Staying informed on current developments in education—whether you’re a teacher or an administrator—will help you to expand your knowledge base and allow you to better anticipate changes, innovation, and opportunities that are on the horizon. Yet your schedule, like ours, is likely already overbooked with a combination of work, family, and social commitments.
As Benjamin Franklin once said, "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." So, to help push the knowledge train down the tracks, we’ve compiled a short list of seven survey results, reports, and studies that we think will be beneficial to you and your colleagues.
Gallup Survey for Google
“Diversity Gaps in Computer Science Education: Exploring the Underrepresentation of Girls, Blacks, and Hispanics”
Lack of access to computers and computer science classes contribute to the continuing racial and gender gaps in K-12 computer science education, according to the results of a nationwide survey conducted by the Gallup organization for Google. The results of this survey examine "the structural and social barriers underrepresented groups face at home, in schools, and in society that could influence their likelihood to enter the computer science field."
EdWeek Special Report
“Personalized Learning: The Next Generation”
The push to design teaching and learning around students’ distinctive academic needs, and even their personal interests, is no longer only happening in pockets of experimentation around the country. This trend has now entered the K-12 mainstream and its expansion is quickening, but the challenges ahead for the next generation of personalized learning initiatives are significant. The research evidence to support comprehensive personalized learning is thin, the approach requires big investments in educational technology, and educators must be committed to transforming how they teach for it to work. See what else EdWeek shared in this recent special report.
National Center for Education Statistics Blog Post
Revenues and expenditures increased in public K-12 education for the 2013–2014 school year—the most recent year data is available—according to a recently released report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The report shows that spending on elementary and secondary education increased nationally during that particular school year, reversing a decline in spending for the previous four years. In a recent blog post, NCES reported that the amount of money spent per pupil in elementary and secondary schools rose by 1.2 percent from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2014, up to $11,066 per student, after declining from fiscal 2009 to fiscal 2013.
Project Tomorrow
Project Tomorrow, a national education nonprofit, has been collecting data on the use of technology in American schools on a massive scale for more than a decade. Since 2003, the organization’s Speak Up Research Project has involved more than 4.5 million participants—teachers, parents, students, administrators, and technology professionals—from more than 35,000 schools representing all 50 states.
In a recent report, exclusive data released to THE Journal showed that despite widespread acknowledgment of the advantages of mobile computing, students in nearly one-third of classrooms do not have regular access to mobile devices in the classroom. To review all of the data, visit http://www.tomorrow.org.
State of Our Cities
The federal government, state education agencies, school districts, and other organizations routinely collect education data. Too often, though, the data is inconsistent, incomplete, and difficult to access in a format that is practical for effective policy and decision-making.
Access to comparable education data at the city level can help empower city leaders and policymakers with the data they need to improve outcomes for all students. The George W. Bush Institute’s State of Our Cities tool provides much-needed access to data from multiple sources in an intuitive platform and provides helpful understanding about what is found in the data. Visit http://www.bushcenter.org/stateofourcities/ or check out this article from THE Journal for more information about this useful tool.
State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA)
This week, SETDA celebrated its 15th anniversary at the 2016 SETDA Leadership Summit. At the Summit, discussion revolved around how access to high-speed broadband in K-12 education is no longer an afterthought; instead it is fundamental for implementing the student-centered learning models critical in preparing all students for college and careers in the digital age. As schools and districts are moving toward student-centered, personalized learning approaches to increase student success, utilizing digital applications to support these deeper learning experiences are mandated. To get a broader understanding, check out http://www.setda.org/priorities/equity-of-access/broadband-imperativeii-2016/ or download the PDF.
The Delicate Balance of Student Access
As teachers and students rely more on online material to ensure a comprehensive education, students' private information is increasingly placed at risk. In this new, networked learning environment, ensuring the protection and privacy of student information, while maintaining connectivity and access to educational resources, is more critical than ever. This white paper, sponsored by Dell EMC and Sonicwall, delves into the details around how proper security empowers student access for learning while ensuring that students, data, and networks remain safe.
In our ever-changing world, it’s important for educators to be aware of current trends in order to help their students succeed. Be sure to subscribe to our Mimio Educator blog to stay informed about the latest issues, facts, and information about education and education technology. Do you know of any additional sources to help educators stay in the loop? Be sure to add your favorites in the comments below!
