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A quick look at different ways AI is used in education today

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The potential of using artificial intelligence in education to enhance learning, assist teachers and fuel more effective individualized learning is exciting, but also a bit daunting. To even have an intelligent conversation about AI in education, one must first push past imaginary science-fiction scenarios of computers and robots teaching our children, replacing teachers and reducing the human element from what is a fundamentally human activity.

One of the leading writers on the benefits of artificial intelligence in education, Matthew Lynch ( "My Vision for the Future of Artificial Intelligence in Education"), is careful to explore the potential pitfalls along with the benefits, writing that "the use of AI in education is valuable in some ways, but we must be hyper-vigilant in monitoring its development and its overall role in our world."

The ethical considerations are profound, as they are when it comes to using artificial intelligence in any type of setting. AI lacks a so-called "moral compass." So, by one way of looking at it, AI programming is "as ethical as its developer," according to TowardsDataScience, in an article about AI ethics that prescribes two important recommendations moving forward:

1. We need to have ethics built into the idea of why a certain piece of technology, equipped with AI, is being developed.

2. We need to monitor/check/police the outcomes of that specific piece of technology in order to fully understand its behavior and make sure that it's not violating our (human) moral compass.

There is robust debate throughout the technology community and beyond about ethics in artificial intelligence and most university degree programs are integrating courses on AI ethics into their curriculum. There, now that we have identified the ethical elephant in the room, let's talk about the exciting possibilities of AI in education.

The Potential Benefits of AI in Education

Ideally, writes Lynch in The EdAdvocate, "AI does not detract from classroom instruction but enhances it in many ways." He summarizes five intriguing potential pluses of integrating AI in education:

Personalization: "It can be overwhelmingly difficult for one teacher to figure out how to meet the needs of every student in his/her classroom. ... AI systems easily adapt to each student's individual learning needs and can target instruction based on their strengths and weaknesses."

Tutoring: AI systems can "gauge a student's learning style and pre-existing knowledge to deliver customized support and instruction."

Grading: Sure, AI can help grade exams using an answer key; but it can also "compile data about how students performed and even grade more abstract assessments such as essays."

Feedback on course quality: For example, if many students are answering a question incorrectly, "AI can zero in on the specific information or concepts that students are missing, so educators can deliver targeted improvements in materials and methods."

Meaningful and immediate feedback to students: Some students may be shy about taking risks or receiving critical feedback in the classroom, but "with AI, students can feel comfortable to make the mistakes necessary for learning and receive the feedback they need for improvement."

Much of the potential envisioned for AI in education centers on reducing time spent by teachers on tedious tasks to free up time for more meaningful ones.

Automating administrative tasks is also one of five potential benefits spotlighted by Bernard Marr, an author, futurist and technology advisor who cites figures forecasting 47.5% growth from 2017-2021 in the use of artificial intelligence in education in the U.S.

In a video on the potential of AI in education, Marr explains why he sees AI having a "massive impact" in education - emphasizing that "AI is not a threat to teachers; it is not there to replace teachers," but rather to deliver a better education to our children." He envisions a future hybrid model that is designed to "get the best out of our artificially intelligent-enabled systems and our teachers." Marr outlines the potential of AI to help our education provide enhanced:

Differentiated and individualized learning

Automation of administrative tasks

Tutoring and support outside the classroom

Universal access for all students

43 Examples of AI in Education

Inspired by a challenge from "an old school teacher who thinks that AI is ruining education," Matthew Lynch reviews a wide range of topics in a piece titled "26 Ways That Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Education For The Better." For example:

Adaptive Learning: "Used to teach students basic and advanced skills by assessing their present skill level and creating a guided instructional experience that helps them become proficient."

Assistive Technology: AI can help special needs students access a more equitable education, for example by "reading passages to a visually impaired student."

Early Childhood Education: "AI is currently being used to power interactive games that teach children basic academic skills and more."

Data and Learning Analytics: "AI is currently being used by teachers and education administrators to analyze and interpret data," enabling them to make better-informed decisions.

Scheduling: Helping administrators to schedule courses and individuals to manage their daily, weekly, monthly or yearly schedules.

Facilities Management: AI is effective at "monitoring the status of power, Wi-Fi and water services; alerting the facilities management workers when problems arise."

Overall School Management: AI is currently being used to manage entire schools, powering student records systems, transportation, IT, maintenance, scheduling, budgeting, etc.

Writing: Not only does Lynch assert that AI is already at work helping students improve their writing skills, he confesses, "I am currently using a grammar and usage app to help me write this article."

Running down his list, Lynch also cites current uses of AI in education that include:

Classroom/Behavior Management

Lesson Planning

Classroom Audio-Visual

Parent-Teacher Communication

Language Learning

Test Prep

Assessment

Learning Management Systems

Gamification for Enhanced Student Engagement

Staff Scheduling and Substitute Management

Professional Development

Transportation

Maintenance

Finance

Cybersecurity

Safety and Security

Examples of how artificial intelligence is currently being used in higher education include:

Plagiarism Detection

Exam Integrity

Chatbots for Enrollment and Retention

Learning Management Systems

Transcription of Faculty Lectures

Enhanced Online Discussion Boards

Analyzing Student Success Metrics

Academic Research

Connected Campuses

In terms of AI-infused specific technologies now being used in education, the list grows longer every day. Here are just a few:

Thinkster Math: described by its creators as a "math tutoring program leverages human interaction and groundbreaking artificial intelligence to create personalized learning programs"

Jill Watson: an AI-enabled virtual teaching assistant introduced by the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2016

Brainly: a social media site for classroom questions

Nuance: speech recognition software used by students and faculty; capable of transcribing up to 160 words per minute; especially helpful for students who struggle with writing or have accessibility needs

Cognii: AI-based products, including a virtual learning assistant, for K-12 and higher education institutions, as well as corporate training organizations

KidSense: AI educational solutions designed for children, including a voice-to-text tool with algorithms built to recognize the sometimes harder-to-translate speech of young learners

Content Technologies: instructional design and content application solutions fueled by artificial intelligence research engines

As explained by CEO Dr. Scott Parfitt ( see video), Content Technologies Inc. develops AI learning systems that are focused on "turning big data into information, and information into knowledge."

"We send an engine out, it starts reading at light speed every article it can read. It's learned its own material," says Parfitt. The company's education-focused solutions include:

Palitt: built to help instructors easily create "your own custom lecture series, syllabus or textbook"

Cram101: AI technology that can "turn any textbook into a smart study guide complete with chapter summaries, unlimited true-false and multiple choice practice tests and flashcards all drilled down to a specific textbook, ISBN number, author and chapter."

JustTheFacts101: intended to function as the AI equivalent of an old-fashioned yellow marker, instantly highlighting and generating book and chapter-specific summaries

AI in Education [Inclusion and Universal Access]

Bernard Marr explains that AI tools can enhance inclusion and universal access to education in a number of ways, including:

Helping to "make global classrooms available to all, including those who speak different languages or who might have visual or hearing impairments"

Creating access for "students who might not be able to attend school due to illness"

Better serving "students who require learning at a different level or on a particular subject that isn't available in their own school"

Overall, it is hoped that AI will ultimately help educators make continued progress in addressing the broad range of physical, cognitive, academic, social and emotional factors that can affect student learning and ensure that all students have equal opportunity in education, regardless of their social class, race, gender, sexuality, ethnic background or physical and mental disabilities.

AI in Education [Individualized Learning]

There is also considerable optimism around the idea that, as artificial intelligence becomes a more integral part of the classroom, teachers will be better equipped to offer an individualized learning experience for every student.

According to an article in The Atlantic, ( "Artificial Intelligence Promises a Personalized Education for All"), artificial intelligence holds the potential to "enhance human teachers' abilities to tailor lessons to each student without knocking their class schedule off track," eliminating the need for educators to "teach to the middle," as often happens when their students have a range of skill levels and learning abilities.

Rose Luckin, a professor of learning-centered design at University College London, is quoted as saying that, "The real power of artificial intelligence for education is in the way that we can use it to process vast amounts of data about learners, about teachers, about teaching and learning interactions." Ultimately, AI can "help teachers understand their students more accurately, more effectively."

The Future of AI in Education

Though there continues to be widespread debate over the pros and cons of deploying AI technology in the field of education, including the concerns about depersonalization and the ethical considerations cited above, there is an emerging consensus that the extraordinary range of current and future benefits will carry the day.
This report on Artificial Intelligence in Education was developed by the University of San Diego's innovative, online Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence program, an AI industry thought leader and education partner.

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43 Examples of Artificial Intelligence in Education

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The potential for using artificial intelligence in education to assist teachers and enhance learning is profound. Here's an overview, plus examples of how AI is being used in education today.

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I had never really thought about using AI in education but the more I think about the more I realize there are things out there that I am already using that is AI. When chatting with our Instructional Technology coaches today, she mentioned that one teacher has used Quiver. I looked it up and it looked cool with how different pictures can pop up. I am confident my students would definitely enjoy that! I also thought about different programs we use such as IXL and Symphony Math. Both of those help the students when they get the answer incorrect and gives extra remediation practice if needed. As a teacher, I feel like Google pushes it more than I realized. Google can finish my sentences when I am writing emails and they also realize what documents I generally open at the same time each day. Apple does the same when I open the same apps at similar times each day too. Overall, I think it is little things that make life easier but I do wonder how far it can go.

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Teaching in the Pandemic - Virtual/ Flipped/ Hybrid Thoughts 5/16/22

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Teaching in the Pandemic - Virtual/ Flipped/ Hybrid Thoughts 5/16/22

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Overall the pandemic created a push that was probably needed for k-12 education. While I do believe that younger students learn better in classrooms, having a hybrid and online option is better than nothing.

I work at a private school with a population that is very blessed. My husband calls my students the “silver spoon kids” because they are so taken care of. When we first went virtual in March 2020, we sent kids home with iPads (older grades took their laptops) and we continued to have class and just make it work. We continued on and did a virtual small group summer tutoring program too called The Reading Zone. The Reading Zone was a way to connect with students we never had the opportunity to communicate and connect with before due to geography. We had students from Hawaii and Ecuador all learning how to read.

The Reading Zone also provided an excellent spot to practice new computer skills with Zoom and Notebook to figure out the best way to deliver lessons. Last year also had many challenges before a vaccine came out with quarantining for 10 to 14 days. My co-teacher and I did some different varieties of delivering lessons to our first graders including some lessons in a flipped classroom. We would provide videos with activities, give them time to complete them and then meet with students individually. We could see their work and check in and see what was hard and what they were doing really well. We would also give multiple times where the students could talk to each other to create some normalcy and social interaction which is what they needed.

This year in the classroom brought more hybrid learning which is my least favorite type of classroom environment. It is really hard to make sure the student online is engaged and so are the students in the classroom.

At the end of the day, students have the potential to learn wherever they are. However, it is definitely best for students to be in school learning so they can get the hands out experience to great a multisensory classroom to better grasp new concepts.

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Apps for Collaboration I have used 5/16/22

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Apps for Collaboration I have used 5/16/22

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Seesaw - students can post to the blog (approved by the teacher) and can comment on each other’s posts (similar to commenting on instagram)

Explain Everything (similar to Mural)

Google Drive

Goosechase - one planned the last week of school

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Apps for Collaboration I want to try 5/16/222

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Apps for Collaboration I want to try 5/16/222

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Breakout EDU - I have done some breakout rooms but I think they have a lot of potential!

Minecraft: Education Edition - my students LOVE Minecraft and I would love to know more and more about it

School Friendzy - I like how it can read to them; don't know if it is what I need in my classroom though

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Last semester with Dr. Greer I did a project on ScratchJr that I loved and so did my kids!

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There are countless opportunities and benefits to using ScratchJr in the classroom. I look forward to using it more in my classroom next year and teaching my students the language of Coding.

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Scratch is a fantastic interface for students who can read, but I have noticed that kids younger than 8 years old often struggle to understand the concepts in Scratch. Most schools, for example, don't teach the coordinate plane until 4th or 5th grade, but students who dive into Scratch are expected to learn the coordinate plane in order to organize their project designs. When you try to teach a 2nd grader the coordinate plane, they are totally confused.

Another reason for waiting to introduce Scratch is that the Scratch community is general much more mature than a 5-7 year old. Even though Scratch takes precautions to not allow explicit content on their site, young children and their parents may find an open-format community distasteful for students who are young and impressionable. The silliness of many Scratch projects shows forth immediately as students click the Explore tab on Scratch's main site. You can find some awesome Scratch Projects for kids here.

Advantages of ScratchJr

That is why ScratchJr is such a fantastic resource. As explained in the quote above, it more closely matches the cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development of children in the 5-7 age range. So let's dive into some of the great reasons why ScratchJr is the perfect coding tool for kids in this age range. Click here for more coding resources for kids in this age group.

Creative Design and Interactivity

If you hand a child ScratchJr and see what they will do first, chances are they will immediately gravitate to the costume editor which allows them to color and draw the cat or other characters. In my experience, it is amazing what students as young as 4 can draw on this platform. I have students tell me all the time that the cat looks better in pink, or black. They can also free draw books or other accessories as they wish.

After the animations are done, students also figure out quickly how they can record themselves making sounds. ScratchJr does not come with a huge library of sounds like Scratch, which is great because it opens up even more creativity for the kids. They can't just click "Dance Party" for the audio track - they have to create a dance party themselves and record the sound.

Simple Coding Blocks

I'll admit that no coding program I've experienced thus far is 100% intuitive for all 4-5 year olds. But ScratchJr gets really close in its ability to dumb down challenging concepts into a single image. Parents will still likely need to explain what the green flag does, and there are a few other blocks that will also need to be explained. But the concepts are simple, and once kids have the initial explanation, they should be good to create the projects listed below.

Kid-Friendly Graphics

The graphics on ScratchJr are better than Scratch's, but there aren't as many options for backgrounds and characters. Every character in ScratchJr has been developed with the child in mind, looking happy and friendly. There is also a PBS-kids version of ScratchJr which may appeal to kids who want to use the characters from PBS kids in their projects.

A Few Disadvantages

To be clear, I love ScratchJr and I think it is fantastic for young kids, but I must be clear about some of the weaknesses of the program. The simplicity of the coding blocks in ScratchJr doesn't leave much room to create a game. It is possible to create a maze game that is more complicated than the one I created below, and it may be possible to do another type of game, but overall, I find it challenging for our age range and outside the normal bounds of what ScratchJr is intended for.

ScratchJr is also not simple in the sense that coding is not simple. I created this post with this reality in mind: most kids/people struggle when they first try to solve problems in computer programming. Hand a 5 year old an iPad with ScratchJr, and they can probably edit pictures, but they're unlikely to create a legit story without some initial guidance. It's as simple as it can be, but it's not totally intuitive. I think the projects below can offer a nice bridge and introduction to the blocks. If you're looking for more structured instruction, check out these ScratchJr Summer Camps.

Lastly, if you are a teacher and want to use ScratchJr, saving projects can be complicated because there aren't accounts set up in the same way as Scratch. You can export files to another device that has ScratchJr, but you can't save it to iCloud or to your account. So I'd recommend that kids keep track of which iPad they are using if they want continuity in their projects.

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7 ScratchJr Projects for Kids in Grades PK-2 | Coder Kids

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ScratchJr is a fantastic resource that all young coders should be using. But what is ScratchJr, and why shouldn't your child just move into Scratch? This post answers those questions, and it contains 7 introductory projects that will help your child be prepared for creating stories and animations in

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My Thoughts on Coding in Elementary School 

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This article goes over 7 different apps to use AR in the classroom.
I would love to test this out next year and see how my students would respond. I feel like it would definitely be a big hit!

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A technology integration specialist shares some ways her district uses augmented reality to boost engagement in learning.

Courtesy of Katrina Youdale / Narrator AR

Narrator AR is an augmented reality app that students can use to practice their handwriting.

Educators are constantly looking for resources and tools to get students engaged and excited about the content they are teaching, and an interesting option these days is augmented reality (AR) tools.

With a mobile device or tablet, teachers and students can use AR apps to access projection-based, location-based, or recognition-based experiences so that objects, artifacts, or media appear to be in the room. Students are then able to interact with that content by moving around, getting closer to it, and manipulating it to research and learn more about it.

In my experience, students' engagement increases when they create experiences in AR to demonstrate their understanding of a particular concept or standard. When students use augmented reality during a lesson, they want to dive into the content and don't want to stop learning or exploring. They're more willing to use critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills to explore the lesson or activity. And using a variety of apps, students can create projects that correlate with curriculum standards and concepts to show what they know.

Augmented reality can be integrated into the classroom in all grades and across the curriculum-possibilities range from exploring space to learning about animals and continents to creating book reviews or historical settings. Some students may not have many opportunities to visit historical landmarks, but they can do so virtually. AR also allows students to view models of things we can't see without a microscope and creates opportunity to see and interact with plants and animals, and sea creatures that live on the ocean floor. As educators, we can provide our students with opportunities and experiences they might not otherwise have that will be vital to their future.

7 Fun Augmented Reality Tools
Courtesy of Merge EDU
AR can be a hook to get students excited about content, guiding them to ask more questions. Seeing and interacting with artifacts, animals, and more can boost students' excitement level and foster collaboration with their peers, making content more meaningful and memorable.

For some examples of how my school is using augmented reality resources with pre-K to 12th-grade students, visit this site.

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7 Augmented Reality Tools for the Classroom

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A technology integration specialist shares some ways her district uses augmented reality to boost engagement in learning. Courtesy of Katrina Youdale / Narrator AR Narrator AR is an augmented reality app that students can use to practice their handwriting.

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What a cool way to explore different places or even the human body! I feel like there are so many possibilities and it could really increase concrete experiences for students so they would learn more.

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Virtual Reality is used in education to enhance student engagement. Virtual Reality creates the real world around us.

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My thoughts on AR and VR in the classroom

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Favorite Apps in the Classroom - Part 1 5/26

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Favorite Apps in the Classroom - Part 1 5/26

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An app that I use ALL the time in class is Seesaw. We use Seesaw for so many different assignments. Essentially, it is like an electronic worksheet. Teachers can post videos, give assignments, send out announcements, etc. In addition, parents are also connected so they can see what teachers post and what their student posts. I shared a link to an example of an activity I had my students complete just the other day.
We also used Seesaw as a primary point during distance learning. We posted different links and assignments and it really worked well. I have used this for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade and they have all been successful!

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Compatible with: Chromebooks, computers, iPads, iPhones, Android tablets, Android phones, Kindle Fire

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Favorite App in the Classroom Part 2 5/26 - Epic! 

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Favorite App in the Classroom Part 2 5/26 - Epic! 

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Another one of my favorite apps to use in the classroom is Epic! It is an online library of books and videos for students. So many of the books have the "Read to Me" function which helps so many of my dyslexic students.
As a teacher, I can send out different collections to certain books that I have already chosen for them to see. For example, if we were learning about the life cycle of a butterfly, I could send out a collection all about that to start to spark their interests.
I am attaching a collection that I made for when my students studied Growth Mindset. There are also so many other collections that other teachers have made that you can easily pull from.

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Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

Get Started

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online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

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Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under. Get Started

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Favorite App in the Classroom Part 3 5/26

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Favorite App in the Classroom Part 3 5/26

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The third app I want to share is Read Live. Read Live originated from Read Naturally. It is a program that works on fluency. Students enjoy it because it is on the iPad. It also places students based on their reading level and creates a goal for them to read after practicing the passage. There are so many different passages to choose from. Students also get very competitive with themselves and really work towards increasing their hot read score.
As for grade level. I have had the most success with 2nd and 3rd graders. It was a little too challenging for my beginning readers in 1st grade.

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Build fluency and motivation by reading short, nonfiction passages.

Increase reading accuracy and expression with audio support.

Strengthen comprehension and vocabulary.

Develop automaticity in decoding (Phonics levels).

Work independently most of the time.

Experience success and an improved attitude toward reading.

Read Naturally Live provides...

An interactive reading intervention, often used for RTI or MTSS implementations.

Options to easily differentiate the program to meet individual needs.

Motivating informational texts for reluctant readers, from beginning readers to adults.

Extensive, computer-generated reports on student progress.

Opportunities for teachers to work with students one-on-one.

Three curriculum series (Sequenced, Phonics, Idioms) with a total of 23 levels.

Nonfiction reading opportunities as required by state standards.

Spanish translations for stories in early Sequenced levels.

​Read Naturally Live is an online reading program that accelerates reading achievement by combining the research-proven strategies of teacher modeling, repeated reading, and progress monitoring. A student works at his or her own pace in an appropriate level of material. Text and audio guide the student through the steps. The student masters a story by reading along with audio and then practicing the story until he or she can read it fluently and with comprehension. The program automatically tracks student progress.

Research basis for the Read Naturally Strategy

​Read Naturally Live Steps

1. Select a Story
The student clicks on the story he or she wants to read. Choosing the story deepens the student's investment in the material.

2. Key Words
In the Sequenced and Idioms series, the student reads the key words and their definitions while listening to an audio recording. The key words provide definitions that are important to understanding the story. In the Phonics series, the student listens to a phonics lesson and reads words that have the featured phonics patterns.

3. Prediction
The student uses the title, picture, and key words to write a prediction of what he or she thinks the story is about. The prediction prepares the student's mind for reading the story.

4. Cold Timing
The teacher may time the student for one minute as he or she reads the story, or the student may complete this step independently. The student clicks unknown words while reading, and then clicks the last word read during the timing. Read Naturally Live subtracts the unknown words from the total number of words attempted to obtain a cold-timing score and displays it on a graph. This step establishes a baseline for progress monitoring, the component of the Read Naturally Strategy that motivates the student to improve.

5. Read Along
The student reads along quietly with a recording of the story, typically three times. This step is the teacher-modeling component of the Read Naturally Strategy, which helps the student learn new words and master others as well as learn proper pronunciation, expression, and phrasing.

6. Practice
The student practices reading the story without audio support three to ten times until able to read it accurately, with expression, and at the goal rate. This step is the repeated-reading component of the Read Naturally Strategy, which helps the student improve fluency, master difficult words, and understand the story.

7. Quiz
The student answers questions about the story. Responding to the text holds the student accountable for meaning, develops the ability to answer many types of questions, and provides teachers with information about how well the student comprehends the story.

8. Retell/Word List
In the Sequenced and Idioms series, the student retells or summarizes the story to improve comprehension.
In the Phonics series, the student works on decoding skills by practicing the word list until able to read it accurately at a predetermined rate. The Phonic series also includes a spelling step to give students practice encoding words from the word list.

9. ​Pass
The student reads the story for the teacher to show that he or she can read it at the goal rate, with appropriate expression, and with three or fewer errors. The teacher corrects the comprehension questions and the retelling of the story (if applicable) and reviews the results with the student.

In the Phonics series, the student also reads the word list to show that he or she can read it with three or fewer errors at the goal rate. ​A graph shows how much the student's fluency has improved since the cold timing.

​ Additional graphs show results for the comprehension questions, the retelling, and the word lists (if applicable).

Read Naturally Live is a component of Read Live, a subscription program that is licensed per student. Teachers can reassign licenses if students leave the program. Read Live subscriptions include access to all 23 levels of three series. All series have the same basic design with strategic differences.

Sequenced series is the basic series and has 13 levels (1.0 - 8.0) with 24 stories per level.

Phonics series adds phonics lessons and activities to the basic design and has 6 levels (0.8 - 2.7) with 24 stories per level.
Phonics elements taught in the Phonics series

Idioms series teaches common American idioms as students work on reading skills. Idioms has 4 levels (3.0 - 4.5) with 12 stories per level.
Featured idioms

The teacher assigns the appropriate series and level for each student. The student works through the level in the student program, and the teacher manages the student's progress in the teacher program.

STUDENT PROGRAM

High-interest, leveled, nonfiction stories include:

Key words, clickable vocabulary words, and comprehension activities.

Spanish translation of each story in Sequenced levels 1.0 - 4.5.

Extensive audio support includes:

Audio directions for each step of the process.

Three appropriately paced recordings that model correct pronunciation and expression.

Pronunciation of words in stories when clicked.

Audio definitions of key words, or, in the Phonics series, an audio phonics lesson.

Clickable vocabulary words with audio-supported, student-friendly definitions.

Spanish translation of each story in Sequenced levels 1.0 - 4.5.

Auditory signals that indicate if a student's responses to multiple choice items are correct or incorrect.

Structured instructional process includes:

Automated steps built around teacher modeling, repeated reading, and progress monitoring.

A wait-time vocabulary-building activity.

Computerized scoring and extensive reports include:

Automated correction of multiple-choice questions.

Calculation of fluency, phonics, and comprehension scores.

Graphs and reports showing student performance.

TEACHER PROGRAM

Set up of account for district, building, classroom, staff, and/or students include:

Enrolling staff and students.

Licensing students.

Support for single sign-on tools from ClassLink and Google Classroom.

Management of student programs includes:

Placement of each student in a level and series with an appropriate reading-rate goal.

Easily customized options for individual students and extensive student reports.

Printable stories, reports, parent letters, awards, and completion certificates.

Online documentation includes:

Step-by-step instructions for working in the software and "how to" section on setting up Read Naturally Live.

A lesson plan for introducing the program to students.

Training videos that explain how to set up the software and work with students in the program.

ONLINE RESOURCES AND TECH SUPPORT

To help you implement Read Live successfully, Read Naturally provides free web resources and tech support.
Learn more about Read Naturally's online resources and tech support

Read Naturally Live is an integrated component of the Read Live platform.

Students At-a-Glance Report
This report includes a student-by-student summary of results for Read Naturally Live stories passed. This report is used to quickly identify students who may not be making adequate progress in fluency and comprehension and therefore may require adjustments in their programs or additional instruction.

Student Level Summary Report
This is a table summarizing results for each story a student has passed at a given Read Naturally Live level, including cold- and hot-timing results, number of practices, quiz results, and more.

Student Fluency Graph
This bar chart displays a student's cold- and hot-timing scores for all stories passed in a specified series and level.

Student Comprehension Graph
This graph shows the quiz questions a student answered correctly on the first try for each story in a specified level. Quiz results are reported by question type and story.

Student Retell Graph
This graph shows the number of words a student used to retell each completed story on the first try and whether or not the student met the teacher's expectations on the first try.

Word List Graph
This graph shows how long it took a student to read the word list on the most recent attempt for each story the student completed in a specified level.

Story Details Report
This report provides a student's detailed results for a specific Read Naturally Live story.​

Student Placement Results
This report shows the results of a student's placement test conducted using the Read Naturally Live placement program-the test results, recommendations, and decision.

Read Naturally Live is an integrated component of the Read Live platform. All Read Live licenses enable full access to the Read Naturally Live curriculum as well as access to the Word Warm-ups Live curriculum, One Minute Reader Live curriculum, and Read Naturally Live-Español curriculum.

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Read Naturally® Live :: Read Naturally, Inc.

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Build fluency and motivation by reading short, nonfiction passages. Increase reading accuracy and expression with audio support. Strengthen comprehension and vocabulary. Develop automaticity in decoding (Phonics levels). Work independently most of the time. Experience success and an improved attitude toward reading. Read Naturally Live provides...

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IXL in the Classroom - Commenting on Josie Ebert's Padlet

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Comment on Padlet from Classmate (Josie Ebert) 5/26

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Comment on Padlet from Classmate (Josie Ebert) 5/26

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I forgot about IXL and I love it! Thank you Josie for posting about it! So many times, even in the classroom, I forget about IXL and I love when I remember to use it! It is such a great tool and it definitely a great place to practice specific skills

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IXL in the Classroom - Commenting on Josie Ebert's Padlet

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My commentary from Dr. Greer's video. I love the idea of piloting new technology and then presenting it to others and showing how to use it once I have figured it out myself. 

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It is important to have proper buy in and training for teachers to want to implement new things in the classroom.

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Dive Brief:

Technology adoption and innovative teaching practices are becoming commonplace in the classroom, particularly as educators look toward more blended and experiential learning strategies - but ensuring success will also require school leaders to consider whether teacher buy-in is critical for a given initiative, according to eSchool News.

On one hand, many education experts say teacher buy-in is important because educators' comfort and feelings toward tech adopted are key to that technology's successful implementation, but others claim that teacher buy-in can sometimes be overemphasized and inadvertently stifle innovation.

According to eSchool News, teacher buy-in for a classroom tool will also most likely affect how students perceive it, which can impact learning outcomes, so finding a balance between pushing innovation and getting faculty support comes down to administrators taking the time to understand teachers' hesitations or emotional anxieties around change and working with them to find a solution.

Dive Insight:

Lack of at least some teacher buy-in for change initiatives in a school can diminish the effectiveness of those projects. Teachers, who are closest to the students, are responsible for delivering new technology and strategies in an effective manner. According to two officials at Meriden Public Schools in Connecticut writing for eSchool News, a rush to implement new technologies and changes without teacher buy-in or a proper strategy are some of the main reasons why blended learning programs fail. Simply put, moving too quickly without giving faculty the support they need or hearing their concerns can be a recipe for failure.

​But beyond just getting support for a technology or program, administrators are increasingly seeing that leaving teachers out of decision-making conversations affects not only students, but also the school environment. Statistics reflect this reality, as 8% of teachers leave the profession each year - more often than not for feeling that they lacked a supportive school culture. As schools increasingly move toward becoming "future ready" and adopt new learning strategies, not meeting the needs of faculty can lead to unforeseen setbacks.

Administrators can take steps to avoid such a consequence by actually listening to what teachers want and working to understand their hesitations. For instance, Principal Lourenco Garcia of Revere High School was able to successfully implement strategies to prepare his school for the 21st century by focusing in on faculty professional development, support and facilitation of student-centered learning communities, which helped teachers feel as though they had a sense of ownership over transformation in their classrooms. In another case, Superintendent Mario Andrade of Bristol Warren Regional School District in Rhode Island made professional learning communities a 24/7 commitment by always paying attention to what faculty needed. When he had t eachers collaborate on ideas for technology adoption with reviews, assessments, and data, he could see issues with projects and immediately respond to them.

It's an issue at the higher ed level, as well, with this reality becoming unavoidable as colleges and universities must adopt modern technologies and innovative strategies to stay ahead. Education Dive attended the Council for Higher Education Accreditation's meeting last month, where education experts spoke toward disruptive innovation in the industry, saying that institutions will fall behind if they don't start to make changes that meet the demands of a more diverse and technologically savvy student body. As higher ed leaders adapt, faculty buy-in will be an important factor in ensuring that changes are made successfully.

Examples of college leaders taking steps to include staff in the decision-making conversation include Harvey Mudd College President Maria Klawe, who created steering committees around chief concerns expressed through campus-wide surveys. And Robert Morris University President Christopher Howard has noted that it can be difficult to get support for change in universities, but often times ideas for innovation actually come from the faculty members.

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How administrators can get teacher buy-in on change initiatives

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Technology adoption and innovative teaching practices are becoming commonplace in the classroom, particularly as educators look toward more blended and experiential learning strategies - but ensuring success will also require school leaders to consider whether teacher buy-in is critical for a given initiative, according to eSchool News.

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Love this article - lots of good statistics to look at as to why technology in the classroom is a good idea. Some teachers needs to see those numbers in order to want to implement things in the classroom.

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A common purpose unites educators across cities, districts, schools, and grades: to help students learn. The school closures during the pandemic forced teachers to quickly adopt new methods of online instruction and learn how to use technology in the classroom.

While the process was often frustrating, 87% of educators surveyed by the EdWeek Research Center in 2020 reported that their ability to use educational technology (EdTech) effectively improved.

EdTech is not a fad; it's the direction in which education at nearly every level is going. Here are the top three reasons why teachers should use technology in the classroom.

1. Technology in the Classroom Provides Teachers With More Tools To Support Students.

In addition to resources like textbooks and worksheets, technology equips educators with various tools to help students develop a better understanding of the material.

Because students learn in unique ways, incorporating more learning methods increases the likelihood that all of your students will grasp the concepts you teach.

Technology Accommodates a Variety of Learning Methods.

Whether students learn best through lectures, reading, examples, or video, technology allows teachers to accommodate every learning style.

Students can learn via online videos, audiobooks, interactive online games, and more, all at their own pace. And because online content is easily updated, you and your students can immediately access the most recent information.

EdTech Statistics

Published in December 2019, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development released the Information and Communications Technology Survey, taken by more than 340,000 15-year-olds across the world in 2018.

McKinsey & Company provided a recap of the findings related to technology in the classroom . Consider these statistics:

Students in the United States who achieved the highest outcomes for reading and science spent more than 60 minutes per week in the classroom on a device.

Students in the U.S. who achieved the highest outcomes on homework for reading, math, and science spent more than 60 minutes per week on a device for homework.

Students in the U.S. perform better in reading when both the teacher and students use devices in the classroom or when the teacher solely uses a device in the classroom.

Stream.io Inc. also published a list of EdTech statistics :

In the summer of 2020, 93% of U.S. educators reported that they conducted at least some teaching online from home.

As a result of the school closures because of the pandemic, 58% of education professionals have a more positive opinion of EdTech.

As opposed to the global average of 37% of students, 71% of U.S. students claim to use laptops in the classroom.

You can become a more effective educator by leveraging technology in the classroom.

2. Students Become Active Participants in the Learning Process by Using Technology in the Classroom.

The traditional teaching method is for an educator to stand at the front of the classroom and deliver information about a subject. In this classic lecture style, students are passive participants. In other words, they only receive information.

Technology in the classroom helps students engage with the material they're learning. From online educational games to immersive virtual reality, EdTech enables students to become active learners. For example, challenge-based gamification can improve students' performance by up to 89% .

Technological resources frequently used in education include:

Interactive online quizzes, such as Kahoots or Quizlet.

Virtual games or simulations where students put knowledge into action.

A smart board or interactive portable whiteboard, where students can diagram a sentence, solve a math equation, and more.

Access to computers for online research.

Online video series that dives deeper into subjects.

Presentation tools, such as PowerPoint, Canva, and Prezi.

Technological tools don't have to cost a lot. There are multiple free resources you can use to enhance your students' education.

3. Teachers Who Become Experts at Using Technology in the Classroom Can Advance Their Careers.

In addition to the standard knowledge and skills required, more institutions seek educators who have experience using technology in the classroom.

The EdTech field offers education professionals incredible opportunities to advance their careers. As more educational institutions adopt technology in the classroom and as technology rapidly expands, new job opportunities in EdTech continue to emerge.

Common EdTech roles include:

Academic Operations Manager

Chief Learning/Technology Officer

Classroom Teacher

Curriculum Design Manager

Director of Online Learning

Innovation Director

Instructional Designer

The most effective way to become competitive in EdTech is to advance your education. With a master's degree, you can access more leadership opportunities.

Concordia's Master of Education in Educational Technology & Innovation is designed for educational professionals seeking to enter and advance within the EdTech field.

CTX Master's Degree in Educational Technology

The Master of Education in Educational Technology and Innovation (MEd EdTech) at Concordia University Texas is a 16-month online program that will prepare you to become a leader of instructional technology within the fields of education and organizational development. The MEd EdTech interweaves the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards.

Concordia's MEd EdTech program equips you with the knowledge and skills to develop and implement innovative teaching practices that leverage cutting-edge technology to meet the needs of students, staff, and organizations.

Dr. Alex Herron, the associate vice president of Digital Learning and Operations, said:

Students in the MEd EdTech program look at digital learning and technologies from many different perspectives and think critically about the short and long-term effects on users. The MEd EdTech is about learning how to apply the right digital learning tool at the right time and in the right setting to maximize learning.

Who Can Apply?

The MEd EdTech program at Concordia is designed for anyone with teaching certification OR at least one year of experience in the technology field.

Why Earn a Master's Degree in EdTech?

In addition to expanding your knowledge, a master's degree sets you apart in the marketplace. You will become a more competitive job candidate able to leverage technology to optimize learning.

Why Choose Concordia?

Concordia developed the MEd EdTech program in partnership with the Texas Computer Education Association. The program equips you with the knowledge to identify current and emerging technologies and the leadership skills to implement innovative technology in the classroom.

Additionally, Concordia's MEd EdTech program offers:

A flexible online format.

Individualized attention from accessible professors.

Classes that are regularly evaluated for relevance.

An exclusive tuition discount for TCEA members.

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3 Reasons Why Teachers Need To Use Technology in the Classroom

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Technology provides educators with many advantages. Discover the top three reasons teachers should use technology in the classroom.

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Interesting look as to why some teachers aren't using more technology in the classroom. Important to see all views. Teachers want to feel successful in the classroom and it is important to recognize all the hard work we put in to start.

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While reflecting on my time spent in the classroom, I'm sometimes embarrassed to admit that I rarely used technology in the classroom to differentiate learning for my students. During my first two years with Teach for America, I was exposed to a wealth of community knowledge, plenty of professional development opportunities, and variety of pedagogical perspectives. And though I was surrounded by innovative educators eager to share their knowledge, I rarely used technology to differentiate learning for my students. By sharing my experiences now, I hope to encourage other tech-averse educators to reexamine their mindset.

When I was teaching, my use of technology in the classroom was limited to Smartboard and WiFi access. I regret that I did not put technology into the hands of my students as often as I used it to illustrate my lessons. While playing funny videos in class helped me to engage my students, I now know that the full benefits of technology in the classroom can only really be seen once devices are in the hands of students. Students need hands-on experience to learn how to type with speed and accuracy, conduct and synthesize online research, and collaborate with people on the other side of the world.

Even in the 21st century, some schools still lack access to reliable internet, effective devices, and educational software. Sure, most kids may be adept at playing games on their smartphone and watching YouTube videos, but students who do not know how to navigate a keyboard, create digital presentations, or revise word documents are limited in their abilities to compete on the same level as other students with those skills. Early access to edtech tools ensures that students have the skill set needed to learn and utilize rapidly changing technology.

So, why are some teachers still so hesitant to embrace the use of technology in the classroom?

1. Administrators aren't doing enough to encourage teacher buy-in.

If administrators fail to clearly communicate the benefits of technology in the classroom to their staff, teachers may view edtech as an inconvenience rather than a necessity. The transition to new technology can be challenging for some teachers. If administrators are unable to prove to their teachers that one-size-fits-all lesson plans do not meet the needs of all students, teachers may be unwilling to add yet another thing to their plate.

When structuring a pilot, it's important to build teach buy-in by regularly asking for and listening to teacher feedback. Before launching a new technology initiative, administrators should make sure that teachers have time to get comfortable with new technology, clearly express their expectations for technology usage, outline any instructional shifts, and create a safe space for trial and error.

The most successful edtech programs are supported by both administrators and teachers. This means that district officials should visit classrooms and attend professional development sessions alongside teachers. Schools with influential and inclusive leaders can drive meaningful change.

2. Teachers don't have a strong support system.

It's hard to hop on the edtech bandwagon when there's not a bandwagon to hop on to. Despite best intentions, if a lone teacher tries to implement classroom technology in an otherwise pen and paper school, her efforts may fall short.

I recently attended an eSpark launch in Cleveland, MS. We visited a total of 6 schools, and helped students and teachers learn to use their new iPads. The excitement in the air was palpable as we visited classrooms, and almost immediately students were up and running on eSpark, seamlessly navigating between instructional videos and educational apps. In each classroom that I visited, teachers were presenting the same instructions to their students, practicing the same skills, and using the same instructional strategies. Camaraderie and shared best practices can go a long way in making a new initiative successful. In a school or district-wide edtech program, teachers can share tips, problem-solve together, and encourage each other.

3. Teachers doubt their ability to learn and implement new instructional strategies.

When teachers say they don't have the time, energy, desire, or training to introduce the effective use of tech in the classroom, what they're usually saying is that they're scared. I get it-classroom technology can require huge instructional and mindset shifts that can be overwhelming to many teachers. Teaching is one of the hardest professions because it requires dedication of heart and mind. Learning something new can incite a range of emotions because the prospect of failing your students is daunting. Plenty of teachers, regardless of age or experience level, harbor doubts about their ability to successfully use technology in the classroom.

Thankfully, the most effective classroom tools are designed to be intuitive and easy to troubleshoot.

Since joining eSpark, I've seen firsthand the ways that technology can change the culture of the classroom and how a child learns. Differentiated learning on iPads can help narrow the achievement gap and engage high performing students who would otherwise be disengaged from a one-size-fits-all lesson. While making major instructional shifts can be a challenging process, the risks of transitioning to a blended learning classroom pale in comparison to the rewards of successfully meeting the needs of every student.
Ready to see what eSpark can do for your classrooms?

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eSpark Learning | Small Group Resources for K-5

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While reflecting on my time spent in the classroom, I'm sometimes embarrassed to admit that I rarely used technology in the classroom to differentiate learning for my students. During my first two years with Teach for America, I was exposed to a wealth of community knowledge, plenty of professional development opportunities, and variety of pedagogical perspectives.

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My goal for next year is to incorporate more coding and then crossing it with curriculum instruction. My students LOVED coding when I taught it for a few weeks this year so I really want to incorporate it more next year.