disciplinary emails the classroom of the future is now more visible to everyone involved. This “online classroom” is also changing the way students view their education.

7. Technology coaches

This future faculty position would ensure that every teacher, student, and school is on par with modern technology standards. It is impossible to expect teachers to be on top of every innovation and every other aspect of teaching. Experts in the field suggest that successfully integrating technology and education requires at least one “coach” per school.  The classroom of the future would be visited by technology coaches to ensure that all parties involved understand and are benefiting from technology.

8. Make way for virtual reality

One major change that the classroom needs to prepare for is virtual reality. This does not just mean technology hook ups but the personal space to engage with the virtual world as the technology intends students to do.  With more than $1.46 million invested in virtual reality startups, schools need to make sure that they choose products that have been proven to boost student achievement.

9. Storing and Keeping Technology

While 88% of US teenagers may have access to a laptop, it does not mean that they own one or have unlimited access. If classrooms are to be technological spaces, they need to ensure that all students are in a classroom that has a 1:1 ratio with technology. Sharing is not the answer. Some classrooms do not allow students to take their technology home, and so secure lock up facilities may be required. Technology is expensive, and classrooms of the future need to secure spaces where technology can be kept.

10. Start NOW

The best way to create the classroom of the future is by making small changes to the classrooms of today. Moving desks around, installing projectors and asking students for ideas is the best way to morph traditional classrooms into futuristic ones.

So, if we are preparing ourselves for the classrooms of the future, it is important that we start implementing these changes now. They will be slow, but every innovation in technology should be met with innovation in the space around it. Classrooms of the future will be different, but we can start preparing for them now.