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Educators Share Back-to-School Plans for Combining Ed Tech and Learning

Students to get more exposure to artificial intelligence, video games and computer science.

Taashi Rowe is the managing editor for EdTech: Focus on K-12 magazine.

As the new school year begins, some students and teachers are bringing with them new skills learned at summer school and professional conferences.

A report by PowerSchool notes that 32 percent of teachers surveyed say that they struggle to integrate new edtech tools into the classroom. We spoke with educators at ISTELive 23, one of the biggest edtech conferences in the country, where educators met in Philadelphia for hundreds of professional development opportunities. Attendees discussed their plans to incorporate at least one new technology or tech-focused process at their schools this fall, and we shared these videos on social media.

Educators say that video games and esports can be particularly valuable for for helping students attain and retain information.

As fifth grade teacher Alyssa Aragon-Bustillos heads #BackToSchool @FredSchools, she says that @Minecraft is more than a video game; it’s a critical #K12 learning tool. #edtech pic.twitter.com/iTPcI7Tdeu

— EdTech K–12 Magazine (@EdTech_K12) August 16, 2023

Others plan to learn more about artificial intelligence so that they can teach students how to understand it.

Christopher Beyrouty, a #K12 teacher @WapatoSD, plans to prepare his computer science and engineering students for the workforce by incorporating lessons on #ArtificialIntelligence. #BackToSchool pic.twitter.com/GV33GJ7BM7

— EdTech K–12 Magazine (@EdTech_K12) August 14, 2023

For educators who have been talking about virtual reality for a while, this is the year to bring it into classrooms.

#BackToSchool can sometimes mean fresh #edtech. @NPSchools_VA’s @LTSPrincipal is bringing in #VirtualReality to boost student engagement. #edtech pic.twitter.com/IPfgvIcfBG

— EdTech K–12 Magazine (@EdTech_K12) August 15, 2023

One digital learning coach wants to help teachers rethink their approach to computer science.

While at @ISTE this summer, we chatted with @ReedEdTech @FCPSKY, who says he’d like to incorporate computational thinking into every #K12 subject. #BacktoSchool pic.twitter.com/xRoLjsvIQ0

— EdTech K–12 Magazine (@EdTech_K12) August 17, 2023

Another instructional specialist plans to incorporate the ISTE Standards into her professional development efforts.

For @ITSTechyNatasha with @DeKalbSchools, #BackToSchool means building a thriving professional learning community that helps teachers equip students for the future. pic.twitter.com/2uCuQ5MPHy

— EdTech K–12 Magazine (@EdTech_K12) August 18, 2023

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