Collaboration & Web 2.0


SXSW EDU Highlights: Education Design, Poetry and Nature as Teaching Tools, and 'Real Talk' with National Teachers of the Year

The second half of SXSW EDU 2023’s featured sessions focus on: building sustainable early childhood education; the roles of poetry, art, and nature in helping youths connect and establish their sense of identity; and what two National Teachers of the Year really think about educators, diversity, agency, and representation.

New CISA K-12 Cyber Report: Leaders – Not Just IT Staff – Must Be Involved in Security Strategy

The federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency this week released its long-awaited K–12 report and guide for public schools, “Partnering to Safeguard K–12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats,” and an accompanying toolkit — both in response to Congress’ demand for an overview of the cyber risks facing elementary and secondary schools and for recommendations that include cybersecurity guidelines designed to help schools face these risks.

Executive Appointments Announced at SESI, GoGuardian, Newsela, Matriculate, CAE, Cypher Learning, Territorium, EverDriven, The Nora Project

Executive leadership appointments recently announced in the K–12 ed tech sector include Dawn Thomas at Specialized Education Services; Michael Jonas at GoGuardian; Jason Ediger at Newsela; Craig Robinson at Matriculate; Michael Woods at Council for Aid to Education; Jennifer Geisler and Matt Kane at Cypher Learning; Jonell Sanchez, Keith Look, Rebecca Busacca, Julie Murphy, Joe Green, and Eric Stoller at Territorium; Todd Provino at EverDriven; and Jen Newton at The Nora Project.

A High School Class on the History of Poison and Murder As a Mini-Case Study for Competency-Based Education

Todd Ryckman of Cypher Learning joins THEJournal.com editor Kristal Kuykendall for a discussion about the competency-based education movement, what it looks like in school districts that have been implementing CBE over the past five years, and how Cypher Learning’s NEO LMS empowers educators and students, regardless of whether their school uses the traditional or “modern” instructional model or more of a CBE approach.

How A Midwestern State Became a National Leader in K-12 Robotics Teams in 4 Years

One state leads the nation on the number of students participating in robotics competitions, and it’s probably not the state you’d guess. Indiana’s robotics initiative reaches about 20,000 students each year, with higher levels of diversity than STEM fields usually see — and all that on an annual budget of under $200K.

Drones as Competitive Flying Robots? How the REC Foundation is Expanding to Prepare Students for the Future Workforce

THEJournal.com editor and podcast host Kristal Kuykendall visits with REC Foundation CEO Dan Mantz, who explains the foundation’s recent adjustments to its mission and vision, the addition of curriculum and competitions for drones and automation, and all the ways that the REC Foundation programs are helping prepare the workforce of tomorrow.

7 Questions with Edthena CEO Adam Geller: How AI Coach Helps Teachers While Providing Autonomy and Privacy

Learn how the AI Coach platform engages teachers in an evidence-based learning process focused on the actual teaching and learning within their classrooms — tactical and practical feedback tailored to each teacher’s needs, and teachers interact with the computerized coach when it’s convenient for their schedules.

New Report from Global Google Research Project Considers the 'Future of Education'

Google for Education has released the first report from a massive, two-year study considering the role of education in a “radically different future,” and what that might look like, focusing on big-picture themes seen as most likely to impact education and the future workforce in the coming years and decades.

PBLWorks Opens Registration for 2023 Project-Based Learning Conference, Awards

PBLWorks has opened registration for its annual project-based learning professional development conference and awards to be held June 26-29, 2023, and the discounted early bird registration deadline is Dec. 30, 2022 for the annual event whose 2023 theme is “Sharing Stories of High Quality Project Based Learning.”

The Teacher Support Program That Kept Growing Even Through the Pandemic

When COVID-19 prevented in-person coaching, observing, and co-teaching, the North Carolina New Teacher Support Program started using video and continued in full force, with over 1,000 teachers participating in the 2020–21 school year and the program has continued growing, with nearly 1,400 teachers participating this school year — data shows it is indeed helping the state retain teachers.