Emerging Technology Workgroup in K-12 Education

Educators and school districts use technology daily to manage their internal processes and to leverage additional resources to support student learning. Keeping up with the latest ed tech and innovations has accelerated tremendously with the advent of Artificial Intelligence. AI, along with student information systems, and cybersecurity curricula are several emerging technology trends that SEEC would like to further explore to understand the opportunities for schools, as well as considerations for responsible implementation.

The SEEC will be forming an emerging technology working group in early 2024. Through our work in the region and across our state, we believe there’s an organizational need to understand the SEEC’s current capacity and future needs relating to support and capacity building with technology integration across school districts. The topics would include but are not limited to;

AI in Education: Defining and Understanding how the technology is rapidly evolving.

• Personalized Learning: Explore how AI can be used to create personalized learning experiences for students, adapting to their individual needs and pace.
• Intelligent Tutoring Systems: Discuss the implementation of AI-powered tutoring systems that provide real-time feedback and support to students.
• Research the types of policies for student data privacy and academic integrity.

Digital Classrooms:

• Online Learning Platforms: Evaluate different platforms and tools that facilitate online learning, collaboration, and communication among students and teachers.
• Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): Discuss the potential of VR and AR in creating immersive educational experiences and simulations.

Data Analytics and Learning Analytics:

• Learning Analytics: Explore how data analytics can be used to gather insights into student performance, engagement, and learning styles to inform instructional decisions.
• Predictive Analytics: Discuss the use of predictive analytics to identify students who may need additional support or intervention.

Cybersecurity Education:

• Digital Literacy and Cybersecurity: Discuss the importance of teaching students digital literacy skills and cybersecurity awareness to navigate the digital world safely.
• How are schools meeting new requirement for Cyber Security education.

Professional Development for Teachers:

• Technology Integration Training: Explore strategies for providing effective professional development opportunities for teachers to enhance their technology integration skills.
• Collaborative Platforms: Discuss tools that facilitate collaboration among teachers and provide a platform for sharing best practices and resources.

Accessibility and Inclusivity:

• Assistive Technologies: Explore how technology can be leveraged to support students with diverse learning needs, ensuring inclusivity in education.

The workgroup will investigate these technology innovations and how they can support teaching, learning, and educational management for schools. If you or an educator or IT staff member in your school is interested in joining the workgroup, please email me at kyle.davison@k12.nd.us. We anticipate the meetings will begin online, may meet in-person as needed.

The Skill Development Cycle

Educators who have been in the field for a few years might be used to hearing about new education initiatives on professional development days, and may wonder: just how long will this one last? Research, funding, training opportunities, and administrative support can ebb and flow between focus areas, making it feel like an uphill battle to educators.

Faith Rieger, Building Quality Coach at Child Care Aware and SEEC, sheds some light on possible solutions to make trainings really stick, like feedback and learning walks. Read this article on the Skill Development Cycle to learn about the 5 components that increase change in teaching practice and how to get the most out of your professional learning experiences.

CharacterStrong Weekly

Students, especially those who have experienced trauma, need a consistent and predictable environment. This video provides a tool for the beginning of your class to aid in creating a safe space.

Click the image below to learn about this strategy:

Each week, CharacterStrong releases a short video with valuable

and relevant teaching tips, ideas, and information.