How is your district to-do checklist trying? If the outcomes from in the present day’s launch of the 2023 State Ed Tech Traits Report are any indication, it’s lengthy and sophisticated. I had the possibility for a sneak peek and a few background perception with Julia Fallon, Government Director of SETDA (The State Instructional Expertise Administrators Affiliation), to debate key findings of the survey information. Click on by means of for a pay attention and scroll down for some highlights and takeaways.
Among the many key findings within the report and survey:
- Cybersecurity Tops the Checklist: The report underscores that “cybersecurity” is now the paramount concern in Okay-12 schooling–a rise in precedence since 2022. Nevertheless, a staggering 42% of respondents reported insufficient funding and assist for cybersecurity wants, signaling a essential hole.
- Federal and State AI Coverage Lags: Whereas 55% of respondents noticed an elevated curiosity in AI coverage improvement, 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 degree.
- Residence Entry Calls for Consideration: “Residence entry connectivity” jumped to the highest of the checklist of prime 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 impression on schooling.
- On-going Concentrate on EdTech Effectiveness: The variety of states gathering information on the effectiveness of their edtech instruments additionally elevated based on respondents, and utilizing edtech successfully to assist instruction stays a prime precedence for state leaders.
Some extra highlights:
- Acceleration of Ed Tech Traits: 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.
- Synthetic Intelligence (AI) Coverage Growth: There may be rising curiosity in AI coverage improvement, significantly within the context of generative AI. Federal and state-level AI insurance policies are being thought-about, and the US Division of Schooling is offering steerage on AI in schooling.
- Analysis and Proof in Ed Tech Instruments: States are more and more within the analysis and proof behind instructional know-how instruments. Policymakers and educators wish to be sure that know-how investments yield optimistic outcomes by way of scholar 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 for the reason that begin of the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenge is a collaboration between SETDA and Whiteboard Advisors and attracts in insights gathered from edtech administrators, state superintendents, chiefs of workers, and different senior state officers from 45 states, the District of Columbia, the Division of Protection Schooling Exercise (DoDEA), and Guam.
