What Keeps Edtech Leaders Up At Night?
How is your district to-do listing trying? If the outcomes from at present’s launch of the 2023 State Ed Tech Trends Report are any indication, it’s lengthy and complex. I had the prospect for a sneak peek and a few background perception with Julia Fallon, Executive Director of SETDA (The State Educational Technology Directors Association), to debate key findings of the survey knowledge. Click by for a hear and scroll down for some highlights and takeaways.
Among the important thing findings within the report and survey:
- Cybersecurity Tops the List: The report underscores that “cybersecurity” is now the paramount concern in Ok-12 training–a rise in precedence since 2022. However, a staggering 42% of respondents reported insufficient funding and assist for cybersecurity wants, signaling a crucial hole.
- Federal and State AI Policy Lags: While 55% of respondents noticed an elevated curiosity in AI coverage growth, solely 2% reported having lively AI initiatives of their states. The report highlights the pressing want for complete AI methods on the federal and state stage.
- Home Access Demands Attention: “Home access connectivity” jumped to the highest of the listing of high unmet know-how wants throughout the nation, with almost one-third of respondents itemizing it as their main concern. This emphasizes the digital divide’s persistent influence on training.
- On-going Focus on EdTech Effectiveness: The variety of states gathering knowledge on the effectiveness of their edtech instruments additionally elevated in keeping with respondents, and utilizing edtech successfully to assist instruction stays a high precedence for state leaders.
Some extra highlights:
- Acceleration of Ed Tech Trends: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of instructional know-how and the necessity for safe and efficient digital studying environments. The pandemic additionally revealed disparities in entry, each in rural and concrete settings.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Development: There is rising curiosity in AI coverage growth, significantly within the context of generative AI. Federal and state-level AI insurance policies are being thought-about, and the US Department of Education is offering steering on AI in training.
- Research and Evidence in Ed Tech Tools: States are more and more within the analysis and proof behind instructional know-how instruments. Policymakers and educators need to be sure that know-how investments yield optimistic outcomes when it comes to pupil studying and achievement. Promising practices and efficient use of know-how are areas of focus.
The report is a follow-up to the 2022 survey and report, which was administered throughout a time when colleges have been finishing their transition again to in-person studying because the begin of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mission is a collaboration between SETDA and Whiteboard Advisors and attracts in insights gathered from edtech administrators, state superintendents, chiefs of employees, and different senior state officers from 45 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), and Guam.