The report, the final issue in the three-part Driving K-12 Innovation report series produced by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), features an international advisory board survey of more than 100 experts, who considered 27 tools and narrowed them down to the following five tech enablers:

Mobile devices: Ranked the highest in importance and having the most immediate adoption, these hand-held or wearable devices, such as smartphones and tablets, connect to the internet and enable access to information and activities anytime, anywhere.
Blended or hybrid learning: This mix of face-to-face instruction and online learning has trended in recent years and gets renewed attention in the new “Tech Enablers” report due to increased adoption of effective technologies in schools and at home. Blended learning facilitates personalization in the classroom, gives students more autonomy, and frees educators to work with kids individually.
Cloud infrastructure: Virtual infrastructure, delivered or accessed via a network or the internet, gives schools flexibility and security to move hardware and software services away from physical locations, which can reduce operational costs and ensure on-demand access to learning.
XR: This platform may include augmented, mixed and virtual reality—technologies that experts say enhance the physical world with interactive digital imagery and graphics. Educators are increasingly using these technologies to help students learn complex content and to provide experiences otherwise impossible due to funding, geography or physical challenges.
Analytics and adaptive technologies: Tools that measure, analyze, predict, and customize instruction and other learning tasks, which in turn help educators adjust learning experiences based on student needs and preferences.

CoSN is releasing a toolkit to help its district administrator members engage in conversations about innovation and apply the lessons listed in the report.

Instant Insights /

Washington Watch: The top technology influencing K-12's future

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