Major educational publishers have been aggressively ramping up efforts to develop products that will further help teachers customize lessons, while also capturing and analyzing data on student performance. The new products will be interactive and involve gaming and “immersive” experiences. This panel will feature representatives from these companies, who will explain their visions of the next generation of learning technologies and how they will impact the educational process.
Millions of people around the world are now able to get free online access to courses produced by some of the top universities in the United States and elsewhere. In addition, some schools are refining the online model to enable students to have access to a wider range of for-credit courses taught by professors at leading universities. Boosters suggest these courses could reduce the cost of higher education as fewer teachers are needed, increase access to the best university minds, help stimulate technological advances, and build communities of learners. But will they fulfill their promise? This panel, which will consist of several key creators and providers of such massive open online courses (MOOCs), will discuss the rapidly developing trend while addressing crucial questions about how MOOCs might help fill the STEM pipeline.
By mixing face-to-face teaching with computer-mediated instruction, teachers at the K-12 and college levels are creating more flexible learning environments, where students can progress through their lessons at their own pace and get personalized help if needed. Computer software can provide self-guided lessons and flag problems for instructors who can then work with particular individuals or groups who need additional help. Different models of blended learning are being applied across the country. This panel, which will consist of practitioners, will examine the pros and cons of the various techniques.
Well-designed digital environments can potentially reduce overall education costs in K-12 and boost quality at the same time. Computer software, for example, is being used to free teacher time by taking over tasks, like grading papers, distributing assignments, and assessing class work in labs. But K-12 schools need to carefully question how digital tools will specifically enhance the teaching of various subjects and develop well-thought out plans to train teachers in advance to test out and implement the new tools effectively. Administrators must also secure funding for technology resources and generally rely on diverse sources (state, district, parental) for purchase. This panel will discuss tried-and-true guidelines for making the right investment choices, as well as how to better share knowledge within and among school districts or localities.
