Welcome to the eSchool News LIVE@ISTE 2024 page! We’re glad you’re here with us to experience the biggest edtech trade show in the US. The booths are getting crowded and the sessions are underway. We’ll be covering some of those along with the latest and greatest technologies that are being released on the show floor. Bookmark this page to catch all the action and highlights from ISTELive 24!
ISTE 2024 Coverage:
Using PBL with makerspaces across your curriculum
Combining PBL with makerspaces (also called maker education) gives educators an infinite number of projects, assignments, and activities that engage students and truly immerse them in learning. The best part? It’s possible to combine PBL and maker education across the curriculum–and during a must-see ISTELive 24 session, Nicholas Provenzano, a teacher, technology coordinator, and makerspace director at University Liggett School in Michigan, demonstrated just how to do it. Provenzano is also the 2013 winner of ISTE’s Outstanding Teacher Award. Now, projects are nothing new–students have made dioramas, tri-fold poster board displays, and egg drop challenge designs for decades. But combining PBL with maker education leads to fully engaged students who are creating and problem-solving. READ MORE.
ISTELive news: Build writing confidence in K-5 students
Discovery Education is offering elementary educators nationwide the unique opportunity to participate in the development of its latest product, Mystery Writing by Discovery Education, through a free, year-long trial. Individual educators interested in claiming their free trial can visit the Mystery Writing website here. Mystery Writing engages students in grades K-5 with “wow!” content that captivates young learners and builds their confidence in writing. Featuring no prep, open-and-go lessons, Mystery Writing helps multi-subject elementary educators quickly and easily provide students with differentiated lessons that explicitly teach the writing process. Mystery Writing’s innovative approach combines subjects of high interest to students with step-by-step written, visual, and auditory directions to ensure no young writer experiences the dreaded “fear of the blank page.” Educators participating in the free trial will receive access to the current collection of genre units and essential skills lessons created for grade 3-5 classrooms. Following their use of Mystery Writing materials, educators will be asked to share qualitative and quantitative feedback on their experience using the lessons. This feedback will be used in real time to refine current and future lessons.
ISTELive news: Canva launches Teacher Certification course
In response to global demand from educators, Canva launched its free Teacher Certification course to enhance the skills of its 30 million teachers for the visual economy amid the growing importance of digital literacy in classrooms worldwide. This 60-minute course equips teachers with the skills to harness the full potential of Canva’s education tools, transforming their lesson planning, design, and delivery through visual communication. Teachers can engage with video tutorials and hands-on activities at their own pace, exploring practical uses of Canva to create dynamic lesson plans and student projects that elevate classroom engagement. Upon completion, educators receive an official certification, equipping them to foster creativity, communication, and digital literacy among students.
ISTELive news: LEGO Education previews student engagement data
LEGO Education’s Dr. Jenny Nash, Head of Education Impact, previewed compelling and surprising data on the U.S. student disengagement crisis. The #1 barrier to engagement with learning according to admins is the “curricula not broadly applying to all student abilities.” Only 1 in 3 (37%) US parents say their child tells them about their day on a daily basis without prompting from the parent. Teachers say the current lack of engagement in learning in K-8 leads to:
- Increased behavioral issues (61%)
- Poor retention of what they learned (56%)
- Lack of confidence in subject matter (50%)
- Surface level knowledge of materials (50%)
- Increased absenteeism/tardiness (48%)
- Inability to apply learnings in the real world (43%)
- Not being prepared for the future (42%)
- Declining test scores (38%)
The findings reaffirm core aspects of LEGO Education’s approach: Hands-on, playful learning is a powerful approach in reengaging students the classroom–and is providing students with critical, future-ready skills.
ISTELive news: SMART launches new inclusion solution
In an effort to foster inclusive learning environments, SMART Technologies launched the Inclusive Classroom Bundle, a comprehensive solution designed to support all learners and their diverse needs. This innovative Edtech bundle will be showcased for the first time at ISTE 2024. The Inclusive Classroom Bundle includes:
- A SMART Board® RX Series: The most advanced interactive display designed to enhance learning and engage students, options include multi-colored stylus, embedded experience to engage students and save teachers time, unique student device integration and security.
- Customizable Tool Explorer Stamps: Versatile stamps can be tailored to imprint words, images, AAC symbols, and more onto the interactive display. The stamps blends the digital and physical world for a more immersive and participative learning journey.
- Lumio Spark Plan Subscription: The engaging web-based tool that provides multimodal learning experiences, supporting various learning preferences and styles.
Putting the ‘E’ in integrative STEM instruction
STEM learning essential, helping students develop skills such as critical thinking and problem solving–skills that will help them be successful in college and the workforce. Though many teachers tout the importance of STEM learning, many also shy away from the “E” in STEM. But engineering and the engineering design process, when incorporated into classrooms correctly, can increase student engagement and subject matter understanding. “STEM is incredibly important, specifically for skills like critical thinking and problem solving,” said Dr. Erika Neuman, CEO of iSTEMmentors and a lecturer at the University of Texas at San Antonio, during an ISTELive 24 session. “While those aren’t tested on standardized tests, it’s a necessary and important piece of what students and learners need when they get out into the workforce. Whether they go into engineering or not, the engineering design process is something that integrates a lot of important skills that are very necessary in the real world.” READ MORE.
Vivacity Tech PBC Unveils Pro & Enterprise Versions of Dream Asset Management Platform
eSchool News spoke with Conan Malady, an engineer for Vivacity Tech PBC (Public Benefit Corporation), at booth number #1512 about this week’s launch of the Pro and Enterprise versions of Dream, their Asset Management platform tailored specifically for K12 schools. Dream supports multiple organizations within a single platform, making it a powerful solution in EdTech. Click for the details.
Vivacity Tech PBC is the first and only PBC selling EdTech hardware to K12 schools, and is dedicated to providing cutting-edge technology solutions for classrooms. Committed to innovation and excellence, they strive to support K12 schools in their mission to deliver high-quality education through advanced technology and robust support systems.
ISTELive news: Samsung’s AI-powered upgrades
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. is showcasing new AI-powered upgrades to its Interactive Display (model name: WAD). First launched in May 2024, the Interactive Display WAD series will offer cutting-edge generative AI capabilities through the Samsung AI Class Assistant to help educators save time and focus on guiding students through their learning journeys. The Samsung AI Class Assistant provides features like automatic transcriptions and generative summaries of spoken lessons. Educators can instantly share these summaries directly from the Interactive Display after each lesson so that students can review them at their own pace. The AI Class Assistant will also analyze the transcriptions and classroom materials to create instant quizzes for students to demonstrate their understanding as they learn. Students can wirelessly connect to the display and participate in quizzes from their personal devices. These forms of formative assessment allow educators to measure knowledge retention and determine if there are subjects that require further discussion.
Embracing the hybrid learning spectrum
Moving into the pandemic, education was on a straight–if somewhat predictable–trajectory. In truth, aside from pockets of innovation, much of education across the U.S. looked almost the same as it did 100 years ago. But as we know, the pandemic forced a move to online and hybrid learning. Some students and families loathed fully-online learning, be it asynchronous or synchronous, and jumped at the chance to return to school in a hybrid or fully in-person manner. Other students found that they loved online or hybrid learning, and that those modalities really worked for their families and their own individual learning needs. Now, four years out from the start of the pandemic-era online learning experiment, many students want hybrid learning options, while others don’t want to repeat the chaos of the pandemic. This begs the question: How do we implement programs that meet the varied needs of students and families while at the same time taking into account lessons learned from the pandemic? Stream Embracing the Hybrid Spectrum: Moving Towards a Student-Centered Future, from Monday’s ISTELive 24 session offerings, to hear from education experts and leaders as they discuss research and success stories around post-pandemic moves to hybrid leanring.
ISTELive news: SmartPass highlights link between attendance, student outcomes
SmartPass, a digital hall pass solution for K-12 schools, has announced an update to its Schedules capabilities, enabling schools to gain a comprehensive view of student locations throughout the building. This new update furthers SmartPass’s commitment to helping educators maximize instructional time, reduce logistical tasks like pass creation, and enhance safety–ultimately improving student outcomes. The new Schedules capabilities enable school administrators to integrate school bell schedules and class rosters directly into the SmartPass platform. This allows schools with even the most complex schedules to get a full view of student activities and school operations in the building. Before Schedules, SmartPass customers only knew where a student was if they had an active pass. Now, their bell schedules and classes will show up in SmartPass, giving educators more visibility than ever of what’s happening in their schools.
ISTELive news: Capstone’s PebbleGo gets an active learning upgrade
Capstone debuted its newly expanded PebbleGo suite, featuring tools for active learning, content curation features, and other enhancements designed specifically for the classroom. With these digital tools and resources, K-5 classroom educators can create a bridge to literacy while helping students develop a lifelong love of reading and learning. Within the PebbleGo suite, districts and schools can choose from a range of flexible options to deploy the content and tools that are right for them. The suite can be used to support lesson planning, whole group and small group instruction, independent practice, content creation, family engagement, and more. A new Create tool in the PebbleGo suite provides a digital workspace for students to demonstrate their learning and share their knowledge. A new Connect tool includes a variety of features designed to save educators time while supporting active teaching and learning.
New Chrome Solutions from CTL
CTL CEO Erik Stromquist walks eSchool News through ISTE booth #1774 for a breakdown of the company’s new offerings, which include: The new CTL Chromebook NL73 Series, an 11.6” device delivering 22% faster computing performance; CTL’s Refurbished Chromebooks, budget-friendly devices certified by CTL and ideal for use as entry-level student devices; and CTL Chromebox Solutions, the versatile mini-PC that can power everything from all-in-one desktop computers to school digital signage.
CTL is a global computing solutions provider on a mission to empower success at school, in the workplace, and at home. For 30+ years, customers in more than 50 countries have relied on CTL’s award-winning offerings. For further information and to purchase products, visit ctl.net.
ISTELive news: BenQ lets teachers run the show
At ISTELive 24, BenQ is encouraging teachers to demonstrate how they’re using the BenQ Board Pro RP04, the first interactive display fully integrated with Google Mobile Services (GMS). GMS integration offers schools easier access to Google Play and Google Classroom, a more native experience when using Google Search and other Android applications, and built-in security features that protect schools from cybersecurity risks. A fully redesigned user interface features a home screen that allows users to either type or speak to start browsing lesson content from the Google Search bar. The GMS-integrated RP04 delivers unprecedented teaching and IT management flexibility. Educators can personalize learning using relevant apps, while IT managers tailor the board to their school’s needs. The displays also make learning accessible to more students with text-to-speech, so students can hear text as it is displayed or written onscreen, and multi-lingual translation, which provides resources in different languages. With BenQ’s centralized user and device management, schools can easily transition to using BenQ Boards without additional configurations.
Balancing AI with humanity
It seems educators can’t turn on a device or have a conversation without AI working its way into the mix. But AI’s popularity is not without cause, given how often educators are reminded of how AI can personalize learning and how students will need AI skills to compete for future jobs. With AI dominating headlines in all industries, it’s a relatively common question: Is everything about AI? During an ISTELive 24 virtual session, presenter Kia Angeles, a training associate at SMS Global Technologies and a technology coach at the Junior Academy for Coding Knowledge (JACK), explored AI’s current role in education, how it can help students with special needs, and how a purpose-driven approach to using AI in the classroom can help educators gain more comfort and familiarity with the technology as it evolves. READ MORE.
Unlocking Efficiency: How the Upgraded FUYL Smart Locker System Makes Device Management Safer and Smarter
eSchool News caught up with LocknCharge CEO James Symons on the ISTE show floor at Booth #1442 about the upgraded features of the new FUYL Smart Locker System, which enables students to get back to learning faster. The system allows tech teams to control device access and track accountability via a software portal, without adding any manual work. Students and staff can process self-serve loaner devices in less than two minutes.
LocknCharge combines the power of software and hardware to revolutionize the way schools manage tablets, laptops, Chromebooks, phones, and other physical assets. Their mission is to protect devices from theft and data breaches and can help schools integrate mobile technology into their workflows. For more information, go to https://www.lockncharge.com/
ISTELive News: Easing the edtech burden on schools
Seven leading edtech organizations have developed a system intended to reduce the burden on schools and educators when it comes to assessing digital learning tools. This process aims to help schools quickly and reliably select and implement edtech tools, said ISTE CEO Richard Culatta during the opening of ISTELive 24 in Denver. 1EdTech, CAST, CoSN, Digital Promise, InnovateEDU, ISTE, and SETDA have banded together to work on two critical steps that must take place to reduce the burden on educators, school and school system leaders. Step one: Agreeing on a set of common edtech quality indicators. The seven edtech organizations identified Five Edtech Quality Indicators that should be used to evaluate effective edtech products. Step two: Providing validations (by qualified experts) that products have met the five indicators identified in step one. READ MORE.
LG displays an array of tech for the classroom and more
Follow along with Victoria J. Sanville, Director, Corporate and Public Sector Sales, LG Electronics USA Inc. as she takes eSchool News on the grand tour of booth #1356 on the ISTE show floor. LG provides an innovative, intuitive tech ecosystem—from interactive digital boards, to Chromebooks, projectors, DVLED displays, and more—that empowers immersive, engaging, and interactive learning experiences. LG Electronics USA Inc. is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a $60-billion-plus global force in consumer electronics, home appliances, air solutions and vehicle components. For more information, please visit www.LGSolutions.com.
Breaking product news: Discovery Education unveils a host of enhancements
Discovery Education announced enhancements to its digital solutions that will help school systems everywhere support teachers. The enhancements coming to Discovery Education Experience, the company’s K-12 cross-curricular supplemental solution, include standards-aligned search improvements ensuring educators find the right resources to support high-quality instruction, now with a more intuitive user interface; and exciting new high-quality resources fostering engaging instruction in math, ELA, social studies, and science – including new student science investigations and lessons and new math interactives for grades 6-12. DreamBox Math by Discovery Education, the standards-aligned program for students in grades K-8 rated “Strong” by evidenceforESSA.org, adapts and differentiates in real-time based on students’ answers and problem-solving method. DreamBox Math has been enriched with engaging new lessons and accessibility enhancements for K-5 math lessons. (Click here for the full list of all solution enhancements.)
Now See This: Optoma Unveils New Generation of Classroom Displays
Roland Hamilton, Technical Sales Manager at Optoma USA, gives eSchool News a tour of booth 326 and the company’s new displays available for schools. Products include Optoma’s 3rd Generation Creative Touch 5-Series Interactive Displays, designed to support educators and professionals in classrooms and meeting environments while offering versatility for virtual learning and collaboration. The Interactive Displays offer built-in Whiteboard functionality with multiple, easy-to-use annotation tools and extensive connectivity features for enhanced learning, sharing, and productivity. Offering real-time collaboration from locations worldwide and with Google Enterprise Device Licensing Agreement (EDLA) certification, users can experience the full Google Suite with access to the Google Play library of apps including Google Drive, Google Docs, YouTube, and more. More information: www.optomausa.com/products/interactive-flat-panel-displays
Building digital citizenship skills just got easier
ISTE+ASCD’s new Digital Citizenship Lessons resource is intended to help students build healthy digital citizenship know-how. Each of the five digital citizenship competencies is explored through learning activities tailored for different grade levels, ensuring that students of all ages can develop the skills and knowledge necessary to grow and thrive as digital citizens. At the elementary level, students will learn the difference between online and offline activities, how to identify trusted online sources, and how to use digital storytelling tools to express their creativity. Middle school students will establish strategies for digital well-being and discuss how online information can influence opinions through information bubbles. High school students will evaluate how technology can have positive and negative impacts on their overall wellness and examine media literacy principles to create, analyze and share content.
Kevin Hogan
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