EDUCATION
SPECIAL SECTION:
PRE-K – HIGH SCHOOL
Another key focus in education this
year is on ensuring that students feel safe,
connected, supported, and challenged
through a variety of different ways.
School culture and safety are being
addressed and adapted based on recent
school safety concerns across the country.
Teachers, administrators, families,
and community groups are putting a
critical focus on social-emotional learning
activities to facilitate a better look into
dealing with anger management, conflict
resolution, empathy, and other important
life skills. School is often the only place
where social and emotional learning
deficiencies can be addressed; therefore
teaching students these invaluable life
skills ultimately prepares them to become
active members of society. This is another
pivotal point in a teacher’s role in the
classroom.
Teachers continue to play an
integral role in the lives of students,
one that cannot be replaced with even the most advanced
type of technology. This isn’t to say that the way we taught
even 15 years ago is suitable. Teachers’ roles are continually
changing, and their need to adapt is critical to students’ success.
School administrators must also support and train educators with
the tools and techniques they are being given to ensure successful
integration in the classroom.
SECONDARY EDUCATION
The first public school opened in the United States in 1635,
and the Boston Latin School remains the nation’s oldest public
school. Early education didn’t focus on math or science, but
on the virtues of family, religion and community. Nearly 400
years later, schools are harnessing the fundamental principles
of community, and although it may look very different in this
day and age, a strong focus is being put on the importance of
creating a safe school culture and tapping into technology for
limitless learning.
In 2019, students, parents, teachers, and administrators are
seeing changes both inside and outside of the classroom. One
of the biggest changes in recent years comes in the form of
technology. Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to change
education tools and is expected to increase in implementation in
U.S. classrooms by 47.5% in the next three years, according to the
Artificial Intelligence Market in the U.S. Education Sector report.
In addition to AI, other technologies are providing students with
the opportunity to connect with classmates in other countries,
giving teachers the ability to educate a virtual classroom from
the comfort of their own home, and expanding access to
applications that were once inaccessible.
It was recently reported that teenagers spend nine hours a day
with technology. Whether in the form of social media, listening
to music, playing games, or texting with friends, technology plays
an integral role in their lives. Educators have taken note and are
now reaching teenagers where they are spending a majority of
their time. Digital tools are providing teachers with the
opportunity to incorporate personalized learning to students in a
way that benefits them. For example, AI is being used to allow for
Continued on page 49 >
BETHEL PARK
❘
FALL 2019
45