Educational Technology News

"In some ways, virtual school has completely replaced traditional homeschooling for the sake of easier curriculum access. At the same time, students who struggle in social settings or who do not find courses at their traditional schools challenging may find virtual school a blessing."

"My district recently announced that 30% of our high school courses will now be offered online, and this percentage will increase in the coming years. I think its a great idea, but most of my colleagues are totally against it, citing that it will dehumanize the learning process, among other things. Do you think my district is on the right track?"

The top reasons that students take the virtual route for school tend to fall into a few specific categories, which haven't changed in the two decades since online options first surfaced. A new report issued by the Foundation for Blended and Online Learning looks as what has influenced the pace of growth among students choosing to attend blended and online schools, as well as the number of such programs introduced or adopted by "traditional" districts."

Virtual education expert details six ways these schools are better than traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms.

Futuristic movies with all-knowing computers used to be science fiction, but no longer. More and more people are turning to the internet to answer questions and expand their knowledge.

News, voices and jobs for education professionals. Optimized for your mobile phone.

"A new study by New York University Professor June Ahn, published by the Fordham Institute, highlights the limits of Ohio’s statewide virtual school, arguing it cannot serve as an alternative to traditional schooling."

There are strong social divisions in how young people use digital technology at home, according to international research from the OECD.

News, voices and jobs for education professionals. Optimized for your mobile phone.

The Natick, Mass. public schools' blended learning transition has been going on for seven years and the results so far have been impressive. Teachers and students report that using computers more deeply improves their education. What ed-tech company wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

Looking to go digital in your classroom in a meaningful way? Here are the six core steps to making it happen.

Omaha Public Schools is piloting a new online service from Microsoft for teachers who use the education edition of Office 365 Education. Microsoft Classroom, currently in preview mode, offers course management features through a homepage where educators can post announcements, assignments with due dates, calendar events and reminders.

"Teachers and educators have increased opportunities to work from home on an online/remote basis, provided they have a degree in education or experience in the field, according to a listing of open remote online teacher positions highlighted by Remote.co."

To design for education, ScreenBeam wireless solution is an easy-to-use device which teacher without IT background can start with.

Warning: Surfing the internet in class is now linked to poorer test scores, even among the most intelligent and motivated of students, MSU researchers have found.

"When blended learning was first introduced in schools, it was an opportunity to combine elements of online and face-to-face instruction. The next generation of blended learning initiatives have prioritized personalized learning and student-directed workflows. This is moving schools closer to what many are calling School 2.0."

"Administrators at the Montour School District in Pennsylvania saw the tangible benefits for student learning of flipped classrooms, and during the 2015-16 school year, they decided to capitalize on the concept for professional learning."

"Digital leadership is a critical element in improving digital learning for students, and administrators should be thinking about how to find and foster it through hiring and evaluation procedures as well as school culture."

Internet service providers can take a leading role in helping all students achieve at-home access and close the digital divide.

As schools become better connected, districts nationwide are looking to extend internet access to underserved homes so students won't fall behind.

Want to know how to Introduce Technology Into Classroom Learning? Check 4 important EdTech Tools to help Introduce Technology Into Classroom Learning.

"The ongoing move toward "School 2.0" and digitalization continues, and includes a strong push for more innovative approaches to learning like Big Picture Learning,a similar program that has spread to over 50 U.S. schools and encourages students to obtain internships, seek out mentors, design their own curriculum plans and set their own goals and pace of learning."

Wondering whether Learning and Development is ready for Mobile Learning Technologies? Check how to increase confidence in Mobile Learning Technologies.

Important developments in four key technology areas could bring digital learning to more K-12 classrooms in the coming year.