Technology has always played a central role in education, with many innovations indelibly woven into the learning fabric for school districts across the country. Some educators may be unable to imagine what they would do without online grading, interactive whiteboards, and, recently, even virtual classrooms. FETC 2024 provides many educators and school administrators a technology boost, providing deep insights into leveraging the latest tools to enhance learning, make it more accessible, and help educators better serve their students. Here are some of the tech strategies educators are taking away from FETC 2024 and ways you can use them to guide 21st-century learners.
Challenges in K-12 Education
The K-12 classroom and campus environment is a perfect fit for the enhanced connectivity and software tools available today. But that doesn’t mean incorporating tech is as easy as 1-2-3. Here are some challenges teachers and admins are tangling with:
- Integrating tech in the curriculum. You can impart knowledge without tech, so weaving technology into your curriculum can feel like trying to fit a round peg in a square hole.
- Ensuring cybersecurity and data privacy. Every connection you enable for students, parents, and educators could present a vulnerability a hacker could take advantage of.
- Budget constraints and resource allocation. Even the most prudent tech wishlist has to navigate limited budget figures that change from year to year and often feel inadequate.
- Adapting to rapidly evolving tech trends. Innovations pop up in the tech landscape all the time, and it can be hard to figure out which ones to pursue and which to wait on to see how effective they actually are.
Impact of Technology in Education
Incorporating technology in education isn’t just giving students the latest bells and whistles. You can facilitate a tangible impact on learning by using technology strategically. For instance, with the right tech strategy, you enable:
- Richer learning experiences. Students can gain more ways of accessing material and reinforcing their learning.
- Improved student engagement and success. Because many students are used to interacting with technology, using similar tech while teaching them creates more accessible entry points.
- Streamlined administrative processes. Providing students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders with enhanced connectivity and access to data engenders more convenient, smoother interactions.
Key Strategies from FETC 2024
FETC 2024 demonstrates the range of tools and strategies educators can use to support the teaching and learning process. Here are some of the most useful strategies featured.
Strategy 1: Digital Literacy and Curriculum Integration
While many students are used to using technology to interact with their friends, some are less comfortable using it in an educational or professional setting. By encouraging digital literacy and integrating it into your curriculum, you enable the students to compete on par with their peers across the globe. For example, you can:
- Teach students how to compose and present a range of work using computers and tablets. This may include designing PowerPoint presentations and websites and even coding simple apps.
- Integrate digital presentations in a cross-disciplinary fashion. For example, students can create a website that enables their peers to teach themselves about a topic the student will present. For instance, other students in the class can use a presenting student’s site to learn how covalent bonds work. Then, the student can give their peers a quiz the following day.
- Use an e-learning platform. This enables students to study for exams, reinforce what they learned in class, or interact with their peers around classroom topics.
Strategy 2: Cybersecurity and Data Protection
Creating secure learning environments is a fundamental element of your educational tech infrastructure. Cyber safety creates a sense of comfort, similar to how security guards, lockable doors, and fire drills foster a sense of physical safety. Both make it easier to learn. Some protections you can explore include:
- Using next-generation firewalls to secure your networks. These can detect threats based on their behavior instead of merely using threat signatures. This way, you can stop new attacks that hackers have only recently deployed.
- Incorporating cyber hygiene education early in the year. Teaching students password management, when and how to log off sessions, and how to spot and avoid phishing attacks can create a far-safer tech ecosystem.
- Use a network operations center (NOC) as a service solution. With NOC as a service, you have external professionals who monitor and manage your networks. In this way, you alleviate the burden of checking for security incidents off the shoulders of your IT staff so they can focus on supporting teachers and students.
Implementing Technology in Schools
For an effective tech implementation, you need a systematic approach that factors in both the tech you want and the needs of those in your school’s community. Here’s how to approach the challenge:
- Step 1: Identify your goals and set standards for measuring progress toward them. Some goals may include:
- Reducing the amount of time IT has to spend cleaning malware off computers
- Achieving 30% faster internet speeds
- Enabling smoother remote learning sessions using a faster connection
- Having all students and staff score 85% or higher on a cyber hygiene quiz
- Step 2: Select the right technology partners. You want to partner with companies that have a long track record of success in the education sector and the staff to support your implementation.
- Step 3: Train educators and staff. Focused training sessions held in series can empower your staff with the confidence they need to dive into the tech instead of defaulting to the old ways of doing things.
- Step 4: Monitor and evaluate the impact of your new tech. You can monitor the impact by:
- Issuing staff and student surveys about how they feel about the tech
- Using quantifiable metrics, such as download speeds or the number of service interruptions
- Observing how student performances increase on standardized tests
Trends & Predictions Bing Discussed at FETC 2024
In the near future, you can expect to see more AI and machine learning (ML) in education. Whether it’s generative AI or teaching students how to work with ML solutions in a business context, there’s no stopping the AI wave some institutions have already begun to surf.
Cybersecurity is also going to continue to be a primary focus. As schools use networking and cloud solutions for their digital transformations, addressing vulnerabilities will be paramount.
Virtual and augmented reality is another trend with plenty of momentum. As students get accustomed to the immersive experiences these solutions offer, they may start to become the norm.
Integration with Other Technologies
It’s important to blend traditional and digital teaching methods. “Old school” teaching can still be effective and works for a range of learners, so you should continue to embrace traditional methods.
One of the more straightforward integrations of old and new tech is using cloud services for your data management. Many cloud providers offer convenient methods of uploading data—using a range of formats—to a cloud-based app or storage system.
While cloud services can enable data management for teachers and admins, IoT devices can enrich the classroom experience for students. For instance, learners can use their handheld devices to send answers and examples of work to a teacher’s interactive whiteboard. You can also use IoT devices for instantaneous grading on multiple-choice tests and quizzes.
Start Building More Effective Education with the Latest Tech Today
Whether you’re securing your networks, helping students get more comfortable with tech, or exploring digitized worlds, using tech to augment education provides richer experiences for everyone in your community.
The future of tech in education is bright, especially as educators empower students to compete in an increasingly digital world. Embracing the latest tech is key to positioning your institution at the forefront of modern learning.
FAQs
What benefits of integrating technology in K-12 education are being explored at FETC 2024?
Some top-tier benefits include enhanced engagement, more personalized learning, improved access to information, collaboration, and better preparation for the future.
What is the role of Cox Business in supporting tech in schools?
Cox Business provides crucial support via reliable internet connectivity, managed network services, effective cloud solutions, powerful collaborative tools, and customized technical assistance.
What are the cost implications of tech implementation in education?
Costs may include initial investments, training for staff and students and system maintenance.
What’s involved in integrating new tech with existing systems?
Integration may involve performing compatibility assessments, delivering professional development, and customizing solutions to specific learning environments.
What are some future trends in educational technology?
Future trends in educational technology include AI-driven learning, virtual and augmented reality for immersive experiences, and the continued growth of remote and blended learning.
