Here are three of the latest and trending U.S. education and edtech news subjects from August 2022.
1. Combatting decreased engagement
It’s no secret that the global pandemic and online learning affected student engagement in the classroom—both in person and virtual. But experts are confident that technology, student-centered approaches, and psychological theories dating back from the 80s may help reinvigorate students in the fall.
With the start of the school year quickly approaching, learning how to boost student motivation is crucial. Some say autonomy, competence, and connection are critical to engage students. They need to feel like they have control over their lives, see that they’re making progress, and know that they’re connected to someone. Leveraging technology could encourage excitement, fuel connection, and strengthen skillsets.
2. How gamification can increase social and emotional learning
Gamification in schools has become wildly popular as a tool for engagement, comprehension, and even social and emotional learning. With the combined use of familiar games and social and emotional skills like reflection and recalibration, students are capable of achieving more.
Strengthening social and emotional learning does not come easily, especially among younger students. However, the use of games is one of the earliest methods children “use to explore higher-order thinking with skills associated with creating, evaluating, analyzing, and applying new knowledge,” according to Einstein.
One method that can be used in a classroom setting is rewarding students for progressing forward rather than backwards. For example, by using a point system starting at 0, students get excited about trying to obtain points rather than being fearful of losing them.
3. Back-to-school spending
With inflation at a 40-year high and an economic recession on the horizon, concerns around back-to-school spending are growing.
School budgets are already tight, requiring educators to spend their own money on some necessities and to be as resourceful as possible. Whether that means shopping second-hand or taking advantage of free resources such as the Tech & Admin Summit, there are opportunities for educators to secure new tools and skills without spending top dollar.
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