eSchool News - Innovations in Education eCampus News

In this episode of Innovations in Education, we do a deep dive into the ongoing battle against cyber threats. We explore the intersection of technology and human behavior, where the real battleground lies in preempting threats before they breach the network. Rivka underscores the importance of leveraging advanced technologies like machine learning and threat intelligence to stay one step ahead of adversaries. Yet, amidst the buzz of AI and cutting-edge defenses, she reminds us of the foundational importance of sound data management and collaborative efforts across departments.

John represents TPR Education, including The Princeton Review and tutor.com. They aim to highlight their services for all students and districts, emphasizing equity and support structures. John discusses the evolution of remote tutoring, especially its impact on underserved communities. He also addresses the changing landscape of test preparation, focusing on digital SAT and training teachers. Additionally, John outlines two key focuses for the event: high-dosage tutoring and integrating AI into their services for faster and more insightful support.

Conversation highlights:


Equity and Support: TPR Education emphasizes providing support structures for all students and districts, highlighting their services' accessibility and effectiveness, particularly for underserved communities.

Evolution of Remote Tutoring: The transcript illustrates how remote tutoring has evolved, especially during the pandemic, becoming more accepted and beneficial for students, particularly those in underserved areas.

Changing Landscape of Test Preparation: With the introduction of digital SATs and shifting educational priorities, there's a focus on training teachers and providing effective test preparation services to adapt to these changes.

Focus on High-Dosage Tutoring and AI Integration: TPR Education is prioritizing high-dosage tutoring programs tailored to specific student needs and integrating AI into their services to provide faster and more insightful support, aiming to enhance student learning outcomes and streamline processes for educators and parents.

 

 

This special episode of Innovations in Education highlights details from the recent webinar Analytics in Action: Innovative Approaches to Attract, Engage, Grow and Retain Top Talent. Panelists Kevin Agnello, Product Manager, Human Capital Analytics – Frontline Education and Keegan Bassett, Director of Human Resources – Queen Creek Unified School District (AZ) share insights on using analytics unique to their district to optimize recruitment processes, enhance employee engagement, and implement analytics to identify and nurture the best candidates.
Frontline HCM, a connected human capital management suite, equips schools with everything needed to support the entire employee lifecycle from recruiting to retirement. Built exclusively for K-12 education, it includes applicant tracking with proactive recruiting capabilities, seamless onboarding, connected time tracking and absence management functionality, professional learning and evaluation tools, and the ability to oversee benefits, compensation, and position management with automated workflows across the suite. Designed around the unique needs of K-12 and flexible enough to support state and local regulations for time tracking, performance evaluation, and hiring practices, Frontline’s HCM suite brings greater efficiency, productivity, and performance to school districts so leaders have more time to focus on what will most support great teaching and student learning.

The Culture Conscious Campuses Model which has been approved by the Texas Education Agency commissioner as a research-based instructional model with proven results in increasing academic success for African American students as well as students from low socio-economic backgrounds, regardless of their race or ethnicity. Host Kevin Hogan talks to the author.

It wasn’t all about AI in K-12 in 2023! SEL, equity, and more were top news. In this special episode of Innovations in Education, editors Laura Ascione and Kevin Hogan go through the list of the most-read stories from 2023 and identify the best insights for our readers.

Avantis Education, the leading provider of VR and AR content and hardware for K-12 schools, has released a new white paper: “Building Back Stronger: New Thinking and Technologies Reshaping Education” which delves into the myriad ways K-12 schools are embracing different methodologies and cutting-edge technologies to support students following a period of declining academic success.

The white paper, released under the brand ClassVR, Avantis’ award-winning all-in-one VR/AR headsets for schools, is available for download at https://bit.ly/BBSwhitepaper.

As stated in the white paper, “issues such as underfunding, understaffing, the digital divide and the impacts of the pandemic have set the stage for an ambitious revival.” It notes that ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding has provided school districts with opportunities to leverage new educational approaches and technologies and that “these innovations serve as the catalysts for rejuvenation, charting a course toward the restoration of educational excellence. U.S. education is building back stronger.”

The white paper examines several specific approaches and technologies being used in schools, including:


The flipped classroom

AI-generated teaching materials

The no-grades movement

Data-driven learning analytics

Post-pandemic expansion of SEL

VR and AR

Maker-based learning, makerspaces and STEM labs


The white paper includes insights from five education thought leaders:


Dr. Rupert Rawnsley, Chief Science Officer for Avantis Education

Christopher Klein, Education Consultant for Avantis Education

Simon Luxford-Moore, Head of eLearning at ESMS independent schools

Luke Knightly-Jones, Education Researcher and private tutor for Royal Tutors

Dr. Lorah Sirri, Senior Lecturer in Educational Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University


It also provides examples of how some of these approaches and technologies are being used in classrooms.

“The 2020s will likely be a defining decade for education as schools and policymakers rethink their approaches to education,” said Avantis Education’s Chief Executive Officer, Huw Williams. “In this white paper we provide an informative look at some of the innovations happening in K-12 schools today and their potential to engage students and support academic growth. It includes thoughtful context offered by experts in the field about these practices and technologies in order to help inform the conversation about how best to support students in moving forward.”