Ed Clark, chief information officer at California State University, says he plans his annual planning process from a variety of systems and datasets with the help of stakeholders who provide support rather than pushback. I liken it to taming a large digital jungle into a navigable digital garden.
In Pennsylvania, Fox Chapel Area School District Superintendent Mary Kathryn Lerjak asked department heads to submit multi-year plans that identified their biggest needs over the next five to 10 years, with limited budgets to expand kindergarten and beyond. We are maximizing the improvement of educational technology up to high school.
Additionally, in North Carolina, Andrew Smith, the state's assistant superintendent of public instruction, set aside 30 minutes each week to conduct research on which new educational technology tools meet curriculum requirements and consult with professional organizations and experts from around the country. is in contact with.
“I’m looking for people who are looking for something just like I am,” he said.
Smith was one of eight K-12 and higher education leaders who participated in a panel discussion Wednesday as part of the virtual event “Beyond the Curriculum — Education Market Insights,” hosted by e.Republic, the parent company of the Center for Digital Education. It was one of us. Panelists, along with e.Republic moderators and presenters, shared advice and discussed the challenges and opportunities facing learning institutions today.
When it comes to funding and the fiscal cliff school districts face as post-pandemic federal aid looms, panelists pointed to some creative solutions. Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, CEO and Executive Director of the National School Boards Association, urges K-12 school district leaders that significant investments in new tools will yield positive outcomes for children. He said he advises choosing a vendor that understands your needs. North Dakota State Superintendent Kirsten Beisler is encouraging educators to partner with universities and get free or low-cost memberships in nonprofit organizations that provide free cybersecurity guides and other resources. He said he is encouraging it.
“The more you look for a partner, the more people seem to show up,” she says.
Educated IT leaders face similar challenges when asked to do more with less. Anne Milkovich, chief information officer for the Nevada System of Higher Education, said it's important to involve stakeholders in the arduous task of reviewing and deciding on annual budget requests. In her case, the employees who worked on it created her one-page scoring rubric that everyone agreed to and trusted as a fair process.
On the subject of cybersecurity concerns in higher education, panelists exchanged advice for keeping campuses safe. Standish Stewart, vice president and chief information officer at Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio, is committed to educating all students, staff, faculty, and administrators about the responsible use of technology, as well as members of the IT and security teams. Emphasis was placed on raising awareness.
“Everyone is asked to be vigilant and proactive,” she said.
On the topic of artificial intelligence, panelists generally agreed that emerging technologies, if handled responsibly, can benefit students, teachers, school leaders, and others alike. Gabriela “Gabby” Rowe, CEO and managing principal of consulting firm Grow Associates, believes that emerging technologies are contributing to the development of new drugs and innovative medical procedures, and are enabling healthcare providers to He urged his colleagues to learn from other industries, such as healthcare, that are helping to solve problems. the needs of diverse people.
Lowe said that unlike other industries, the education industry is taking a more conservative approach because AI directly impacts children's lives and is highly constrained. But tomorrow, AI may help school leaders address the economic challenges that make life so difficult today. Imagine a chatbot. She said it would help small, low-income schools shore up their limited staff and secure more state and federal funding.
“This is incredibly transformative,” she said, “especially when you’re fighting for equity.”
