In the past few years, we’ve witnessed significant innovations in K12 education technology. From the expansion of 1:1 device plans in schools to the public release of ChatGPT in November 2022, educators are leveraging edtech to provide tailored and engaging instruction for students. However, several hurdles are keeping schools from being able to execute such strategies.
That’s according to a report released this month by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) which outlines hurdles, accelerators and tech enablers affecting K12 innovation in 2024. The trends highlighted in the report were selected by CoSN’s Driving K12 Innovation Advisory Board, a team of more than 140 global educators and IT professionals.
“The best aspect of the annual Driving K12 Innovation report is not to tell education leaders ‘the answer’ about K12 innovation today,” said Keith R. Krueger, CEO of CoSN, in a news release. “Rather, it is a thoughtful framework for thinking about innovation focused on Hurdles, Accelerators and Tech Enablers. Too often edtech stalwarts start with the technology when advocating innovation. CoSN flips that tendency and starts with the ‘why’ (Hurdles).”
CoSN says three hurdles are keeping schools from being able to leap toward technological innovation in 2024:
- Attracting and retaining educators and IT staff: This has been a significant problem for school districts, especially since COVID. Educators are experiencing burnout, both socially and emotionally. Low salaries are also forcing people to consider switching professions.
- Ensuring cybersecurity and safety online: Teaching and conducting business in education through technology is now a “baseline requirement” for K12 school staff, including students. Schools must have systems in place to protect and empower users to engage with this technology safely.
- Scaling innovation and inertia of education systems: Schools are required to engage in and effectively scale innovation. What’s working well and how can they scale it across their district?
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Next, the organization outlines three accelerators that are helping schools achieve technological innovation faster:
- Changing attitudes toward demonstrating learning: How educators assess, document, communicate and assign value to student learning is evolving, including how they view student pathways beyond high school.
- Building the human capacity of leaders: Professional learning opportunities for teachers need to meet the rapid pace of evolving technologies so administrators can open the doors for educators to master new skills and innovative practices.
- Learner agency: Leaders must reimagine the role of a “student” to that of a “learner.” By fostering strong learning environments, learners can transform from “order-takers” to innovators.
And finally, the three most important tech enablers school leaders must pay attention to are:
- Generative AI: This technology has changed how students learn and what they need to learn. As schools explore its potential, they’re also seeking guidance for implementing policies and processes to ensure it’s used safely and effectively in school.
- Analytical and adaptive technologies: Analytics refers to the idea of analyzing student data to inform instructional decision-making. Adaptive technologies are tools that adapt to the student based on their engagement with the technology to tailor to their needs.
- Rich digital ecosystem: Connecting digital environments enables schools to enable student learning and support education administration.
