ISTE 2017: EdTech Prepares Students for their Future
Tuesday, July 11, 2017 by Cyber Acoustics
When you open the doors to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference, it can be sensory overload. It’s like walking into a Vegas casino -- except instead of slot machines and blackjack tables, it’s VR goggles, robotics, headsets and more!
Such was the case this year at ISTE 2017 in San Antonio, TX. While the showroom floor is a hive of activity and people talking tech, more than 21,000 attendees also enjoyed keynote speakers, panel discussions and various sessions on the latest trends and developments in EdTech. It makes for a busy week, and the event is always a great source of information and inspiration.
As we look back on the major themes of ISTE 2017, not surprisingly, STEM was a primary focus of this year's event. Much of the discussion was not only about getting students interested in STEM at younger ages, but how to incorporate STEM learning into regular curriculum. Coding in particular has become a focal point for educators, with programs like Scratch and code.org serve as great jumping-in points for younger students.
Beyond introducing STEM to elementary students, there was also a key focus on making STEM education a gateway to post-secondary education and career training for high school students. Many discussions centered on the educators themselves, and making sure technology supporting STEM and other curriculum areas was meeting teachers' needs and helping them to more effectively deliver their teaching plans.
All in all ISTE 2017 was a highly valuable conference with many important takeaways.
Focus on High School
When discussing EdTech, much of the time and attention goes straight to elementary students. There’s an impetus from the big three of Apple, Google and Microsoft to do so, as they’re working to build brand loyalty as early as possible. Additionally, educators focus on younger students to build their knowledge base early and better prepare them for the technology-based education that the modern world demands.
It’s easy to see why younger students can often get much of the attention, but one thing we were reminded of at ISTE was the need to continue adding resources for high school students:
Post-secondary/Career Training: High school students are much closer to entering the worlds of higher education and/or the workforce, and they require tools at their disposal to increase their chances of success. The education they receive has to be applicable to higher education and career training, while also teaching them problem-solving skills they can transfer to any field.
Digital portfolios: Whether applying to colleges or looking for a job, helping high schoolers build digital portfolios of their work can be a great asset. Such portfolios are now critical to attract employers and stand out in competitive job markets, and they do a great job of showcasing abilities. Plus, students won't have to drag folders with them to interviews -- they can simply send the work to the interviewer online.
Online classroom hubs: These have been a growing trend in recent years, and a system many teachers and students have found to have positive impacts. Online classroom hubs are where students can interact with their teachers on assignments, homework and their progress -- anytime from anywhere. Students organize their lives online versus the traditional means of pen and paper, so this reaches them at a level they're used to. Plus, if they need to ask for help and are shy to do so in a traditional classroom, these hubs are a great way for kids to ask for the assistance they need.
Peer-to-peer collaboration: The social aspect of school is still vital, and peer-to-peer collaboration on projects can be beneficial for everyone, especially at the high school level. As teens become more engrossed in online activities via devices, projects that encourage working with their classmates have shown to improve their grades and their communication levels.
EdTech for the Win!
During our time at ISTE 2017, we saw a number of exciting apps that will offer great benefits to high school students as they forge the path to their future:
Binumi: Videos are watched on a daily basis with high school students, whether they’re streaming Netflix or updating their SnapChat stories. But Binumi is an app that takes the love of video to the next level with easy-to-use video editing tools. It possesses a vast library of royalty-free footage users can access and splice into their videos. Say a student takes a trip to Australia and wants HD footage of Sydney to drop into their video - no problem. Binumi is a tool that can inspire the next generation of filmmakers.
StudyTracks: When they’re at home studying or working on an assignment, many teens strap on headphones and have music coursing through their head to help them concentrate. But what if that music was about the subject matter at hand?
StudyTracks produces music that sounds like pop music, but the lyrics are about math, Shakespeare, history, and many other common educational themes. Currently they have 800+ songs in their growing library. So, does it work? According to their site, “Neuroscientists have found that music stimulates the limbic and orbitofrontal regions of the brain which are associated with long-term memory and concentration. At Studytracks, we call this the 'hook', or the catchy part of a song. This is the reason why song lyrics are so easy to memorize. Just imagine if Algebra or the causes of the American Revolution were as easy to remember as the lyrics to your favorite song." StudyTracks utilizes the power of the "hook" and combines it with curriculums to create lessons that are easy to teach, memorize and recall.
CoSpaces: Virtual reality can take users anywhere – strap on a pair of goggles and you’re off to Paris, Rio, or Beijing. In fact, why settle for land? You can be transported under the ocean or into the stars. But with the app CoSpaces, students can build their own virtual reality videos. The app has a library of objects and characters for users to adapt and animate to create a VR story. CoSpaces can expand students’ imagination while improving their coding skills, all while giving them a tangible end product they can be proud of.
There's a ton of exciting innovations happening in EdTech for students of all ages, and these are just some of the seemingly endless resources that we experienced at ISTE 2017. If you're interested in more resources to help guide educators and parents, the ISTE website is a great place to start.
ISTE 2017 & Cyber Acoustics
Amid the hustle and bustle of the ISTE floor, we at Cyber Acoustics had a great time meeting educators and fellow EdTech enthusiasts to discuss our contributions to the growth of EdTech. For us, one of the big highlights of the event was the debut of our new Bluetooth speaker, the CA-7100.
Designed specifically for the educational environment, our Bluetooth media speaker is engineered to provide room-filling sound from low media carts to high, wall-mounted locations. The microphone input on the side enables a PA function to boost speaking performances. Lighted speakers indicate the system is on and ready, receiving sound from DVD players, Smart TVs, computers, smartphones and other common classroom sources. To learn more or get a quote, just contact our Education Team.
At Cyber Acoustics, our market-leading products can assist the learning process and help students push past their boundaries to reach new heights. Interested in equipping your school or district? Check out our product catalogs, and request a product sample today!