ISTE

Former educators Nate McClennen and Vriti Saraf shared their vision of future schools powered by emerging technologies, namely artificial intelligence, blockchain and the metaverse, at ISTELive 23 on Monday.

Former high school teacher and Apple executive Sabba Quidwai advocates a foundation of empathy in the classroom and a design-thinking approach whereby teachers can embrace AI as a partner and even a friend.

Experts in technology, education and artificial intelligence expect the next generation of tools will empower students, give them more autonomy over their education and generate more data as well as risks.

Districts across the United States can see the need for new professional development to coach teachers on the inner workings, use cases and hazards of AI tools, but many are waiting for more clarity or consensus.

Advanced chatbots could be used as powerful classroom aids that make lessons more interactive, teach students media literacy, generate personalized lesson plans and even save teachers time on administrative tasks.

The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the International Society for Technology in Education, two nonprofits concerned with curriculum and ed-tech innovation, respectively, intend to improve student learning and engagement by working together.

Optimism about the viability of extended, augmented and virtual reality ed-tech tools to enhance instruction and boost participation is growing among educators, according to a survey from ISTE and the XR Association.

Georgia State University is among the signatories of the EPPs for Digital Equity and Transformation Pledge, committing to prepare teachers to use technology effectively for professional development and instruction.

Panelists in a session at the ISTELive 22 annual conference emphasized the importance of advocacy groups, and how supporting them can lead to major dollars going to schools and ed tech through legislation.

At the annual International Society for Technology in Education conference in New Orleans this week, a panel advised school administration and vendors on how to work together on data privacy agreements.

Veteran esports leaders on Tuesday at the ISTELive 22 annual conference explained the myriad benefits of those programs, from promoting social-emotional well-being to laying the groundwork for technical careers.

A Monday panel at the ISTELive 22 Conference in New Orleans revealed how a coalition with the Council of Chief State School Officers and the Council of the Great City Schools is assessing ed-tech products and systems.

To meet the growing need for unbiased ed-tech product evaluations, five nonprofit groups have joined forces to build and support the EdSurge Product Index, a purchasing resource for educators.